Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
- d42jeep
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
I don’t believe that S-K tools have any decipherable date codes although ratchets have some mystery codes by the snap rings. The thing about S-K is that both prewar and postwar tools were chrome plated so the wartime tools are found with either plain, cad or dark finishes. The crossbar is definitely S-K. Besides the chrome plating, the postwar sets have the riveted label rather than the decal.
-Don
-Don
Ford GPW 76344 DOD 11/42 Built in Richmond, CA
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
Since I was taking pictures of my 3/8” drive set, I took the opportunity to take an updated shot of my D-I 1/4” drive sets. They are always a work in progress.
-Don
-Don
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Ford GPW 76344 DOD 11/42 Built in Richmond, CA
- Tin Medic
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
My set isn't as nice as all the others. Plomb USN NAF set.
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1952 M-37
US ARMY 20955830
US ARMY 20955830
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
Yeah frickin' right... your eyes must be broken!
That set is NICE!
Sometime bout 3 years ago I found a USN midget set. I forget which thread it was posted in here, but it was a hodgepodge of brands. Definitely put together in a storeroom somewhere. Mostly Williams sockets I think. Duro extension, P&C sliding T, and a Plomb nut spinner, but none of the pieces are marked NAF.
I'm pretty green with envy over your set, Tin.
-Jason
- d42jeep
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
I’ve noticed that they jump from 3/16” to 1/4” in the NAF sets. The regular Plomb sets have a 7/32” socket.
-Don
-Don
Ford GPW 76344 DOD 11/42 Built in Richmond, CA
- Gordon_M
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SK set
This wartime SK set passed by on the auction site at a reasonable price, so it had to be bought.
As purchased it contained some extras - modern Japanese chromed sockets, and a pair of older King Dick 1/4" drive sockets on an "L" bar. It was a complete set except for one item, the breaker was missing the Tommy bar. Don was kind enough to let me know the SK Tommy bar sizes ( thanks Don ! ) and the same auction site provided a modern British commercial bar of the right size for the set - except it was chromed. I soaked the new bar in some Phosphoric acid for a couple of days and it dulled down nicely to match the set. If I ever do find a proper SK bar I'll swap it in.
There was one other wrinkle I hadn't seen before. The 1/4" eight-point socket was unlike all the others, as some sort of insert had been forced into the socket then broached back to the right size and configuration. Externally the socket is the same as the others and correctly marked, but I can't imagine this rework / second operation would have been cheaper than just melting it down and making another. You can see the different material on the image, but to the eye the insert section is even more obvious, sort of a brass colour.
As purchased it contained some extras - modern Japanese chromed sockets, and a pair of older King Dick 1/4" drive sockets on an "L" bar. It was a complete set except for one item, the breaker was missing the Tommy bar. Don was kind enough to let me know the SK Tommy bar sizes ( thanks Don ! ) and the same auction site provided a modern British commercial bar of the right size for the set - except it was chromed. I soaked the new bar in some Phosphoric acid for a couple of days and it dulled down nicely to match the set. If I ever do find a proper SK bar I'll swap it in.
There was one other wrinkle I hadn't seen before. The 1/4" eight-point socket was unlike all the others, as some sort of insert had been forced into the socket then broached back to the right size and configuration. Externally the socket is the same as the others and correctly marked, but I can't imagine this rework / second operation would have been cheaper than just melting it down and making another. You can see the different material on the image, but to the eye the insert section is even more obvious, sort of a brass colour.
Gordon
1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer
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1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
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- Hartofoak
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
I have lots of "tommy bars" from my boxes of 3/8" flex-bars mentioned up post (but none are S-K). If you let me know the dimensions, I'll look at them to see if there are any the same size. I realise this is a bit late now as you have fabricated one already.
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=285629&p=1656609&h ... s#p1656609
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=285629&p=1656609&h ... s#p1656609
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- Gordon_M
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
Thanks for that, but the S-K bar is 5/16" x 4 1/2" which is quite different from the others. Of course I tried a Plomb WF-7 bar from the box you sent, and a Duro-Chrome one, but they were both a lot smaller in diameter, 1/4" I think. Probably the convention is the Tommy bar diameter is the same as the square drive size, but S-K went one size up.Hartofoak wrote: ↑Wed Nov 14, 2018 10:04 amI have lots of "tommy bars" from my boxes of 3/8" flex-bars mentioned up post (but none are S-K). If you let me know the dimensions, I'll look at them to see if there are any the same size. I realise this is a bit late now as you have fabricated one already.
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=285629&p=1656609&h ... s#p1656609
Thanks for the offer though, appreciated.
Gordon
1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer
1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
Anyone have a complete socket set for sale , preferable Steven Walden , I’m in need one for my kit , thanks in advanced
- d42jeep
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Re: SK set
That is a machinist’s repair done after the socket cracked. I’ve had two others like that, one a Plomb and the other a P&C. Rather than pitch the cracked socket into the trash like I would do, the enterprising machinist measures the dimensions of the outside of the socket, adds a bit of interference and turns a sleeve out of steel and presses it on to the socket. Stronger than new but a little unsightly. I’ll see it I can find a picture of mine.Gordon_M wrote: ↑Wed Nov 14, 2018 3:30 amThis wartime SK set passed by on the auction site at a reasonable price, so it had to be bought.
sk01.jpg
As purchased it contained some extras - modern Japanese chromed sockets, and a pair of older King Dick 1/4" drive sockets on an "L" bar. It was a complete set except for one item, the breaker was missing the Tommy bar. Don was kind enough to let me know the SK Tommy bar sizes ( thanks Don ! ) and the same auction site provided a modern British commercial bar of the right size for the set - except it was chromed. I soaked the new bar in some Phosphoric acid for a couple of days and it dulled down nicely to match the set. If I ever do find a proper SK bar I'll swap it in.
sk02.jpg
There was one other wrinkle I hadn't seen before. The 1/4" eight-point socket was unlike all the others, as some sort of insert had been forced into the socket then broached back to the right size and configuration. Externally the socket is the same as the others and correctly marked, but I can't imagine this rework / second operation would have been cheaper than just melting it down and making another. You can see the different material on the image, but to the eye the insert section is even more obvious, sort of a brass colour.
sk03.jpg
-Don
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Ford GPW 76344 DOD 11/42 Built in Richmond, CA
- Gordon_M
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
Thanks Don.
My first thought is that something had gone wrong, but there is no sign of a crack or repair to the body itself. All I can come up with is that they made the socket but got the internal size wrong, broached it out oversize, forced in a slug, then re-broached. The problem with that is that to do that would be more time and trouble than just making another.
Gordon
My first thought is that something had gone wrong, but there is no sign of a crack or repair to the body itself. All I can come up with is that they made the socket but got the internal size wrong, broached it out oversize, forced in a slug, then re-broached. The problem with that is that to do that would be more time and trouble than just making another.
Gordon
Gordon
1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer
1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer
- d42jeep
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
Due to the interference fit, I was unable to see the crack in my socket until I pressed off the sleeve and then it was obvious. I would be willing to bet that the same thing was done to your socket. Perhaps in your case the sleeve was brazed in place resulting in the color you observed. I’m sure that repair wasn’t done by S-K.
-Don
-Don
Ford GPW 76344 DOD 11/42 Built in Richmond, CA
- Gordon_M
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
Looking at it again you are absolutely right.
What I thought was the original outer body is a pressed-on machined sleeve, what I thought was a slug forged down the bore is the original centre, cracked and reinforced by the sleeve - you can see the crack at the seven o'clock location in my image.
Never seen that before, thanks for the idea. I don't think I'd replace it even if I found another as it is part of the set history.
Gordon
What I thought was the original outer body is a pressed-on machined sleeve, what I thought was a slug forged down the bore is the original centre, cracked and reinforced by the sleeve - you can see the crack at the seven o'clock location in my image.
Never seen that before, thanks for the idea. I don't think I'd replace it even if I found another as it is part of the set history.
Gordon
Gordon
1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer
1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer
- d42jeep
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
Speaking of tool repairs, I bought this set off of eBay hoping that I could adequately straighten the extremely rare pin handle. I think it came out okay.
-Don
-Don
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Ford GPW 76344 DOD 11/42 Built in Richmond, CA
- Gordon_M
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Re: Wartime 1/4" drive socket sets
If it is straight to the point that you don't immediately notice it - I'd say you did well. It is probably to the point that any further work would tend to take it off square again.
Gordon
1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer
1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer
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