Just picked up a old very very odd socket set
came with a wood dovetailed box so it must be old

crome winder style driver 1/2'' insert driver
a very odd looking driver [kinda like a pepper mill]
with 8 big exposed ratcheting teeth [double set to reverce]
uses a ring to slide up and down to change ratchet direction
fold out handel to turn it about 10'' long/high
sheet steel formed sockets in 1/32 sized to over 1''
decal on box said AUTO CL5 SOCKET WRENCH SET
MADE BY FRANK MOxxxxx CO [maybe morris]
made in USA

M in a diamond logo

xxx are unreadable letters on old worn decal
any ideas on who or where or when
and value????
looks to be a very very early socket set

anyone else into old tools
lots of woodworking stuff on the net
but little on older auto repair tools
or metal working of any kind

FOUND IT
patented in 1903 and replaced in production in 1912 with more modern design

link to patent #751055

http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT751055
drawing
http://www.google.com/patents?id=vrksAAAAEBAJ&pg=PP1

up dated patent

Patent number: RE12379
Filing date: Apr 15, 1905
Issue date: Aug 15, 1905
Inventor: CAMILLE CONTAL

http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPATRE12379
drawing
http://www.google.com/patents?id=xTMiAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA24

"Auto-Cle" from the Quincy, Manchester, Sargent Company

751,055 81/58.3 C. Contal [Used for AUTO-CLE sets] 10/15/1903 02/02/1904 Ratchet wrench set

Sargent Co bought by Frank Mossberg in 1908 , he was a notable inventor and businessman in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and owner of Frank Mossberg Co the maker of my tool set

in 1912 Frank Mossberg patented a more modern ratchet and sometime afterwards droped production of my tool set date it to about 1910 + or - a few years

link to mossberg co history

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-arti...ml#mossberg-350

GOT TO LOVE THE INTERNET FOR THIS KIND OF INFO
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Those antique knuckle busters are fascinating. I don't collect old tools-other than those I use, some are 50 years old and I bought them new- but I have a few interesting pieces that were given to me.

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