1/4 Drive Sets

[GreyOwl]

J.A.F.E.  Thanks for the info on the set.  They really haven't been used much before they were given to me and I don't know why he painted the box orange. I've used them a few times but have other users for daily work.  Any idea what color the box should be?

[J.A.F.E.]

As far as I have seen all the 1/4 set boxes were a sort of hammertone gray but I am not a Craftsman expert. You might get lucky with some acetone, lacquer thinner, MEK or even VM&P naptha that will remove the orange and leave the original paint. Really lucky would leave the box original paint but maybe regular luck would give you enough to see the original color.

[four.cycle]

^ I believe that is correct: the small Craftsman boxes from the "crown logo" era were painted a hammertone gray color, as I recall. I believe I've got at least one here somewhere but have no idea where it might be.

Regarding anything Craftsman, I would defer to Mr. Lauver, although I would think that at least one member here should be able to come up with an example that shows the original color.

[strik9]

If the interior color is what the exterior color should be......

  I posted one.  Ignore the metallic blue outside part.  Better than rust.

[bonneyman]

The MDF's from Craftsman were nice ratchets. Classic lines, great feel, easy to clean and lube. I'd be willing to bet if Stanley B&D brought back that design (maybe modernized the guts a little) they'd easily outsell the Chinese figure-8 plate rats Craftsman's been pushing lately.

[d42jeep]

Just so the dreaded “H” word doesn’t come up, I have let loose of a few Walden sets including these two, put together for friends. Just ignore that Craftsman ratchet!
-Don

[d42jeep]

Here is an early Craftsman set missing, of course, the crossbar.
-Don

[four.cycle]

^ interesting holder there, d42jeep. any idea what year that dates to? what year is that catalog snip from?

[CRTDI]

Here is an early Craftsman set missing, of course, the crossbar.
-Don

Nice set!

I believe I've seen this same style of set branded as either None Better or Husky.

The compact configuration makes it a handy "grab and go" set.

[CRTDI]

Snap-On Industrial finish set.

[d42jeep]

^ interesting holder there, d42jeep. any idea what year that dates to? what year is that catalog snip from?

BK,
That clip is the 3/8” version from the ‘40 catalog but the 1/4” holder is shown with a larger set in the ‘41 catalog. I went through my miscellaneous crossbars and found a perfect one for the set.
-Don

[four.cycle]

CRTDI - that little Snap-on kit there is pretty snazzy. I had no idea they'd ever produced anything in a black finish like that.

[four.cycle]

Here are two more model 350 Indestro "Vest Pocket" 8-pc. 1/4" hex drive SAE socket sets (patent 2065340)
The top one is the earlier version - the "ell" handle is stamped "Pat Pend"
The lower one is a later version - the "ell" handle has the patent number stamped on it.
Versions made later had both the part number and patent number, as well as Indestro's name, stamped on the bottom of the stamped steel holder.
(* Note that the earlier (upper) set does not contain the correct assortment of sockets *)
(* Note that the 1948 catalog snip shows a different patent number - 2065341 - which was essentially the same design but with the retaining tabs reversed. I have yet to be able to find a copy with that patent number. Oddly, the 1948 catalog illustration shows a holder identical to both those shown here. *)

[four.cycle]

Here's an Indestro 1/4" drive SAE set in a model 7602 box, but the contents do not match what the catalog says it should contain.
The red box, as I noted somewhere above, dates back to the mid-late 1950s. Prior to that the 1/4" drive sets were packed in a blue box.
This set contains the "unobtainium" 2889 reversible 1/4" male drive pressed-flange chromed ratchet with knurled round handle - a miniature version of the 1/2" drive 3201 (both built under patent number 1902878.) The set is missing the spinner (which in this case would have been the early clear yellow-handled model 2873.)
(* Note that the 3/16" chromed socket is stamped "D I", belying the myth that all Duro / Indestro product stamped "D I" was wartime vintage. *)

[four.cycle]

A New Britain "None Better" model 177 8-pc 1/4" hex drive SAE socket set with stamped steel holder.
The "ell" handle is stamped "Made in U.S.A." on one side. The other side is stamped "Pat. Dec 31, 1918" - the patent referred to on the "ell" handle is Reginald F. Sedgley's patent 1289558 (see post #406 above for an example of Sedgley's "Hexall" hex-drive set.)
The holder is stamped "Patented Dec. 12, 1922" - this refers to patent 1438900 issued to one H.H. Chase, and was used by New Britain Machine Company on a variety of different socket holders for a number of decades.
(* As I was not able to get clear images of all the details described above, I have posted the photos from the Ebay listing from which this set was purchased in the following post. *)