Vintage S-K Tools

[d42jeep]

Here is a #4408 3/8” drive deep set I completed yesterday. It is shown in the 1958 catalog.





-Don

 

[d42jeep]

The missing socket arrived in the mail yesterday allowing me to complete this ‘58 3/8” drive universal set with all 6 point sockets.

Completed
-Don

 

[lilredex]

The missing socket arrived in the mail yesterday allowing me to complete this ‘58 3/8” drive universal set with all 6 point sockets.

Completed
-Don

I bought both those sets around 1954, when I was just a kid getting started. They were about $8 per set then.

 

[Shelbylex]

My addition to SK collection from todays yard sale:
SK Wayne 45170 ratchet
SK Wayne 3/8 sockets: 3/8, 5/8, 11/16, ¾, 7/8
SK knurled ½ drive 40140 1 ¼ socket
SK knurled ½ drive deep 5/8 socket

The green tray is not SK, but it is somewhat similar in width to the 2 tool trays from SK Red Tool Wagon which are missing (had a gut feeling during the yard sale, pulled up the catalog and decided to buy it based on measurements as temporary replacement (I will most likely eventually ask somebody to properly recreate the trays and paint them wrinkled black; will need to figure out what was in them and how the dividers were placed (no good pictures - I hope somebody finds another Red Tool Wagon which is complete. P&C Tool Wagon (last picture) looks somewhat similar and better image resolution (If anybody has it, please let me know - I will ask for pictures and measurements)

The small socket box I found looks similar to one from 4097 set from 1941 catalog (which Don added to this thread with his box), but is not marked and I do not see any good remnants of the sticker (will check with magnifying glass one more time, but nothing except for few tiny specs of different material in the center (maximize your magnification if you want to see them, they are tiny)
I assume it's SK. Does anybody agree or disagree?

 

[d42jeep]

Your small box is mostly like this one I recently received in the mail.
Yours is earlier and doesn’t have the water transfer as well as the notches that keep the lid from closing too far. Your box would be appropriate for the prewar S-K Chrome 1/4” drive set like this one, which just shows a hint of the water transfer.
The set is shown in your Tool Wagon artists rendering.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

I assume it's SK. Does anybody agree or disagree?

The littlest box, it looks like early Craftsman, or New Britain to me. Although I've never noticed that 'extra' piece against the hinge side of the box, inside the socket area.

Here's my C-series example.





EDIT, comparing the rulers in our photos, your box appears to be a bit longer. (Don posted while I was typing. I'm not arguing).

 

[Shelbylex]

Addendum: I put more information below, please read the newer version

Thank you, Don and Mintgrun

The color was greenish on this box

Don, the catalog image is from P&C catalog (added it to comment on the tray).
Red Tool Wagon had a more complete 1/4 set (most likely the one is in the right lower corner of the lower tray).
Addendum: it had a more complete set 1/4 drive set for 6702 set of tools and 4097 1/4 set for 6700 set of tools

Red Tool Wagon set 6702

1/4 Square Drive

F 40970 Reverse ratchet
40961 2” extension
40962 6” extension
F 40953 Flex Handle □
40950 Cross bar □
40908 1/4 hex socket □
40909 9/32 hex socket □
40910 5/16 hex socket □
40911 11/32 hex socket □
40912 3/8 hex socket □
40914 7/16 socket □
40988 1/4 square drive socket □
40900 5/16 square socket □
40901 3/8 square socket □
Above Packed in separate steel box (wrinkle finish per 1941 catalog)

I think they included 4098 set in the advertisement on the page. However, when we do more search,

They mention the following sets :
6700 71 pieces addendum: there is a mention that it's the same as 4000 set (mentioned in the left lower part of the ad)
6702 113 pieces
6703 90 pieces (6702 set minus 3/4 drive)

4000 set (page 14 of the catalog:
"1/4f Square Drive One Midget Flex Handle 2£" Square Drive No. 40953, one Cross Bar No. 40950, six Hex. Sockets K" to Iff Nos. 40908, 40909, 40910, 40911, 40912, 40914, and three Square Sockets, }£" to , Nos. 40988, 40900, 40901. In separate steel box, wrinkle finish."

 

[Shelbylex]

1/4 drive sets from catalog which also show the boxes

 

[d42jeep]

Got it. I missed that the image was the P&C set. They may have used a tray like the one in this large carry box for the one shown in the center of the Tool Wagon.

More toolsets shown in your Tool Wagon image.
Universal 3/8” drive set.
3/8” drive deep socket set.

-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, Don!

 

[d42jeep]

This 5/8” 12 point universal socket arrived yesterday allowing me to complete this late ‘40s / early ‘50s 4606R set.
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

Don, how many different socket sets do you have (I wonder if you keep them all)?
Are you trying to complete every single set which was available and have the largest collection of SK sets?

 

[Shelbylex]

An interesting observation: I was looking at the ad of 6700 set (now I wish I remembered where I got it) - it appears that there is a red socket box in the right lower corner of the Red Tool Wagon.
I suspect it's the 1/4 4098 set similar to the one Don posted above. Did anybody ever see SK socket box in red color? I wonder if it's wrinkled red or regular red? (In comparison, the other 2 sets (6702 and 6703) came with a more complete 1/4" set which appear black on the advertisement).
Does anybody have a black box one from 1940s as well (4098 set)? (I suspect Don will have this one ! Don, is it 1940s 4098 set from 1940s in your post 4288? Can you post more pictures?)

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a 4098 set from the 40s. Other than the ratchet and sockets, the drive tools are unmarked.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found an unmarked red box on eBay that I suspected originally contained a Brazil set because I had seen a similar one in a picture.
i proceeded to fill it with Chrome Alloy marked sockets and an unmarked flex handle and crossbar. That set now resides in one of my Brazil carry boxes. It is certainly possible that the set could have been S-K rather then Brazil since both brands generally used identical boxes.
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, Don. Now it will be a puzzle: If we look at the ad carefully, there is a space to the right and the left from the sockets. This makes it more likely that the box was more like the box your posted in post 5125 above.
I will most likely start painting and restoration once I have all the pieces together (which will probably take few years), but I think that I will be tempted to pain the box I found in wrinkled red when I get to it (it's missing a lot of paint...)
I will keep an eye on 4098 as well though...

 

[INSP380]

Put two newly picked up sets in with some of my others, I’m digging Green!

Steve

 

[d42jeep]

Nice green eye candy. I would never leave those behind. Has that catalog been scanned into the Internet Archive? If it hasn’t, it would be a good addition.
Here is an early postwar #4810 1/2” drive deep set that I’m currently working on. The exterior of the box was spray bombed blue, which I corrected. The sockets have had kind of a rough life but I should have plenty of nicer spares in the Bay Area.
As it arrived.
Repainted the exterior.
Polished up the sockets.
The ell handle is in good condition. All that’s left to do is add better sockets.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Added some 8 pointers to my sk chrome set

 

[d42jeep]

Nice. Something else to look for in S-K Chrome.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some tiger wrenches

 

[INSP380]

Nice green eye candy. I would never leave those behind. Has that catalog been scanned into the Internet Archive? If it hasn’t, it would be a good addition.
Here is an early postwar #4810 1/2” drive deep set that I’m currently working on. The exterior of the box was spray bombed blue, which I corrected. The sockets have had kind of a rough life but I should have plenty of nicer spares in the Bay Area.
As it arrived.
Repainted the exterior.
Polished up the sockets.
The ell handle is in good condition. All that’s left to do is add better sockets.
-Don

Never even occurred to me to scan it in. I still think it’s too new! I had to do a double take on the year.. Thirty have clicked on by…. :0

Steve

 

[Kdaniel8601]

Never even occurred to me to scan it in. I still think it’s too new! I had to do a double take on the year.. Thirty have clicked on by…. :0

Steve

Internet Archive has S-K catalogs up to 2018, they don't have a 1995 one yet.

 

[INSP380]

Internet Archive has S-K catalogs up to 2018, they don't have a 1995 one yet.

How do I go about getting them this?!Do I scan the entire catalog? I have others from Williams, Snap-On ect…

 

[Kdaniel8601]

How do I go about getting them this?!Do I scan the entire catalog? I have others from Williams, Snap-On ect…

I scan every page of the catalog, then edit them and put them together in a PDF file. Go to the Internet Archive upload page to upload PDF file - https://archive.org/upload

 

[RTM]

I scan every page of the catalog, then edit them and put them together in a PDF file. Go to the Internet Archive upload page to upload your file - https://archive.org/upload

If you tag @Mark Stansbury after you upload them, he can drag a copy into the ITCL that we all know and love

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

 

[four.cycle]

How do I go about getting them this?!Do I scan the entire catalog? I have others from Williams, Snap-On ect…

Contact ITCL site administrator @Mark Stansbury email

Pack all the catalogs up, send them off to him (USPS "Media Rate" is lower cost for shipping), he will do all the scanning, upload them to ITCL, and send them back to you.

I sent that 2018 catalog to him several years ago.... I'm surprised he scanned the entire thing - it's a monster.

 

[2001ZR2]

Here is my S-K collection...

First was the 6 piece metric flare set from Harry J. Epstein.

Then the double box end 15/16-1 inch S-K Lectrolite mixed with set of Craftsman RP wrenches.

Next was the Ratchet 45175 and Breaker Bar 45153. They came with 9/16" swivel socket.

The S-K Wayne 10 mm socket is here for now.

Then yesterday I got not one but four 9/16" 1/2 drive sockets. One is stamped "not guaranteed"

A 13/16" Spark Plug socket which I used with ratchet to change the plug in my pressure washer today

And last a 15/16" 1/2 drive socket.

 

[d42jeep]

Check the 4V118 rod nut sockets carefully as they are often cracked. See the bottom of this page.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Then yesterday I got not one but four 9/16" 1/2 drive sockets. One is stamped "not guaranteed"

^ I'd guess the "not guaranteed" unit is the thin-wall Ford con rod socket Don's mentioned just above.

 

[humber2]

Then yesterday I got not one but four 9/16" 1/2 drive sockets. One is stamped "not guaranteed"

My comment, Looks like you have the 12 point version, if not already split, lock it away from your regular sockets.

 

[2001ZR2]

I just looked at the thin wall socket and it's 6 point and is cracked.

Thanks Don for explaining to me what it was and how it would have been used.

 

[four.cycle]

^ we stocked them in Indestro - part number 618X - also no warranty. they ALL came back cracked. every one.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup, people would use them like a regular socket and Crack them

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve had a cracked S-K example which ended up in the garbage can. Here are some pictures of others.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a cad plated wartime S-K 1/4” drive #4098 set in progress. It’s missing the unmarked extensions and a couple of sockets. It has a pretty rare wartime 40954 cad plated spinner added.




-Don

 

[d42jeep]

It seems as if I always end up with more modern S-K tools while collecting early sets so I found this empty 1/4” box with tray from the Dresser era on eBay for a reasonable price. I believe that I should be able to fill it up with correct tools. I added a few sockets.
Spares in the Bay Area.

-Don

 

[INSP380]

It seems as if I always end up with more modern S-K tools while collecting early sets so I found this empty 1/4” box with tray from the Dresser era on eBay for a reasonable price. I believe that I should be able to fill it up with correct tools. I added a few sockets.
Spares in the Bay Area.

-Don

Nice gathering! I’m eyeing up some 1/4 sets from that era now… Dig those Green handles!

Steve.

 

[d42jeep]

I like the way they look as well but I prefer finding the WW2 vintage sets. These are in progress in the garage.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Newer 1/4” drive sets.
-Don