Vintage S-K Tools

[r_olson_06]

I recently went to an estate sale in Franklin Park, IL, previous home of S-K/Dresser Era and it was a former SK Employee and found this interesting flat handled Frankenstein which is the first that myself and DaveThorik have seen. Hat tip to Dave for noticing it and asking me to document it here.

It also has a chromed push button which most don't and the part number stamped into it is actually for a 3/8 dr thumbwheel. The backside of the handle has no stamps. It seems to have a higher polish too, maybe they were testing different handles and finishes and this guy took one home?

I also found a flat handled 1/2 drive with just Made in USA on it, no brand such as Klein, Gambles, JCPenney etc. Higher polish finish on this one too.

Other pics from the S-K pick in the garage sale thread.

That very well could have happened. I have a 1/2" exactly like that but with a Gamble's stamping. They could have made the ratchets and then finished the final stamping later on or it could have been snagged off of the production line or sold a company store.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm thinking those flat handles may have been made trying to get in on Sears sales? something to use to pitch to Sears?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That handle looks like their penneys stuff

 

[3baygarage]

That Frankenstein raised panel ratchet is quite the find. The shared part number has me wondering if S-K flipped a coin to decide which to produce, that or the thumbwheel.

Here is a 3/8, no name. I’ve seen these in either JCP or Klein sets. If you see a knurled handle no name with a USA stamp, it’s likely from the Channelock 906K adjustable socket kit.

 

[bbrins]

I have the unbranded "Forged in U.S.A." flat panels in 3/8 And 1/2. Maybe some company didn't want to pay extra to have their brand stamped on, might have been cheaper to slap a decal on a case rather than forged into the tools.

I have had my hands on one of the flat panel "Frankenstein" 3/8 ratchets in a set, it was marked SK, but no part number. I tried to buy it, but the owner wasn't selling.

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[d42jeep]

Username sent me a wartime 1/2" drive 13/16" socket for my almost complete S-K set. I still need a non-Chrome 15/16" socket, a pin handle and a nice long wartime flex handle. Here it is with some other wartime 1/4" drive tools.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sets are looking good!

Sk loved doing contract stuff. Here are some various ratchets they did for other brands

 

[Oldtuleguy]

My lone sk frankenstein

 

[d42jeep]

Sets are looking good!

Sk loved doing contract stuff. Here are some various ratchets they did for other brands

They even made some of those marked S-K besides the others.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sometimes I wonder which they made more of, and for that matter if they discontinued some, such as the beavertails, in sk, but continued to sell them in other brands, such as the chrome alloys.

 

[d42jeep]

It seems to me that they must have discontinued them pretty early. Brazil marked Chrome Alloy sets are really hard to find considering that they were a price line. I think that S-K was selling so many knurled handle ratchets that there was no point in continuing on with the beaver tails.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I will have to check my patent dates, but some of my knurled handles have the earlier 1981526 pat, and some of the beavertails have the 2232477 (issued I think 1941), so there must have been some overlap.

 

[davethorik]

Sometimes I wonder which they made more of, and for that matter if they discontinued some, such as the beavertails, in sk, but continued to sell them in other brands, such as the chrome alloys.

I'm wanting to say the Mac beavertails were offered early to mid 50s, I think they are probably the 'newest' of that design.

 

[d42jeep]

S-K patent number markings are interesting. All of the knurled Diamond 1/4” drive ratchets I’ve run across have the early patent number. While there are some knurled 3/8” and 1/2” drive Diamond ratchets with the early number, they are much more likely to have the later patent number.
On our way to Tahoe today, we swung by Honza’s place today to pick up the early decal labeled carry box that he posted in #1017. I had bought it some time back but this was the first time we had a chance to pick it up. It will be a great place to store my wartime S-K sets. Thanks again, Honza!
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The later patent is described as an elaboration on the earlier one

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=2232477&id=28469

 

[ljs501]

Got this tool box at a garage sale today, would like to know more about it. Such as the year it was made, what it would have contained when sold.

 

[Outlawmws]

SK Tools was the trademark from 1932 to late 50's

Your box is unusual to me in that it doesn't have a tray rail inside.

It may have been sold plain empty as just a box that you put any tools in? without a specific model No. it could be hard to pick a "set" it came with.

With that font style I'd guess late in the Trademark life? (see OTG's box just prior)

 

[ljs501]

Thank you for your response.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Post wayne, so 1970 or later. Not that up on the newer logos. Here is a postwar nut spinner set from a storage unit, looks unused.

 

[Outlawmws]

Did Dresser bring back the SK Tools Tradmark?

 

[r_olson_06]

Did Dresser bring back the SK Tools Tradmark?

I think it went to Superkrome and the. Just SK all after the dresser era.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[d42jeep]

I spent some time today cleaning up my new early S-K carry box and loaded it up with all of my wartime S-K sets. Here are some pictures I took during the process.
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

I spent some time today cleaning up my new early S-K carry box and loaded it up with all of my wartime S-K sets. Here are some pictures I took during the process.
-Don

Looks great. That is a plethora of SK!

 

[d42jeep]

Looks great. That is a plethora of SK!

Thanks! Here is a prewar 1/2” drive deep spark plug socket set missing the round chrome L handle.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Lookin' good, Don. I found a 7/8" 'Chrome Alloy' socket at the flea this weekend. Lemme know if you need it for one of your sets.

 

[d42jeep]

Lookin' good, Don. I found a 7/8" 'Chrome Alloy' socket at the flea this weekend. Lemme know if you need it for one of your sets.

Thanks. I think I have that one but I’ll double check when I get home on Tuesday.
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

SK-Wayne tool box that came with an SK-Wayne 3/4" drive socket set and a complete SK-Wayne combo wrench set in a tool roll (7/16" - 1-1/4") I purchased for $75. Most of the sockets in the set were never used but the short extension has some wear from being used as a punch

One interesting thing I noted was that all but one socket are marked "SK" whereas all the drive tools are marked "SK-Wayne".

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Next up are a couple sets I purchased at the Portland swap meet last month.

S-K 1/2" deep socket set with L-bar.

S-K 3/8" drive socket set with a couple items not belonging to the set including:
1/2" L-bar
1/2" tommy bar

Bonus finds that often get thrown out include:
3/8" drive tommy bar
Inspection card, dated July 24 1956.

I won't have any trouble completing this set!

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

S-K made JCPenney tools.

1/2" drive deep socket set (complete)
3/8" drive METRIC socket set (incomplete)
3/8" drive flex-head "tune-up" ratchet. The thumbwheel was an option with the rebuild kits that were available so I chose to give it one.

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

This set also came from the Portland Swap meet last month.

S-K made Brazil tools 1/2" drive socket set. The ratchet is a Mossberg from the same era. If anyone is interested in trading an era-correct SK ratchet for the Mossberg, please contact me.

The sockets are only stamped with a size which, if I understand correctly, is normal for early S-K sets? If so, I appear to be missing one socket (19/32").

The only socket I photographed by itself was an 11/32" (1/2" drive) - which is a first for me.

Brian

 

[d42jeep]

Next up are a couple sets I purchased at the Portland swap meet last month.

S-K 1/2" deep socket set with L-bar.

Brian

Brian,
I have that set as well. Which socket are you missing so I can check my spares?
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

Brian,
I have that set as well. Which socket are you missing so I can check my spares?
-Don

Thanks for the offer, Don!

I have a hip roof box packed full of knurled sockets (deep sockets included) that I need to dig through first. I almost certainly have a spare!

Brian

 

[bmwrd0]

I have that set as well, but oddly, the box is marked SK Wayne.

 

[Rileysan]

I have that set as well, but oddly, the box is marked SK Wayne.

I have a few knurled SK-Wayne deep sockets that probably fit your set but, IIRC, none of those sockets have the hole for the L-bar. Am I correct in my guess that the L-bar disappeared by the Wayne era?

Brian

 

[bmwrd0]

No hole for an L-bar. And the sockets aren't marked Wayne, just the box. Normally I wouldn't think too much about it, but they all match in use (still shiny) and the box doesn't show much wear. My guess is they are from right around when they changed to Wayne and it is easier to put a new label on the box rather than dump old sockets. Sorry no pics, but they are buried at the moment.

 

[d42jeep]

Looks like they were making that set for quite a while.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Picked up an old 2 drawer box. Supposedly sitting for last 50 years. Paint looks good on inside, no dents and still has tray. No slides on drawers, not sure what year the slides started.

 

[r_olson_06]

Picked up an old 2 drawer box. Supposedly sitting for last 50 years. Paint looks good on inside, no dents and still has tray. No slides on drawers, not sure what year the slides started.

Have the same box and same lack of slides. This box housed the master socket set that SK had at the time including 1/2" about everything. 3/8" swivels and standard. 1/4" socket set and lastly stubby and stand box end wrench sets.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[d42jeep]

I have that one too. Unfortunately, the front cover is missing on mine although it came with the tray.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

I have that one too. Unfortunately, the front cover is missing on mine although it came with the tray.
-Don

Is that double male extension SK? I have a few and never did figure out the OEM.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,