Unsual Socket Set

[Toolmanjim]

I inherited this socket set from a deceased Brother In Laws Estate and find it very unusual.
It is 5 /16 drive no Ratchet but has a very nice heavy Breaker Bar and a Rod that goes thru the handle top,
All sockets have knurling along the end of them that attaches to the bar. The box has a fancy design on the bottom of the hinges.
I have heard this 5/16 drive referred to as Farrett drive. Will post pics as soon as I figure out how to post them on here.

 

[Toolmanjim]

Here is the set that I mentioned.

 

[four.cycle]

Are there any markings on the sides of the sockets?
Maybe something like:

this?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You nailed it, 4.c. Hinsdale No. 185 set.

 

[Mintgrun]

Cool. I looked it up. Here it is in the 1933 catalog.

Hinsdale Tools of Quality : New Tool Prices : Hinsdale Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

4 p., illus., 27.8 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Toolmanjim]

Are there any markings on the sides of the sockets?
Maybe something like:

this?

The only marking on any of them is 3 small solid squares. I did not clean the breaker bar at all still has some ol grease.
I left that in tribute to the deceased brother in law.

 

[Toolmanjim]

You nailed it, 4.c. Hinsdale No. 185 set.

Private Lugnutz: Thanks very much for your knowledge and kindess. As the saying goes. And the rest of the story.
Everything matches up near perfectly. The label on mine was well battered so the one in the photos will fit in too.
Dewayne my deceased Brother In Law had a lot of tools of which I got many. His Grandad was a Mechanic as was Dewaynes Dad and then Dewayne was also. This socket set has a place in my tools of very high honor. I left some grease on the handle and sockets in there honor.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks very much for your knowledge and kindess.

My pleasure. Credit to @four.cycle ("4.c" for short), though. He was less explicit than me, but those are Hinsdale markings he was asking you to check for. He implicitly identified it correctly. I just provided the model number. It's a rare set, by the way. People throw that word around cavalierly, but I mean it. I don't recall seeing one on our Hinsdale thread, linked here.

I have heard this 5/16 drive referred to as Farrett drive.

"Ferret" was the brand name that Snap-on gave their 3/8-drive line in the same time period. Someone may have confused the two.

 

[oscarsnapkin]

Really neat set, and an even better story. Sorry for the loss of your brother-in-law. That breaker bar is super cool, by the way.

 

[Snaparxon]

Toolmanjim, thanks for posting a pic, can you get some measurements (length and thickness) of the crossbar? I have one that looks just like yours and have not been able to identify it.

Disregard, I found my cross bar and the knurling is different

 

[thehorse13]

I used to see a good amount of 1930s Hinsdale stuff at the local fleas, however, I have never seen this particular set before. You have a real treasure there. Hold on to it.

 

[cgrutt]

Very cool set. I laughed at catalog 65¢ Retails Easily Every Place at $1.25.... must have been original Harbor Freight...

 

[Toolmanjim]

Yet but sure worth a lot more these days this set is rock solid. And for the r=era its from the High Quality days.

 

[cgrutt]

Yet but sure worth a lot more these days this set is rock solid. And for the r=era its from the High Quality days.

No doubt I just thought the description from catalog was pretty funny.

 

[Leviton]

Here is the set that I mentioned.

That is a beautiful set!

 

[firstyearchevelle]

I found one of these sets a few years ago at a garage sale, unfortunately mine is missing a few pieces. Nice set.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/hinsdale-5-16-drive-set.495697/