Vintage S-K Tools

[raiderhillbilly]

3baygarage, you are too quick. i was looking up the patents and you already posted.

 

[3baygarage]

Thank you for grabbing the other patent. I have both ratchets and while they look similar, I believe the selector is smaller on the Kane. I always though the Kane dated earlier like the S-K until today.

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks Twertsy. And Raider posted the pat for that too. My example is back in post # 91 on page 5. Didn't realize how long this thread got.

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up this set a while back. It was a mix of brands so I found the missing deep sockets on eBay and completed the set today.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

Holy cow, did you get all those together? SPA???



And that would be the set! That sure is fine. I've seen a few ratchets come up over the years, but the lack of info is surprising.

Here is the SPA display.

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[3baygarage]

Nice! Looks like your very own hardware store.

I saw a bunch of boards back in the spring. A bit rough and dirty, 10 or 15 bucks apiece but had no place for them. Would have been hard to ship them too.

Also saw a rotating display on CL, i think someone posted it on the forums but was not cheap IIRC. Not to get off topic, but I also had to pass on over priced Napa boards from two different eras, and a Bonney Utica board that was quite rough. Oh well, only so much room and dough for things like that.

 

[Rickster55]

I'm so depressed! Ever since this tool box was posted here, I've been dying to get my hands on one. Never seen one like it before. I'm even considering painting my crinkle painted Kennedy green just to have something close.

 

[ganymede]

I'm so depressed! Ever since this tool box was posted here, I've been dying to get my hands on one. Never seen one like it before. I'm even considering painting my crinkle painted Kennedy green just to have something close.

That model box was made by Waterloo from the late 60's to mid 70's.
They made them for many different brands so It shouldn't be too hard to find one in red. Then all you need is the label (from any sk socket set box) and some green paint.

 

[twertsy]

I'm so depressed! Ever since this tool box was posted here, I've been dying to get my hands on one. Never seen one like it before. I'm even considering painting my crinkle painted Kennedy green just to have something close.

I posted mine several pages back. Drove an hour and a half and paid $150 I think? Came with a Cman spinner rat though!

 

[Rickster55]

This one's mine but I want (need) something bigger!

 

[r_olson_06]

This one's mine but I want (need) something bigger!

Must be a repaint? I have never seen that shade of green and the tool boxes with that logo style I have seen are usually black. Very nice shape box for the age.

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[Rickster55]

Must be a repaint? I have never seen that shade of green and the tool boxes with that logo style I have seen are usually black. Very nice shape box for the age.

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Yes, Rustoleum Hammered Green

 

[r_olson_06]

Yes, Rustoleum Hammered Green

Looks good. Nice work.

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[twertsy]

I recently posted up what I believe is a 1931 Hinsdale catalog, which can be found here. The only thing I have to go on in dating it is what appears to be a dated note on the cover, written in pencil.

In browsing through it this morning, something caught my eye and introduced a question. AA talks about S-K getting into the tool business as a result of Hinsdale going out of business, and leveraging their old stock to get started. Take a look at the male-male drive extension. Take a look at the sockets, and even the ratchet. All of those tools look like early S-K to me. The thing is, why would a company like Sherman-Klove, with a factory full of screw machines, need anything from Hinsdale?

I'm proposing another theory. I'm thinking S-K was making Hinsdale's tools for quite some time before they started on their own in '32. I find Hinsdale advertisements all the way through the 1930's and 40's so I don't think they ever went out of business. I'm betting S-K simply said hey, why are we selling this stuff to Hinsdale for wholesale when we could do it ourselves for retail?

Take a look and see what y'all think...........

 

[r_olson_06]

I recently posted up what I believe is a 1931 Hinsdale catalog, which can be found here. The only thing I have to go on in dating it is what appears to be a dated note on the cover, written in pencil.

In browsing through it this morning, something caught my eye and introduced a question. AA talks about S-K getting into the tool business as a result of Hinsdale going out of business, and leveraging their old stock to get started. Take a look at the male-male drive extension. Take a look at the sockets, and even the ratchet. All of those tools look like early S-K to me. The thing is, why would a company like Sherman-Klove, with a factory full of screw machines, need anything from Hinsdale?

I'm proposing another theory. I'm thinking S-K was making Hinsdale's tools for quite some time before they started on their own in '32. I find Hinsdale advertisements all the way through the 1930's and 40's so I don't think they ever went out of business. I'm betting S-K simply said hey, why are we selling this stuff to Hinsdale for wholesale when we could do it ourselves for retail?

Take a look and see what y'all think...........

Interesting theory. I never dug into at all just took it for face value. It would make sense logically for SK to Branch out to this market. I wish I could see the link but it isn't letting me. It says I am not allowed to access the page.

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[twertsy]

Interesting theory. I never dug into at all just took it for face value. It would make sense logically for SK to Branch out to this market. I wish I could see the link but it isn't letting me. It says I am not allowed to access the page.

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You have to be logged in to my site.

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[d42jeep]

Here is an early Hex drive Hinsdale ratchet I picked up this morning. Do you think it was made by S-K?
-Don

 

[twertsy]

Here is an early Hex drive Hinsdale ratchet I picked up this morning. Do you think it was made by S-K?
-Don

Yes, or vice-versa.....

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[raiderhillbilly]

SK started in 1913. They made tools for Hinsdale starting in 1927. They became S-K Tools in 1929 when they bought the inventory for Hinsdale when Hinsdale went out of buisness during the Great Depression.

source: http://berlandstools.com/history/

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some early and odd S-K looking sockets I picked up today at the Tahoe flea.
-Don

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Nice, the Tiger Tool sockets are not common.

 

[Rileysan]

S-K 42470 1/2" drive Diamond logo ratchet found at an estate sale. I need to clean it up to be sure, but at a glance, this one appears to be a black oxide finish.

Brian

 

[twertsy]

SK started in 1913. They made tools for Hinsdale starting in 1927. They became S-K Tools in 1929 when they bought the inventory for Hinsdale when Hinsdale went out of buisness during the Great Depression.

source: http://berlandstools.com/history/

Hokum..............

 

[lazer50]

I have a 1/2" sk ratchet(diamond logo)pearhead shaped with a push button/lever on the side for direction.similar to the wright "frankenstein" ratchet.if i can figure out how to post a pic i will.but if this one sounds familiar,i'd be interested on there era.

 

[lazer50]

This is the ratchet

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[Apache3057]

Sweet collection!

 

[r_olson_06]

Group shot of my full or mostly full socket sets. I didn't dig out my master chest for the photo. 33 sets in all 2 are JC Penny.

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[Sam'sAutoParts]

Wow, that is an impressive collection!

 

[d42jeep]

Them are some nice 1/4" sets and early ones. I think you have more than I do. I will have to do a group shot of my vintage SK sets

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Here are some shots of my S-K cabin box. Your collection definitely puts this batch to shame.
-Don

 

[bill300d]

Don't sell yourself short Don yours aint so shabby either.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, Bill. Coming from you that means a lot. I think that you were able to identify virtually every tool I ever posted in my mystery tool thread!
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

Posted in the 2017 Garage Sale thread, this Diamond logo set came in an old 2d tool chest full of misc tools that cost me $24.95. This set was the highlight of the group

Is there anything special about the Patent Pending ratchet (EG: is it uncommon or rare)? How long did this ratchet have the "pending" stamping?

S-K Diamond logo 1/2" drive socket set.
- 42470 "Pat. Pend." 1/2" drive ratchet
- 41653 1/2" drive breaker bar
- 40181 1/2" drive speed wrench
- 40152 1/2" drive sliding T-bar driver
- 40161 1/2" drive 5" extension
- 40162 1/2" drive 10" extension
- 15 1/2" drive Sockets from 7/16" through 1 1/4" including 19/32" & 25/32"


Brian

 

[Rileysan]

I also purchased another tool box full of tools, but this one was a clean S-K box with the original tray.

The only S-K tool inside was another 1/2" drive Diamond logo ratchet. This one, however, has the patent number instead of "Pat. Pend."

- S-K 1/2" drive 42470 "Pat. No. 2232477"

Brian

 

[ganymede]

Cool. That patent pending mark gives you a time frame your ratchet was made in .
1939 to 1941.

 

[Rileysan]

Cool. That patent pending mark gives you a time frame your ratchet was made in .
1939 to 1941.

Thank you!

Today I cleaned up another S-K 42470 1/2" ratchet that I purchased recently. I posted a picture of it when it was covered in dirt and paint splatter and even then I thought it was finished in matte black or black oxide. After cleaning it up, I am now convinced of it.

Was this the finish used by S-K during WWII because of the military ban on chrome, et al? If so, this is the first one I have encountered.

Brian

 

[RagTopTA]

Thank you!

Today I cleaned up another S-K 42470 1/2" ratchet that I purchased recently. I posted a picture of it when it was covered in dirt and paint splatter and even then I thought it was finished in matte black or black oxide. After cleaning it up, I am now convinced of it.

Was this the finish used by S-K during WWII because of the military ban on chrome, et al? If so, this is the first one I have encountered.

Brian

I think I have an SK Artisan thats black finnish like that.... are they that old ?

 

[d42jeep]

Brian,
I have a 3/8" drive ratchet with a very dark finish and the early patent that I believe is a wartime finish. I also have some plain steel finish 1/4" drive ratchets that are likely wartime as well. It seems that both prewar and postwar S-K tools mostly are all are chrome plated.
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

I think I have an SK Artisan thats black finnish like that.... are they that old ?

Your Artisan ratchet is definitely that old. Production started in the mid 1930s and continued on at least through the mid 1940s.

Alloy Artifacts only mentions a "plain steel finish" for ratchets during wartime production. I can find no other examples of the matte black or black oxide finish.

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Brian,

<snip>

It seems that both prewar and postwar S-K tools mostly all are chrome plated.
-Don

I agree. I'm going to grab my good camera and take some family photos. I have 4 S-K 42470 ratchets to choose from, only one of which is newer.

Brian

 

[RagTopTA]

Heres my reg Artisan and the darker colored SK. In person it looks a lot darker.