Vintage S-K Tools

[d42jeep]

I would be happy to trade these S-K Wayne tools for earlier S-K tools.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ I sent all my "Wayne" down there, didn't I?
How'd you end up with so much?!?!

 

[d42jeep]

I wish I knew. It seems to multiply while I’m not watching. Usually it comes in with other S-K tools that I actually need.
-Don

 

[Steven 33]

I would be happy to trade these S-K Wayne tools for earlier S-K tools.
-Don

I have more sk stuff than I can even explain. It's just always been on the back burner because it takes so long to organize sets properly and I have too many different types but if you were interested in some older stuff I'd be happy to do something. It would help me out so I have less to organize but unfortunately there are only a few brands that I am into for personal collection. Feel free to message me if you wanna do something.

 

[d42jeep]

It kind of looks like this one from the 1953 S-K Tools Catalog.

I decided that it would be fun to populate this box that Daniel IDed as from around 1953 with tools. Here are the results.
-Don

 

[ALLFAST]

That’s super nice Don. Is the box a dark, Danube type blue?

 

[d42jeep]

i would call it more of a medium gray. They were still offering them in 1958. I’m thinking of replacing the S-K combo wrenches with a more period correct bunch of S-K Lectrolite wrenches.
-Don

 

[ATate028]

i would call it more of a medium gray. They were still offering them in 1958. I’m thinking of replacing the S-K combo wrenches with a more period correct bunch of S-K Lectrolite wrenches.
-Don

That looks like the box I inherited from my grandpa. It has the same scallop on the latch. I thought they only came with a 1/2" drive set for some reason. Guess I didn't do my homework thoroughly enough. It's good to know the part number for it now.

 

[d42jeep]

That looks like the box I inherited from my grandpa. It has the same scallop on the latch. I thought they only came with a 1/2" drive set for some reason. Guess I didn't do my homework thoroughly enough. It's good to know the part number for it now.

That’s great that you have your Grandpa’s box. I believe that the gray boxes were sold empty to be filled by the buyer.
That’s why I filled my empty box with a group of period correct S-K tools. I removed the S-K marked wrenches today and added some spare S-K Lectrolite wrenches shown in the 1958 catalog.
-Don

 

[Catfishdan]

Found a set of artisan wrenches and a pair of pliers at an estate sale today. I guess I’d better peel the plastic dip off the handles and see if they have any kind of pattern. I can’t imagine it’s original.

 

[four.cycle]

^ pretty spectacular find there on the Artisan.

Don might know if those snazzy red handles are original.

 

[d42jeep]

Neither of my Artisan pliers have handle covers, for what that’s worth. I like those combos!
-Don

 

[ALLFAST]

i would call it more of a medium gray. They were still offering them in 1958. I’m thinking of replacing the S-K combo wrenches with a more period correct bunch of S-K Lectrolite wrenches.
-Don

Thank you Don. Must be computers and outside lighting . Nicely done upgrade with the wrench set!

 

[Fly Fishing Rick]

I inherited most of the 1/2" set from my dad, but the 1/4" ratchet was a lucky garage sale find. As far as I can tell the 1/4" is from the late 30s or early 40s and is my favorite 1/4" ratchet. I broke one of my 42470 ratchets a few years back, so I cut off the sharp broken section of the handle and polished it up after getting it warrantied out for another ratchet and I find myself reaching for it more often than I thought I would.

 

[Shelbylex]

Nice!
I am curious though how you managed to break that handle - cheater pipe?

 

[Fly Fishing Rick]

@Shelbylex Surprisingly enough I wasn't using a pipe. I was working on an old riding mower up on blocks and it slipped loose and came down on the ratchet during some rough convincing on a bolt. I'm not sure if the handle was already damaged from previous use with a cheater pipe or if it was a defect but I would have really expected the anvil to sheer before the handle no matter what happened.

 

[d42jeep]

Your 1/4” drive ratchet looks wartime to me.
-Don

 

[Fly Fishing Rick]

@d42jeep Just before WW2 as I understand it.

 

[d42jeep]

The prewar and postwar ratchets had a nice chrome finish that yours doesn't have. Otherwise they look the same up until around 1960 or so. I have quite a few. Here is a listing from the ‘43 wartime catalog.
-Don

 

[Fly Fishing Rick]

@d42jeep I see, makes sense. I was unaware that early patent number extended into wartime. Thanks for the info!

 

[d42jeep]

They used that early patent number 1981526 up to and even after the Wayne era but only on 1/4” drive ratchets. They used the early patent on 3/8” drive ratchets through WW2 and then changed to the later patent number 2232477. On 1/2” drive ratchets after the patent pending markings they used 2232477, never the earlier number. On beaver tails that pattern didn’t necessarily apply.
-Don

 

[StillTooManyHobbies]

Here's a family photo of my S-K adjustable wrench collection from 4" to 16". I have a double on the 10" but no 14". None came from the same vendor and it took a couple years to get all of them at semi-reasonable prices.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this wartime 3/8” drive ratchet with the early patent number plus a matching short extension at today’s estate sale.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This partial blue box S-K Lectrolite set arrived recently. I already have one so I will be bringing this one to Tahoe in the spring. I’m missing the amber spinner and a 6 point 7/16” socket with the detent divot. I like the blue boxes and believe that the color change probably occurred around 1962 after the sale to Wayne but before the change in markings.
-Don
As received
Added tools to match my existing set.

 

[d42jeep]

This complete set arrived from an eBay seller today. I liked that it still had its original paint. I had previously made up the same set with a repainted box and sockets I had picked up over time. I gently cleaned the box and sockets.
According to AA the holes in the sockets had been discontinued around ‘53 and the divots for the retaining balls had been added around ‘55. This set could be as late as 1958 based on the logo. Here are both sets together.
From the 1958 catalog.
They continued sets with the same size sockets well after the Wayne era as seen on the right
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Heh; All your sets are shown "upside down" from the catalog page

 

[Cruzan80]

And the one on the left side is "left-handed", aka backwards...

 

[d42jeep]

I like to be able to read the sizes of the sockets with the lid of the box open. I looked up the catalog comparison after taking the pictures. I put one of the sets into the mid ‘50s grey box. I added this drag link bit that arrived in the mail yesterday as well. It spent two weeks in the black hole that is the USPS after arriving in the Bay Area.
-Don


-Don

 

[23ford]

I nyhave a lot of dads SK tools for sale if anyone is interested

 

[d42jeep]

I suggest that you might want to list them in the Garage Journal classified ads.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This partial blue box S-K Lectrolite set arrived recently. I already have one so I will be bringing this one to Tahoe in the spring. I’m missing the amber spinner and a 6 point 7/16” socket with the detent divot. I like the blue boxes and believe that the color change probably occurred around 1962 after the sale to Wayne but before the change in markings.
-Don
As received
Added tools to match my existing set.

This nice correct 6 point 7/16” socket arrived in the mail yesterday and completes the new set except for the elusive amber handle spinner.
-Don

 

[Kdaniel8601]

This is the one I put together after I found a new box.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice! That looks like new. I found a spinner on a Buy It Now this morning so mine will be complete when it arrives.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

That looks like new.

You noticed that too?
I looked for weeks for one of those and finally gave up and just went with the green-and-white striped model to complete a set.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Here is some SK coolness. Found on Facebook marketplace in Mass.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Here is some SK coolness. Found on Facebook marketplace in Mass.

I’m curious about Krause stores now. Was it a hardware store? Department store?

 

[RTM]

I’m curious about Krause stores now. Was it a hardware store? Department store?

Start here maybe

"krauss stores" - Google Search

 

[d42jeep]

This nice correct 6 point 7/16” socket arrived in the mail yesterday and completes the new set except for the elusive amber handle spinner.
-Don

The spinner arrived today and was in surprisingly good condition.
The set will never be as nice as Daniel’s but it’s now complete.
-Don

 

[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

I’ve been watching for a box and sockets to make a permanent version of this set up for around a year and this one turned up for a reasonable price. Only one of the sockets was Wayne and the rest will clean up. Unfortunately, the spot welds holding the divider in the middle of the box had broken. Rather than rivet or trying to re-weld it back on, I went with JB Weld which will probably hold it just fine. Here is the partial set as received.
Most of the sockets are having an overnight bath in the evaporust and the JB Weld should be set up by tomorrow.

-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Rather than rivet or trying to re-weld it back on, I went with JB Weld

Don, next time you have something like that that needs spot-welded -since we are reasonably local to each other, part of the year, Ping me and we can use my spot welder to fix it factory.