1/2 No 2 Short Tee
First – is an early No 2 Short Tee (Pre 1923)
Second shows a 1923 logo above and a 1925-29 logo below
This is a unique tool, the “nut spinners, below are much more useful, but this represents an early tool with a fixed head
Number | Description | Date Range |
F-1 | Off Set Handle 8 inch length | 1927 – 1929 |
1/2 Pre 1923 Long Tee
Pre 1923 Long Tee
Here is a tool with a very early logo that is not in any Catalog. it seems to be the first long T
1/2 Early Long Tee Handles
No 3 Long Tee Handles. The top Tee is early, the bottom is later, in the close ups, the ball detent stops are early and the pinched shaft is late
Early Long Tee Handles. The top Tee is early, the bottom is later, in the close ups, the ball detent stops are early and the pinched shaft is late
Number | Description | Date Range |
No. 3 | Early Long Speed T Handle | Pre 1923-1941 Sporadically |
No 3A | T bar twisted bar with traditional handle – 24 inches long | 1925 – 1928 |
No 33 | T bar with extended shaft | 1936-1937 |
1/2 S-5 Sliding T bar Progression
1st is a very early (1923 or before)
2nd has an early Snap-on logo
3rd clearly date stamped 1934
4th 1937 – 1948 knurled head style
These 4 S-5 Sliding T bars show a progression from a very early (1923 or before) showing no center grove, a small underlined Snap-on logo and a smaller head.
The first S-5 has a smaller diameter bar.
The next has the same small logo as the first and is dimensionally the same as the 3rd.
The 3rd is clearly date stamped 1934 and has a different logo style.
The last S-5 has the 1937 – 1948 knurled head style.
The first head is shorter – the next 3 are dimensionally the same.
The bottom photos show the back of the heads.
These start with an indentation (alignment dimple?) before 1934 and a through hole (oil port?) After 1934 to 1948
Early Sliding T bar listings
Number | Description | Length | Date Range |
S-5 | Sliding T Handle | 5 | 1925 – 1933 |
S-10 | Sliding T Handle | 10 | 1927-1948 |
S-15 | Sliding T Handle | 15 | 1929-1948 |
1/2 Universal Joint Progression
On the right side is a rare early Universal joint. pre 1928
3nd from the left is a straight sided Universal date stamped 1928
2nd date stamped 1934 with mid 1930s light knurled pattern
1st is date stamped 1946 and has the 1937 – 1946 pattern
On the top is a rare early Universal joint. It is undated, but pre 1928. the 2nd from the top is date stamped 1928. It has straight sides, large logo with no other knurled pattern. The 3rd from the top is date stamped 1934 and has the mid 1930s light knurled pattern. The last one is date stamped 1946 and has the 1937 – 1946 pattern
Number | Description | Date |
No 8 | Universal joint | 1925-1946 |
No. 8-L | Universal Joint | 1953-1962 |
S-8 | Universal Joint | 1967 -1978 |
1/2 Universal ball detent differences
Left – 1934 flat ball detent
946 ball detent crimp style.
Above shows the 1934 and 1946 ball detent constructions. The 1934 is flat and the 1946 has a different crimp style. Some industrial tools seem to have this 1946 crimping. No idea of the significance or if this is significant
1/2 Flexockets
Early Flexocket
I only have this one example of ½ Flex Sockets, so my comments are from the catalog
The first set looks a lot like the Universal joints of the period. These are listed until 1932. In 1933 a new improved thin walled socket was presented. These first sockets are heavy thick walled devices with single broaching and a logo but no part number.
The next period (strictly from the catalog, because I don’t have examples) is from 1933 and is smaller, double broached (after the first year’s run?) and thinner walled. These seem to have had the early 1930s pattern, but it is only suggested in the Catalog in 1936 and 1937. 1937 had a general pattern change, but the catalog suggests this did not happen to the Flex Sockets. The pattern change may have been late and is shown is 1939 (or the catalog was not updated)
From 1939 to 1946 my guess is the pattern and design remained unchanged, but there are listing omissions.
Flexockets | Size | Date Range |
No 16 | ½ | Pre 1923 -1941 |
No 18 | 9/16 | Pre 1923- 1941 |
No 20 | 5/8 | Pre 1923- 1941 |
No. 22 | 11/16 | Pre 1923- 1941 |
No. 24 | ¾ | Pre 1923- 1941 |
These are smooth sided (no knurl)
1/2 Flexockets 1948
1948 catalog drawing
Shown here is a 1948 catalog drawing. It shows a unique pattern, and not the double ribbed pattern of the general style change in 1948.
1/2 Flexocket 1953
1953 Catalog Drawing
In 1953 the pattern finally changed and ran through 1970. Other than the double broaching the SU series in 1962 and relabeling is the SUD series – no other changes seem to have occurred.
Flexockets | Size | Date Range |
SU-18 | 9/16 | 1948-1970 on |
SU-20 | 5/8 | 1948-1970 on |
SU-22 | 11/16 | 1948-1970 on |
SU-24 | ¾ | 1948-1970 on |
SU-26 | 15/16 | 1948-1970 on |
SU-28 | 7/8 | 1948-1970 on |
SU-30 | 15/16 | 1967-1970 on |
Flexockets | Size | Date Range |
SUD-18 | 9/16 | 1962-1970 |
SUD-20 | 5/8 | 1962-1970 |
SUD-22 | 11/16 | 1962-1970 |
SUD-24 | ¾ | 1962-1970 |
SUD-26 | 13/16 | 1962-1970 |
SUD-28 | 7/8 | 1962-1970 |
SUD-30 | 15/16 | 1970 |
A Whitworth series was shown at least once in 1958. I am sure these sizes were available on request or in the UK for long periods.
Special Sockets | Description | Date range |
WFU-99 | ¼ | 1958 |
WFU-100 | 5/16 | 1958 |
WFU-101 | 3/8 | 1958 |