Share this post Link to post Share on other sites. It refers to the basic mechanic's tools that the company was founded on. Sockets are usually marked. From what I can see - screwdrivers aren't. Create an account or sign in to comment You need to be a member in order to leave a comment Create an account Sign up for a new account in our community. Register a new account. Sign in Already have an account? The upper right inset shows the cold-broached socket construction with a machined recess below the broached area.
Drive studs with locking pins had been introduced previously, but the addition of a push-button release made the tools much more convenient to use. The system of locking pins and release buttons adopted by Snap-on was based on the "Lock-On" patents developed by Blackhawk Manufacturing. Readers interested in background information will find extensive coverage in our article on Blackhawk Lock-On Tools.
Snap-on didn't adopt all aspects of Blackhawk's system, but they did license the patent RE covering the release buttons, and references to this patent will be found marked on sockets up through the late s. Of the four socket styles initially offered in hex, double-hex, extra deep hex, and double-square , only two remained in production for later years. The DH-xx2 series of double-hex sockets became the LDH-xx2 Loxocket series, but with straight walls instead of the earlier tapered design, and the S-xx2 series of extra deep sockets became the LS-xx2 Loxocket series.
The hex socket series models to was discontinued after , but the double-square sockets apparently saw limited production in in the Loxocket line, but afterwards were discontinued. The double-square Loxockets are not known to have been listed in any Snap-on catalog, but a couple of examples from have been discovered. The figures below will show the development of the LDH Loxocket series, with numerous small changes to the markings as well as incremental improvements to the construction.
The initial design included a band of parallel knurling around the socket, with the model number, Snap-on logo, and socket size stamped below the band.
Other markings such as patent and trademark notices were not very standardized though, and these markings will be found in different places. The standard finish for the LDH series was chrome plating, with the upper walls highly polished and a flat or matte finish to the socket base and knurled band. The left inset shows the drive end of the socket.
Note the notch cut on the side with the release button, which helps to depress the locking pin when inserting a drive stud. The socket construction appears to be cold-broached, with a machined recess below the broached area and some chatter marks visible on the walls. This socket was acquired as part of an L Socket Set dating to early , which is described in a later figure. The right inset shows the socket construction, with a machined recess visible below the broached area. This socket is currently our earliest example of the "Loxocket" trademark marking, and its production date is two years earlier than the first use date in the trademark filing.
The right inset shows the socket construction with a machined recess below the broached area, as we saw in the previous example. A careful look shows a few burrs at the end of the broached area, though the walls are quite smooth and relatively free of chatter marks. The left inset shows the drive end of the socket, stamped with "Loxocket Trademark", Snap-on's registered trademark for the release button feature.
Alloy Artifacts
The rounded notch on the side with the release button helps to depress the locking pin when inserting a drive stud. The right inset shows the socket construction with a machined recess below the broached area, as we saw in the previous examples. In this case though, the broached walls are very smooth and free of chatter marks. The next several figures show the more extensive markings appearing on later LDH sockets.
The markings tended to move around depending on the size of the socket. The base is stamped "Made in U. The model number and Snap-on logo are stamped below the knurled band, as seen in the main photograph, followed by the size not shown and a "Lic. Finally, the stylized "0" date code for appears to the right of the patent notice. The upper right inset shows the socket construction with a machined recess below the broached area.
The patent covers the use of locking pins and release buttons for sockets. Since Snap-on started offering the release button feature in late , it's not clear why they waited until to acknowledge the patent. The base is stamped "Trademark Loxocket" and "Made in USA" next to the release button, as can be seen in the upper left corner of the main photograph. Further around the base is a the patent notice "Lic. Finally, the model number, Snap-on logo, and size are stamped below the knurled band, with the stylized "2" date code on the opposite side see lower right inset.
The next several figures show sockets marked for Snap-on, but with a different design and made using a hot-forged construction technique. These are believed to be wartime production with socket blanks produced by Wright Tool and Forge. Although not visible in the photograph, the socket is fitted with a standard "Loxocket" release button. The inset shows the interior of the socket to illustrate the hot-forged construction. In the hot-forging process a slug of heated metal is forced into a die, simultaneously forming the double-hex service opening and the square drive opening.
The plain finish and unusual construction of this socket likely indicate production during the wartime years.
Sockets and Drive Tools
This socket closely resembles the production by Wright Tool and Forge, suggesting that Wright may have supplied the socket blank to Snap-on. The cadmium finish and unusual construction of this socket likely indicate production during the wartime years.
The markings are, from left to right, the Snap-on logo, the size, the model number, a stylized "7" date code for , "Made in U. In the late s Snap-on updated its socket production to use a hot-broaching method that created a distinctive ring of displaced metal.
Snap-On Wrench Date Codes - VAF Forums
Similar production methods had been used by Duro Metal Products, Plomb, and other companies for some years, and likely resulted in both lower costs as well as stronger sockets. The new socket style can be easily recognized by the annular shelf at the bottom of the broached area. The base is stamped with a "Lic. The right inset shows the hot-broached construction with an annular ring of displaced metal. The change in the broaching method can be seen easily by comparison with the Snap-on LDH Socket in the previous figure, also of production. The right inset shows the hot-broached construction, with the shelf of displaced metal clearly visible below the broaching.
The knurled-band style of LDH sockets remained in production until at least , as the next figure illustrates. The date code appears in the main photograph, to the left of the Snap-on logo. The right inset shows the details of the hot-broached construction. An annular ring of displaced metal can be seen clearly below the broached area. A number of specialty sockets for applications such as ball joint service were also made.
The left inset shows the drive end with a sloping notch by the release button, intended to help insert the drive stud. This type of square notch is seen only on the very early Loxocket production; later sockets have a rounded indentation. The right inset shows the double-square broaching.
The broached area is undercut with a machined recess, and the walls show chatter marks associated with the cold broaching process. The original finish was a thin chrome plating, but most has been lost to rust or corrosion, leaving a pitted surface texture. From the early s onward Snap-on designed its larger drive tools with removable and interchangeable handles. This offered a number of advantages, the foremost being a reduction in the weight and cost.
Other benefits included easier storage when disassembled, and the ability to use a longer handle when needed for leverage.
The accessory heads for the handles included a ratchet, a sliding Tee head, and a flex head. We'll see examples of these in the next several figures. The sliding head is stamped with Snap-on logo and model number, with a stylized "6" date code for The handle bar is fitted with a spring-loaded locking pin visible at the left end, with a fixed stop ball at the opposite end not shown. This difference in the diameters is significant in that the later LB sliding heads won't fit on an earlier bar, a fact we were not aware of until this tool was acquired.
The early handle bars are also somewhat longer than the LH models, Based on available date-coded examples, the change to smaller diameter had definitely occurred by If any readers have information to further refine the cross-over date, please send us your observations. Although not originally acquired with the set, this sliding Tee handle was made in the same year as the L Socket Set described in a later figure. Both pieces are marked "Made in U.
A" with the Snap-on logo.
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The mid s Snap-on catalogs assigned the catalog number "LBH" to the combined LB head and LH bar to distinguish them from the earlier L combinations with the larger diameter bar. The inset shows the stylized "6" date code on the LB head, indicating manufacture in The LH bar has a "7" date code not shown for The handle bar is fitted with a spring-loaded locking pin at one end, seen at the far right in the photograph.
The opposite end has a fixed stop ball. This sliding Tee handle is one of the tools assigned to the s L Socket Set described below. The ratchet head in this photograph is from and is shown in greater detail in the next figure. Both pieces are finished with chrome plating, but with extensive losses especially on the handle due to rust and pitting. Although these pieces were not acquired with the set, this is the correct ratchet model for the L Socket Set described in a later figure.
The next several figures show successive versions of the Lx series of ratchet heads, first introduced as the LN in The ratchet is also stamped with a stylized "9" date code for , seen between the "On" and "Off" markings under the shift lever see lower inset. The overall length is 5. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces, but with some loss due to rust.
The same handle bar could also be used with the L sliding Tee head. Although not acquired with the set, this ratchet is the correct model for the L Socket Set described below. A stylized "6" date code for can be seen on the top face, between the "On" and "Off" markings under the shift lever. Snap-On Wrench Date Codes. I have a set of Snap-On wrenches that I purchased new in That symbol on Doug's Dad's wrench is clearly I have some tubing wrenches that I am certain are original to the set with that symbol.
Many of the wrenches and sockets I have do not exhibit the date symbols, but are from the original set. I think Doug's wrench could have been a replacement. I believe that wrench was replaced around due to the original being lost. I also have some other wrenches that were purchased as replacements for lost wrenches with the symbol.