Vintage S-K Tools

[Upstater57]

Great question. I have a large collection of SK sockets, ratchets, etc. This is a set I recently cleaned up. Personally, I prefer to restore them. This set was a dirty mess when I bought it. I have a process to clean them up depending on condition. In my mind I grade these like coins. I do the same with rachets. I have restored and polished up many of them. If they are rusty, pitted and the chrome is peeling off, unless it is a rare size or specialty socket I would pay little for it. I recently bought a box of 6 new old stock drag link sockets. That is a 400 series socket that matches the socket set below. I like to build out master sets with all the old sizes for the period and put them back in the metal boxes making them complete sets. I also have a good collection of SK catalogs from the 1930's through the 1980's.

I have the paint codes for the green metal boxes they came in. Next summer I will restore some of them as well. Like any hobby, people have different tastes. To your point, if the set is still in the shrink wrap, or unused in the original box, it qualifies as new old stock and is probably most valuable. When I get time, I will post more photos. I have lots of stuff including Bonney/Utica tools and Indestro.

 

[d42jeep]

I finally cleaned up a recent find: 1930's No. 4237 1/2"-drive socket set. It has the #40253 breaker bar, a cross-bar and ten "SK-Chrome" sockets which are all marked with their respective fractional sizes, but no model numbers. The clasp is a little “short”, but otherwise the set is in good condition. I think @3baygarage posted a similar one a few years back.

Looking good, Fred. I should probably change the sockets in this set from S-K to S-K Chrome. The box was empty when I found it.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is an odd partial set that arrived in the mail yesterday. The black oxide 1/4” drive sockets and crossbar look original to the box which is unmarked although I have seen other similar boxes supplied with S-K made products. It came with a Plomb ratchet for some reason. The sockets and crossbar appear unused.
-Don

 

[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

We returned to the Bay Area on Monday. I went through my spare S-K knurled deep sockets and completed the set. I added the Buick sockets.
-Don

 

[Upstater57]

Nice paint job! Any tips on removing the logo plaque off the box without damaging it?

 

[d42jeep]

I never remove the riveted logo. If I need to repaint the interior of a box, I mask off the logo with masking tape.
-Don

 

[Upstater57]

I never remove the riveted logo. If I need to repaint the interior of a box, I mask off the logo with masking tape.
-Don

Thanks Don. I bought a badly damaged box to test the process before working on good boxes and found the rivet tough to deal with. It does not drill out easily and spins. Other removal processes would damage the logo. Taping it off seems to be the best option.

 

[2001ZR2]

Couple of stray S-K sockets that were in a bag of sockets this morning.

Showed this S-K Wayne box on the what have you bought yourself thread. Am I seeing the color...not S-K Green but Blue?


For those of you scoring at home this is same size box as the Green S-K that Don identified for me. Bit different set up though.

Did score some S-K sockets in a tonnage of sockets buy from FB Market place.

 

[Upstater57]

I have a couple of blue SK Wayne boxes. Some of the sockets in the picture look like duro or indestro.

 

[2001ZR2]

I have a couple of blue SK Wayne boxes. Some of the sockets in the picture look like duro or indestro.

Sorry I should said the sockets, box and a magnifying lamp were what I bought and they threw in an Athol vise at least that is my story for wife. The only S-K in box is one one the left. 13/16" I think.

They had a set of 3/4 drive S-K sockets that they thought were worth $1800 but would let go for $700. I've no use for 3/4 drive stuff so I thanked him and passed.

 

[Etchase]

I like the boxes with the raised socket tray.

 

[four.cycle]

They had a set of 3/4 drive S-K sockets that they thought were worth $1800 but would let go for $700. I've no use for 3/4 drive stuff so I thanked him and passed.

^ If you have no need for 3/4" drive, do not buy it thinking you're going to "flip it" and come out ahead: takes forever to get rid of it, shipping is a flat-out deal-killer, so it's got to be a local sale.
I should have learned that lesson on the first set: took me seven months to sell it, and I cleared all of about $20 bucks after shipping costs.
Got rid of the second set about two weeks ago - cleared a decent profit, but invested far too much in cleaning the stuff up and waited 9 months for a buyer to come along.

I have a couple of blue SK Wayne boxes. Some of the sockets in the picture look like duro or indestro.

Yes, they did make blue boxes during the "Wayne" era, and those are definitely Duro/Indestro sockets there (along with an orphaned P&C.)

 

[2001ZR2]

Thank you for responses. And I have other P&C sockets...will let rejoin a herd.

 

[d42jeep]

I like the boxes with the raised socket tray.

I like them too but I have to stop gathering them. There are quite a few variations depending on socket types and crossbar sizes.
-Don

 

[Upstater57]

I like them too but I have to stop gathering them. There are quite a few variations depending on socket types and crossbar sizes.
-Don

Nice collection. I have a few of these. The hardest thing to find are the old drivers and the cross bar for the flex handle., I will doing some paint work on a couple of these boxes. I have the correct paint. Any tips on the process you undertook are appreciated.

 

[d42jeep]

I have posted quite a few examples of repainted boxes upthread. I always prefer to maintain the original finish whenever possible but some boxes are just too far gone and must be refinished. If wrinkle finish is desired I start with VHS black or red spray cans, preferably on a day as warm as possible but never under 80 degrees. Some come out better than others. After the black dries thoroughly, I do a light coat of the desired final color over the wrinkle.
-Don

 

[Upstater57]

I have posted quite a few examples of repainted boxes upthread. I always prefer to maintain the original finish whenever possible but some boxes are just too far gone and must be refinished. If wrinkle finish is desired I start with VHS black or red spray cans, preferably on a day as warm as possible but never under 80 degrees. Some come out better than others. After the black dries thoroughly, I do a light coat of the desired final color over the wrinkle.
-Don

I appreciate the follow up. I noticed the logo and latches remain. Ever try and remove them?

 

[INSP380]

Bought these a few weeks ago, they were tag alongs in a box I bought. The SAE set is pretty complete and the Metric is shy a 14,13 & 1 more I cant remember. Almost new, very little wear…

Steve

 

[Upstater57]

Bought these a few weeks ago, they were tag alongs in a box I bought. The SAE set is pretty complete and the Metric is shy a 14,13 & 1 more I cant remember. Almost new, very little wear…

Steve

Very nice set !

 

[d42jeep]

Looking good, Fred. I should probably change the sockets in this set from S-K to S-K Chrome. The box was empty when I found it.
-Don

I added as many S-K Chrome spares as I had. Looks like I need at least the 15/16” and 7/8” in Chrome.

It will be displayed next to my large S-K Chrome set when completed.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple of sets that I haven’t seen in available catalogs. The 3/8” drive nut spinner set may be immediately postwar since it resembles one in the wartime ‘43 catalog.
Here is what appears to be a small wartime black oxide set in a fairly rare red unmarked box.
-Don

 

[Kdaniel8601]

Here are a couple of sets that I haven’t seen in available catalogs. The 3/8” drive nut spinner set may be immediately postwar since it resembles one in the wartime ‘43 catalog.
Here is what appears to be a small wartime black oxide set in a fairly rare red unmarked box.
-Don

When would this S-K 4513 have been made?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Prewar with the decal and chrome tools

 

[Kdaniel8601]

Prewar with the decal and chrome tools

The sockrts are marked S-K, the breaker bar is unmarked.

 

[d42jeep]

That seems correct for a prewar or very early wartime set. Made just after the S-K Chrome marked tools. I have one I made up some time back.
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

That seems correct for a prewar or very early wartime set. Made just after the S-K Chrome marked tools. I have one I made up some time back.
-Don

This is a nice looking set, Don!

Can I ask you to measure the distance between the upper and lower indentations (not sure what to call them) of the sockets (the line above and below SK and size markers). It looks like earlier models had lower distance between the lines than later ones

 

[d42jeep]

I’ll try to get measurements later today. We found some S-K Wayne pliers at an estate sale yesterday. Although I’m not really into Wayne, they were too nice to leave behind.
We also ran across a 1/2” drive ratchet.
-Don

 

[2001ZR2]

Picked up this box w/o any S-K inside. But there was a Husky 1/4" ratchet, Walden sockets, extension, spinner,. Also a Thorsen 2 3/4 extension, Kraueter 1 1/2" extension and a Snap On 1/4 to 3/8 adaptor. Weird selection but did see much SK. I guess the Kraueter could count.

 

[Upstater57]

I’ll try to get measurements later today. We found some S-K Wayne pliers at an estate sale yesterday. Although I’m not really into Wayne, they were too nice to leave behind.
-Don

 

[Upstater57]

Attached are some old Utica Pliers I have in stock. The #511's is NOS in the original box. The small set are tools I cleaned up and use almost daily. I will post others I have.

Ed

 

[Outlawmws]

Attached are some old Utica Pliers I have in stock. The #511's is NOS in the original box. The small set are tools I cleaned up and use almost daily. I will post others I have.

Ed

Wrong thread?

 

[Upstater57]

Wrong thread?

Definitely wrong thread. LOL

 

[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

I went through some spares and added them to the new box. I’m just missing the 6” extension.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This is a nice looking set, Don!

Can I ask you to measure the distance between the upper and lower indentations (not sure what to call them) of the sockets (the line above and below SK and size markers). It looks like earlier models had lower distance between the lines than later ones

Here are some measurements for you. I hope they are what you wanted.
I added a couple of 8 point sockets and and an extension to fill out the set.
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

Good evening, Don.
Sorry, did not make myself clear - I am looking at the distance between the rings on the sockets: the older one seem to be closer spaced than later SK sockets (tried to make vertical lines one above the other to form the line of what I am looking for, but no luck...)

_________
S-K I
____I____

 

[d42jeep]

All of the early 3/8” drive shallow and deep sockets have the rings quite close together. From the Wayne era on the rings are further apart.
Early
Late
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

Is there a specific dimension I should be looking for?

 

[d42jeep]

They are visually pretty easy to differentiate. I’ve never measured the distance between the grooves but I have accidentally bought the wrong vintage on eBay by being careless and not examining the photos carefully enough.
The one circled in yellow is too wide for the set.
-Don

 

[Upstater57]

Is there a specific dimension I should be looking for?

Just a quick note, in addition to the rings, look at fonts on the lettering/numbers on sockets as well as the SK nomenclature. There are sockets that look like S-K, SK, SK with a dot between them. When I put a set together, I match everything up where possible. I have about 25 matching sets. It takes a bit of detective work to get it right if that is your desire.

 

[bonneyman]

Just a quick note, in addition to the rings, look at fonts on the lettering/numbers on sockets as well as the SK nomenclature. There are sockets that look like S-K, SK, SK with a dot between them. When I put a set together, I match everything up where possible. I have about 25 matching sets. It takes a bit of detective work to get it right if that is your desire.