Vintage S-K Tools

[d42jeep]

Thanks!
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I cleaned up the early 3/8” drive S-K beaver tail ratchet. It must be prewar due to the Chrome plating.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That cleaned up good

 

[r_olson_06]

Picked these up at the local pawn shop. So was Tiger first or Chrome Alloy? Or were they at the same time just different labels. The Tiger sockets have part numbers.

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[Oldtuleguy]

That's a good question. The set I have are marked sk chrome and has old style breaker bar , so maybe mid 30s? Part numbers came later in 40s. The 2 chrome alloys I have come across show no numbers, so maybe in between.

 

[d42jeep]

I think that they were making sockets with many different markings at the same time throughout the ‘30s. It is possible that the sockets with part numbers are slightly newer. I have 1/2” drive sockets marked Chrome Alloy, sockets marked Chrome Alloy with Western Giant on the opposite side and a socket simply marked Tiger all with exactly the same knurling pattern. In the early days contract production was a large part of their business that gradually transitioned into just selling S-K marked tools.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The really early stuff I have is completely unmarked. Just looks like duro indestro stuff

 

[d42jeep]

They do look very similar with no S-K markings. The identifier is the punch marks on either side of the sockets’ size markings.
-Don

 

[Toothaker]

They do look very similar with no S-K markings. The identifier is the punch marks on either side of the sockets’ size markings.
-Don

Don, what about these? The size markings are "upside down" relative to your sockets. And only the larger has a punch mark, and only on one side.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Most of mine have punches, some none, one has a dash

 

[d42jeep]

Don, what about these? The size markings are "upside down" relative to your sockets. And only the larger has a punch mark, and only on one side.

Mick,
I sure don’t recognize your sockets. All I can say is they don’t look Duro/Indestro and they don’t look New Britain. My main area of interest has been WW2 tools and I’ve mostly only researched earlier sockets I’ve found at sales. I think that there were some S-K contract sockets with only one punch mark but I haven’t personally run across any. I have a few old sockets I’ve never been able to identify. I’m looking forward to the day when Twertsy can get Tool Archives up and running again because his site contains a wealth of information.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes I am sure he has his hands full with that

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here are some more unmarked sk tools. Sockets are all marked but nothing else.

 

[d42jeep]

Back in post #440 in this thread a discussion started about unmarked S-K drive tools. It seems that many prewar and all wartime drive tools were unmarked with the exception of ratchets. When putting together a wartime set I will only use unmarked examples.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks I will go back and read those

 

[Oldtuleguy]

So these are mostly chrome, so 1940ish?

 

[d42jeep]

So these are mostly chrome, so 1940ish?

If all of those tools are original to that set, and I assume that they are, I would think that you’ve hit the nail on the head. If they were postwar, the set would likely have the riveted on label or at least holes for the rivets if the tag was missing. Check out the tools in the top of this 1940 set.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice catalog . Looks like same stuff.

 

[d42jeep]

I found these three combination wrenches yesterday at a Tahoe garage sale.
-Don

 

[Catfishdan]

Bought a diamond 3/8" speeder and a complete 1/4" set at the flea market today. Originally $25.99 at Romers. $5 at the flea.



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[d42jeep]

Nice finds! That set looks great.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Nice buy on that midget set. $5 is a steal!

I picked up a few more SK wrenches for the wrench board this weekend along with a few SK metrics and some SK made extras. The 3/8in drive Kraeuter ratchet is practically new and came with the 3/8" to 1/4" adaptor. There's a 13mm Husky combo in there as well that reeks of SK, but I'm not sure on that one.

Update on the wrench board I picked up this spring. Making some great progress and I'm down to just one empty spot. Long pattern DBE in 3/4" and 5/8" I think it's a # B-2024. Here's a current pic.

 

[d42jeep]

That is quite an S-K haul. The board is looking great! The Kraeuter ratchet looks kind of familiar. I’m still watching for the missing DBE. I’m sure one will turn up.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

UAIU, That board is great! Wish I could find a Proto/Plumb wrench board like that! (wouldn't say no to an S-K either...)

 

[d42jeep]

Since summer is slowly coming to an end, I decided to do a season ending organization of the S-K tools that I keep at my summer home. I found an S-K toolbox earlier to house the lions share of the collection but plenty remains for my carry box. I also have some more modern (relatively) S-K in my user toolbox. The last picture is of the boxes put away for the season.
-Don

 

[Mgdoug3]

That is a neat collection. You're making me jealous.

 

[Username already in use]

Don, those sets look great! What size combination wrench are you missing in the second to last image?

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, Guys. I think the empty spot is normally occupied buy a Proto 18mm wrench in my user toolbox. If I see one at the flea, I’ll pick one up. I’m not sure why that set isn’t complete, but 18mm isn’t a very popular size.
-Don

 

[madmanc]

lovely tool kit , am mostly britool as theres not a lot of sk here in the uk, thanks for sharing

 

[Username already in use]

Thanks, Guys. I think the empty spot is normally occupied buy a Proto 18mm wrench in my user toolbox. If I see one at the flea, I’ll pick one up. I’m not sure why that set isn’t complete, but 18mm isn’t a very popular size.
-Don

My metric SK goes from 17mm to 19mm, so I'm missing 18 as well. If I find 2, I'll send one your way.

 

[Username already in use]

I hit the SK mother lode today. Somehow, I'm still not able to find the missing B2024 DBE for my wrench board!

Ratcheting DBEs, DBEs, Combos, DOEs, sockets, screwdriver... the works.

 

[d42jeep]

Dang! That there is a mother load!
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

This knurled 3/4" drive S-K socket set has been in my possession for more than 25 years. I bought it at a garage sale from a retired mechanic for $60. At that time, I had no idea it would be collectable, I just needed a set.

Today it found a new home in a period correct hand carry box. I added (and replaced) a few pieces that came from a recent eBay acquisition, but I'm still short some pieces. I appear to be missing 1 1/2" & 1 5/16" sockets, a short extension, and a sliding T-bar driver. My set begins at 1 1/16" and I'm wondering if there are smaller sockets that belong to this set.

I have duplicate sockets I am willing to trade, including: 2", 1 7/8", 1 1/4", and 1 1/16". Please send me a PM if you are interested in trading.


The last picture is of the eBay lot I purchased. I gave $35 (+$15 shipping) for 7 never used sockets (they look NOS!) and a breaker bar.


Brian

 

[Rileysan]

And since I'm playing with 3/4" drive tools today, here's my Craftsman "Circle-K" set, made by S-K, in the exact same hand carry box as my S-K set, except it's got the Craftsman heritage badge on it. I bought this set off CL last year for $125 but I had to drive ~100 miles to pick it up.

Like my S-K set, this is incomplete. I am looking for a 1 1/2" socket. I am also looking for a breaker bar that was sold separately from the set.

I have several duplicates I am willing to trade for any combination of Craftsman Circle-K or knurled S-K sockets, including: 2" (x2), 1 13/16", 1 3/4", 1 11/16", & 1 5/8".

Brian

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a little Fulton set made by sk and I think sold through sears.

 

[Username already in use]

Oldtuleguy, that Fulton set is really nice!

And since I'm playing with 3/4" drive tools today, here's my Craftsman "Circle-K" set, made by S-K,

That's a great looking set of Craftsman (K)! I wish I had the ratchet for my set.
I think I posted mine over in the Craftsman long C thread, but they belong over here as well.
I believe my set is wartime. The handles are not branded which is typical of wartime SK production and the sockets are highly polished, and not chromed, though, they shine so much, it's hard to tell the difference!

 

[Rileysan]

Oldtuleguy, that Fulton set is really nice!


That's a great looking set of Craftsman (K)! I wish I had the ratchet for my set.
I think I posted mine over in the Craftsman long C thread, but they belong over here as well.
I believe my set is wartime. The handles are not branded which is typical of wartime SK production and the sockets are highly polished, and not chromed, though, they shine so much, it's hard to tell the difference!

Thank you for the wartime comment. My breaker bar has no markings as well, which left me perplexed. Now I know!

Brian

 

[d42jeep]

Thank you for the wartime comment. My breaker bar has no markings as well, which left me perplexed. Now I know!

Brian

None of my wartime 1/4” drive S-K sets have markings on the flex handles or extensions.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

These are unmarked with the chrome alloy sockets, but there is a remainder of a gambles tiger tools decal, at least the outline.

 

[Catfishdan]

I picked up a 3/8" set box today at an estate sale and found a few leftovers from my last set to start filling it. Time to get busy...



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