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Vintage Snap On wrenches

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SC-AW11

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Sep 23, 2012
Messages
463
I was talking to out tool room manager at school last semester about wrenches. He said his favorites are the old school Snap On. He said he likes the feel of them in his wand way more than the new ones. And that when he was a student in the 70s or 80s he couldn't even get them.

Are these the type hes talking about?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sna..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item20d6808de6&vxp=mtr

How do you guys like them? I have a line on a 5pc metric set for 110. I could either get that or with student discount a new 6pc set is 133 : http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675031&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Its my Birthday today so with gift money I wanted to get set of wrenches that will make me remember the person who, in a way bought them for me. Im just clicking add to cart lol. But I think that is a good Idea. I wanted either the vintage flare nut set, or a new 10-19mm set (FD 161, FD+ 187 with student discount). What do you guys think?
 
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OP
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SC-AW11

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Sep 23, 2012
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463
O ok very nice. Ya the 5 pc one Im looking at is underlined

Same thing for reg combo wrenches, the underline?
 
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devoncoolman

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quakertown pa
That first set is old id say about 70's or earlyer. I have some of them. Im in the fence about them. I like my newer post 70's stuff.
 
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Nanashi

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Mar 30, 2013
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384
I really like my FD+ wrenches. But I've never had any vintage ones in my hand to compare.
 
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Packard V8

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Underlined script is pre 1990 (approximately)
Click to expand...

I got socks older'n that. My basement set of combination wrenches are Blue Point from the '40s, before wrenches were labeled Snap-on.

I definitely prefer older-the-better in box end. The really old round shank Blue Point are nice feeling and the embossed shank (those in the link OP provided) up through the '60s-70s are better feeling than the later flat-oval shanks.

jack vines
 
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billymade

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Location
New Mexico
There is NO QUESTION; that the earlier designs, had a organic quality to them and they were smoothed out and just felt quite wonderful, natural in your hand! You can see this in many other tools of the earlier era; I would say the 50s to the 70s were more organic in their design; the KEY, in my mind was this was BEFORE CAD/CNC machining processes took over as the default production processes to create things like tools. If you look at a current production; dual 80 ratchet, wrench etc.; they have very sharp ridgid geometry at times... because, the computer driven programming and controlled machines are capable of doing this so well. Once example is the head of the dual 80 ratchet; I think it is too sharp and should be more rounded; it is uncomfortable when it is in the palm of your hand (a case of bad ergonomics, imho; which is ironic, because in other respects the design is so well done). All you have to do is compare this; to a 70/700/800 series ratchet and your hand, almost glides over the shape of the ratchet in comparison to the hard edges of the dual 80. Technology, has come a long way and improved allot of things; however, when you see the earlier tools, you can see the organic "human touch" that making dies, shapes and tooling by hand... in a more "craftsman" like way... by its nature "more human". Bravo to the technology of the dual 80 but also cheers to the beautiful shape and ergonomics of tools made lovingly through the hands of the craftsman of the past...
 
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Gregg33

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Jan 13, 2011
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777
Location
Port Colborne, ON, Canada
SC-AW11 said:
I was talking to out tool room manager at school last semester about wrenches. He said his favorites are the old school Snap On. He said he likes the feel of them in his wand way more than the new ones. And that when he was a student in the 70s or 80s he couldn't even get them.

Are these the type hes talking about?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sna..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item20d6808de6&vxp=mtr

How do you guys like them? I have a line on a 5pc metric set for 110. I could either get that or with student discount a new 6pc set is 133 : http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675031&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Its my Birthday today so with gift money I wanted to get set of wrenches that will make me remember the person who, in a way bought them for me. Im just clicking add to cart lol. But I think that is a good Idea. I wanted either the vintage flare nut set, or a new 10-19mm set (FD 161, FD+ 187 with student discount). What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I have one of those older style flare wrenches in sae. It's a very quality wrench, looks cool too (also think they made box ends with that style of beam). I don't use it enough to really say how the feel is, seems ok the few times I used it. The idents/ crevices make it a pita to keep clean though.
 
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lbgradwell

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Mar 21, 2007
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Oakville, ON
lilredex said:
These I bought new in 1956, and yes they have the right feel.....

Snap_On_1956_1.jpg
Click to expand...


Hmmmm.

Those appear to be date codes for 1959 and 1958. Are you sure you bought 'em in 1956? ;)

I just acquired these 6 from 1954 & 1955...


250Lot3.jpg



Notice the variation in the logos!


Snap-onCanada1954-1955Logos.jpg
 
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jmm

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Aug 20, 2012
Messages
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Location
NC
Billymade's post is spot on -- he said it better than I could've. I have a 22 mm SO wrench from the 60s or 70s that fits the bill. The handle flares out ever so slightly as it approaches the box end, and the edges are neatly sloped. I got it because I couldn't afford a new one, and intended to upgrade. But I use it daily at work and it really grew on me, even though it's not as long and shiny as my new SO wrenches. The chrome is dull and the design is alien beside the FDs, but it's very comfortable, and never misses a beat.
 
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MikeF2316

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Dec 29, 2012
Messages
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Location
Thornhill, ON
Maybe not quite a Snap on, my dad had this Blue Point Supreme ever since I can remember. I always liked using it more than his Craftsman raised panel wrenches. I have no idea where he got it, it was the only one he had. It just felt right in my hand. And Canadian made too!

I believe 1957 date code, correct me if I'm wrong.

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Trash Mech

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Jan 27, 2013
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Love my 1948 set, 7/16-1 1/4. I believe it is the first year they wore the snap on name. Use em every day.
 

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helterskelter

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Mar 26, 2010
Messages
296
billymade said:
There is NO QUESTION; that the earlier designs, had a organic quality to them and they were smoothed out and just felt quite wonderful, natural in your hand! You can see this in many other tools of the earlier era; I would say the 50s to the 70s were more organic in their design; the KEY, in my mind was this was BEFORE CAD/CNC machining processes took over as the default production processes to create things like tools. If you look at a current production; dual 80 ratchet, wrench etc.; they have very sharp ridgid geometry at times... because, the computer driven programming and controlled machines are capable of doing this so well. Once example is the head of the dual 80 ratchet; I think it is too sharp and should be more rounded; it is uncomfortable when it is in the palm of your hand (a case of bad ergonomics, imho; which is ironic, because in other respects the design is so well done). All you have to do is compare this; to a 70/700/800 series ratchet and your hand, almost glides over the shape of the ratchet in comparison to the hard edges of the dual 80. Technology, has come a long way and improved allot of things; however, when you see the earlier tools, you can see the organic "human touch" that making dies, shapes and tooling by hand... in a more "craftsman" like way... by its nature "more human". Bravo to the technology of the dual 80 but also cheers to the beautiful shape and ergonomics of tools made lovingly through the hands of the craftsman of the past...
Click to expand...

Modern CAD/CAM machining can make as organic of a shape as the designer wishes. The organic shape of the older tools was probably largely due to the hand finishing involved. If they wanted that same shape they could mill it into the forging dies then 'hand finish' it with a 6-axis robot and a deburr wheel. The only reason a dual 80 has hard edges is because that's how it was designed and I assume some sort of test study decided that's what would appeal to mechanics. If the people buying tools today wanted soft edges, they'd make them with soft edges. Trust me the guys machining the forging dies today and just are much craftsman as the folks making them before computers.
 
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Bruce Lancaster

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Apr 3, 2006
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1,642
"Maybe not quite a Snap on..." Weren't all early Snap On wrenches other than sockets done by Blue Point??
 
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porschedude996TT

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Oct 28, 2007
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Location
Santa Maria, California
I have a set of 30/60 Degree Open-end Wrenches that I bought in the late 70's. They have a cross section that is Hourglass or Clutch Drive shaped. They work well when your hands are oily because it can be gripped.
 
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shockwave

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Oct 23, 2012
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Location
Marietta,ga
This reminds me of my snap on oh series wrenches with a true round handle and open end and the length of these cannot be beat use all the time whenever I do timing belt my oh28
 
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