Xcelite 1/4" socket set ??

[Sudsy]

I'll be darned if I can find a spec of info on this
I did find that the company was started in the 1920's and was sold to Cooper in the early 70's and are still around but as a maker of electronic tools, mainly screwdrivers and pliers

The most interesting thing is that the 1/4 socket and the 5/16 socket are very oddly shaped (see the photo), there are actually two 5/16ths in there, one is a regular 6 point

Nice little set !

 

[four.cycle]

^ very nice find.

those screwy sockets look like Wright. (see examples below top right)

ratchet looks like a 2400 Wright. (example below)





(* Ebay photos are from the ad - I guess I never got around to photographing them after I received them. )

looks like it's now part of the Apex group. you might be able to find more info about the company at ToolArchives.com or Alloy-Artifacts.org - or somebody else here might know something about them.

Xcelite / Apex Tool Group LLC, 1000 Lufkin Road, Apex, NC 27539 / www.apexhandtools.com/brands/xcelite

 

[Richard Cranium]

square nuts were very common back when that set was made.

 

[Sudsy]

I tried all those places - nada

And those are the only two like that in the set - weird

 

[four.cycle]

other sources for information on older tools:

TheGarageGazette.com

papawswrench.com

 

[davethorik]

Wright called those 10 point sockets even though they don't have 10 true points. I'm guessing they just added 4 and 6 to get 10, since they will work on square or hex fasteners.

They made full sets of them, and I'm guessing subbed them in to that set in place of true 8 point (double square) sockets that every other mfr usually included with vintage socket sets.

As four.cycle mentioned, the ratchet definitely looks like a Wright 2400. I'd guess the whole set is from them. Edit: except possibly the spinner handle, it looks like it has a different finish than the other tools. Xcelite may have made that themselves.

Edit: here is another thread showing a Wright branded 1/2 drive set:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5656468&postcount=16

 

[four.cycle]

^ Yes.

Thanks. Jogged my memory. Yes, they called them "10-points". Can't recall where I read that.
I've seen LOTS of "10-point" Wright socket sets listed on Ebay but I ignore them. I do not believe they're a real popular item.

I would agree on the spinner - Xcelite would have been perfectly capable of producing that item on their own - no need for them to outsource it from another manufacturer.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice find. I found a ratchet and another set minus the case. Couldn't find any previous info either. It may be the only size set they offered, unless something larger eventually turns up.

Just for fun I did a guessing game once, and the guys were stumped on The Gazette. I covered up the name on the ratchet and just about every other Wright made ratchet was named. I would've never guessed it myself.

Here is a post from the ratchet thread:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6617936&postcount=381

 

[Sudsy]

OK, I just went and rummaged through my socket drawer (not a tool box, a fireproof oversize bank filing cabinet with the big Plano boxes in each drawer) and I do NOT have room for another set.

Just thinking out loud here........

I'm wondering if since the Xcelite set is so unusual it might go for an interesting chunk of change on that auction site ?? Or should I find a way to make room and hang on to it?
Decisions.... decisions.... decisions....

 

[four.cycle]

^ my crystal ball says $30 - $50 bucks + shipping on Ebay depending upon how bad somebody wants it.
the fact that it is Wright made might push it up just a bit, but I wouldn't put money on it going over that.

but then, anything's possible:

Wright 16-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set w/original metal box
sold @ $43.00 + $17.00 shipping 11/12/17
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mechanic-16-piece-1-4-034-WRIGHT-SOCKET-SET-amp-Metal-Box-/302502759463

Wright 13-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set w/original box missing ratchet and extensions
sold @ $24.39 + $7.15 shipping 11/11/17
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wright-1-4-034-Drive-Socket-Set-With-Metal-Case-/192354216152

Powr-Kraft 15-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set w/original box (Wright made)
sold @ $29.99 + $6.99 shipping 12/01/17
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Powr-Kraft-1-4-Drive-SAE-Socket-Set-16-pc-USA-/322896679615

Powr-Kraft 14-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set w/original box (Wright made)
sold @ $46.00 + $6.00 shipping 11/27/17
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-POWR-KRAFT-Ward-1-4-034-socket-set-in-metal-box-84W-/192370222644

Powr-Kraft 11-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set - incomplete - no box (Wright made)
sold $29.00 + $6.99 shipping 11/01/17
https://www.ebay.com/itm/POWR-KRAFT...R-Ratchet-Breaker-Bar-Socket-set/352194578289

and then to show just how screwy the Ebay buyer is:

G.M. Mfg. Co. 10-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set - complete w/original plastic box
sold @ $29.89 + $6.84 shipping 11/17/17 (* after having been listed for over 60 days *)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-GM-Co-...het-SET-w-Plastic-Case-USA-MADE-/122803129054

G.M Mfg. Co. 10-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set - incomplete w/original plastic box
sold @ 99 cents + $12.75 shipping 11/16/17
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-G-...t-amp-Socket-Set-w-Plastic-Case-/263311883359

... proving that "worth" and "value" and "actual selling price" may or may not have any relationship to each other.

(* if any pieces are engraved, deduct 80% from my estimate above. *)

 

[Sudsy]

I'm keeping it

 

[Sudsy]

Maybe

 

[Sudsy]

Nah, off to Ebay

 

[Sudsy]

No, wait, I'm keeping it.........

To be continued I'm sure.

Merry Christmas everyone

 

[piehammer]

Bumping this from way back...

I picked up an Xcelite 1001 set on eBay recently and did some more digging to see what I could find. It was released in 1970 and had a list price at the time of $18.60