The vintage Blackhawk Thread

[Oldtuleguy]

This one looks pretty good. Even had a piece of the original price tag on it. I think they are just painted black? Just going to leave it as found.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The black finish is called "baked-on" in catalogs, which implies japanning (or enameling), which is why I tried to effect a japanned finish when I refinished my Q.D. 32-CD set a few years ago.

The attache style case and the tools in my set were caked in rust and the de-rusting process further removed what little of the original finish remained.

Not that you need my opinion, Otg, but I think you're making a good decision. I, too, would be inclined to preserve not restore that set.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes a good cleaning should spiff it up nicely

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Please post a photo of the top of the lid and the bottom of the case. Does it have a crackle finish?

The 1926 catalog, at the beginning of the Quick Disconnect ("Q.D.") era, describes the finish on the C Case as "bright black baked enamel".

In the 1930 catalog, when the "Chief" line (advent of "Lock-On" technology) was introduced, and the Q.D. stuff was relegated to the back with the rest of the older "Satin Black" wrenches, the finish was described in a few different ways. It is called "two-tone crackle" (32-CD set, p.28), "two-tone red and black crackle" (43-DD set, p.28), and "red and black mottled" (18-AD set, p.29).

In the 1931 catalog, the end of the line for Q.D., the finish is "two-tone crackle finish of maroon and black" (32-CD), "two-tone crackle finish" (22-CD), and "two-toned red and black crackle" (44-DD).

CRTDI talked about this several years ago, in the early days of this thread, when I was preparing to refinish my 32-CD set Case C, without drawing any definitive conclusions. When you try to figure out what all that means, and then you think about the examples we've seen, none of which can be called red or maroon, you can see how it's a little befuddling.

The 'two-tone crackle' and 'two-tone red and black crackle' are probably the same. But does that mean smooth red (is that what they're calling that copper color?) on the inside and black crackle on the outside? Red on the inside and black on the outside and both finishes crackled? (We've never seen a crackled interior of any color.) And where are the yellow interiors like the set I used to have? And if red is red and maroon is maroon, where are those examples? And in which catalogs do the copper and black two-tones appear?

I have other catalogs from other years downloaded on a different computer I'll check n Monday.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Got this from Texas today. Looks like a 20s set. Was surprised to find the decal in good shape.

Beautiful set. I was tempted but have other pots in the fire. Glad it went to you!

 

[y'sguy]

Yes a good cleaning should spiff it up nicely

Oh yes, I agree!

 

[jvlyons99205]

Blackhawk 9811 ratchet, 4122 Ford flywheel capscrew socket wrench, and 3114 T-handle socket wrench from eBay and ratchet from a yard sale this morning.

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[Oldtuleguy]

Lugz it is kinda maroon looking out side

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I see! Even the rotating handle. Very interesting. So two tone, but maroon and copper.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thank you guys for your interest. Jvlyons what is that blackhawk sign behind your pics?

 

[jvlyons99205]

Thank you guys for your interest. Jvlyons what is that blackhawk sign behind your pics?

It's a Blackhawk cabinet I picked up last year. I had been watching it at a local store for over a year before they finally got down to a decent price.

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[Oldtuleguy]

Awesome cabinet!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Some of us know this cabinet and acquisition well! It was a runner-up in the "Best Score" category for the 2018 Garage Sale thread end of year awards. It took a complete Hazet Tourist set to beat it out. You'd think with a 'Blackhawk man' as the judge that jv would've been a shoe-in, but those Hazet sets go for INSANE prices with old Porsche collectors! I had to go with the Hazet. EDIT: Link here for the honorable mentions, and here for the winner.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Hazet stuff can be pricey! Great buy on the blackhawk jv. It amazes me how something like that sat in a store undetected for so long!

 

[y'sguy]

Yes, THAT is a very cool cabinet. When I first saw it in the post, I wondered as at first there were no comments? But then…HAHA.
I would like to be able to casually do something like that! Sort of like when Andy (oldironfarmer) had the caboose in the background of his pics. "Wait, what caboose?" oh, that old thing. I wonder what a guy would have to pay for something like that after it got down to good price, he asked, coyly.

 

[jvlyons99205]

Some of us know this cabinet and acquisition well! It was a runner-up in the "Best Score" category for the 2018 Garage Sale thread end of year awards. It took a complete Hazet Tourist set to beat it out. You'd think with a 'Blackhawk man' as the judge that jv would've been a shoe-in, but those Hazet sets go for INSANE prices with old Porsche collectors! I had to go with the Hazet. EDIT: Link here for the honorable mentions, and here for the winner.

That Hazet set definitely earned the win. It was my favorite find of the 2018 Garage Sale thread.

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[jvlyons99205]

Hazet stuff can be pricey! Great buy on the blackhawk jv. It amazes me how something like that sat in a store undetected for so long!

It was in a store that mainly sells vintage decorator pieces and almost no tools. It got moved to their storage building where they sell out estates. I was able to pick up about 20 boxes of tools and hardware, most of it NOS, at their last estate sale for $166 since it was stuff they didn't care about.

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[y'sguy]

jvlyons99205 OK, thanks for catching me up and also thanks, Private Lugnutz, for the links. I didn't know the story and the contest until now.

If I had known those Hazmat thingies were such a big deal I wouldn't have traded mine for the NOS Blackhawk Totem pole I got yesterday.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have never collected greman stuff but I am on the lookout now

 

[Username already in use]

Well, another toolbox followed me home today. But... But... how could I leave it behind. Obviously, I couldn't!

It needs a bit of love, but overall it's solid and straight. A good place to start.

 

[RubiconJK]

Well, another toolbox followed me home today. But... But... how could I leave it behind. Obviously, I couldn't!

It needs a bit of love, but overall it's solid and straight. A good place to start.

What a great box! Congrats.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah that will clean up nicely!

 

[y'sguy]

Well, another toolbox followed me home today. But... But... how could I leave it behind. Obviously, I couldn't!

It needs a bit of love, but overall it's solid and straight. A good place to start.

Nice score, and very nice condition!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Yeah that will clean up nicely!

X2 on this!


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[misterbill]

Well, another toolbox followed me home today. But... But... how could I leave it behind. Obviously, I couldn't!

It needs a bit of love, but overall it's solid and straight. A good place to start.

...

Believe it or not, I saw the exact same box at the flea this morning. I hemmed and hawed, walked back and forth, contemplated - and decided to leave it. It was badly painted in a metallic green like something Slimer from Ghostbusters burped up. The decals were mostly gone. Bottom was rusted. Just more work than it was worth IMHO.

You've definitely got a nice one there, though, UNAIU!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Misterbill, sometimes that's the case. I have passed on a couple of boxes I normally would jump on but were just too far gone. Great find username!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this No. 4230 spark plug and cylinder head cap screw wrench at the flea this morning, and it just came out of the Evaporust.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That cleaned up nice. Here is a set I picked up on ebay for a wopping 25$.

 

[twertsy]

That cleaned up nice. Here is a set I picked up on ebay for a wopping 25$.

How the hell did I miss that!? Nice snag OTG.....

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[Provincial]

Restore find Wednesday.

Blackhawk 40326 1/2 drive deep socket in 13/16. Date code of 1 and the chrome finish indicates 1941.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It was listed as a bcackhawk socket set. Seller misspelled listing.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Restore find Wednesday.

Blackhawk 40326 1/2 drive deep socket in 13/16. Date code of 1 and the chrome finish indicates 1941.

Nice find. Those are cool looking sockets.

 

[twertsy]

It was listed as a bcackhawk socket set. Seller misspelled listing.

Lol..........that would explain it..

Kinda like my snag of that complete set of 7/16" drive sockets/drive tools listed as 3/8" drive...........

Good catch!

 

[thehorse13]

Lol..........that would explain it..

Kinda like my snag of that complete set of 7/16" drive sockets/drive tools listed as 3/8" drive...........

Good catch!

This has happened to me twice already. 22 bucks for the first set and the second set was less because they never mentioned blackhawk in the auction, just "old sockets".

 

[y'sguy]

Haha, Yeah I've recently seen "radical arm saw" and "racist arm saw" listings
We like to blame autocorrect but I think a lot of people just can't spell.
I can spell, just can't type. And I have a computer so I CAN do some math.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

"racist arm saw"

Haha. Oh man, the sarcastic mind races with possibilities, all of them ban-worthy!

 

[r_olson_06]

Couldn't pass up these. Seems 3/4" drive is the most common size for loc-ons. If anyone needs some set fillers these are up for trade.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Provincial]

Slow weekend. One estate sale had some potential, but had been picked over by a relative. I did find two rolls of mechanic's wire, a pair of nice Proto slip-joint pliers, a few Proto sockets, and one rusty socket that made me think "that looks old."

The socket revealed a Blackhawk arrowhead trademark, with USA to the right, and 13/16 size. Alloy Artifacts indicates that it is the second marking variation of the first version of Blackhawk 1/2" square drive sockets. Manufacture date would be perhaps between 1921 and 1924.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice find. I have found some with the USA below the arrowhead. Here is one alongside the later version.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Snapped up some 3/8 drive swivel sockets dated 46-47 I spotted on ebay.