Vintage S-K Tools

[d42jeep]

That is a picture of the end of the set showing the set’s part number on the paper label. They are usually missing.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks to the arrival of a package from Username yesterday, all of these wrenches now have the S-K brand. He has several S-K Tool branded wrenches coming his way for his S-K Tool wrench rack. He also included a 9/16” Lectrolite combo that replaces mine with the belled out open end.

Lectrolite branded wrenches
-Don

 

[Provincial]

I don't remember ever seeing anything like this. Thorsen "Vee" forged combo with hand stamped identification:
1/2 SK USA


I found this today at the monthly flea market. It does not seem to have ever had any plating.

 

[Mintgrun]

That's an odd one. Very cool.
It looks like the S stamp was used upside down.

 

[Provincial]

Clearly hand stamped. I can see no reason for anyone to use SK and USA as owner's marks!

 

[d42jeep]

There is a new brand for BFBOB.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

I sent him a PM, just in case he didn't notice this post!

 

[d42jeep]

-Don

 

[BFBOB]

There is a new brand for BFBOB.
-Don

How true! The fact that it was not branded at all during manufacture makes it a new brand: bar none!
(clutching at straws here - I haven't found a new brand in a couple of years)

 

[BFBOB]

 

[Outlawmws]

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

 

[d42jeep]

This almost complete larger wartime S-K cad plated 1/4” drive set showed up in my PO Box this evening. It’s only missing the ratchet, short unmarked extension, 3/8” 8 point socket and the unicorn cad plated 7/32” socket. The early amber handle spinners are much more difficult to find than the postwar versions.
-Don

 

[humber2]

Is it normal for the flex handle and tommy bar to be unidentified?

I see the answer in post #3283

Here’s my weekend purchase and this years challenge, needs 3 sockets and 2 accessories.

 

[Outlawmws]

This almost complete larger wartime S-K cad plated 1/4” drive set showed up in my PO Box this evening. It’s only missing the ratchet, short unmarked extension, 3/8” 8 point socket and the unicorn cad plated 7/32” socket. The early amber handle spinners are much more difficult to find than the postwar versions.
-Don

Nice Don! But is it missing the smell?

 

[d42jeep]

No smell at all on the early spinner. Slight inoffensive aroma on a couple of postwar spinners. No S-K stinkdrivers so far.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Humber,
Here is a complete cad plated wartime set plus spinner that I completed in 2020. The only tools that are marked are the sockets, ratchet and spinner. The little breaker, crossbar and extensions are unmarked. The cad plated 7/32” sockets are hard to find.
-Don

 

[humber2]

Thanks Don, I’m working with a few of more modern sets too.

A couple of questions.....

When was a universal joint introduced?

When did the taller cases which hide accessories under the sockets appear?

TIA

 

[d42jeep]

Although my primary interest is in the older sets before the Wayne acquisition, I see a 1/4” universal in the bottom set in this 1969 catalog page. You may have to do some catalog research to accurately answer your questions.
-Don

 

[Kdaniel8601]

The universal joint goes back to the 1941 S-K Socket Sets and Parts, page 7, it might go back futher but that is the oldest calalog I have access to. The taller cases which hide accessories under the sockets appear in the 1953 S-K Socket Sets and Parts, Page 6 & 7.

 

[d42jeep]

Even though the taller case is first shown in the 1953 catalog, based on found examples, I believe the taller boxes were introduced immediately postwar with S-K’s catalog artwork department taking quite a bit of time catching up to what was actually being sold. In my response to Humber’s question about universals I was only speaking to the availability of 1/4” drive universals which came along later than the 3/8” and 1/2” drive examples. After a little more searching, I found a 1/4” universal shown in catalog MC563, which I assume is from 1963 and the 1961 catalog.
I see 3/8” and 1/2” drive universals shown in 1939.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I can't remember when or why but I went down that rabbit hole once. The 1/4" drive universal joints made a late appearance on the tool scene and weren't included in sets until pretty late in the game - if you're looking at all U.S. manufacturers across the board.

 

[Jacobs976]

Got this in last week as a partial set(missing 1-1/2 and had a flat top 1-1/4 I switched out for a normal one) and just finished it out and cleaned everything up, degunked and any rust removed. Noticed the 1-1/2 and 1-5/8 don't sit upright, lid catches, and didn't know if it's supposed to be like that or if it's just newer sockets that are slightly taller. The pics I found don't show them laying on their side but they're adverts so it's set up as a display instead of as you'd buy it.

Also fun thing, got a mfg defect 1-1/2. Detent hole wasn't drilled completely which is a bit annoying.

If anybody knows about this set, I know it was an 11 piece set with what's shown, and how it was normally sold I am curious. With the amount of space I'd imagine they'd get you to buy a ratchet too or something as a deal.

 

[d42jeep]

Looks like you have pretty much the entire set. From the catalog of Kdaniel8601.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

With a heads up from four.cycle, I won the auction on this kind of a mixed bag of early 1/4” drive tools. I believe that it started life as a 1/4” drive Brazil (Chrome Alloy) set made by S-K. The P&C ratchet was inoperative, which offended me, so I dissasembled, cleaned and lubed it even though it will be moving along to a new owner.

The case has been repainted a couple of times. It is now black over white but with a little detective work I found a hint of the original color on an inside surface.
It has 5 of the original Chrome Alloy sockets as well as the expected unmarked drive tools which are identical to their prewar S-K counterparts.
Once the box is refinished I will add the rest of the missing tools which are currently crammed into a box that’s too small for the larger set.
This is what it will look like when complete although I’m looking for a closer top coat color for this particular box. Fortunately Oldtuleguy sent me two labels so that will be covered.

 

[four.cycle]

^ whoa! that turned out better than I thought it was going to!
so... you're only shy a few sockets and the 4970 ratchet to build another set?
very cool.

 

[d42jeep]

After looking at pictures of my spares, I believe that I’m just missing a 11/32” Chrome Alloy socket to complete the set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I added the Chrome Alloy tool spares to the new partial set. I am missing the 11/32” socket, as I thought, and I borrowed the 5/16” crossbar to complete the smaller Brazil set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This almost complete larger wartime S-K cad plated 1/4” drive set showed up in my PO Box this evening. It’s only missing the ratchet, short unmarked extension, 3/8” 8 point socket and the unicorn cad plated 7/32” socket. The early amber handle spinners are much more difficult to find than the postwar versions.
-Don

I added the missing pieces to complete this set yesterday.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are my S-K estate sale finds from today’s sale. The combo wrenches were nicer than my former keepers and are now incorporated into the collection.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a complete early postwar smaller 1/4" drive set (4097) that arrived recently.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

These knurled 1/2” drive sockets arrived today. They should allow me to upgrade some sets.
-Don
This 1/4” ratchet arrived as well and looks to have a wartime finish to me. It has some wear on the handle which seems appropriate to it’s age. A little cleaning had it working perfectly.

 

[d42jeep]

I went through some early postwar 1/2” drive sets and upgraded any sockets that were in worse condition than the new lot.
-Don

 

[Raineman]

Wow Don, your SK collection is very impressive. Love seeing all the sets you post. Thats a lot of work and dedication.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. S-K tools are definitely one of my favorite brands. Here are a couple of 3/8” drive sets.
-Don
This one is missing the crossbar.

 

[bonneyman]

That's an odd one. Very cool.
It looks like the S stamp was used upside down.

It's so hard to find good help.

 

[bonneyman]

Found a Wayne combo wrench. 18mm, which I've never seen in the wild, so figured it was worth grabbing. $3

 

[Username already in use]

@bonneyman nice find on the metric SK. I don’t find them very often, but I for sure snap them up when I see them.

Here’s some SK from yesterdays flea. The prize being the 16mm combo!

More wrenches for my SK Tools wrench board.

 

[consti2tion]

Picked this 1/2" drive set up a few weeks ago, wish someone wouldn't have put blue spray paint on it. It's damn near NOS condition.

 

[Old Radar]

Cross posting from the Garage Sale thread:
I picked up this S-K No. 6610 Heavy Duty Tool Chest with an Earl Scheib paint job on Tuesday. Badging indicates post-war.
I suspect this was home for the 88 piece S-K 4088 Socketchest tools since the agent said a lot of S-K tools went out the door prior to my arrival.

Don, I'm going to have to search this thread for your crinkle paint process. There's a lot of surface area on this bad boy and I'm not really looking forward to all the prep work--not to mention the finicky paint process itself. How about I send you a ticket to San Antonio and you come show me how it's done!!

Tools included in the sale are all S-K:
1/2" and 3/8" speeders,
1/2" ratchet--spins, so a through cleaning is needed,
1/2" drag link--modified,
1/2" 19/32 socket,
3/8" 12-inch extension, well pitted.

 

[d42jeep]

Well, I was just in Texas when I was 15 and the climate seemed kind of warm. At least the heat will be ideal to get a good wrinkle effect. I haven’t tried to do a box that big and the prep work will take some time. I bought a can of black VHT wrinkle paint at a local Auto Zone this summer so it’s still available. I would sand as much of the exterior of the box as possible down to bare metal. I use an orbital sander. The wrinkle hides some prep defects so I’m a little less thorough on the interior surfaces. I suggest a very light coat on the green finish so that paint doesn’t fill in the wrinkles. You are lucky your new box came with the front cover because I’ve never been able to find a correct one separately. Good luck with the project.
-Don