The vintage Blackhawk Thread

[r_olson_06]

Blackhawk ok tools? Bought this off ebay mostly because could not figure out what it was....Looks like later production of earlier tools?

Was watching that one. Glad to see someone here got it .

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3060, 3061, 3070

 

[four.cycle]

re: OK

first time I ever saw that brand name, Oldtuleguy.

in full agreement with r_olson_06 there - glad a GJ member got them.

 

[CRTDI]

I remember seeing some "OK Wrenches" socket sets being advertised in an old (1930ish, could be later ?) hardware store catalog. I believe they were touted as a Blackhawk value/economy line.

I'm sure one or two of our sleuth forum investigators with strong Google fu could probably dig up some info.

You got a super nice looking set there, the decal is just in amazing condition, Congrats!!.....

 

[twertsy]

Wow! I've had an "OK Wrenches" socket set box sitting in my "stack of unknowns" for quite some time. Great discovery!!! Now I know what to fill it with. I'll get on the "Google-Fu" shortly and see what else I can dig up.

While there's no graphic to solidify it, I believe the 1938 catalog proves they are Blackhawk. Looks like the "4-row" square knurled versions are correct:

https://archive.org/details/BlackhawkWrenchesCatalogueBA38/page/n17

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They're not great. They're not bad, either.

 

[twertsy]

They're not great. They're not bad, either.

Yeah. Based on the descriptions, it looks like the "OK" refers to the finish...."Glittering Silver-Satin."

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Wow. I wonder who came up the "ok" moniker. I am guessing they were promoted to mail room....

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Few more pics

 

[twertsy]

Few more pics

Nice. My label is very faded and you can barely see the "O.K." Certainly can't read the Blackhawk on the bottom of it but, it did have Blackhawk sockets in it when I got it which I assumed didn't belong, but now know they do.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah. Based on the descriptions, it looks like the "OK" refers to the finish...."Glittering Silver-Satin."

I saw that. Polished natural steel. As opposed to the chrome-plated stuff on the preceding pages.

Did you read all the ads?

Based on all the text, it looks to me as if the OK line, like most mfgr's economy lines, was aimed at car owners, farmers, truck drivers, and apprentice mechanics.

Also, note that the 1938 catalog was printed in Canada or perhaps the UK. It uses words like "lorries" and "hauliers", British terms for trucks and truck drivers, respectively. And the sets are available in metric, Whitworth, and "U.S. Standard." One more thing - OK tools do not appear in the 1937 or the 1939 Blackhawk catalogs, IIRC. I am thinking that OK tools may have been for export only. And if they were available in the US, maybe just one year. A short experiment. Everyone was doing it. (See SK Brazil! )

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Addendum: definitely England. King & Company Ltd (on the cover) was a huge old hardware supply store for the construction and automotive trades in Hull, England.

Otg,

My hunch is you got yourself an export set of tools that never made it out of the country, or made their way back at some point. Cool set. Nice pick up.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. Awesome info guys. Don't know how it wound up here but glad to have found it. An interesting bit of blackhawk history.

 

[twertsy]

Interesting, my box isn't shown in the 38 cat referenced above.

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[Oldtuleguy]

Hmmm. What are the dimensions on that?

 

[four.cycle]

I have never seen one of these before. Thought it looked interesting:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-BLACKHAWK-THE-NEW-BRITAIN-SMALL-DRILL-BIT-CASE-USA-EMPTY/312332783205

 

[Oldtuleguy]

New britain era?

 

[four.cycle]

hope it was a member here who grabbed it.

 

[CRTDI]

Early 30k 7/16" drive "Nugget" set.

My understanding is that this set was used daily in a transmission shop until the early 70s. The set was received as incomplete and the pieces that did remain show signs of extensive use. So, this set has a mix of the remaining original early pieces, some correct early replacements and some later period add-on pieces.

















Still trying to unravel the mystery behind FR suffix date code.

 

[leg17]

early 30k 7/16" drive "nugget" set.

My understanding is that this set was used daily in a transmission shop until the early 70s. The set was received as incomplete and the pieces that did remain show signs of extensive use. So, this set has a mix of the remaining original early pieces, some correct early replacements and some later period add-on pieces.

sweet

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Awesome. Nice to see the early nugget stuff!

 

[twertsy]

Hmmm. What are the dimensions on that?

20x7

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[Oldtuleguy]

Yes that is longer. Must have made more of them than we thought. That's probably next one up, but different year.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Crtdi looks like our nugget sets are both in 40 catalog

 

[CRTDI]

Some of the "early style" 7/16" drive tools from a '41 catalog.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That ad is so cool. Blackhawk was awesome!

 

[BlueBomber]

Would loooove to find the speed ball handled ratchet or the brace ratchet. :drool

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[Oldtuleguy]

I have seen one brace ratchet. Guy would not sell it! Here are a couple more speedball pics...

 

[r_olson_06]

I have seen one brace ratchet. Guy would not sell it! Here are a couple more speedball pics...

There was one on eBay about a year ago. Went for opening bid of like $80. Looks very similar to snap on RS-4.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3060, 3061, 3070

 

[CRTDI]

Here are a couple more speedball pics...

The speed ball handle is a pretty hefty piece. Just mate that up with a rotating handle extension and get that sucker spinning. I bet you could take out a knee cap or at least a couple of knuckles with it....

 

[CRTDI]

17K "Nugget" set with a few add on pieces.

 

[four.cycle]

just so you know:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202516485159

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202516396776

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202516357819

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice 17k set. More stuff fits in there than you would think.

 

[y'sguy]

WOW, it's nice to finally see my Blackhawk toolbox pictured like that in the catalog. I would like to see more of it? I also have the compatible rollaround cabinet that I inherited from my dad, I love it it's perfect. Never seen it before either. Are these catalogs available online?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Is this a ratcheting screwdriver? Very interesting looking tool.

 

[CRTDI]

WOW, it's nice to finally see my Blackhawk toolbox pictured like that in the catalog. I would like to see more of it? I also have the compatible rollaround cabinet that I inherited from my dad, I love it it's perfect. Never seen it before either. Are these catalogs available online?

I believe I remember your cabinet posted a while back. White with extendable handles? The tool box in the catalog pic was a common way of displaying the box as part of a set. That same box would be utilized for different sets.

Twertsy was doing a great job of making some of these old Blackhawk catalogs available online at his site, toolarchives.com. Unfortunately though, the site has been down for a while.

Is this a ratcheting screwdriver? Very interesting looking tool.

You know what? That really is a ratcheting screwdriver... I was just goofing around attaching different pieces and put that set-up together. It was constructed using 4 separate pieces, a handle bar, rotating handle extension, ratchet adapter and a screwdriver bit. All together....yep a 7/16" drive ratcheting screwdriver...LOL

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is anyone else seeing big blue "imgbb.com / image not found" boxes where CRTDI's photos are/were?

 

[twertsy]

Is anyone else seeing big blue "imgbb.com / image not found" boxes where CRTDI's photos are/were?

Yup, from work I can't see any of his images. I do believe I can see them on my phone though.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Oh smack. I hope his server isn't one of those that doesn't play well with GJ. That would be a catastrophe. I wasn't having an issue until just now though, so maybe it's a temp glitch.

 

[y'sguy]

I believe I remember your cabinet posted a while back. White with extendable handles? The tool box in the catalog pic was a common way of displaying the box as part of a set. That same box would be utilized for different sets.

Twertsy was doing a great job of making some of these old Blackhawk catalogs available online at his site, toolarchives.com. Unfortunately though, the site has been down for a while.

OK, Thanks! Yes that is my white box. Picture have gone away so I need to re-post at some point soon. Nice of you to remember me!

 

[CRTDI]

Oh smack. I hope his server isn't one of those that doesn't play well with GJ. That would be a catastrophe. I wasn't having an issue until just now though, so maybe it's a temp glitch.

Geez, what a MESS! Keeping my fingers crossed that its just a temp thing.