Vintage S-K Tools

[Farmer J.]

Here you go…now this I can talk about all day. It’s got 10,800 original miles on it. I got it to restore, but it’s in such great condition, I just can’t make myself touch it. No rust. Original owner kept in in a barn and tooled around on his farm with it. I’m owner #3.

Great, keep it original, and it's perfect for using with your original SK tool kit.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Great, keep it original, and it's perfect for using with your original SK tool kit.

Do we have a Willys section? I have lots of questions.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I’m curious about one thing on the Jeep. When I was young, I worked at a place that had an old Jeep they used to go back and forth between the shop and the scrap yard. Its top speed was about thirty mph in high gear. It was a military surplus, I believe. When did they start making Jeeps that would attain normal speeds?

 

[Farmer J.]

These days 30 mph is about a 'normal speed' for me...
Seriously though, I wonder what answer the Jeep guys will come back with. The old late 1940's and 1950's series 1 Land Rovers drive comfortably at around 30mph, and will do 40 on a good highway but really the drum brakes and non assisted sloppy steering and skinny cross ply tyres can't cope with much more speed than that.
We should start a 'Jeep' thread for this discussion...

 

[Batjac65]

I’m curious about one thing on the Jeep. When I was young, I worked at a place that had an old Jeep they used to go back and forth between the shop and the scrap yard. Its top speed was about thirty mph in high gear. It was a military surplus, I believe. When did they start making Jeeps that would attain normal speeds?

Mine runs pretty comfortably at 45-50. Granted, it’s wound tight at 50. I’ve had it at least up around 55, but that’s getting uncomfortable.

I would imagine the CJ5 would be first to easily run in the 60-70s.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

They plopped the Ford six in mine.

 

[d42jeep]

Do we have a Willys section? I have lots of questions.

Here is an entire site for you to check out. Much of the Jeep information is slanted towards WW2 Jeeps.

G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums - Index page

You will probably recognize some of the participants, particularly in the tool section.
-Don
My ‘42 Ford Jeep. Tow rope by Lugz. 35 MPH is reasonable, 45 is just about too fast

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Here is an entire site for you to check out. Much of the Jeep information is slanted towards WW2 Jeeps.

G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums - Index page

You will probably recognize some of the participants, particularly in the tool section.
-Don
My ‘42 Ford Jeep. Tow rope by Lugz. 35 MPH is reasonable, 45 is just about too fast

Oh yea. I have seen that. But the women forbids me to join another group. I have so many questions they would ban me there.

 

[Macduf]

When we walked in it had the look of an old woman's house, dainty doilies and such. Then in the garage surrounded by Christmas stuff was this. Missing some pieces

 

[d42jeep]

Looks like Christmas to me!
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like Christmas to me!

Ditto!

 

[Macduf]

Would it date to the 50s ?

 

[d42jeep]

Yes. The first half of the ‘50s. The 1/2” drive deep sockets don’t have L handle holes and the midget set doesn’t have any 12 point sockets.
-Don

 

[oak_park]

When I pick up ratchets, I always open them up and clean them, this time I noticed the mechanism on the right had a unique lever that was 'open' as compared to the standard lever is stamped/pinned as shown on the left. thought I'd share. I'm guessing the one on the right is an earlier version. both 3/8ths.

 

[Etchase]

When I pick up ratchets, I always open them up and clean them, this time I noticed the mechanism on the right had a unique lever that was 'open' as compared to the standard lever is stamped/pinned as shown on the left. thought I'd share. I'm guessing the one on the right is an earlier version. both 3/8ths.

Have never seen that before. And it barely retains the pawl shaft. Very interesting.

 

[Kdaniel8601]

I finally found a 1 1/4" S-K Chrome socket, I have never seen one until today.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice! Mine only go up to 1-1/8”. Another tool to look for.
-Don

 

[Etchase]

 

[d42jeep]

Nice set! Do the sockets have the depression in the drive end for the retaining ball?

This nutdriver arrived in the mail today. I’m assuming that it was sourced from Xcelite since it’s kind of a stinkdriver.
-Don
With friends.

 

[Etchase]

Nice set! Do the sockets have the depression in the drive end for the retaining ball?

This nutdriver arrived in the mail today. I’m assuming that it was sourced from Xcelite since it’s kind of a stinkdriver.
-Don
With friends.

They do have the divots., and no chamfers on the drive side. S-K must have been one of the last to add a lead in chamfer to the drive side. When did they add the depressions for the ball, mid-50’s?

 

[Etchase]

I think the 6 point sockets on the three smaller sizes, and the lack of a Wayne logo places this set between ‘58 and ‘63. The depressions for the retaining ball started around 55. This is all according to AA. None of My SK sockets thru the Dresser period have lead in chamfers on the drive end. Gives me something to look for tomorrow.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Nice set! Do the sockets have the depression in the drive end for the retaining ball?

This nutdriver arrived in the mail today. I’m assuming that it was sourced from Xcelite since it’s kind of a stinkdriver.
-Don
With friends.

Awesome nut driver, where did you find the 1/4? I can’t find other sizes besides the ones I have.

I believe they are Vaco sourced.

 

[d42jeep]

eBay was my friend in this case although a bit expensive. I believe that you are correct about sourcing from Vaco after doing a comparison by checking my pictures.
-Don

 

[Raineman]

If I remember correctly, VACO had the hollow shaft for allowing long threaded bolts/shafts (car speaker grills come to mind). I think one other company may have had hollow shafts but don't think it was Xcelite.

 

[d42jeep]

A few S-K updates. The 40253 1/2” drive flex handles are under represented in my collection. This one came in the mail today. I need to find a crossbar to go with it
They were used for a few years in the 4012 sets.
Picked up a couple of dark finish 1/4” drive 8 point sockets.
These two wartime sets are complete and are moving into the basement with their relatives.
Made up a 4012 set by using pieces from a larger set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I received an upgrade for my prewar S-K Chrome set this afternoon in a care package from Oregon. The one I had was showing impact wear and had a little chunk missing. The new one looks much better.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

S-K ? or not S-K ?

 

[d42jeep]

If those are S-K, I haven’t seen any like them.
-Don

 

[Ricky Joe]

I know Thorsen used to have Made in USA without putting their name on the wrench, or anything else. These make me think of Upland Forge, somehow. I can’t really contribute more than that.

 

[oak_park]

Yes, those are S-K. Non raised panel, rougher satin finish and just stamped forged in USA. Like these....

 

[d42jeep]

Kind of a step down from these. Probably not good for their reputation of making quality tools.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I was happy to find a 3/8” drive Tuff 1 ratchet hiding in an old Thorsen set at today’s estate sale. When adjusted properly these are some smooth working ratchets. I previously only had 1/4” drive examples.
-Don

 

[Raineman]

Don, I have one like that stamped JS USA and it is by far the smoothest ratchet I’ve ever had.

 

[LNKMK8]

Picked up a couple of nice knurled base sets last month... 1/2" drive and 3/4" drive with a few Duro replacements and a New Britain 4" extension. I think they cleaned up pretty well for their age.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice sets. I particularly like the 3/4” drive set since I have very few.
As I posted in the Secret Santa thread, I opened my package today from the Pacific Northwest. The contents couldn’t have been more appropriate. The 3/8” drive box was from a #4511 set I didn’t have.I dug out the tools that I thought would be correct for the 3/8” drive box. It turns out that the extension was a bit too long.

For the 1/4” drive set I thought it would be a nice prewar or early war Chrome set before the metal restrictions went into effect. Of course I didn’t have a 5/16” crossbar in my spares.
The two sets together.
Thanks, BK and Merry Christmas.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I located the correct extension and added it to the #4511 set posted above. It will now take its place in the basement. Here it is in the basement next to a newer version of the same set. They downsized the box a little on the newer set.

 

[Blackduck]

I found this 1/2" drive ratchet at the flea market the other day. Couldn't just leave it there. It is marked Pat Pend, which I belive puts it before 1941. I took it apart, cleaned and lubed it, and it works fine. I'm kind of partial to SK since I've used them to make a living most of my life.

 

[d42jeep]

The patent was granted 2/28/41 so likely made prior to that. They would have had to change the dies to include the patent number so maybe a little later. Those ratchets were definitely ahead of their time. The top three in the following picture are Pat. Pend. and the markings aren’t exactly the same. Great ratchets.
-Don

 

[Blackduck]

Nice collection there Don!
I used a lot of different tool brands over the years and SK never let me down. They had a good thing going for a long time.

 

[Kdaniel8601]

This is my black oxide 1/2" drive ratchet, marked PAT PEND. When would it have been made?