Vintage S-K Tools

[outofbounds]

d42jeep, You, and select few others here, never fail to impress with the amazing "inventory" you've amassed Can you comment as to age of the SK box I presented vs. what you call a wartime box? is there an age relationship to be gleaned as to whether the box has a decal inside, or a riveted metal badge on the exterior?

 

[d42jeep]

They went to the riveted on plate shortly after WW2. The boxes with decals are WW2 or earlier. I’m not sure when the riveted plate logo changed but they used it for quite a while.
-Don

 

[outofbounds]

Thanks a bunch, Don!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Picked up this beavertail

 

[d42jeep]

Nice. It’s fairly rare to see an S-K marked one. It has the newer patent. What do you make of the circular marks on the control side?
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Not sure. Maybe some kind of damage? Or a repair. I might take it apart to see.

 

[tom coffey]

I just picked up this partial 1/4" S&K set at the local flea market for a couple of bucks. I'd like to restore it and pick up the missing pieces to complete the set. Where can I buy paint that is a close match to the green on the box? Does anyone reproduce the name plates?
Thanks.

 

[ken w.]

I have some pieces to complete the set. PM me.

 

[RTM]

For anyone in the SF bay area, this has been up on CL for a while. Will add it to the main CL deal thread later, but you guys may care more.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/d/union-city-sk-tools/7004805832.html

Or is it one of you guys?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice set but too new for me

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for the heads up. Those are good prices but I already have these sitting around.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

An old plug ratchet and a couple wrenches from 30s.

 

[Provincial]

I acquired a second SK 4V118 connecting rod socket last weekend. The one shown at Alloy Artifacts is a 6-point, but both of mine are 12-point. When did they change that?

 

[drivesitfar]

OTG: since you posted that old ratchet and it looks like it's missing it's plug is there a good source for a new plug or is that something a machinist needs to make for us?

I bet a lot of us are missing plugs for some of our ratchets cause when estate sales or relatives put stuff for sale and the plug isn't in the wrench i'm guessing is why so many are MIA sort of like pipe jaws for those old vises.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have a few laying around

 

[bmwrd0]

I save every plug that I come across, much like crossbars.

 

[r_olson_06]

OTG: since you posted that old ratchet and it looks like it's missing it's plug is there a good source for a new plug or is that something a machinist needs to make for us?

I bet a lot of us are missing plugs for some of our ratchets cause when estate sales or relatives put stuff for sale and the plug isn't in the wrench i'm guessing is why so many are MIA sort of like pipe jaws for those old vises.

eBay is a source at $10 per for a new one. The old ones can bring $30 a piece.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[d42jeep]

I just grabbed a couple from KC Tool. Looks like the 1/4” has been discontinued. I hoard the old ones as well.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

I acquired a second SK 4V118 connecting rod socket last weekend. The one shown at Alloy Artifacts is a 6-point, but both of mine are 12-point. When did they change that?

Prov, unless someone had catalog pages for those, you may have to go by the markings to get an approximate age. i.e. SK, SK tools, knurled, 2 band, 3 band, etc...

 

[d42jeep]

I acquired a second SK 4V118 connecting rod socket last weekend. The one shown at Alloy Artifacts is a 6-point, but both of mine are 12-point. When did they change that?

They were 12 point in the 1943 catalog. They were 6 point in the 1956 catalog.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple of Chrome Alloy tools I found yesterday. The Tiger Tools combo looks pretty similar.
-Don

 

[outofbounds]

Chanced across this S-K 1/2 Drive socket tray today and wondering where this is intended to be hung from. Any S-K sages can suggest the logical home for this item?

 

[d42jeep]

My green metric 3/8” drive socket set tray has those clips as well. I think they are supposed to hook the rack to a top socket tray, at least that’s my best guess.
-Don

 

[outofbounds]

Thanks, d42jeep. Wasn't sure if there was a wall rack or some such that accessory items like this were intended to hang from behind a workbench.

 

[tom coffey]

I bought this S&K tool box at a flea market this morning. It measures 22x10x10. I wonder what vintage it might be. I would like to restore it. Is the green wrinkle finish paint available anywhere?

 

[d42jeep]

My similar box is shown in post #560. Mine is missing the front cover which yours seems to have. Your box was made sometime after WW2. Matching the paint will be difficult.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

I bet simple green will do wonders on that box. I would just clean it and be happy. But that is just me.

 

[d42jeep]

I agree. There well could be the original paint left under the repaint.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

I bought this S&K tool box at a flea market this morning. It measures 22x10x10. I wonder what vintage it might be. I would like to restore it. Is the green wrinkle finish paint available anywhere?

That box originally housed a master mechanic set. That most of the tools SK made at that time minus 3/4" drive.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[d42jeep]

Here is the set that Roy is describing in the ‘56 catalog.
-Don

 

[tom coffey]

Well I have part of the 1/4" set in the lower left corner of the picture to go in it. Now to find the remaining parts! The $20 box will end up costing me a lot of money before this is over!
Today the box will get a good cleaning.

 

[bmwrd0]

" The $20 box will end up costing me a lot of money before this is over!"

Welcome to our world!

 

[d42jeep]

This morning at an estate sale I found a very similar box to Tom’s and my box posted recently. I was annoyed because I could never find a front cover for that box, so I was pleasantly surprised to see today’s box was complete and the previous owner had installed drawer liners when it was new. I spent some time this afternoon removing the liners and cleaning it up. I assume that the 1958 calendar was put in when it was new, which pretty much dates it.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice find don. Congratulations on finding one with the cover!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. I found a few S-K/Lectrolite tools at the sale as well.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Good looking SK box, Don! I’m still hunting for a green one like that.

 

[RubiconJK]

This morning at an estate sale I found a very similar box to Tom’s and my box posted recently. I was annoyed because I could never find a front cover for that box, so I was pleasantly surprised to see today’s box was complete and the previous owner had installed drawer liners when it was new. I spent some time this afternoon removing the liners and cleaning it up. I assume that the 1958 calendar was put in when it was new, which pretty much dates it.
-Don

Very nice find!

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm generally a big fan of Simple green. However it can be pretty harsh on painted surfaces...

In the Craftsman DP thread, FrankLee demonstrated a new (to me) product for de-greasing called Grez-off. The before an after pics were amazing. I've bought some and will be testing, probably this weekend and will report, but based on FrankLee's results it's probably a great choice for tool boxes...

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7900276&postcount=2506

 

[d42jeep]

I found this really early complete S-K 1/2” square drive socket set on eBay and it arrived today.
-Don

 

[tom coffey]

I'm thinking I'll try a good scrubbing with Dawn dish washing liquid first. It has been raining since I brought the box home and other things have kept me from it so far, but maybe in a couple of days. There were a few tolls in the box when I bought it including a brush that looks like just the right one for scrubbing it. Then, if the Dawn doesn't do what I want, maybe some Awesome cleaner.