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anyone here like old Snap-On tool stuff?
- Thread starter Lee Barner
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jessebogan
Member
Nice find. Compare to a current catalog. I restore cars for a living, and own mostly Snap On stuff. Wish I could pay 50s prices..I have no complaints about the quality. You know what they say, buy the best, you only cry once.
DWFAN
US Veteran
Bought my first snap on boxes and tools in '68. They had a value line called Blue-point at the time No frills on the boxes and the tools weren't polished. They still worked the same and I still have them to this day. Many additions forced me to get a new roll away and chest set. Went with a top of the line Craftsman set that was a third of the price and just as nice.
DW
DW
TAROMAN
US Veteran
Have to go some to catch up with this fellow.
Built up a 1951 I-H Metro into his personal Snappy hauler:
Built up a 1951 I-H Metro into his personal Snappy hauler:
OP
taroman, that thing would fit in the back of the snap-on trucks I see around here but I like it more than the modern ones. wonder if he has a 1951 catalog in there. lee
TAROMAN
US Veteran
Lee, saw this truck on another site frequented by Snappy fanatics that I dare not mention here.
He's a Snap On dealer and the truck is filled with vintage boxes, tools, everything.
Hawker800
Member
Have to go some to catch up with this fellow.
Built up a 1951 I-H Metro into his personal Snappy hauler:
Great photo!
OP
any idea how to find this guy with the 1951 truck? lee
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Is that photo public domain (or whatever?) I'd love to share that with an I-H afficianado I know! 
I have some Snapon tools from WWII. The tool guy explained that during the war they sent them out sans high polish. They work just fine.
I have some Snapon tools from WWII. The tool guy explained that during the war they sent them out sans high polish. They work just fine.
Have to go some to catch up with this fellow.
Built up a 1951 I-H Metro into his personal Snappy hauler:
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OFT II
US Veteran
I like their calendars.
Snap-On is one of the brands I watch out for at swap meets and flea markets. A used Snap-On tool is better than most of the new junk. The budget line Blue Point is now made 'off shore'.
Trust me, even back then it was expensive.
grizz700
Member
I have spent most of my life as a mechanic. I have all the major brands, including old craftsman. I have quit using alot of my snap-on wrench's because they are thin and have sharp edges on them and I am getting to the point that after a hard day pulling on them my fingers are getting broken blood vessels and I have popped several finger tendons. My macs, matco's, and craftsman have thicker handles and the edges are more rounded. I also have gone through several tool boxs from all the major brands, but the thought of spending another $20,000 for a box just does not cut it. I have had my current Craftsman boxes for about 10 years and most of that time has been in service trucks. They are still working great.
rburg
Member
My reason for buying SnapOn is simple. I have sons. They know death will follow if caught with my good tools. If I notice one is missing, I throw a fit. They're welcome to borrow the nasty old craftsman tools. I used to even have a bucket of broken ones, but the local sears store is pretty balky about replacing them. Back in the day, I even enjoyed taking my wife to the mall and burning time arguing. I kept a copy of the guarantee. Sears said it was my satisfaction that they were guaranteeing. I was the only judge of if I was satisfied. So when I was unhappy and was holding a craftsman too that was broken, I expected to be made happy.
Its not to say SnapOn is perfect. I think they hesitate to replace tools because the individual contractor/salesman must take a hit on the tools he makes good. We used to have a warehouse over in Cincinnati. That was good because you could just carry in a SnapOn tool and get it adjusted. I didn't need to bother because my oldest son and his best friend had the hotts for the counter girl. She was a cutie and liked the attention of young guys. Once I almost got my 3/4s drive ratchet replaced. It was busted, clear as day. But they must have made too much of a disturbance and a manager came out with a bucket of cold water, or the equivalent. He looked at the malfunctioning head, then said he's got a kit for it somewhere. It was probably about the vintage of the pictured truck. He installed it in a few minutes and they came home with a functioning but ugly tool.
Its not to say SnapOn is perfect. I think they hesitate to replace tools because the individual contractor/salesman must take a hit on the tools he makes good. We used to have a warehouse over in Cincinnati. That was good because you could just carry in a SnapOn tool and get it adjusted. I didn't need to bother because my oldest son and his best friend had the hotts for the counter girl. She was a cutie and liked the attention of young guys. Once I almost got my 3/4s drive ratchet replaced. It was busted, clear as day. But they must have made too much of a disturbance and a manager came out with a bucket of cold water, or the equivalent. He looked at the malfunctioning head, then said he's got a kit for it somewhere. It was probably about the vintage of the pictured truck. He installed it in a few minutes and they came home with a functioning but ugly tool.
TAROMAN
US Veteran
I have an OLD Snap-On AVR Tester (circa 1957).
Last time I checked I still had the manual and all the original parts.
In late 70s I had used the current model AVR Tester - belonged to a friend.
Saw the AVR tested listed in an upcoming auction at closed gas station.
Bought it.
Anybody into vintage auto tools - it could be bought ...
Last time I checked I still had the manual and all the original parts.
In late 70s I had used the current model AVR Tester - belonged to a friend.
Saw the AVR tested listed in an upcoming auction at closed gas station.
Bought it.
Anybody into vintage auto tools - it could be bought ...
OP was talking cost! Well I put together a decent tool cabinet in the mid-60s early 70s (they got well used as I street & strip raced and worked part time at my buddies speed shop garage for a few years!). Yes I had a few Snap Ons and a few other companies’ tools. Basically items I could not find other places.
When the tools were at home do to having two boys they were well locked up and I had some tools available they could use till I got home and if necessary then let them use the good tools!
I used mainly SK Wayne tools and I found a original catalog from the 60s listing tool prices a few months ago. A tool I paid a $1.25 for is now going for over $10.00. Not only that but the quality and workmanship of the early tools Vs what they sell now at those prices will make you sick. FWIW I still have my boxed tools but I find I’m using them less and less every year!
When the tools were at home do to having two boys they were well locked up and I had some tools available they could use till I got home and if necessary then let them use the good tools!
I used mainly SK Wayne tools and I found a original catalog from the 60s listing tool prices a few months ago. A tool I paid a $1.25 for is now going for over $10.00. Not only that but the quality and workmanship of the early tools Vs what they sell now at those prices will make you sick. FWIW I still have my boxed tools but I find I’m using them less and less every year!
Bkreutz
US Veteran
45 years of collecting Snap On as part of my job. I believe every dollar I spent paid me back by a factor of at least 50. Made a comfortable life and secure retirement. I always thought to buy the best and you'll always be satisfied.
(pictures of the main socket drawers, the organization is why I still have every socket I ever bought) Never pulled a vehicle out of the bay until all the holes were filled. There are a few non Snap On tools in there, mostly from the years I spent in Europe where Snap On was an unknown brand. The top brand there is Hazet so that's what I got when I needed something new.
(pictures of the main socket drawers, the organization is why I still have every socket I ever bought
) Never pulled a vehicle out of the bay until all the holes were filled. There are a few non Snap On tools in there, mostly from the years I spent in Europe where Snap On was an unknown brand. The top brand there is Hazet so that's what I got when I needed something new.Attachments
I worked for 47 years as a mechanic for GM and quit in 2006. Unless Snap-On has changed, their price list was always separate from their catalogs. I had Snap-On catalogs from many years ago and some price lists also. I threw them all away about 10 years ago. The old catalogs were neat to look at and remember but short of that they just took up space. I have a lot of Snap-On tools as well as some others from Mac, Matco, and Craftsman. Over the years I seen guys that would decide that being a mechanic wasn't what they thought, either that or they couldn't do the job and they would sell their tool boxes and tools and get out. I made myself a promise that I would never sell any of my tools unless it got so bad I needed the money to put food on the table. That never happened and to this day I still have everything that I purchased in those years. My Snap-On purchases started in 1959. My two boys will have a hayday when I leave this world trying to figure out what to do with my stuff but at that point I won't care.
