Vintage S-K Tools

[RTM]

OK, good to know. NOT very nice of SK to reuse the number. Will put him back in the tote to be cleaned.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes a bit confusing!

 

[consti2tion]

Picked this Ol Gal up today from txvwnut for free today. It’s rough but will be unique when I get time to restore it. Has a Lyon top chest which I’ve never seen one of those before.

 

[Username already in use]

@consti2tion nice! You ****! Lyon make some SK Professional boxes as well. Same pills but with SK Tools inset.
That’ll look real sharp all cleaned up.

 

[consti2tion]

@consti2tion nice! You ****! Lyon make some SK Professional boxes as well. Same pills but with SK Tools inset.
That’ll look real sharp all cleaned up.

Thank you! I couldn’t type fast enough when I saw it posted for free and realized it was within driving distance, about 190 miles round trip but worth it!

Those SK Professional boxes have to be as rare as hen’s teeth as I’ve never seen one for sale, I would pay a decent amount for one if I did.

Now I’ll have to up my estate sale/Ebay hunting for some more SK tools to fill the boxes. This will be my wood shop box. I do have an SK hacksaw to put in it at least

 

[saukit]

Agree with the suckage for consti2tion! Here's an old 105 ratchet with a few sockets that I dug out of a barn a while back. The two smaller sockets are somewhat suspect because they're the same size despite both being hex drive. Pretty sure the big one is original to the set as it was rusted on to the ratchet!

I originally thought this stuff was Duro and d42jeep corrected me, thanks for that Don! If anyone knows how to correctly identify these sockets in the wild I would appreciate any tips. Because of course now I need the whole set...

 

[four.cycle]

"...If anyone knows how to correctly identify these sockets in the wild..."

With some degree of difficulty, and maybe not always with 100% accuracy.
They were made by S-K, Duro/Indestro, New Britain, G.M. Mfg. Co., Dunlap, and Walden-Worcester, among others.
The only way to positively identify them is by comparison with a known piece.
There are a few which have identifying marks that are unmistakable:
- stars on both sides of the size stamping = Duro / Indestro
- dots on both sides of the size stamping = Sherman Klove (see Oldtuleguy's post just below for examples)
Some used a plain knurled band. Some used a cross-hatch knurling pattern.
There is a dedicated thread here somewhere for those hex-drive sockets and drive accessories.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A pretty good assessment. Here's a couple sk variants. The dots on either side of the socket size are apparent on these.

 

[saukit]

Thanks four.cycle and oldtuleguy! I figured the one on the left was likely SK as that one was not only on the ratchet but has the dot punched on both sides. I'll have to look again but the smaller one on the right may also have the dots. The one in the middle looks more like the Duro stuff I have but I also thought I read that Duro has the dots sometimes too. Maybe the crosshatching is the key, is SK stuff pretty much always crosshatched as opposed to the vertical style that I see on Duro?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Dots are missing sometimes. It's not 100% consistent.

 

[saukit]

Thanks again oldtuleguy, really appreciate you digging out those examples! I need to work on my reading comprehension...

The only way to positively identify them is by comparison with a known piece.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No problem. They were out on some shelves.

 

[d42jeep]

My experience with hex drive is quite limited. I figure that if the dots on each side of the number are there that IDs them as S-K but as OTG noted, sometimes the dots aren’t there but they look very similar otherwise. Unfortunately there are other brands that look pretty much the same. I try to stay with square drive but even on those sometimes it’s hard to tell. Sometimes Indestro sockets look quite a bit like their S-K counterparts and often the sets have been around so long that brands are mixed. OTG’s examples above are excellent.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Thanks Don and Oldtuleguy.

I left out:

- TRAPEZOID shape on either side of the size stamping = Duro/Indestro

As noted above: the cross-hatch knurling was used by more than one manufacturer. So was the plain knurling.
Hex drive sockets made by G.M. Mfg. Co. and Walden Worcester are virtually indistinguishable from each other.

another "hex drive socket" thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/unknown-tools-no-idea-how-they-could-be-used.379446/
a "New Britain" hex drive socket thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/new-britain-hex-drive.384346/
a thread on hex drive ratchets: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/1-2-hex-drive-ratchets.379751/
another "hex drive socket" thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/vintage-knurled-sockets-with-1-2-inch-hex-drive.377884/
and yet another "hex drive socket" thread (also includes square drive): https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/mysterious-1-4-drive-sockets.378370/

... and I think there are a few more on the subject as well. Some of the threads are quite short. There was one that showed a good number of examples from various members.

One of these days one of us might write a comprehensive tutorial on these hex-drive sockets with charts and graphs and photos set up for some kind of "identification guide".
In a perfect world, that might happen.
Unfortunately, there were lots of different manufacturers, none of which stamped names or identifying marks on the pieces (other than those noted above), and the sets even in complete and pristine condition just aren't worth a lot of money, so the whole genre has been pretty much ignored by the tool collecting community, resulting in a dearth of information.


(* names left out of this sidetrack discussion so far: Sedgley, Keystone ) (who am I missing?)

(I just noticed this is actually an S-K thread.... no wonder information on these hex drive sockets is so hard to find here!)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It has been suggested sk was making the stuff anyway, and only started selling socket sets because it got stuck with a bunch of tools when it's customers defaulted during the depression.

 

[RTM]

One of these days one of us might write a comprehensive tutorial on these hex-drive sockets with charts and graphs and photos set up for some kind of "identification guide".
In a perfect world, that might happen.
Unfortunately, there were lots of different manufacturers, none of which stamped names or identifying marks on the pieces (other than those noted above), and the sets even in complete and pristine condition just aren't worth a lot of money, so the whole genre has been pretty much ignored by the tool collecting community, resulting in a dearth of information.

I was wondering if this had been done. I have a stack of unmarked sockets, of 6 or 8 distinct flavors, and was trying to decipher a way, without posting six Whozits posts, or one long confusing Whozit post, to get the help of the group on IDing them. Even having a thread, where we could standardize on terms, to ID certain features like straight knurl vs crossed knurl, and use these terms consistent throughout .

or have some of you all brands knowledgeable people post some unmarked sockets in the same thread, say who made them, and show what specific feature led you too that observation.

kinda similar to the type studies done on planes

Bob's illustrated Type study of Bailey bench planes. Part 1 The collector's models years

I decided to break it into two parts, this being too long. Part 1 The collector's models years. Type 1 to Type 7 Part 2 The user's models...

thevalleywoodworker.blogspot.com

 

[four.cycle]

RTM, we are most assuredly WAY OFF TOPIC here, but this being the "vintage S-K" thread, it will get the attention of most of the hard-core collector group.
The problem, as I see it NOW, is that we really do not have a single source of information on this genre of tool that is accessible and easy to find even for new members.
Notwithstanding Private Lugnutz's herculean effort to make it as easy as possible to find information with his "sticky" thread (HERE: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...ads-faq-helpful-hints-and-handy-links.434502/ ), hex drive stuff is, for the most part, scattered all over the site.
Another hurdle, however minor it might be, is that the word "HEX" only has three letters, and for reasons that defy explanation, the authors who wrote the software package this site uses couldn't figure out how to make it search for anything less than four letters.

I am open to suggestions, and would unquestionably be willing to contribute what I know (as I have in several threads), but to be honest, trying to get all of this information archived here in some organized fashion is along the lines of herding cats.

 

[RTM]

I was thinking herding squirrels might be more appropriate.

Besides hex, taking on all those unmarked square drive sockets would be good too.

A way around the word HEX would be to use the jargon HEXDrive across these things going forward, but that won't help the newbie, who might say "six point" drive, or reverse, or..... So many options.

I could see a new thread, stuck under the Type Of Tool Thread, with Unidentified Socket Help, but that won't help the newbie either.

About all I could offer is to proofreed, and see if my unknowns can follow the path to enlightenment.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I think the change to six point on the three smallest sockets in the 1/2” drive sets was made about 1958. Correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[d42jeep]

I agreed with you and provided confirming catalog images when you posted pictures of your set.
-Don

Beautiful set and I think your date range is correct. Not only did the earlier sets have all 12 point sockets, they had crossbars rather than extensions. Here are a couple of early postwar sets followed by a wartime version.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a variety of wartime S-K 1/4” drive sets I did some organizing on yesterday.
-Don

 

[StillTooManyHobbies]

Still looking for an answer to my flare nut wrench question. Anybody?

 

[Mintgrun]

The difference between these two spinners is interesting. The handle on the bottom was definitely made in a mold, but I believe the top one would have been turned on a lathe, after being cut off of a long length of handle stock. Does anyone know when the molded style handles first appear in the catalog images? I am guessing that style came later. Tom

 

[d42jeep]

It’s difficult to be sure since there is a large gap in catalog availability between 1943 and 1949. They re-appear in the S-K/Lectrolite catalogs. As is normal with S-K, the appearance of the spinners in the catalog drawings is probably much different than the actual tools.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

I picked these up today, as you never, but never, pass up a complete set:

Kraueter, but as they are an SK subsidiary, I think they go well here. It is funny, they are of the cheaper SK design, but still very good wrenches.

 

[humber2]

Another hurdle, however minor it might be, is that the word "HEX" only has three letters, and for reasons that defy explanation, the authors who wrote the software package this site uses couldn't figure out how to make it search for anything less than four letters.

I am open to suggestions, and would unquestionably be willing to contribute what I know (as I have in several threads), but to be honest, trying to get all of this information archived here in some organized fashion is along the lines of herding cats.

Using hex* is the way to go.

 

[Username already in use]

Using hex* is the way to go.

I use google to search the GJ. In the google search type:
Searchterm site:garagejournal.com
and it will return results for only this website.

 

[consti2tion]

These were made by SK so that counts right? Not vintage like most of the stuff in this thread, we just don't have that kind of luck around here. Bought this off ebay for the wife. One of the ratchets looks nearly brand new, the sockets do not look used either. Mixture of SAE and Metric sockets.

Edit: cannot get them to stay in the orientation that I took the pictures in.

 

[four.cycle]

^ That J.C. Penney set is definitely "vintage", and amazingly, it appears to be intact. There is also a "Penney / Penncraft" thread here somewhere.
Nice find there.

 

[consti2tion]

^ That J.C. Penney set is definitely "vintage", and amazingly, it appears to be intact. There is also a "Penney / Penncraft" thread here somewhere.
Nice find there.

Thank you.

I mean it's not vintage like a set with knurled sockets.

I've seen the Penncraft thread and another JC Penney thread. I could bring them back up ttt I guess. There is another set on eBay that more complete but they want quite a bit more than I paid for this one.

 

[four.cycle]

well.... unfortunately ebay sellers hand over a portion of their "winnings" to the house, so prices there are usually going to be more.

I meant "vintage" in that Penneys got out of the tool business some time ago.

 

[consti2tion]

well.... unfortunately ebay sellers hand over a portion of their "winnings" to the house, so prices there are usually going to be more.

I meant "vintage" in that Penneys got out of the tool business some time ago.

I have sold too many things on ebay and given too much money to ebay.. At some point it's almost worth it to keep the stuff or give it away.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this nice set missing only the extension at a local estate sale today. It will likely end up on eBay to offset today’s purchases.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Spotted a large S-K toolbox in the pics for an estate sale that started this morning. I was the first person in the garage. It's really in remarkable condition. Even still has the original fiberboard bottom piece with the wooden block to hold 3 hand saws. In the Garage Sale thread, RTM shared a link to a 1956 S-K catalog which has this carpenter's box (model no 1532). Very cool! The wooden spools were in the toolbox. Been quite a while since I've seen those.

 

[d42jeep]

I found one at a Tahoe sale on August 7. It had Masonite in the bottom as well. I posted it that day In #2844. Yours looks to be nicer.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Thanks for posting the pic Don. Hard to believe both these boxes still have the fiberboard hand saw rack in them.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I found this nice set missing only the extension at a local estate sale today. It will likely end up on eBay to offset today’s purchases.
-Don

Wish I had known. I would have sent you that, also!

 

[d42jeep]

Wish I had known. I would have sent you that, also!

Thanks but I already had another one.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found a decent empty box for a metric set on eBay. I had quite a few metric sockets that were too tall for the long racks so I’ll try to complete the set. I need an extension and a spark plug socket. I robbed the ratchet and extension from the large set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for posting the pic Don. Hard to believe both these boxes still have the fiberboard hand saw rack in them.

Mine has the fiberboard but it looks like the saw rack was removed by a previous owner. Here are a few more pictures including the tools I’m storing in the box. Does yours have the two hooks on the latch side of the interior?
-Don