1/4 Drive Sets

[four.cycle]

Clearer images showing details of the model 177 New Britain "None Better" set pictured above.
(* There is a detailed description of this particular model at Alloy-Artifacts.org HERE: http://alloy-artifacts.org/newbritain-nonebetter.html *)

[four.cycle]

An early New Britain Machine Co. 1/4" drive SAE socket set in the original box. These are "C" series and stamped "Chrome Vanadium" with the "NB" logo inside a circle.

[four.cycle]

A Penens Corp. 1/4" drive SAE socket set in the original box. The larger sockets are stamped "Challenger" as well as "Penens". I think it would be reasonable to assume that the smaller sockets were not stamped with both names simply due to space limitations.

[four.cycle]

A Spiegel "Precision Bilt" 1/4" drive SAE socket set with original box. It appears from a similar set posted by Private Lugnutz on Garagejournal.com (HERE: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363163 ) that this set is missing the ratchet.

(* This is the extent of the 1/4" drive sets I found digging through one box earlier this evening. *)

[d42jeep]

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. *)

BK,
That is a cool set. The ratchet is pretty unique. I imagine that they must have had plenty of extra D-I socket inventory left over after the end of the war. Although they are rare, I have a couple of chrome plated D-I sockets as well. They probably took that excess stock, chromed them and used them in sets. Certainly more cost effective than scrapping them.
-Don

[four.cycle]

After posting that, it occurred to me that I may have purchased that set just to get that ratchet. The set should have the old four-point-selector model 2875 in it. That is a very rare ratchet. I think I own two of them - one of them is in virtually new condition and cost a fortune. The one in that set is in fairly good condition - just the usual "drawer rash" dings and scratches, but nothing major. Essentially the same mechanism internally as your 2889 1/4" female drive model.

I know for sure I've seen other chrome pieces stamped "D I" - packed in the earlier wrinkle-finish royal blue boxes.
Maybe I'm off on that one. I'm not sure how long they produced the blue boxes - I believe the appear in the 1948 catalog.
In an email exchange with twertsy long ago I submitted "All WWII era Indestro was most likely stamped "D I", but not all "D I" Indestro is necessarily WWII vintage product," with which he was in agreement.
I think it's just one of those myths that's been repeated so many times that it's become one of those "alternate reality" things.

I should dig that set out and put the right ratchet in there. I know I've got at least a half dozen of them laying around here loose. It's just a matter of finding one. I know which box the set is in now.

=======

EDIT 11/02/18 09:26 PDT

d42jeep -
I may have spoken too soon there. Poking around on "new posts" I found a link to a catalog archive site HERE: https://archive.org/details/internationaltoolcataloglibrary
and downloaded a snippet from the 1958 Shapleigh Hardware Co. catalog which shows that 7602 set in a red box with what appears to be the same ratchet as in mine. I am forwarding to you a *.pdf copy of the file.

[CRTDI]

cycle,

Those are some nice looking sets. That particular 2889 Indestro ratchet is a new one for me. Thanks for posting this.

The 1/4" hex sets are pretty cool. I certainly wasn't aware that there were so many different configurations of these.

[four.cycle]

^ That ratchet is a real oddball - like the 6070 /4" open-gear model - almost impossible to find.

The hex drive sets were made by a number of different manufacturers. Indestro alone made at least a couple dozen different models (in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" hex drive.) New Britain was one of the leaders in that arena and also made a number of different models - I have NB sets in 1/4" and 1/2" drive - I'm not sure if they also made 3/8" drive.
There were many others - Keystone was just one of them.
One of the more interesting was the short-lived Bethlehem Spark Plug Company of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I have a 1/4" hex drive "Set A". They also produced sets using 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", and 11/16" drive.

[GreyOwl]

Another hex set I've had for years. No markings except for a patent number.

[four.cycle]

^ that's a model 350 Indestro "Vest Pocket" set. I posted a few of them above. if yours has only the patent number stamped on the bottom of the holder - 2065340 - it is the third (later) iteration of that particular model.

[GreyOwl]

I was thinking so after seeing your pics. Thanks for the confirmation.

[Cruiser808]

At the request of bmwrd0 and CTRDI, here are some Plomb and Proto boxes from 1940 through the 1990’s. I’m a bit perplexed about the 1942 box. It’s red and contains fully chromed tools. Must be very early 42. Also, a red painted 1945 box. Undoubtedly post war. At first I thought it was repainted, but I’ve seen seen several more like it and actually have a second one. Also, the paint is the wrinkled type as are the Promb successors until 1947-48. The 1943 Plomb box has a “BC” designation on it, signifying its year manufactured. I’ve never seen another one with that marking. Anyway, if Plomb and Proto had other logos and box types, please feel free to share. Thanks.

[Cruiser808]

More logos.

[Cruiser808]

More Plomb, getting into post war.

[Cruiser808]

Early Proto.