Tool Talk

Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: Bus on July 11, 2011, 04:52:12 AM

Title: Help with S&K Set
Post by: Bus on July 11, 2011, 04:52:12 AM

Since I am not doing a Fall auction this year I have had some time to work on my backlog of unsorted wrenches. I got this !/4" drive set in a collection I acquired in August ot 1998!

The box is not marked, if it had a decal it is long gone. The sockets are marked "S&K Chrome" with two dots before the size markings.

Contents:
!/4" 12 point
9/32" 12 point
5/16" 12 point
11/32" 12 point
7/16" 12 point
!/4" 8 point
5/16" 8 point
3/8" 8 point

Anybody know if this is a proper S&K box. What ratchet should it have and what is missing?
Thanks, Bus

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/SK-socket-set-1.jpg)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/buswrench/message-board/SK-socket-set-2.jpg)

Title: Re: Help with S&K Set
Post by: bonneyman on July 11, 2011, 05:16:15 PM

AA has a fantastic S-K section. That would help date your set, and probably show you what logo ratchet you need.

Title: Re: Help with S&K Set
Post by: rusty on July 11, 2011, 06:01:08 PM

What an interesting set.

I can't even date the sockets, the knurl design is from the 30's,  the detail on the bar's handle is pre 1933. (the brief knurl went away after that)
The sockets are cold broached, I have no references for that at all, yours are the first I have ever seen, but they would be before 32/32.

The box design has no front snap,  has actual hinges (later boxes have pins) , and does not have mitered corners on the lid, if the box goes with the set it is from before 1933 or so. The only box I know from that era has no socket keeper, but that doesn't mean much..
(socket keepers for 1/4 drive are rather an unusual feature btw)

I am really thinking late 20's here...but without much data

SK's earliest known ratchet patent is from 33...

Keep in mind some makers sold sets with only a bar, economy sets...so it could be more or less complete, perhaps an extension  is missing...

Not much help I suppose...

Title: Re: Help with S&K Set
Post by: lbgradwell on July 11, 2011, 06:17:59 PM

I think the sockets date from the early 30s to mid 40s.

I don't believe the box is SK at all, and I'm not convinced the breaker and handle are either. The handle looks like SK from the 40s, but the flex-head is not a design I've seen before...

Title: Re: Help with S&K Set
Post by: eddie hudson on July 11, 2011, 07:14:49 PM

Quote from: lbgradwell on July 11, 2011, 06:17:59 PM

I think the sockets date from the early 30s to mid 40s.

I agree, sort of. SK Tools wasn't formed until mid 1932 and the first sockets were unmarked. After reading AA I found out that by 1939 the SK Chrome sockets had numbers. So I would date these unnumbered (sp?) sockets at 1933 - 1938.

The breaker bar and could be earlier unmarked SK  but that's just a guess.

Title: Re: Help with S&K Set
Post by: lbgradwell on July 11, 2011, 07:48:43 PM

Quote from: eddie hudson on July 11, 2011, 07:14:49 PM

After reading AA I found out that by 1939 the SK Chrome sockets had numbers.

Good eye!

Title: Re: Help with S&K Set
Post by: Bus on July 12, 2011, 02:00:53 PM

Thanks for all the information. Guess we won't know for sure if the box, flex head breaker bar and handle are S&K unless we find an early catalog.

There is room for one more socket, I would think it would be a 3/8" 12 point. Anybody have one laying around?

Title: Re: Help with S&K Set
Post by: Wrenchmensch on July 14, 2011, 07:42:15 PM

This is a later SK 1/4 ratchet and socket set, circa 1970,.  I offer the picture because of the box size: 6 1/2" long, 2 1/4" wide, and 1/2" deep. This set has been in continuous use since I got it in 1971 - 40 years!

Title: Re: Help with S&K Set
Post by: chopper1 on July 15, 2011, 08:29:16 PM

I'm sure about the boxes SK used in the 30's, but in later years they had a nameplate riveted inside the cover.  The earlier plates were about 20 ga diamond shaped metal, and later, from the [late?] 60's or early 70's had a mylar nameplate riveted in.  Sorry about the quality of the pics.