Vintage S-K Tools

[Smokeshow69]

Scored an early 1/2” ratchet at an estate sale today. It even had a plug, albeit the wrong brand...

You can that plug for money! Those are almost always missing from the ratchet. Post that in the craftsman Long C thread and state you could be persuaded to sell.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[outofbounds]

Was trying to get some boxes organized moving into winter, and pulled this stray socket out of an accumulation of S-K that has occurred across the summer. First 3/8" drive x 1-1/16" socket I've seen, and also the first socket from S-K bearing a 4 digit P/N (4488) unusual "rounded hex" service opening has me wondering what the specific use for this may have been. UPDATE - Found it....on Ebay. Plenty of these oil sending unit double sockets available I guess.

 

[ALLFAST]

Do all SK DBE wrenches have a. single digit parallel on the length which denotes it's combo number, or just those of a particular era?

 

[Rileysan]

Scored an early 1/2” ratchet at an estate sale today. It even had a plug, albeit the wrong brand...

THAT is a sweet find!! I've been looking for one to add to my SK collection for years. Additionally, this same model was branded and sold under the Craftsman name some time during the 1930s. It's a bit of an enigma in that it didn't appear in any of the catalogs but at least one example exists.

Brian

 

[ALLFAST]

So I met with the seller of these mystery SK Cadmium tools which I posted last week. Got them yesterday. First, Abit about the seller who is a true vintage tool lover. He was somewhat cantankerous on the phone last week, but became very cool as I updated him via telephone (He "DOESNT DO TEXTING"!) Tuesday and while enrt yesterday.

I arrived to his place and he is 66 years old, and about 5 '7 145 and wiry as a boxer. Solid as a rock, looking about 50. He gave me a little tour of his giant tool hoard and I asked about how he got started in old tools. He picked up an old school impact driver, and explained that he was a 15 year old kid in 1970 and was into 2 stroke Yamaha dirt bikes. He said the impact driver was about 13 dollars new and that is what he needed to split the cases on his engines. He had a paper route and that was a big item back then, so he began trading and selling tools after that, and in high school he had become very well known as the guy to buy nice tools from, so he started out of necessity. He said he was making
very decent side money buying and selling tools to friends and schoolmates.

He served 6 years in the Navy as a Nuclear Machinst Mate, and that just got him more tool crazy. He was hitting garage sales and flea markets whenever he could while on leave or on day trips all during his Navy tour, and he has never stopped. He said the internet has made his lifelong hobby and passion all the easier. This man can tell you the full history on anything USA, European, or Japanese.... I saw countless vintage (all beautiful and no junk) tools and he explained each one to me,... Like Alloy Artifacts....

We had a very cool visit and he talked tools nonstop.... He got these SK tools awhileback at an yard sale and they were in an old area where farms were abundant.

They are in fact all cadmium tools. The sockets are gently used and the cadmium has this beautiful swirling. Zero damage or abuse, just some minor smooth nicks here and there. They are proper without the ball detent depressions inside.

The extension and slide breaker bar have no SK names or part numbers and are in better shape than the sockets. All Cadmium and they look barely used.

I'll give a much shorter report soon on the SK 1/2 drive ratchet and 4 sockets which I picked up an hour later ,15 minutes up the road from this score. CL has been good,and I'm slowly gathering the era appropriate tools to fill the 4000C Socketchest. Thanks for listening,and all the help!

Shawn

 

[ALLFAST]

A better photo of the 1/2 drives, and one 3/4 drive socket.

 

[d42jeep]

Congratulations. You are well on your way to filling out that set.
-Don

 

[ALLFAST]

Thank you Don ! I appreciate you and Lugz helping me with the sideline education and photos. I have a collector who is helping me by putting together a complete wartime correct set of the proper DBEs (and some of the other missing items) as he appreciates "the spirit" of the Socketchest build.

Very fair pricing as well. There are SO many good folks in this hobby !
.
Cheers,

Shawn

 

[d42jeep]

I received a small complete S-K 1/4” drive socket set (4097) today. The box looked wartime but the sockets and drive tools were chrome plated. I’ve always suspected that there have to be S-K sets out there that were made in late ‘41 or early ‘42 before the metal restrictions were in effect. I believe that this is one of those sets. The sockets look like they all came in the box and the flex handle is unmarked.
-Don

 

[ALLFAST]

Those are very nice Don. Your observation seems very plausible. And for educational purposes, there is no "Chrome" text on these specimens, and no spring ball recesses on the smaller sizes as well?

 

[d42jeep]

I do have an earlier similar set marked S-K Chrome that I received complete from a friend in 2017 which might be from early ‘41 or even before but they are a mix of 6 and 12 point sockets so probably after ‘39.
-Don

 

[ALLFAST]

Nice stuff, and good to know. More pictures for my knowledge base. Thank you again Sir!

 

[oak_park]

I can't remember if I posted this before...photobucket deleted many of my old photos but I bought this florescent sign off a S-K tool truck driver several years ago. Still works just fine.

 

[ALLFAST]

That is pretty unique !

 

[ALLFAST]

Can anyone help with clarification on " patent dates" for in this case , a 3/4" Ratchet . It is old as dirt, and has SK within the diamond , the appropriate catalog number, and Patent number 2188846. Alloy Artifacts lists that patent range , IIRC, from 1939 to 42,or 40 to 42?. No matter what the year range may be, does that approximately equate to it being produced within those years, or is there something else I have overlooked.

I appreciate any guidance !
.Shawn

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Not sure what you mean by range. That is the Rueb patent, granted January 30, 1940. The ratchet cannot be earlier than that. Typically when AA or me or anyone else gives a range, the other end of the range is dictated by some other factor. Is it plated or plain steel?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Maybe some pics would help

 

[ALLFAST]

Howdy Lugz and OTG,

Let me harvest a photograph in a quick minute here, and double check the A-A dates. I'll be back soon with both.

 

[ALLFAST]

Ok, I'm back . I spoke with the gentleman on the phone, and he said the chrome is very thin. The photo is poor and useless , as the logo and patent are on the top side of the tool.

He said it has the SK within the diamond, the 3/4 catalog number, and Patent # 218846, so if I understand this correctly, the ratchet can be as young as the 1/1940 issue date (thanks Lugz) or as old as 1961, which was when the next Rueb Patent was issued for the new design (or was that 1957)?

 

[ALLFAST]

I was doing a telephonic investigative inquiry as to the sellers possible possession of unbeknownst to him, wartime SK 3/4 accessories ��. Unfortunately, old , but not Wartime on his extensions and breaker bar. I made another SK connection for future dealings and intel, so thats always a bonus.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a slightly prewar set. Only ratchet and sockets marked sk.

 

[ALLFAST]

OTG, That's a nice set!
So, are these sockets also not supposed to have the detents for the spring ball as well?

Thanks for the great photos too!

Shawn

 

[d42jeep]

OTG, that set is a great match for my 1/4” drive set posted upthread in #2409. My guess would be ‘41 or early ‘42. The patent was granted in ‘40.
I’m a little jealous and I don’t even collect 3/4” drive tools.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I spent some time yesterday going through the wrenches in my home S-K collection and taking some pictures.
-Don

 

[ALLFAST]

Thanks Don ! School is in session

 

[Oldtuleguy]

OTG, that set is a great match for my 1/4” drive set posted upthread in #2409. My guess would be ‘41 or early ‘42. The patent was granted in ‘40.
I’m a little jealous and I don’t even collect 3/4” drive tools.
-Don

Yes that is the date range. I have a soft spot for the 3/4 stuff so pick it up when I see it.

 

[ALLFAST]

Don, What is the snowflake like mark that I circled (It reminds me of the Winters foundry mark found on certain 1960s Big Block Chevy Hi-Po components )?

I don't think I've noticed that on any DBEs in photos, or in person.

Thanks again,

Shawn

 

[d42jeep]

Don, What is the snowflake like mark that I circled (It reminds me of the Winters foundry mark found on certain 1960s Big Block Chevy Hi-Po components )?

I don't think I've noticed that on any DBEs in photos, or in person.

Thanks again,

Shawn

I think it’s just a casting mark used by plenty of manufacturers including Vlchek and Barcalo. That wrench seems to be missing it’s single number as well.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up this 6” extension off of eBay to complete this socket set. It arrived today and seems to be a pretty good match. I previously had an older one as a placeholder but it didn’t ever look right. The cardboard insert is dated 1987 so this is one of my most modern sets.
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

I picked up this 6” extension off of eBay to complete this socket set. It arrived today and seems to be a pretty good match. I previously had an older one as a placeholder but it didn’t ever look right. The cardboard insert is dated 1987 so this is one of my most modern sets.
-Don

That extension is MUCH too clean!

 

[ALLFAST]

Thank you Don, Nice modern set as well

 

[d42jeep]

This wrench arrived Monday and received the evaporust treatment. I am inching closer to completing my wartime DBE wrench set.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

I found this tapered box in a scrap bin a few months ago, with a 1/4" of hard greasy gunk stuck to the bottom and dutifully scraped and scrubbed it clean (somewhat).








I had been wondering what it was and then a couple days ago Don posted this photo and I recognized it. The lid was long gone with mine, but at least now I know what it is.



There is a similar box on AA that is marked FULTON.

http://alloy-artifacts.org/craftsman-early-tools-p4.html#fulton-12dr-set

It'd be fun to make a sliding lid for it. Maybe someday.

Tom

 

[d42jeep]

Happy to have been some help in your ID. They must have used those boxes for a few years. I have two quite different sets in very similar boxes.
I found it necessary to pick up this lot of mostly Lectrolite wrenches in order to complete my wartime DBE wrench set as it came with the 33016 (1/2” x 9/16”) wrench that I was missing.
-Don

 

[ForrestT]

Just completed this S-K Tools 1/4” drive set. It was a partial set that was given to me by my favorite local flea market dealer and friend, Doug. Had the ratchet, a couple sockets, and extensions home in my spares drawer. Roy helped me with the missing socket. Doug had the universal swivel joint for me today.




Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[ALLFAST]

That my friend is super nice. Roy helped me out the past few weeks with some vintage and wartime SK sockets and other cool stuff. He's a good Dude!

 

[r_olson_06]

Just completed this S-K Tools 1/4” drive set. It was a partial set that was given to me by my favorite local flea market dealer and friend, Doug. Had the ratchet, a couple sockets, and extensions home in my spares drawer. Roy helped me with the missing socket. Doug had the universal swivel joint for me today.




Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Sharp looking set!

That my friend is super nice. Roy helped me out the past few weeks with some vintage and wartime SK sockets and other cool stuff. He's a good Dude!

Glad I could help.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[ALLFAST]

Hello Roy !!

 

[d42jeep]

Roy has been an excellent trading partner for me in building my Plomb and S-K collections. I certainly appreciate all his help.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

One of the sets I received from Roy is the upper set in the first picture.
Mrbill sent me a care package yesterday with a bunch of cool items, one of which was an early 7/16” deep that matched the rest of the narrow groove 3/8” drive socket in these sets. The pre or early war set had all 12 point sockets but the smaller sockets changed to 6 point around 1953. The 7/16” and 1/2” 12 point deep sockets are quite hard to find.
-Don