1/2" Drive logo progression

arly socket labeling

Shown here are a series of sockets and the  logos or labels on them. These are sorted.

The first is known to be early. This is the “S over O” sockets and they are likely the second series.  It may be the first 1920s series were unmarked

The 2nd photo is not date stamped, but it appears to be pre 1927. I speculate these are 1925/6 sockets. The label is smaller than those that follow, The ends of the S and spears. It is unclear if the underline is always unbroken. Also the location of the socket number and measure is on either side. This is only true with this style logo 

The 3rd photo is clearly 1927. On the S there are “Feet”, the underline is broken. The entire logo is much bigger particularly up and down. 

The 4th photo is clearly 1928 I see little to no difference between this and the 1927 logo

The 5th photo is clearly 1929. The “a” is shaped differently. The knurls are lighter

1/2 Early Sockets

1/2" Drive early sockets

Double broached 

Sizes

Date range

DH-140

7/16

1931-1941

DH-160

½

1928-1941

DH-180

9/16

1928-1941

DH-190

19/32

1931-1941

DH-200

5/8

1928-1941

DH-220

11/16

1928-1941

DH-240

¾

1928-1941

DH-250

25/32

1931-1941

DH-260

13/16

1931-1941

DH-280

7/8

1931-1941

DH-300 ½

15/16

1931-1941

DH-310 ½ 

31/32

1931-1941

DH-320 ½

1 

1931-1941

 

Pre 1929 sockets

Here is a set from 1925/6 these are single broached. The knurled changes a little from socket to socket (rub wear?). There is a story behind these.  It is not certain but these may have been sold to Snap on as finished blanks from Milwaukee Tool and Forge Company

Single Hex

Size

Date Range

No. 140

7/16

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 160

½

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 180

9/16

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 190

19/32

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 200

5/8

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 220

11/16

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 240

¾

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 250

25/32

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 260

13/16

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 280

7/8

Pre 1923- 1935

No. 300

15/16

Pre 1923- 1927

No. 300 ½ 

15/16

1926-1932

No. 310

31/32

Pre 1923

No. 310 ½

31/32

1925– 1932

No. 320

1

Pre 1923- 

No. 320 ½

1

1925- 1932

No. 340

1 1/16

Pre 1923- 

No. 340 ½ 

1 1/16

1932 

No. 360

1 1/8

Pre 1923- 

No. 360 ½ 

1 1/8

1932

No. 400

1 ¼

Pre 1923- 

No. 400 ½ 

1 ¼

1932

No. 440

1 3/8

Pre 1923- 

No. 460

1 7/16

Pre 1923- 

No. 480

1 ½

Pre 1923- 

The DH series are the same, but double broached

 

1/2 1931-1937 Sockets

1/2" Drive 1935 catalog drawing

1939 example

From 1931 – 1935 the style here was sold along side with the TW, S and SW series. The TW, S and SW style is thinner walled, Cadmium plated and with a styled knurled base. I have a large number of early sockets, but not a lot of these, so my information is weak 

Single Broached

Sizes

Date Range

TW-140

7/16

1936-1948

TW-160

½

1936-1948

TW-180

9/16

1936-1948

TW-190

19/32

1936-1941

TW-200

5/8

1936-1948

TW-220

11/16

1936-1948

TW-240

¾

1936-1948

TW-260

13/16

1936-1948

TW-280

7/8

1936-1948

TW-300 ½

15/16

1936-1948

TW-320 ½

1 

1946-1948

1/2 1937-1946 Sockets

1/2" Drive S-series 1940s

1939 example

From 1936 – 1946 the style here was sold. These are very common and were sold during WWII is a oil finish. 

 

1/2  Square Drive Sockets

Size

Date Range

SW-120

3/8

1937 – 1948

SW-140

7/16

1931 – 1948

SW-160

½

1931 – 1948

SW-180

9/16

1931 – 1948

SW-190

19/32

1931 – 1948

SW-200

5/8

1931 – 1948

SW-220

11/16

1931 – 1948

SW-240

¾

1931 – 1948

SW-250

25/32

1931 – 1948

SW-260

13/16

1931 – 1948

SW-280

7/8

1931 – 1948

SW-290

29/32 (shackle bolt work)

1937 – 1948

SW-300 ½

15/16

1931 – 1948

SW-320 ½

1 

1931 – 1948

SW-340 ½

1 1/16

1932 – 1948

SW-360 ½ 

1 1/8

1932 – 1948

SW-380 ½ 

2 3/16

1933 – 1948

SW-400 ½  

1 ¼

1932 – 1948

 

1/2 Deep Sockets

1/2" Drive Very_Early_deep_wells_johnson-web

Very rare 1/2 drive deep wells from 1927. Photo courtesy of Ken and Roseanne Johnson

Very rare 1/2 drive deep wells from 1927. I speculate (as in no proof) these were OEM purchased through Milwaukee Tool & Forge Company (MTF) and stamped with the Snap-On name

1/2 Deep Sockets

1/2" Drive 1929-1930deepwells_johnson_photo

1920s S deep socket set.

Photo courtesy of Ken and Roseanne Johnson

I have a guess that series were the first generation made by Snap on.  They learned and quickly changed them to the next generation. These are rare. 

½   Square Deep Drive Sockets

Sizes 

Date Range

S-160

½

1929-1948

S-180

9/16

1929-1948

S-200

5/8

1929-1948

S-220

11/16

1929-1948

S-240 Originally  for body panels

¾

1927-1948

S-250

25/32

1929-1941

S-260

13/16

1931-1948

S-280 Originally  for body panels

7/8

1927-1948

S-300

15/16

1929-1931

S-300 ½

15/16

1929-1948

S-320 ½

1 

1929-1948

S-340

1 1/16

1929-1931

S-340 ½

1 1/16

1929-1948

S-360 ½ 

1 1/8

1931-1948

S-400

1 1/4

1929

S-460

1 7/16

1929

1/2 Square Cut Sockets

1/2" Drive early single broached square

Early singel broached Squares

Milled Square Sockets appeared in the first 1923 catalog and continued with no apparent changes until 1929 when the double broached version was introduced – no part number change to indicate this variation. There are reasons to pick single or double broaching.  When the bolt head is dimensionally imperfect (undersized) a single broached socket is a better choice because it can get a grip on the sides as well as the corners. When the bolt head is accurate the double broaching allows the socket to mount the bolt easier and it is much better in low clearance areas. One can get it on the bolt at twice the angles as its ½ brother. 

1/2 Double Broached Squares

1/2" Drive early double broached square

Double Broached squares

These are listed

1/2  Square Drive Sockets

Size

Date range

412

3/8

Pre 1923-1950

414

7/16

Pre 1923-1950

416

½

Pre 1923-1950

418

9/16

Pre 1923-1950

420

5/8

Pre 1923-1950

422

11/16

Pre 1923-1950

424

¾

Pre 1923-1950

425

25/32

1933 -1941

426

13/16

1927-1950

428

7/8

Pre 1923-1950

432

1 

Pre 1923-1950

1/2 Pattern Confusion 1931-1953

1953 Catalog Drawing

In 1931 this style was introduced. The claims for these were the better finish (lustrous cadmium plate), better durability, machined from solid bars of Chrome Vanadium or special alloy tool steel. They were accurately broached and heat treated. It has thinner walls and a better finish. It is unclear to me when this pattern actually changed. In the catalogs 1945 shows a drawing of the new pattern, but I have no examples of these sockets to confirm. In 1948 and 1950 the drawings are back to the old pattern. Then in 1953 through the 1970s the double ribbed pattern was introduced. So there is some “fog” in my understanding of exactly what was offered after the late 1930s and before 1953. In any event, these are all 400 series sockets

1/2” Square Drive Sockets

Size

Date range

SW-412

3/8

1953-1978

SW-414

7/16

1953-1978

SW-416

½

1953-1978

SW-418

9/16

1953-1978

SW-420

5/8

1953-1978

SW-422

11/16

1953-1978

SW-424

¾

1953-1978

SW-426

13/16

1953-1978

SW-428

7/8

1953-1978

SW-432

1 

1953-1978

1/2 Late SW Sockets

1/2" Drive 1950 TW style socket

Early socket labeling

Note this is a totally new style. Short, Double Broached

Sockets 

Size

Date Range

SW-121

3/8

  1950-1975

SW-141

7/16

  1950-1975

SW-161

½

  1950-1975

SW-181

9/16

  1950-1975

SW-191

19/32

  1950-1975

SW-201

5/8

  1950-1975

SW-221

11/16

  1950-1975

SW-241

¾

  1950-1975

SW-251

25/32

  1950-1975

SW-261

13/16

  1950-1975

SW-281

7/8

  1950-1975

SW-291

29/32 (shackle bolt work)

  1950-1975

SW-301

15/16

  1950-1975

SW-321

1 

  1950-1975

SW-341

1 1/16

  1950-1975

SW-361 

1 1/8

  1950-1975

SW-381 

2 3/16

  1950-1975

SW-401  

1 ¼

  1950-1975

SW-421 

1 5/16

  1958-1975

SW-441

1 3/8

  1967-1975

SW-461

1 7/16

  1967-1975

SW-481

1 ½

  1967-1975

1/2 Late TW Sockets

1/2" Drive 1950 TW style socket

Pre 1929 sockets

TW series is a single broached short socket

Single Hex 

Sizes 

Date range

TW-121

3/8

1950-1975

TW-141

7/16

1950-1975

TW-161

½

1950-1975

TW-181

9/16

1950-1975

TW-191

19/32

1950-1975

TW-201

5/8

1950-1975

TW-221

11/16

1950-1975

TW-241

¾

1950-1975

TW-251

25/32

1950-1975

TW-261

13/16

1950-1975

TW-281

7/8

1950-1975

TW-301

15/16

1950-1975

TW-321

1 

1950-1975

TW-341

1 1/16

1950-1975

TW-361

1 1/8

1950-1975

TW-381

1 3/16

1950-1975

TW-401

1 ¼

1950-1975

TW-421

1 5/16

1967-1975

TW-441

1 13/16

1975

TW-461

1 16/16

1975

TW-481

2

1975

Single Hex Thick Walls –  Acorn Nuts

Sizes 

Date range

TW-241S – 

¾

1950-1960

TW-261S

13/16

1953-

TW-281S

7/8

1953-

TW-301S

15/16

1953-

 

 

 

1/2 1931-1937 Sockets

1/2" Drive 1950 S series sockets

1939 example

Deep socket, double broached

 

Deep 

Sizes 

Date

S-121

3/8

1967-1975

S-141

7/16

1967-1975

S-161

½

1950-1975

S-181

9/16

1950-1975

S-201

5/8

1950-1975

S-221

11/16

1950-1975

S-241

¾

1950-1975

S-251

25/32

1950-1975

S-261

13/16

1950-1975

S-281

7/8

1950-1975

S-301

15/16

1950-1975

S-321

1 

1950-1975

S-341

1 1/16

1950-1975

S-361

1 1/8

1950-1975

S-381

1 3/16

1967-1975

S-401

1 ¼

1967-1975

S-421

1 5/16

1967-1975

S-441

1 13/16

1975

S-461

1 16/16

1975

S-481

2

1975

 

 

1/2 Late TS series Sockets

Deep socket, single broached

 

single broached deep

Sizes 

Date Range

TS-121

3/8

1967-1975

TS-141

7/16

1967-1975

TS-161

½

1955-1975

TS-181

9/16

1955-1975

TS-201

5/8

1955-1975

TS-221

11/16

1962-1975

TS-241

¾

1962-1975

TS-261

13/16

1962-1975

TS-281

7/8

1962-1975

TS-301

15/16

1967-1975

TS-321

1 

1967-1975

TS-341

1 1/16

1967-1975

TS-361

1 1/8

1967-1975

TS-381

1 3/16

1967-1975

TS-401

1 ¼

1967-1975

TS-421

1 5/16

1967-1975

TS-441

1 13/16

1975

TS-461

1 16/16

1975

TS-481

2

1975