Vintage S-K Tools

[twertsy]

As first reported on the 2018 Garage Sale thread, I picked up what I am 99.9% sure is an SK Brazil midget set at my early bird flea market this morning.

The sockets are unbranded but unmistakably SK. The only marking on them is a fractional size stamping, which is in every case preceded by a single dot, also stamped.

No handles, but the pin handle was present, and it, too, is unmistakably SK, with that knurling on the end.

The box clearly matches the red Brazil boxes that CRTDI showed back on page 14, post #277, linked here.

The only slight reservation I have about claiming it as Brazil is the decal being too deteriorated to read. The general shape and the yellow border certainly matches the Brazil label, and the MADE IN CHICAGO U.S.A. on a ribbon-like border on the bottom is still legible.

CONTENTS:

- Cross bar
- 7/32"-12 point
- 1/4"-6 point
- 9/32"-6 point
- 5/16"-6 point
- 11/32"-12 point
- 3/8"-12 point
- 5/16"-8 point
- 7/16"-12 point

I guess I'll have to find another midget beavertail ratchet or swap the ratchet I have back and forth between this Brazil set and my first Brazil set for photo opps!

I see "CARU" as the first 4 letters but yeah, it's pretty fuzzy.

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[Private Lugnutz]

I don't see any letters whatsoever and I'm inches away.

What brands did SK have in this era besides Brazil and Tiger Tools?

 

[twertsy]

I don't see any letters whatsoever and I'm inches away.

What brands did SK have in this era besides Brazil and Tiger Tools?

I didn't say it made sense! Those and perhaps Artisan are all I know of.

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[d42jeep]

Their own prewar 1/4” drive markings were S-K Chrome and they were chrome plated. These have the indentation before the size. I think they did a ton of contract sales during that period. Here are some pictures from that eBay listing I sent you for a laugh.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

I don't see any letters whatsoever and I'm inches away.

What brands did SK have in this era besides Brazil and Tiger Tools?

Try blowing up your last image of the top on your computer.

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[bbrins]

I didn't say it made sense! Those and perhaps Artisan are all I know of.

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Maybe Western Giant as well?

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[Outlawmws]

Like this:

(I don't see much either, but whatever was written is in an arch I think...)

 

[twertsy]

Like this:

(I don't see much either, but whatever was written is in an arch I think...)

Yup, yellow letters in an arch, pehaps "Company" at the end?

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[Private Lugnutz]

I didn't say it made sense!

Snerk.

Like this:
(I don't see much either, but whatever was written is in an arch I think...)

Thanks, Outlaw.

Yup, yellow letters in an arch, perhaps "Company" at the end?

I see BRAZIL.

No, seriously, though, note that the Brazil Tools labels on the red boxes had yellow letters.

 

[notlob]

The box clearly matches the red Brazil boxes that CRTDI showed back on page 14, post #277, linked here.

It looks to me like the red is painted over the decal, and that the original color was not red.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

How many brazil logos were there? I have only come across this one , and it says clearing, ill.

 

[d42jeep]

How many brazil logos were there? I have only come across this one , and it says clearing, ill.

Your set must be pretty early. That socket matches my 1/2” drive S-K tools that Alloy Artifacts ID’s as being from 1932. The second picture is of some newer 1/2” drive sockets marked Western Giant opposite the Chrome Alloy markings that are commonly associated with Brazil sockets.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

How many brazil logos were there? I have only come across this one , and it says clearing, ill.

Brazil Stamping leased in Clearing in May of 1930. The article I attached shows S-K consolidated Brazil out of Clearing in 1938.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

How many brazil logos were there?

I am no Brazil Tools expert, Otg, but based solely on empirical evidence (i.e., me fishing around in this thread…), there were several varieties of boxes (brown-ish, red), labels (banner, triangular), and addresses (Clearing, Ill.; Chicago, Ill.).

And some of them come with no decals, as my first set and bbrin’s

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It looks to me like the red is painted over the decal, and that the original color was not red.

You could be right, notlob. It was difficult for me to tell. (I had already made a mental note that I would probably have to spray a clear poly seal over the decal remains it's so flaky there.) Based on how much bare steel there was directly under the red in most other places on the box, I didn't even bother inspecting it closer. But with your prompting, I think you could be right. I have detected a few places where there appears to be some yellow. I don't know how it would wear away from red to bare steel everywhere else, and it's a little odd to find a red wrinkle finish (more typically associated with a factory paint job than an owner's paint job) over an ostensibly original yellow finish, but, again, I did find some yellow. I'll let you fellas nut that over with some more pics.

Pic 1: Note the white triangle in the upper left corner. I wonder if that was an SK.
Pic 2: Even closer look in new light on label
Pic 3: Lid. Some yellow.
Pic 4: No yellow.
Pic 5: Some yellow showing.
Pic 6: Maybe a little yellow.
Pic 7: Same exact box as my Brazil set box, and you can see the yellow here and there.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Now I will throw a new and completely different hat in the ring.

I always thought I had pretty good eyesight (58 years old, still not wearing glasses, 20-20 last check-up a few years ago…), but twertsy, who sees a “CARU…” on the label, has vision that is apparently in US Army MOS 19D/Accipitridae acuity class.

I’m wondering if it’s a “CARB…” he is seeing on the lid instead. As in “CARB-O-MANG”!

View media item 85575
In fact, I am wondering so hard, I have dropped my BRAZIL TOOLS campaign and I am officially jumping on the CARB-O-MANG bandwagon.

There's no need for a cross bar in this particular set, but this was 1943. Who knows how many different sets there were in the 1930's.

Per GJ member Northwoods, in this post (#209) back on page 11 of this thread last year, “Carb-O-Mang”, an intentional allusion to carbon and manganese (tangentially, AISI 1340, which Herbrand used with great effect in WWII under alloy restrictions!), also appears in the last few pages of an SK catalog he dates to 1932-1933, and looks similar to Brazil Tools.

With TA down, I can’t check it out, and I don’t even remember if we had that one in our library. I’m going to ask Tin Medic if he has it.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

So maybe 2 versions we know of, clearing Ill, and then chicago in later 30s? Carbo mang, that's a cool name for a socket set. It certainly resembles that ad.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Carbo mang, that's a cool name for a socket set.

Agreed!

I'm busy the rest of the day, but I gotta get some serious Google-fu going later to see if I can find an image of what the label looked like!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Searches on “Carb-O-Mang” turn up nil. Searches on “Carbomang” (because hyphens are a search issue sometimes…) turn up many references to a new oil-hardened tool steel process in 1931.

My take-away is that SK inserted the hyphens for a few reasons. One, to distinguish it from the moniker for the steel process to avoid legal controversy, and two, because it just looks cooler that way!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Seriously, though, guys, I genuinely think twertsy nailed it with the "CAR" he saw, and both Outlaw and twertsy saw the arching letters. I am fully aware of the power of suggestion, and it's hard to overcome (i.e., in the same way you can't "un-see" something once you see it...), but I can definitely see it now, too. Especially with the decal blown up even more. You can actually see the serifs on the "C" and the "A" and you can see that the left side of the "A" is skinnier than the right side, like a fancier font.

I fooled around in PowerPoint with some serif fonts and sizes. This font isn't exactly right (a little too thin) and the serifs are also too thin, but it's close enough for comparison.

The "C", the "A", and the "B" seem to line up particularly well with their painted counterparts, and, while the painted letters on the other side are in worse condition, the right side of the "A", the "M", and the thick tangent of the "N" in "MANG" also seem to line up very well with the remains.

Is this representative of what you were seeing, Todd?

If you open the first pic and then keep alternating between the "Previous" and the "Next" buttons as you look at each letter, you can see it better.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

You might be onto something

 

[twertsy]

I agree that is what it is. Nice find Greg!

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[RubiconJK]

Awesome research Lugz and cool set. Going along with the midget theme, here is where I am with my S-K knurled and diamond logo set thanks to some recent trade help with r_olsen_06. I stand to be corrected, but believe this to now be a fairly complete set consisting of 6 pt: 3/16" 40906, 7/32" 40907, 1/4" 40908, 9/32" 40909, 5/16" 40910, 11/32" 40911, 3/8" 40912, 7/16" 40914, & 1/2" 40916. 8 pt: 1/4" 40988, 5/16" 40900, & 3/8" 40901. I also have 12 pt versions of: 40911, 40912, & 40914. The ratchet and extensions are diamond logo and included are the pin handle and amber driver. Does anyone see anything I'm missing or not relatively period correct together? I'm wondering if there was a 12 pt version of 40916?

 

[d42jeep]

Awesome research Lugz and cool set. Going along with the midget theme, here is where I am with my S-K knurled and diamond logo set thanks to some recent trade help with r_olsen_06. I stand to be corrected, but believe this to now be a fairly complete set consisting of 6 pt: 3/16" 40906, 7/32" 40907, 1/4" 40908, 9/32" 40909, 5/16" 40910, 11/32" 40911, 3/8" 40912, 7/16" 40914, & 1/2" 40916. 8 pt: 1/4" 40988, 5/16" 40900, & 3/8" 40901. I also have 12 pt versions of: 40911, 40912, & 40914. The ratchet and extensions are diamond logo and included are the pin handle and amber driver. Does anyone see anything I'm missing or not relatively period correct together? I'm wondering if there was a 12 pt version of 40916?

Looks just right to me. I haven’t seen a 12 point 1/2” knurled 1/4” drive socket. Here is my (as far as I know) unmolested original 1/4” drive S-K set.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You might be onto something

Thanks, Otg.

I agree that is what it is. Nice find Greg!

Thanks, Todd. And thanks for the prompt. If you hadn't see the "CAR..." I never would've thought about CARB-O-MANG.

 

[RubiconJK]

Looks just right to me. I haven’t seen a 12 point 1/2” knurled 1/4” drive socket. Here is my (as far as I know) unmolested original 1/4” drive S-K set.
-Don

Thanks Don!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Looks just right to me. I haven’t seen a 12 point 1/2” knurled 1/4” drive socket. Here is my (as far as I know) unmolested original 1/4” drive S-K set.
-Don

Nice set Don! I always enjoy seeing these vintage sets and their corresponding catalog ads!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, Mike. I found that set at the same estate sale as my ‘39 Plomb Challenger 3/8” drive set. It seems like the previous owner bought the sets for maybe one job (if that) and never used them again and stored them in his garage for me to find. The second picture is from that sale.
I was adding in some recent finds to my S-K tools and realized that I have gathered up quite a few 1/2” drive Chrome Alloy S-K made sockets. Maybe someday I’ll find a Brazil marked box for them.
-Donm

 

[Catfishdan]

Awesome research Lugz and cool set. Going along with the midget theme, here is where I am with my S-K knurled and diamond logo set thanks to some recent trade help with r_olsen_06. I stand to be corrected, but believe this to now be a fairly complete set consisting of 6 pt: 3/16" 40906, 7/32" 40907, 1/4" 40908, 9/32" 40909, 5/16" 40910, 11/32" 40911, 3/8" 40912, 7/16" 40914, & 1/2" 40916. 8 pt: 1/4" 40988, 5/16" 40900, & 3/8" 40901. I also have 12 pt versions of: 40911, 40912, & 40914. The ratchet and extensions are diamond logo and included are the pin handle and amber driver. Does anyone see anything I'm missing or not relatively period correct together? I'm wondering if there was a 12 pt version of 40916?

Looks right to me as well. I have the same set as you and Don, but mine has 12pt 7/16, 3/8, and 11/32. I'd assume they are original to the set because everything has the same owners mark on it. Definitely different than the catalog listing though. Hmm. Does your box close with that spinner handle in it?



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[RubiconJK]

Looks right to me as well. I have the same set as you and Don, but mine has 12pt 7/16, 3/8, and 11/32. I'd assume they are original to the set because everything has the same owners mark on it. Definitely different than the catalog listing though. Hmm. Does your box close with that spinner handle in it?


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Thanks for the feedback. Your's and Don's boxes definitely out class mine! I'll be keeping my eyes open for a possible upgrade one of these days. Yes it will close with the spinner handle inside. I put the extensions and t bar under the socket tray and by arranging the ratchet and flex handle just so, the spinner will go on top and the lid still closes fine.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Found these two oddball sockets that look sk, but only marked Chrome alloy.

 

[d42jeep]

Those are identified as S-K made Brazil sockets on AA. See mine a couple of posts above. (#952)
-Don

 

[RedVise]

Here a couple I picked up, the boxes are rough but the sets are mostly complete.
SK Wayne 1/2 / 1/4 set
SK Wayne 3/8 set - nice mix of sockets
SK Wayne box end wrench roll - 1 or 2 are Lectrolite fillers , same casting just different name

Brian

 

[northwoods]

Those are identified as S-K made Brazil sockets on AA. See mine a couple of posts above. (#952)
-Don

AND they are identical to the Tiger set I found the other day. 1/2" drive
Box logo: TIGER G/S TOOLS
Supposedly made to sell at Gambels hardware stores
Contents
S-K breaker bar No. 40253 W/lever bar.
Ten sockets identical to above: 7/17 thru 15/16

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Came in a random box of sk stuff

 

[d42jeep]

I separated out and cleaned my S-K wartime 1/2” drive tools for a photo. I’m considering putting together a wartime 1/2” drive S-K set. Now I need to find a box and the rest of the tools. The set on the left would be easier, the one on the right a little more of a challenge. At least I already have the matching 1/4” drive set.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sounds like a good project

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a gambles artisan set

 

[d42jeep]

How are the sockets marked in your Artisan set? Here are the eBay pictures of an early 3/8” drive S-K ratchet I received yesterday.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sockets are all sk