Snap On shallow sockets

[Gordon R]

Bought some Snap On sockets, but I have never seen any of these before. Reference number for the 19mm is AFM 191 - Google doesn't help.

Aside from the 3/8" drive, they can be turned with a 16mm spanner.

Any ideas what they are called, as I want a couple more.

[Diver One]

I have similar but a different make. We call them ,'through' or 'pass through' sockets

[Minky]

I would have thought that a look into a  snap on catalogue would be a way to go. You've got a socket number or have a word with a snap on van man.

[nevb]

Snap on call them "Low Profile" Sockets, from memory you can get a ratchet with a 19mm hex end to fit them...

[Gordon R]

Quote

I have similar but a different make. We call them ,'through' or 'pass through' sockets

Now that sounds about right. Found Blue Point Pass-Thru sockets at £42 for the three missing ones. I might give them a miss, as they look nothing like the Snap On version.

Stick them with the rest of the world's supply of sockets in the garage. At £15 for seven of them, they were a bargain.

[Stour-boy]

I think they are made by snap on.🤫

[Westley]

9 hours ago, Gordon R said:

Now that sounds about right. Found Blue Point Pass-Thru sockets at £42 for the three missing ones. I might give them a miss, as they look nothing like the Snap On version.

Stick them with the rest of the world's supply of sockets in the garage. At £15 for seven of them, they were a bargain.

If I said that Gordon has more sockets than 'Snap On' themselves, it would NOT  be far from the truth  !   😄

[Gordon R]

I probably have well over 500.

[oowee]

Wow thats some collection. I guess they are in order too not like the dozen I have in the bottom of the tool box. 

[Gordon R]

Aside from rows of metric in 1/4 - deep / shallow, 3/8 - deep / shallow, 1/2 - deep shallow, 3/4 mainly shallow, I have complete sets AF / BS / Whit in King ****, Stahlwille, Blackhawk (Proto) and Gedore. That is before I get down to the boxes of sockets, rails of sockets and a few other complete sets knocking about. I need to unload as it has gone past a bit of hoarding. 🙂

 

Quote

I think they are made by snap on.🤫

Blue Point used to be made in the USA - industrial grade Snap On - not as well finished. Nowadays - made in Taiwan, not by Snap On - merely marketed by them.

Edited July 16, 2022 by Gordon R

[Minky]

It doesnt  atter what  ame a tool has stamped into it.  They get lost and thieved just the same.  Father in law used to give me tools that had been left on his lorry and some that fell off along the road. A repairer next to  our work equipwd the workshop fitters with snap on kit but they were frequently broken into and the kit stolen  frequently the fitters had to use the tool kit of an old bloke who worked there.  The thieves never knicked his kit made up of makes like king ****, matadore  elora and geedor.  Just plain solid tools.

[Gordon R]

Snap On is the target for thieves, although second hand value is bound to be affected by the change in warranty. It is decent stuff, but I prefer Armstrong, Cornwell, Mac, Blackhawk, Proto and SK. All at least on a par with Snap On or better and a whole lot cheaper.

As a generality, if it is stamped USA, you won't go far wrong. I used to have 50 different USA makes, but haven't checked up recently. 🙂

[JohnfromUK]

I have a vintage socket set that was (I have been told) owned by my grandfather pre WW1.  He and great grandfather were keen early motorists from when you had to do your own repairs.  Not in brilliant condition now, but I think a complete set and I will try and do some pics tomorrow.

[JohnfromUK]

12 hours ago, JohnfromUK said:

I have a vintage socket set that was (I have been told) owned by my grandfather pre WW1.

Pics attached.  The design was patented in 1903 by Camille Contal and initially made in France.  I believe this example is French as the later ones have a spring ball replacing a leaf spring at the joints.  It seems tio have been made in France, the UK and the USA.  From circa 1908 Mossberg took over manufacturing in the USA, but before that both the Railway Appliances Company and Quincey, Manchester, Sargent Company (Q.M.S) manufactured/distributed in the USA.

and final photo

[Minky]

10 hours ago, JohnfromUK said:

Pics attached.  The design was patented in 1903 by Camille Contal and initially made in France.  I believe this example is French as the later ones have a spring ball replacing a leaf spring at the joints.  It seems tio have been made in France, the UK and the USA.  From circa 1908 Mossberg took over manufacturing in the USA, but before that both the Railway Appliances Company and Quincey, Manchester, Sargent Company (Q.M.S) manufactured/distributed in the USA.

and final photo

Seeing those tools reminds me of stories that were related to me as a young mech apprentice.   Father was in the REME IN WW2 out in Burma.  He had to assemble powered barges shipped in from ?.  The minor problem was they had no tools at all, so he set to making some by taking steel tube,  heating it up red hot in a fire of wood that was available and thrashing a series of file tapered bolt heads into the white hot pipe. The spanners were made by cutting the heads out of sheet steel and welding rod on for handles.  It worked.  Another old boy had also been in the REME but over in the invasion forces.  He told me that all the tools that they had had been made by mechs on their trade tests in the Uk. The problem with this stuff was that it was all soft plain mild steel cut out of sheet etc.  All of the German vehicles had PROPER tool kits and the REME mechs used to raid these German vehicles for the good tools and replace the issued ****.  This was great but one stuck up officer noticed and demanded that they ditch the German tools.  The mechs went to their REME officers and told them that they couldn't repair our vehicles with the issued tools.  After having a look the REME officers agreed and an order went out to capture as many German tool kits as possible and replace the substandard trade test tools.

[Gordon R]

The French made excellent tools, when they were manufactured in France. Have a Facom 3/8 ratchet which has been used many many times over the last 25 years - still works as new. I have several 3/8 and a few 1/4 ratchets. I think I also have a 1/2 and a 3/4 somewhere. Their combination spanners were similarly excellent, but modern production is in Taiwan.