The vintage Blackhawk Thread

[thehorse13]

I saw that ratchet. Fortunately for you I'm after the 1/4 Baldie.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice snag 3bay. Are you working on a set?

Not exactly. Just collecting. Somewhere I have a few more 1/4 sockets. This socket came with it.

I saw that ratchet. Fortunately for you I'm after the 1/4 Baldie.

I wouldn’t mind finding that one as well. Has anyone proven yet that it exists?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Don long has one

 

[3baygarage]

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure Don Long could polish a turd and have it look like a Blackhawk 1/4 baldie ratchet or anything else he wanted for that matter.

 

[Farmer J.]

I think it was on post # 297 but the pictures have gone.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I remember drooling over it....

 

[don long]

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure Don Long could polish a turd and have it look like a Blackhawk 1/4 baldie ratchet or anything else he wanted for that matter.

I feel the need resolve this issue.

before

turd by don long, on Flickr

After

2020-02-05 15.48.49 - Copy by don long, on Flickr

2020-02-05 15.51.16 by don long, on Flickr

I didn't find the photos that I posted last time so I brought the nuggies set in and retook some shots

Here is the part number on the handle 24991

2020-02-05 15.51.55 by don long, on Flickr

2020-02-05 15.52.00 by don long, on Flickr

Here is the entire set

2020-02-05 15.49.23 by don long, on Flickr

2020-02-05 15.56.29 by don long, on Flickr

PS
I am working on replicating the totem pole

 

[Oldtuleguy]

You ****!

 

[3baygarage]

Very nice, thanks for posting it up again.

Maybe that wasn’t the greatest attempt at a compliment, but, there is a 1/4 bald head ratchet for all to see.

 

[don long]

I thought it was great. Thanks

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Spectacular set!

 

[Mintgrun]

Oh, I get it. I could probably have been a little clearer in my post. Here is a pat pending flex head from I think 61? Not sure on date. Patent is 49, there is another pending, and a 1 date code.

The flex head I found has the second patent number (pending on the one above), from 1961. Apparently it has to do with the ratcheting mechanism.










The only other Blackhawk tool I have is this 1/2 x 6" extension that I picked up last week.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice ratchet. Those are super smooth.

 

[David Jackson]

I have some Blackhawk 7/16" drive sockets with part number beginning with a "3" not a "4". They don't look as shiny and nice as the "4" s are and I am wondering if they are some sort of low cost variety. If someone knows please enlighten me.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

First of all, the "4"'s you're referring to are 1/2-inch drive.

Blackhawk's part numbering scheme in this era (1937 into early 50's) was...

2xxxx - 1/4-drive
34xxx - 3/8-drive handles
30xxx - 3/8-drive sockets
39xxx - 7/16-inch drive handles
35xxx - 7/16-inch drive sockets
4xxxx - 1/2-inch drive
6xxxx - 3/4-inch drive
8xxxx - 1-inch drive

They introduced 7/16-inch drive, which they called "Nuggets" and marketed as an economical size between 3/8- and 1/2-inch drive that could conceivably do the work of both, in 1937.

All sockets in this era had date codes. It's that single-digit number on the base next to the "BLACKHAWK" name. Yours are all 1941 or 1942.

As for the non-shiny finish, they look to be dark natural steel, indicating production when chrome-plating was being restricted by the War Production Board (WPB) for chromium preservation purposes. You are probably comparing them to chrome-plated 4xxxx 1/2-inch drive sockets. Wartime 4xxxx 1/2-inch drive sockets also have a dark natural steel finish.

The WPB also restricted tool redundancy (good examples are same drive size breaker bar in different lengths, sockets with service openings that are available in another drive size, etc) for steel preservation purposes. That order (Limitation Order L-216) whacked Blackhawk's entire 7/16-inch drive size as unnecessary. They dropped it and waited until after the war to re-introduce it to the world.

What you have are wartime Nuggets before L-216 went into effect. They are rare.

 

[David Jackson]

Dear Lugz,

Thanks so much for that info! I did not know any of that. I printed out your note and will keep it with the sockets. I gather that trying to make a complete set of these would be a real challenge.

Regards,
David Jackson

 

[David Jackson]

Interesting how things go ... I just went to ebay to see if there are other sockets like mine for sale and there is a whole wartime set! Not sure about the ratchet, but it looks like all the sockets are there and a flex handle and extension or two.
Blackhawk collectors take note.
Regards,
DJ

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I gather that trying to make a complete set of these would be a real challenge.

Based purely on the short timeframe (41-42), I would think so. I'm trying to remember if I've seen any on this thread or anywhere else before. There are more than a few Nuggets sets owners here and many other interested observers, so someone will chime in. But I believe the most common examples are either early (late 30's) or late (late 40's).

Interesting how things go ... I just went to ebay to see if there are other sockets like mine for sale and there is a whole wartime set! Not sure about the ratchet, but it looks like all the sockets are there and a flex handle and extension or two.
Blackhawk collectors take note.

I'm not sure when those were made. Early, not postwar style handles. I don't see any date codes, which is odd. They don't look shiny, but Blackhawk may have been using a satin finish or no plating as an economy line finish.

 

[David Jackson]

Are you thinking that the set for sale on ebay may not be wartime?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

See if you can see some date codes

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Are you thinking that the set for sale on ebay may not be wartime?

Without date codes (and again, I don't see any...) it's hard to say.

EDIT: If you 'Search this Thread' (blue button above) on 'Nuggets' and/or '7/16' you will get a list of posts in which that word has been used. If you click on each one and scroll up and down a little, that's where the individual pieces of Nuggets and Nuggets sets or the conversations about them will be. And you could catalog them by finish and date codes, if reported. I am tempted to do that just to see how many are pre-war (7-0), wartime (1-2) and postwar (6-8), and their finishes, but I am about to be on the road for the rest of the day and this is pretty far down my priorities list.

 

[GalaxyRat]

Here's a neat little socket I picked up the other day. It's a 4012 with the detent ball button to help take off the socket quicker/easier.

Sent from my SM-G973U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lock-On.

 

[David Jackson]

When you push the little button the socket gets locked on? How do you release it to take the socket off?

DJ

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Press the button

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Collected up a second nuggies set after finding another box...

 

[y'sguy]

Collected up a second nuggies set after finding another box...

Cool! very nice to have two great sets.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks yg, can't really stop myself sometimes!

 

[CRTDI]

..Super nice duo! The bakelite Nuggies box is the real challenge with these sets. They are most always cracked or chipped.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks crtdi. Yes I have only ever found these two intact.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Nice set of twins OTG!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks joco. One set is older, can't remember which, but has the cad sockets.

 

[thehorse13]

One of these days I will beat Twertsy to the punch and acquire a Nuggies set.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Took me years on first one. Here is a weird one. Spotted it on ebay for 12$.

 

[leg17]

..... I am tempted to do that just to see how many are pre-war (7-0), wartime (1-2) and postwar (6-8), and their finishes, ......

I have a number of date code 3.
1943??

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's about right for the finish on those

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have a number of date code 3.
1943??

I don't know if that code went into the 50's. Probably, especially if they're unplated. L-216 went into effect in April, 1943, so they would have to have been made before that.

 

[r_olson_06]

Took me years on first one. Here is a weird one. Spotted it on ebay for 12$.

Man that looks very similar to a Herbrand S-7 if I remember correctly.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Blackhawk 49996-3. 3 could be a date code.

 

[joshotto94]

I had keys made for the Blackhawk jacks. If your lock says BL10 on the top like most Blackhawk Jacks i have a couple keys available. If you are interested in one please send me a message. Thanks Josh