Vintage S-K Tools

[d42jeep]

@d42jeep How many Tuff1 1/4" sets you filling up? I do like the 1/4" Tuff1 rats better than the 3/8 and 1/2 variants.

I’m not doing sets, I just like the ratchets.

Don, I have the Tuff1 (never knew what they were called) style ratchets that you pictured above in 1/4" & 3/8", but they are marked "JS USA". I had always assumed they were SK made.

We had a discussion last year but I don’t think we reached any conclusions. Yours certainly look as if they are related to the S-K Tuff 1 ratchets. Maybe made for JS USA by S-K or Facom, who owned S-K during the Tuff 1 era.
-Don

 

[consti2tion]

@d42jeep That makes sense. Now if only one of these guys would pop up. A plastic handle Tuff1, may as well be a unicorn.

 

[d42jeep]

@d42jeep That makes sense. Now if only one of these guys would pop up. A plastic handle Tuff1, may as well be a unicorn.

I’ve never seen one of the plastic handled Tuff 1 ratchets although I do have one of the green handled spinners in the picture.
This almost complete 1/2” drive deep knurled socket set arrived yesterday missing only the 11/16” socket. I now have one on the way. This set was made after the crossbar holes in the sockets were discontinued.
-Don

 

[SteveSander]

I bought (3) full screwdriver sets by Williams a few years ago for myself and my brothers; same as Snap-on but a little cheaper, they has the Hex shank, etc. Then I saw some green S-K screwdriver sets online, much nicer. I had to buy myself a new set of SK, beautiful stuff.

 

[d42jeep]

I received this postwar amber S-K spinner in the mail. I’m always on the lookout for these to fill out sets. A GJ contributor in OR regularly finds these in the wild but I have to rely on the overpriced ones that occasionally come up on the auction site.
-Don

 

[Kdaniel8601]

Found this postwar amber S-K spinner eBay, its one of the best I have seen in a while.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's a nice one. I'm surprised you beat don to it!

 

[d42jeep]

Me too! Nice one. Congratulations.
-Don

 

[MisterEd]

Found some S-K today.
Most of 4097 1/4 Inch Set plus 40670 Ratchet and
41653 1/2 inch Flex Handle

 

[d42jeep]

I added the 11/16” socket missing from this post crossbar set.
-Don

 

[SpeedyS]

New here, and I haven't read through all the posts, so these questions may have already been answered.
I am wondering what years were the 1/2" drive Sherman Klove 4347 sets produced? The 4347W sets?
I know they had 16- 1/2" sockets in the 1940 catalog then went to 14-1/2" sockets in the 1943 War catalogs, dropping the 21/32 and 31/32 sizes.

 

[d42jeep]

I haven’t had access to a 1940 catalog although I’d really like to see one. The 1939 Catalog that is online shows sockets marked S-K Chrome and the extensions and flex handle would likely be unmarked. The 1943 catalog shows the 4247W set which includes the small 1/4” set. My Wartime set came with a few 8 point extras that aren’t shown in the catalog
It looks to me like the same basic set was used until 1953. In 1956 they changed the set slightly and changed the part number as well. Here is a postwar set on the top with the wartime set below.
The postwar 4347W set came with a small 1/4” drive set as well.
If you check the catalogs online you can determine exactly which pieces came with which set. Remember S-K catalog pictures are notoriously inaccurate.
-Don

 

[SpeedyS]

Thanks, Don.
I also there is a lot of debate about the decal era v the metal diamond badge era, I once saw a 4347W metal box w/ label on end side, and it had the metal diamond badge. So, would the decal be prior WWII?
Also does anyone know why there are some of the 4347 metal boxes have 3 or 4 divider sections?

 

[SpeedyS]

Does anyone have a link to the 1939 Sherman Klove catalog?
Thanks

 

[d42jeep]

I suggest reading the sticky at the beginning of the Vintage Tool Discussion. There isn‘t much debate here about labels if you read back in this thread. Decals were used until 1945, metal tags thereafter.
You may find what you are looking for here.

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

-Don

 

[Kdaniel8601]

Here is a picture of pages 10 and 11 of the Jan. 15, 1939 Sockets Wrench Sets and Parts Catalog with the 4347 set.

 

[SpeedyS]

Thanks guys, I 'am still trying to understand the different versions of the 4347

 

[Oldtuleguy]

38 to 53 not much changed. Postwar metal badges appeared, early 40s they dropped a couple odd size sockets. That's about it.

 

[d42jeep]

During the war the tools were either cadmium plated or had a black oxide finish. Here is a wartime partial 1/4” drive set that arrived in the mail today. These sockets are cad plated. I picked this one up due to the excellent condition of the decal and box.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks guys, I 'am still trying to understand the different versions of the 4347

The best way to figure out the sets is to compare them in each available catalog. Not every year of catalog is available so sometimes there is some guesswork involved, based on found examples.
-Don
Here are my two postwar 4347W sets. I added some extra sockets to the lower one.

 

[SpeedyS]

What years did the 4347 have the "W" added to the model number?
Also, any ideal what years that had the 3 or 4 horizontal dividers?
And the one with the 4 dividers and the small separate section on the right, the 3rd row. Like the one Don shared with, that he put his double squares in.
Thanks

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve only seen that divider in my wartime set. It looks like the difference in the 1953 set # 4347 is that there are no 12 point sockets in the 1/4” drive set, unlike earlier sets. I would date this set between 1946 and 1950 or so. The contents match the pieces called for in Catalog 649
I’ve added these extras to my set.
As it looks today with the extras

 

[SpeedyS]

I’ve only seen that divider in my wartime set. It looks like the difference in the 1953 set # 4347 is that there are no 12 point sockets in the 1/4” drive set, unlike earlier sets. I would date this set between 1946 and 1950 or so. The contents match the pieces called for in Catalog 649
I’ve added these extras to my set.
As it looks today with the extras

Thanks again, Don.I wonder if the 4 horizontal dividers set with the small compartment on the third-row right were used for the non- 4097 midget sets?
Does the 4097 midget set fit in the same area on the 4 dividers prewar/war time set?

 

[SpeedyS]

Thanks again, Don.I wonder if the 4 horizontal dividers set with the small compartment on the third-row right were used for the non- 4097 midget sets?
Does the 4097 midget set fit in the same area on the 4 dividers prewar/war time set?

Also, Don, nice set with the 3 double squares (are you planning a 4th?) and I guess the 21/32 and 31/32 sockets

 

[d42jeep]

I doubt that the 1/4” drive set would fit in that small area. If I was keeping it in with the 1/2” drive tools, I would probably try the same location as the postwar sets. The box is fairly small.
-Don

 

[SpeedyS]

So, it sounds like the 4097-midget set, would only fit in the metal boxes that have the 3 horizonal dividers set, (Don's post-war) and not the metal boxes that have the 4 horizonal dividers (Don's wartime) and these sets that did not have the 4097-midget set.
I've seen people put a universal swivel, or like you did Don, the double squares, both were extra pieces, and not part of the regular set.
Hope I'm not confusing everyone, with my questions.
Thanks again Don

 

[d42jeep]

My pleasure.
These came in the mail today from an eBay seller.
Picked these up at a Tahoe yard sale today.
-Don

Here is a wartime unmarked 1/2” drive extension that arrived today as well.

 

[Kdaniel8601]

Just found this S-K Chrome 45112 on eBay.

 

[d42jeep]

The 3/8” drive S-K Chrome sockets seem to be exceedingly rare. I believe that I’ve only found one. It’s on the left






We returned to the Bay Area today and this 1/2” drive beaver tail ratchet had come in the mail.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a few sk chromes I bought from roy

 

[d42jeep]

Nice group! I find Roy to be a really good source of vintage tools. He always has fair prices and great service.
-Don
edit. I seem to have a 7/16” S-K Chrome 3/8” drive to go along with my 11/16”

 

[d42jeep]

It was hot enough to do some wrinkle painting yesterday so I sprayed a S-K box and a mystery box. The S-K box came out okay and so I’m calling my 1/2” drive knurled deep set complete. These are the sockets made after the hole for the bar was discontinued.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Geez, I didn't even think of doing that kind of painting during our heat wave last month. I have several boxes queued up. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[d42jeep]

Of course it was 20 degrees cooler today.
-Don

 

[mogandave]

Yeah, it got down to 83 today. I saw the shops putting out knit hats and leg-warmers…

 

[Fred Knox]

S-K Wayne 16” adjustable wrench after a cleaning, relubing and a little Loctite.

 

[Mintgrun]

It's been raining S-K tools around here lately.

I was excited to find this old box for $2, in spite if its rusty lid. I may have to follow Don's lead above and hit it with fresh paint (some day). That stuff is fun to use.



The rest of the paint is in pretty good shape. It measures 17-1/2" x 5-1/2" x 1-3/8". Is that a wartime decal?



The socket portion doesn't quite fit the metric sockets I was recently given, but dropping the smallest one into the biggest one sort of solves the problem. It's a roomy box for a 3/8" set.



I like the notched latch detail, where the hasp strengthens the lid over the cutout.



This half inch set was a gift from a friend that is downsizing. (I added the small bare-steel *unmarked* sockets hiding under the torque wrench).



He also gave me this metric deep socket set and the shorties shown in the older box.



I passed on a complete little S-K Tools 1/4" set not long ago because it seemed 'too new' and I didn't care for the plastic tray (which was broken). Now that I have a few other S-K Tools boxes, I sort of regret not spending the $8.



Tom

 

[d42jeep]

It's been raining S-K tools around here lately.

I was excited to find this old box for $2, in spite if its rusty lid. I may have to follow Don's lead above and hit it with fresh paint (some day). That stuff is fun to use.



The rest of the paint is in pretty good shape. It measures 17-1/2" x 5-1/2" x 1-3/8". Is that a wartime decal?



The socket portion doesn't quite fit the metric sockets I was recently given, but dropping the smallest one into the biggest one sort of solves the problem. It's a roomy box for a 3/8" set.



I like the notched latch detail, where the hasp strengthens the lid over the cutout.



This half inch set was a gift from a friend that is downsizing. (I added the small bare-steel *unmarked* sockets hiding under the torque wrench).



He also gave me this metric deep socket set and the shorties shown in the older box.



I passed on a complete little S-K Tools 1/4" set not long ago because it seemed 'too new' and I didn't care for the plastic tray (which was broken). Now that I have a few other S-K Tools boxes, I sort of regret not spending the $8.



Tom

MrBill and I have both put together 3/8” drive wartime sets in similar boxes using wartime finish tools to match the wartime catalog.
-Don
Here is mrbill’s set.
.
My box’s water transfer was missing when I got it but it was clear where it had been so I added a reproduction decal.
I may have added an extra short extension to my set.

 

[d42jeep]

I saw an early S-K set on eBay and picked it up. My best guess is that it was made around 1936. The only way to figure out the correct contents is to look at the Carb-O-Mang listings in the back of the 1943 catalog. I believe that they listed their early sets there in order to liquidate them. This is my second set made around the same time.
Here is the ‘43 catalog image



Here is the set as received this evening.
I figured out which pieces were missing and added some of my extras.

Here are my two early sets side by side.

An ad for the upper set from 1936
’43 Catalog image

 

[four.cycle]

^ quite the find there, Don.

So... PRE "Carb-O-Mang" they were just "Mangnanese Steel", but "Chrome Plated" ?

(my "Carb-O-Mang" stuff is definitely NOT chrome plated.)