Snap-On 1/4" drive set - Is this for real?

[FrankLee]

Yesterday, I picked-up this Snap-On 1/4" drive set at an estate sale. I was shocked it was still there on the last day.

All pieces are date marked E. The sockets are size 3/16" through 7/16". What is really amazing is the condition of the box. There is very little wear, a couple small scratches,  and a couple tiny rust spots on the top.

There was an old unnamed 3/8" drive ratchet also included and I got a Snap-On 71N with a 1" deep Firestone socket attached at the same time. Bought it all for a song. 

This set is awesome! Now I've got to get over to collectingsnapon to see if the box is original to the set, and find out if any pieces are missing.

Edit: It does appear that the box is original. From the 1945Q catalog, this looks like a TM-110 set plus spinner handle in a TM-120 box.   

[Steve-o]

Wow nice find.Grats :)

[anglesmith]

Great find, but is it 1/4" or is it 9/32 ? Was Snapon still making 9/32 drive then? I have some  sockets & a ratchet marked E and they are 9/32!
Graeme

[kxxr]

Here's a look at the 9/32" set.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage-Snap-On-Midget-9-32-Socket-Wrench-Set-/300630024099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fef21fa3

[lucakiki]

Great find, but is it 1/4" or is it 9/32 ? Was Snapon still making 9/32 drive then? I have some  sockets & a ratchet marked E and they are 9/32!
Graeme

I  wondered about the same. I own a box just the same, in 9/32", with a couple of sockets missing, although in not as good of a condition.
I  am trying to complete it.

Here is a picture of a fairly complete set:



EDITED in order to add picture.

[J.A.F.E.]

9/32 was the first small size Snap on made. I believe they made it through the 60's mostly for industrial users.

[kxxr]

I read somewhere once that the military asked for the 9/32 sizes as a theft deterrent. It seems the 1/4" stuff had a tendency to disappear. I don't recall if the story was about any certain brand though and I do not know if it is accurate.

[kxxr]

They cleaned up nice. Would you say that is cadmium finish?
Where's the Firestone?

[rusty]

Only Cadmium and zinc frost white like that, and hardly anyone zinc plated sockets....

[lucakiki]

I read somewhere once that the military asked for the 9/32 sizes as a theft deterrent. It seems the 1/4" stuff had a tendency to disappear. I don't recall if the story was about any certain brand though and I do not know if it is accurate.

I read the same, but I  do not think it is true: the reason I say this is because the military listed in their war time manuals 1/4 "drive socket set.I do own a set, not Snap on, whose box has the military stock number on it.

[kxxr]

found a relevant quote from 'Snapmom', who also believes the military 'theft deterrent' story is incorrect:
Snapmom
"08-23-2009, 09:40 AM
Snap on started 9/32 in about 1925. Industrial 9/32 dr was made after the 40s, maybe into the 60s. These have model numbers like PM***. normal production stopped in the mid 40s. 1/4 dr rats were made in the 30s, and are very rare. 1/4 sockets and other 1/4 dr tools started in about 1944. I think maybe the military thing got started due to the thousands of 9/32 dr sets made for the war effort. The so whitworth 9/32 dr tools are very hard to find, only a few known sets."

The theft deterrent idea is repeated on the Plombtools.com web site as well. I'm inclined to defer to Snapmom's (and luca's) expertise on the matter. It is funny how the internet gives life to a thing though. So long as the internet lives, the story won't die, true or not.

(nice Firestone pics FrankLee, thanks!)

[lucakiki]

Any one really interested in 9/32" Snap-on sockets can have a look here:

http://www.collectingsnapon.com/index.html

It's a work of love!

Please: I  have a wanted ad in the buy sell trade forum! Have a look.