Vintage S-K Tools

[d42jeep]

Thats pretty close

Pretty cool D42JEEP!

Dang. Nice job! I knew you’d give it a better home than I could.

Thanks, guys. I still have to find the wartime tools highlighted. I have a feeling that the 3/8” universal sockets are going to be a challenge.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Good luck Don! I’ve never seen an SK branded 1/2” drive ell handle!

 

[Provincial]

Isn't the spark plug L-handle just a bent piece of tempered round bar? No markings?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Its not what you think. Its just the L shaped rod for the spark plug sockets

 

[Username already in use]

Ahh, gotcha. I thought it was the 1/2” drive on both ends type ell. Makes more sense now.

 

[3baygarage]

Picked this set up today. The catalog was rolled up underneath the sockets like a cigar. When I saw that in there it was a done deal.

Funny, I think this shows the L handle mentioned. I have a feeling it isn’t branded like Provincial said.

 

[d42jeep]

I have two of the chrome ell bars but I’ve never seen a wartime one. I have a unplated placeholder but the diameter is a little small.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is it dated 3bay? Does that say 1950?

 

[Old Radar]

Picked this set up today. The catalog was rolled up underneath the sockets like a cigar. When I saw that in there it was a done deal.

Funny, I think this shows the L handle mentioned. I have a feeling it isn’t branded like Provincial said.

Sweet looking set 3bay!! That's a real nice looking Indestro 6pt 1-1/8" socket, too. Cough, Cough. Nudge, Nudge.

 

[3baygarage]

I have two of the chrome ell bars but I’ve never seen a wartime one. I have a unplated placeholder but the diameter is a little small.
-Don

Oh, well i guess you have one. I missed the wartime part. My uncle has that spark plug set.

Is it dated 3bay? Does that say 1950?

No, unfortunately no date. I was hoping there was.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What's the number to the left of Printed in U.S.A.?

 

[3baygarage]

Sweet looking set 3bay!! That's a real nice looking Indestro 6pt 1-1/8" socket, too. Cough, Cough. Nudge, Nudge.

Hah! Oops, how did that get in this thread? If i was going to part with a socket in that photo it would probably be the Craftsman first , but let me see...

 

[3baygarage]

What's the number to the left of Printed in U.S.A.?

It’s smudged but something ? 850.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As in August 1950, perhaps? It's a publication number, not a date, per se, but they often served dual purposes that way, and next to the COO would be the place for a publication number/date. We could confirm or deny that in a few different ways. Do the tools depicted look to be 1950 production? And do we have other S-K catalogs or brochures or ads with publication numbers?

EDIT: The 1943 "War Issue" catalog is dated on the cover with no number next to the "Printed in U.S.A." notice, so that's no help.

 

[3baygarage]

Idk, it looks like a dash -850, and whatever came before the dash is gone. I can post pics of the whole thing when there’s better light. I’ll try to flatten it some.

I believe it mentions chromium if that helps.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I don't think we need the letter. I think it's irrelevant. I mean, it meant something to someone in the publications dept. when it was published. But I'm 99.9% certain that "x-850" refers to 1950.

If you go to the Internet Archive Catalog page for Sherman-Klove, linked here, you'll find eleven (11) discrete catalogs, including the 1943 "War Issue" I checked for a pub num on the downloaded copy on my computer. Most of them have a pub number in the same or similar format, and the number always refers to the publication date.

There is a an "MC 53" that IA dates to 1953. There is a "649" that IA dates to 1949. There is a "361" that IA dates to 1961. There is a 1053 (1953). I would bet my next paycheck that the first digit or two in these numbers refers to a month but we don't need to skin the cat that close.

The 1941 and 1943 catalogs are the only catalogs in their library that have no pub number, but they are dated right on the cover.

BTW, a few of the catalogs are exactly like your mailer type with the address blank and the postage square on the back.

 

[d42jeep]

I don't think we need the letter. I think it's irrelevant. I mean, it meant something to someone in the publications dept. when it was published. But I'm 99.9% certain that "x-850" refers to 1950.

If you go to the Internet Archive Catalog page for Sherman-Klove, linked here, you'll find eleven (11) discrete catalogs, including the 1943 "War Issue" I checked for a pub num on the downloaded copy on my computer. Most of them have a pub number in the same or similar format, and the number always refers to the publication date.

There is a an "MC 53" that IA dates to 1953. There is a "649" that IA dates to 1949. There is a "361" that IA dates to 1961. There is a 1053 (1953). I would bet my next paycheck that the first digit or two in these numbers refers to a month but we don't need to skin the cat that close.

The 1941 and 1943 catalogs are the only catalogs in their library that have no pub number, but they are dated right on the cover.

BTW, a few of the catalogs are exactly like your mailer type with the address blank and the postage square on the back.

Judging by the sets shown, 1950 is quite likely. The only catalog that shows the spark plug set with the Ell handle is #649. By the time the ‘53 and ‘56 catalogs came along, the holes in the sockets for the Ell handle had been discontinued. I would love to see pictures of that brochure.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks. That's exactly the kind of thing I was too lazy and less equipped with this particular brand to do.

I wish I could remember Chastain's exact line in "O Dark Thirty", something like, "I know certainty freaks you guys out, but it's 100%." Haha.

 

[Kdaniel8601]

I believe I have the same catalog in black and white, the code on the back page is B-850. I will upload it to International Tool Catalog Library. I will list it as "1950 Sherman Klove Socket Sets And Parts Catalog".

 

[d42jeep]

Picked this set up today. The catalog was rolled up underneath the sockets like a cigar. When I saw that in there it was a done deal.

Funny, I think this shows the L handle mentioned. I have a feeling it isn’t branded like Provincial said.

It looks like your new set is another early one with the galvanized lid. Nice find. Those crossbars are hard to find. You just need the breaker bar with the ball in the crossbar hole and an early ratchet. I added an extension to these sets.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Nice sets. It looks galvanized to me. I might be able to drum up the pieces to finish the set.

I see your box on the left has the tab inside too. Is that for holding the breaker bar?

 

[d42jeep]

Nice sets. It looks galvanized to me. I might be able to drum up the pieces to finish the set.

I see your box on the left has the tab inside too. Is that for holding the breaker bar?

All of those boxes have the tabs, including my wartime box. I’ve never figured out the function. I carefully bent the tab back out of the way on this box. It has some extra /32” sockets and a patent pending ratchet.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Nice sets. It looks galvanized to me. I might be able to drum up the pieces to finish the set.

I see your box on the left has the tab inside too. Is that for holding the breaker bar?

I have these extras if you don’t have them yourself. Do your sockets have detents for the retaining ball? The earlier sockets don’t have detents.
-Don

 

[thefraze_1020]

I have finally gone through all of the tools I inherited recently from my grandfather. The following pictures are the S-K stuff I have.

There's a little bit of everything. A box-end offset S-K wrench from the late 40's/ early 50's. A couple Lectrolite wrenches, and a Tru-Fit Lectrolite Wrench. A couple S-K/Lectrolite wrenches. Of course some S-K Wayne stuff, my favorite being the knurled socket (which makes it early S-K Wayne, circa 1964?), S-K Tools marked stuff, and finally later S-K stuff, including a 4488 oil pressure sender socket. I think we determined on another thread that the 4488 socket is from the 80's or newer.

 

[thefraze_1020]

Finally the early S-K Wayne socket.

I should mention some of these tools I did not inherit; rather I found them in the tool bins at the local Habitat for Humanity store.

BTW...I love that S-K ratchet. It is a little scratched around the edges, but it still operates very smoothly. It was in my grandpa's "house" tool box.

 

[d42jeep]

BTW...I love that S-K ratchet. It is a little scratched around the edges, but it still operates very smoothly. It was in my grandpa's "house" tool box.

It’s great that you have his tools to remember him by. That ratchet is quite early, likely pre WW2.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Finally the early S-K Wayne socket.

A 1/2" drive 1-3/16" socket is somewhat rare in any brand. But, is that one cracked?

 

[thefraze_1020]

A 1/2" drive 1-3/16" socket is somewhat rare in any brand. But, is that one cracked?

Not that I'm aware of. I think you may be seeing a tiny hair on it (on the right).

 

[3baygarage]

I have these extras if you don’t have them yourself. Do your sockets have detents for the retaining ball? The earlier sockets don’t have detents.
-Don

Thanks. These do have detents. I’ll have to go through what I have around.

 

[3baygarage]

Here is the catalog in its entirety. It’s pretty rough.

 

[3baygarage]

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, 3bay.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for the pictures. It seems to be a color version of the one Kdaniel posted here.
https://archive.org/details/1950-sherman-klove-socket-sets-and-parts-catalog/mode/2up
-Don

 

[nynexit]

Hey gang , you’ve inspired me to find the original case to my 1/2 12 pt set with speed handle .

I can’t find one on any of the usual sites
Looking for one in this style



If anyone has one and would like to sell it . I’d be very appreciative . Thank you and keep up the great work !

Once all my sets are complete and assembled I’ll post some pictures.

 

[d42jeep]

I found mine on eBay last December looking like the first picture. It was surprisingly complete. It cleaned up pretty well.
-Don

 

[Rmb8Ball]

Strange SK 1/2 Rachet U might like.

Don't see many with handles like this one. Idk why alloy artifacts says something or other.

Anyways...

 

[z28lsc]

Nice sets.

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks for the pictures. It seems to be a color version of the one Kdaniel posted here.
https://archive.org/details/1950-sherman-klove-socket-sets-and-parts-catalog/mode/2up
-Don

Must be. Nice job posting it there Kdaniel. Now if only we could combine this color, with those clean, wrinkle free pages..

 

[d42jeep]

Strange SK 1/2 Rachet U might like.

Don't see many with handles like this one. Idk why alloy artifacts says something or other.

Anyways...

You might enjoy taking a look at the beaver tail discussion upthread.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278177&page=130
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some brazil stuff. Recently picked up the 3/8 set and tried my hand at making a decal, as the old one was obliterated. Used pixlr to touch up decal image and stuck it on with some clearcoat.