Not Guar

[madprofessor]

I have a few tools that are marked "Not Guar" which I assume means they are not guaranteed. Examples include an F61 3/8" drive flex extension (no date) and a 1/4" to 9/32" drive adaptor A8 date marked 1959. These may be marked like this because they are tools that are particularly susceptible to damage and Snap-on got tired of replacing them. My Snap-on dealer friend offered another possibility. He says Snap-on does not guarnatee tools sold to the US government and that they used to be marked somehow other than the G stamp used in the 40s. Anybody know?

[snapmom]

It was not a Govt thing. Just easy broke tools, Some do not have the SO name just the model number and not guar. There were several of 9/32 dr tools with the not guar. on them. Not sure how long this lasted, I think into the 60s

[madprofessor]

Yeah, the flex extension does not have a Snap-on logo.

[Frank Murch]

If you look in the catalogs you will see a couple of things related to this. The gaurentee changed over time. This confuses people and I wrote about it here http://www.collectingsnapon.com/Guarantee.html

In addition, on top of that, there were black stars against certain tool listings. The screw driver sockets, cutting tools like chisels and your flex extension are good examples of these. The black start was a exception to the guarantee. They are considered wear tools and excluded from the guarantee.

You can understand why if you use the flex extension. It does reach into tight areas at odd angles, but you can feel the flex in it. You could twist it so hard it would bend it beyond the point of return.

Still, I find it to be a great little tool with no real substitute for some odd angles


Frank