Vintage S-K Tools

[Kdaniel8601]

Would this be the set your are talking about? This is from the 1941 Socket Sets and Parts Catalog.

 

[d42jeep]

Well, yes and no. The contents list in the catalog match the set perfectly, so that’s a yes. The no part is the page heading in that catalog refers to the sets as “S-K Chrome“. At some point after May 15, 1941, S-K changed the markings on the sockets from S-K Chrome to just plain S-K. I have two different 4097 sets, one with sockets marked S-K Chrome and the other with chrome plated sockets marked S-K. By the time the wartime finish sets appear, all the sockets are just marked S-K. The change occurred sometime after the printing of this catalog. Without a later 1941 or a 1942 catalog being available, I’m afraid the the exact timeframe will be impossible to pin down exactly.
-Don

 

[Kdaniel8601]

Would the dating have anything to do with the tool box, I have one that is very similar to yours except it is the 4097. I assumed it would be for S-K Chrome because of the gold in the background of the decal, now i am not sure.

 

[d42jeep]

When I received my S-K chrome 1/4“ drive set the decal was missing.

I would have expected the decal to resemble this early one from a spark plug socket set

 

[Kdaniel8601]

My spark plug socket set has a decal similar to yours, my oldest S-K Chrome set I can't really tell, my two other complete S-K Chrome sets look like they never had any decals. I am not sure how to date the boxes now.

 

[d42jeep]

Well, we know one thing for sure. The catalog illustrations have almost nothing to do with reality. If I get a set with unmarked extensions and breaker bar, depending on the finish, I believe that it’s either prewar or wartime. At least half of those boxes I find with the water transfers look like they are designed to include the 7/32” and 3/16” sockets and therefore have a longer socket tray. Those sets aren’t shown in either the ‘41 or ‘43 catalogs yet they obviously exist. During the ‘30s and ‘40s S-K was changing their product offering almost every year. The 1/2” drive sockets go from unmarked to Chrome Vanadium Steel to S-K Chrome to S-K in just a few years. Plus they were turning out Chrome Alloy and contract tools for Sears and others. It’s a little hard to keep up with.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This nice spinner arrived in the mail yesterday from bmwrd0. I replaced the less attractive one in this set. The new one is a much better match, condition wise. The other spinner will go into a set missing one.
-Don

 

[genog]

Found this today:

Missing the 7/16 and 1/2

 

[d42jeep]

That’s an immediate postwar set with 12 point sockets. Those sockets are harder to find than the newer 6 point sockets.
-Don

 

[genog]

More S-K at the Flea Market this weekend
....and more stuff to search for next weekend.
Need to find a Hand Spinner, small three 1/4 drive sockets, and a couple of S-K extensions.....

The searching is Good Fun, but my list keeps getting longer and longer

 

[d42jeep]

The tools for the blow molded set shouldn’t be too hard to find, but the universals will take some looking. My only estate sale find today was this knurled 1/2” drive deep socket.
-Don

 

[mogandave]

These 7510s have served me well for 35-45 years and they were used when I got them...

 

[d42jeep]

With the addition of the missing narrow groove 1/2” socket this postwar set is now complete. The previous owner of the socket seemed to have a thing for ugly red markings and didn’t treat the 9/16” socket with much respect either. The box came to me rusty and missing most of its paint forcing a repaint.
-Don
This image was uploaded to Internet Archive by GJ member Kdaniel8601

 

[mogandave]

With the addition of the missing narrow groove 1/2” socket this postwar set is now complete. The previous owner of the socket seemed to have a thing for ugly red markings and didn’t treat the 9/16” socket with much respect either. The box came to me rusty and missing most of its paint forcing a repaint.
-Don

Yeah, dude should have offed that breaker before he stuck that 9/16" in there...

Bet that was a ****-pucker moment.....

 

[Raineman]

Don, did they use the knurled and non knurled in same sets? If so, I actually may have more sets than I thought.

 

[d42jeep]

Only 1/4” and 1/2” drive early sockets were knurled. 3/8” drive sockets were never knurled.
-Don

 

[JjKk40]

Nice set, sir.

I like how the SK's have the 4 smallest deep sockets a little shorter, thus making a cavity for the universal. I don't know if they did it as a cost savings feature (and it just worked out), or if it was by design. Anyhow, I like it!

Theyr not the only ones. I have a few Bonney 3/8 sets that are set up exactly the same as that SK in the pic. Theyre "B-Hex" and BonECon sets that are like that.

 

[mogandave]

Hey Fellas, I have an S-K 45170 I'm servicing, and it does not seem to come apart any further than is shown below. Am I missing something?

Also, in the red circle seems to be a 73, would this be the year it was manufactured?

 

[d42jeep]

On most of mine, that reversing lever comes off, allowing the pin that’s held in below it to slide out. After that it will come apart fully. Normally when I get to where you are now, I don’t disassemble it any further. I just clean and lube that assembly as it is until the reversing lever moves freely, clean the inside of the handle and reassemble. Twertsy did some investigation of those numbers on the handles of some S-K ratchets, even asking S-K their significance. S-K admitted that they were some sort of date code but wouldn’t divulge their system.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Love the raised socket shelf on that redone box, Don. Since the shallow sockets were so stubby they could get some space under there to accommodate the speed handle. nicely done!

 

[bonneyman]

You guys' blue S-K boxes reminded me of an old rust bucket I saved from the scrap yard. It had that yellow and silver background logo, so I tried to approximate the blue paint that I remembered seeing on that era boxes. Repaired the missing metal, and made it useable. No beauty queen but still doing the duty. It currently holds my 1/2" drive Bonney and Craftsman metric sockets and accessories.

 

[bonneyman]

Sk got passed around a few times. This dresser era set was sold by gambles, a mixture of kraeuter, sk, and gambles marked tools, in a green box with a kraeuter badge!

There's the infamous red spinner handle that another thread is discussing, which is marked S-K. You think Krauter is the company who started that, and S-K - being connected to them - had them make their driver handles for them?

 

[d42jeep]

You guys' blue S-K boxes reminded me of an old rust bucket I saved from the scrap yard. It had that yellow and silver background logo, so I tried to approximate the blue paint that I remembered seeing on that era boxes. Repaired the missing metal, and made it useable. No beauty queen but still doing the duty. It currently holds my 1/2" drive Bonney and Craftsman metric sockets and accessories.

Good save. The logo was faded. It started life like this.
-Don

The mystery red spinner had a square shank.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

There's the infamous red spinner handle that another thread is discussing, which is marked S-K. You think Krauter is the company who started that, and S-K - being connected to them - had them make their driver handles for them?

This one is earlier, round shaft version, all made by sk just wow 3 brands in one box. Gambles was not too picky it would seem.

 

[d42jeep]

I received a lot of 8 wartime cad plated S-K sockets in the mail today. I was able to fill in one missing socket from my wartime set plus have a complete socket set for my S-K wartime toolbox. The cad plating was in good shape and the sockets looked barely used.
-Don

 

[mogandave]

Hey Fellas, I have this nice set of screwdrivers, and they are all pristine except for this 71064, and only the one "flute".

What is the best way to make it nice?

 

[bonneyman]

Depending on how deep the scratches are, you could use 400 sandpaper, then finish up with Turtle Wax polishing compound. Or for fine scratches, skip the paper. Works well on the plastic handles.

I think I got the tips from Lauver.

 

[Outlawmws]

you can finish sand with progressively finer paper, then polish/wax and it shoulf be good to go. deep scratches may have to be lived with.

 

[mogandave]

Thanks, the scratches are pretty deep, it will take at least some sanding. Wet paper, yes?

 

[Outlawmws]

I would, if only so the paper doesn't load up

 

[genog]

I found a near complete set of older S-K 1/2 drive sockets
Raked through four metal tool boxes FULL of sockets. Most of which were junker Chinese and Taiwan
Found a bunch, many doubles, but couldn't find the 3/4 and 15/16.....darn it!

These S-K's look like they have a two tone finish.
Chrome on top, and a duller finish on the bottom.
Ah, unpolished matte chrome.

 

[Outlawmws]

That's caused by a matte finish on that part of the socket.

 

[d42jeep]

That's caused by a matte finish on that part of the socket.

Right. The entire socket is chrome plated but only the polished area comes out shiny.
four.cycle sent me this very nice vintage S-K sliding tee. I have to decide which set to add it to.
Thanks, BK!
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Totally by accident I came across some shallow metric S-K sockets yesterday. I now have a set of 10-18, missing the 19 but I have a 7. Also snagged an S-K bit driver, much like the one that I purchased with my original S-K tools in 1980. Have a cap coming to me that was donated by a member. Not my favorite style of bit driver but a nice piece of nostalgia.
I have a 1/4" socket tray that I'll probably store the sockets in for now.

 

[bonneyman]

You guys seemed to like my S-K box save. Don't recall if I posted pics already, but here's another sqwat box that needed a bit of love.
On this and the next box I was testing different shaker can colors to try and get close to the original S-K greenish.

 

[bonneyman]

And a small socket tray box that really took some work.

 

[four.cycle]

Don - did you put that thing on a buffer? I know it wasn't that shiny when I packed it up.

bonneyman - the shade's off a bit on those but they're sure an improvement from what they were!

 

[bonneyman]

I quickly realized the cap color often doesn't really match the dried paint color. And it was getting expensive buying different shades of green paint! Here's the two colors I whittled the choices down to.

 

[d42jeep]

Don - did you put that thing on a buffer? I know it wasn't that shiny when I packed it up.

bonneyman - the shade's off a bit on those but they're sure an improvement from what they were!

No buffing was involved. Cleaned out the grease in the nooks and crannies with a dental pick, hit the shaft with some steel wool and hosed it down with some brake cleaner.
-Don

 

[mogandave]

When working correctly, does the ratchet in post #3,058 above require that you hold the socket to reverse it?