Vintage S-K Tools

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice sockets. I don't come across the war finish ones much. Picked up another artisan set as well as an sk chrome. Like the other artisan stuff only the ratchet and box are marked as such.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my S-K Chrome set that my buddy from first grade found for me in 2017.
-Don

 

[David Jackson]

David,
I thought that I had sent you this.
-Don

Hi Don,
You did send me that, yes indeed and we wrote back and forth about some oddball sockets. What I have never seen is any components, aside from the sockets I have, in that black oxide finish.
So, what I was hoping to see is some photos of ratchets, etc. in that black finish; and if none exist, then what do the experts (you, among others) think was packed in a set with my black sockets?
Is it possible that the black sockets were not part of an actual set with ratchet etc.? Or, could they have been packet with other parts of a set with a plain steel finish or cad, or something else?
The box in the picture in the catalog ad has no S-K decal showing at all, is that how the box would have been or is that more likely just a drawing?
I am just a curious rookie.

Regards,

David J.

 

[David Jackson]

Nice set you have there, David. twertsy used to have a 1943 S-K catalog on his toolarchives site but I can no longer find it there. This 1941 version on the Internet Tool Catalog Library has the same sets, though.

Bill

Hi Mr. Bill,

That's a neat catalog page! Lots of different possible combinations. Of course that catalog is from 1941, probably set up before we were in the war (printing lead times and all that) and it lists Chrome sets, which, of course, my sockets aren't.
Do you recall if the 1943 catalog you are referring to mentioned black finish tools?

David J.

 

[David Jackson]

Nice sockets. I don't come across the war finish ones much. Picked up another artisan set as well as an sk chrome. Like the other artisan stuff only the ratchet and box are marked as such.

Is there a tiny piece of an Artisan decal in the middle photo? I am not familiar with Artisan as a brand; made by S-K?

Looking at your photos of your sets tells me that some box arrangement very similar to your set is a possibile example of how the sockets I have might have been originally sold.

DJ

 

[David Jackson]

Here is my S-K Chrome set that my buddy from first grade found for me in 2017.
-Don

A neat set! Another example of how the sockets I have might have been part of a set at one time; still no photos of black ratchets etc. Anybody have one?

DJ

 

[misterbill]

David,

You won't see any catalog references for black oxide tools because of the chrome restrictions of that time. From the stickie at the top of this subforum:

WWII
Generally, tools made between 1942 to 1945 are not plated. Wartime finishes include natural steel, cadmium, phosphates, oxides, enamel, and japanning. Generally, wartime tools will also have no alloy markings (e.g., Nickel, Chromium, Molybdenum, Vanadium), although they lingered into 1942.

The takeaway is that the items in the socket sets would be the same, just the finish would be different.

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The artisan sets were made by sk for gambles stores. No decal had a metal plate.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Also the tools were all marked sk except for the ratchets which were marked artisan

 

[David Jackson]

Hi Bill,

And others of course ...

Looking through the thread from the beginning, on page 5 I found a post from USER NAME ALEADY IN USE with a photo showing that indeed, the ratchet from the time period of the sockets I have, does exist with the black finish, ditto some other bits. That means that someday I may find one!

I don't know how to add the photo which USER NAME posted back on the 18th of November, 2015 at 7:11 AM, but if anyone is curious it is still there in this thread.

Thanks for that USER NAME!

DJ

 

[d42jeep]

First, here is Usernames photo. The next shot is my complete (less unobtainium crossbar) 1/2” Drive set with two extras sitting on the lid. As can be seen in the pictures of your sockets, black oxide was not a particularly durable finish and wore off with usage. I only concerned myself with wartime finishes when putting together my set. The third photo shows some sockets that weren’t included in the original set. The fourth photo is a NOS black oxide finish socket. The fifth picture shows ratchets with black oxide finishes. The sixth picture shows them a little closer. The last shot is of a couple of NOS black oxide deep sockets.
-Don

 

[David Jackson]

Hi Don,

Thanks so much! Those photos show me what I wanted to learn. Now all I have to do is find some black ratchets etc. I have yet to see any for sale, I wonder if perhaps they are super scarce. It would seem that is the case.

Regards,

David J.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They pop up. I think don has most of them!

 

[d42jeep]

They pop up. I think don has most of them!

I try. I have to beat out you, mr bill and Username to get any. Here is my favorite dark finish 1/4” drive set. It’s a good thing that Roy isn’t collecting S-K any more.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

He is the plomb guys problem now!

 

[David Jackson]

If the virus thing ever ends, perhaps some yard sale will have a treasure, or maybe there are some sort of tool swap meets somewhere near me (north central CA). In the meantime, thanks for sharing great photos of neat toolsets!

DJ

 

[r_olson_06]

SK literally grows out of the ground around here. It is crazy. I probably still have more SK than Plomb. I have about 1/2 my socket sets listed now but at one time I was over 50 of them. No where near Don territory [emoji3].

Looking for a Plomb 3061 Pebble Open End.

 

[Kdaniel8601]

There is a 1/2" drive black oxide ratchet on ebay, "S-K TOOLS 1/2" DRIVE RATCHET SOCKET WRENCH - 42470 - MADE IN USA - SK S K" there asking $19.99 or best offer

 

[d42jeep]

That’s a nice early example with the enclosed clip area. David should pick that one up quickly or I suspect it will be gone.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Hi Bill,

And others of course ...

Looking through the thread from the beginning, on page 5 I found a post from USER NAME ALEADY IN USE with a photo showing that indeed, the ratchet from the time period of the sockets I have, does exist with the black finish, ditto some other bits. That means that someday I may find one!

I don't know how to add the photo which USER NAME posted back on the 18th of November, 2015 at 7:11 AM, but if anyone is curious it is still there in this thread.

Thanks for that USER NAME!

DJ

I try. I have to beat out you, mr bill and Username to get any.

Nice, Don. I'm all set on 1/2" drive ratchets. But, that's not to say I won't pick up another one (or two...)

Sorry for the delayed response. Without any fresh flea market tool finds to clean and post, I've been keeping myself busy with other things.

Here's a more recent picture of the 1/2" drive set in black oxide. In the previous one, I think the 2 smallest sockets were Bonney placeholders. Couple of cad sockets in there. Still missing the flex head breaker bar and the t-bar handle.

The extension were difficult enough to find.

The Pat. Pend. marked ratchet in black oxide is a bit of an oddity. Black oxide wan't invented until the war years, but the patent for the ratchet was awarded years before.

In any case, if you can't find a good ratchet in black oxide, they're out there in cadmium plated as well.

 

[CRTDI]

I try. I have to beat out you, mr bill and Username to get any. Here is my favorite dark finish 1/4” drive set. It’s a good thing that Roy isn’t collecting S-K any more.-Don

This set just has THE look... Super nice..

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. Other than one socket and the spinner, that is just like I got it. I think Usernames’ 1/4” drive set is very similar. Here are the images from the eBay listing. I just couldn’t let it get away.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Looks like Don's set has a nicer label. And that dark finished nut driver handle....

 

[misterbill]

Nothing like some good WWII S-K socketry!

1/4"

1/2"

And note the closed clip area Don mentioned.

Bill

 

[d42jeep]

These sets are coming out of the woodwork now! Bill, that is a nice looking set. Here is my small 3/8” drive nut spinner set missing the 1/2” wartime socket. Bill has the larger wartime 3/8” drive set. I put a repro decal on the set this morning to replace the one that was obviously missing.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

Here's the 4517 3/8" set that Don mentioned above.

Bill

 

[d42jeep]

Bill,
That’s a really nice set and the box is amazing. The decal is excellent and having the set number painted on the edge of the box is a huge plus.
I received a 12 point 3/4” deep socket today for my early 40s set. I think the remaining 3/8” and 1/2” 12 point sockets are going to be hard to find.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I wonder if they made a black oxide version of these

 

[d42jeep]

I’m sure that they would have. The breaker bars in both Bill’s and my 3/8” drive set were originally black oxide, now showing some wear. They tended to use cad plating earlier and black oxide later in the war. They were aware of the dangers of cad poisoning, even back then. Here are some wartime 3/8” drive tools.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

I wonder if they made a black oxide version of these

They did. Don has one that looks like it was dipped in molasses and then painted with tar.

 

[d42jeep]

Maybe a slight exaggeration. These all have the earlier patent.
-Don

 

[David Jackson]

There is a 1/2" drive black oxide ratchet on ebay, "S-K TOOLS 1/2" DRIVE RATCHET SOCKET WRENCH - 42470 - MADE IN USA - SK S K" there asking $19.99 or best offer

Thanks for the tip, but, as another commented, I was too late. I did find another for about $100 but that's over my budget.

Maybe I'll get lucky one day. I do look pretty much every day though.

Regards,

DJ

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some cad midget stuff

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a cad set with the only wartime 7/32” socket I’ve ever found.
-Don

 

[Kdaniel8601]

There is another black oxide on ebay for $20.00 or best offer "Vintage S-K 42470 1/2" Drive Ratchet,Pat.No.2232477 Collectible S-K Tools USA"

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think I have a black 7/32 somewhere

 

[d42jeep]

There is another black oxide on ebay for $20.00 or best offer "Vintage S-K 42470 1/2" Drive Ratchet,Pat.No.2232477 Collectible S-K Tools USA"

Good spotting. David needs to jump on that! It’s even in Northern California not too far from where he lives.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I think I have a black 7/32 somewhere

I’d be happy to trade something for it if you are interested in letting it go.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I will look for it

 

[David Jackson]

Good spotting. David needs to jump on that! It’s even in Northern California not too far from where he lives.
-Don

Thanks to both of you! I got it; I saw it before just wasn't sure if it is really a black piece or not ... guess I will find out when it arrives.

Regards,

David J.