Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets

[d42jeep]

Although it’s a small victory, I received a 3/16” socket that will be added to my 1/4” drive Philadelphia NAF set. It will join the tools donated by Wingnutt and Len Jones.
-Don

[Hartofoak]

Hi Don,
I acquired this hammer a year or so ago and wondered if it was produced by the same company as your socket set.

[d42jeep]

Hey Cliff,
It seems very unlikely that the two were related except perhaps geographically. The Philadelphia Tool Co. was apparently from the 1800s and acquired by Plumb early on.
-Don

[Hartofoak]

Hi Don
Apologies for the tardy reply but I've been having problems with my PC. Many thanks for the info on the Philadelphia Tool Co. Does it mean my hammer is quite old? It's in very nice condition and I've even used it for what it was designed to do! Best wishes Cliff.
BTW not too many guys accessing this site nowadays.

[d42jeep]

Hi Cliff,
I believe that your hammer is quite early, probably late 1800s or early 1900s before the purchase by Plumb. Sorry to hear about your computer woes. I did receive a suspicious email from your account that didn’t make sense so I deleted it.
I received this Walden spinner in the mail today. It was a buy it now on eBay and they come up so rarely that I didn’t hesitate. I added it to some other recent Walden finds.
-Don

[d42jeep]

This partial D-I 1/4” drive set arrived yesterday. I was pleased that it contained a complete set of sockets as well as an elusive crossbar. I’ve found a few ratchets so adding one won’t be a problem. What will be a problem is finding a unicorn spinner.
-Don

[d42jeep]

I added a Duro ratchet and extension to the D-I set along with a newer Indestro spinner. I’m pretty sure that I won’t be able to find a Duro spinner anytime soon.
-Don

[d42jeep]

The exterior of the box the D-I 1/4 set was just rusty with no paint remaining. I sanded it and repainted with the Midwest Military paint that I’ve been using lately.
-Don

[d42jeep]

This Walden cad plated set came with a complete set of sockets and a pretty nice box. The tools will allow me to fill out some larger cad plated sets.
-Don

[d42jeep]

Here is a New Britain set. Due to the lack of wartime New Britain catalog availability, it’s difficult to determine exactly the correct content.
-Don

[frenchman]

hi don
another nice set the stack is getting bigger
happy holiday
frenchman

[Len Jones]

Nice addition Don

Found this 1940 catalogue listing

Len

[d42jeep]

hi don
another nice set the stack is getting bigger
happy holiday
frenchman

Thanks frenchman,
I hope you had a wonderful holiday.

Len,
Thanks for the ‘40 catalog image. My set mirrors that one but adds the 7/32” and 3/16” sockets which would have been necessary for use in a GMTK.
-Don

[d42jeep]

I ordered these pieces off of eBay because I was interested in the black and yellow spinner. When I checked the sockets I was very pleasantly surprised to see that the knurled 7/16” had the Walden above the Worcester like Cliff’s rare socket. Even better, it had the upside down thin V and the hole for the detent ball. My other 6 point 7/16” sockets had the Walden Worcester in a line. I decided to complete the set with all matching sockets and drive tools even though it’s not really correct for my GMTK.
-Don

[pjones]

Don,
Your set has to be one of the nicest I’ve seen. It has a awesome patina and I love the finish. And of course the spinner is just icing on the cake not to mention the elusive socket.

Phil