IH 3/4 inch socket set

[August to Bill]

I bought a 3/4 inch 17 piece International Harvester socket set from my local IH dealer many many years ago. I use it on my farm but always take very good care of it. It even still has the original paper description of its contents pasted on the inside of the blue box lid. Does it have any value that would make me question using it for farm repairs?

 

[coshoo]

I've never heard of tools such as that as collectibles. I do know about the sentimental value of them, as my dad gave me a 1/2 drive SK Wayne set when I was 16, and it really bothered me when I lost one about 20 years ago. I kept watching the loose socket boxes at garage sales, and finally found an exact replacement. I would just use the set, then give it to someone in your family who would have a use for it and would take care of it.

 

[Moonlite37]

I bought one in 1973 and still use it. When I bought it was on a display and I read the number $100 and assumed that was the price, but after being determined to buy it, I discovered the display actually read $100 off, I went ahead and bought for about $170. No feelings of regret.

 

[D beatty]

The only one that might find it collectable is a die hard IH collector.

 

[JDEM]

How log ago is "many, many, years?" Just curious. I bought and still use a lot of John Deere tools. Combo wrenches. 1/2"
and 3/4"drive socket and ratchet sets. 220 amp welder, chainsaws, etc. All bought in the 80s and early 90s. Not what I
call real old. I have no idea when IH was branding tools. Our main competition was an IH dealer down the road from us but
I was never in their shop. West End Implement with Duffy Mohar if there is anyone here from central NY.cctors'

I never thought of any of mine as collectors items, but who knows?

 

[JDEM]

I still have some SK Wayne sockets and ratchets I bought when around 50 years ago. Great tools. Even got the ratchet fixed under warranty a few years ago by the new company that took over.

 

[47fivewindow]

I'm not sure about collector value but it sure is a great set. I have been abusing mine over 40 years without a failure. IH issued some edict that all their mechanics should own one. For employees they were very cheap. IIRC less than 100 dollars which was still a lot of money in 1973.

 

[heavyhaulertoo]

I bought one also I think in about
1975. Pretty sure 100 dollars. If you
want one 1000 today use it when needed

 

[Mark Peters]

(quoted from post at 10:22:48 12/02/17) I bought one also I think in about
1975. Pretty sure 100 dollars. If you
want one 1000 today use it when needed

There`s a 21 pc. 3/4" set on that auction site right now. Guy`s asking $1100 for it. NOS. Not that he`ll get it but I know IH collector`s are looking for `em. I bought a 15 pc.3/4" set w/o the case for $130 here on the classifieds about 10 years ago and was darn happy ! They were made by the Wright Tool Co. for IH.

 

[August to Bill]

(quoted from post at 21:51:45 12/01/17) I bought a 3/4 inch 17 piece International Harvester socket set from my local IH dealer many many years ago. I use it on my farm but always take very good care of it. It even still has the original paper description of its contents pasted on the inside of the blue box lid. Does it have any value that would make me question using it for farm repairs?

I purchased the set in late 60's or early 70's

 

[The Famous Grouse]

The best thing to do is to watch eBay and see what similar sets actually SELL for.

Currently there is one brand new IH 3/4 set listed for $1100. 27 watchers but no bids which tells me the guy is on the way high side, but there DOES seem to be quite a bit of interest.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/International-Harvester-21-Piece-Socket-Wrench-Set/222615476312?hash=item33d4ea9858:g:NRwAAOSwD5BZbPXy

The key is finding one that actually sells because anybody can put up a pile of rubber dog poo for $3000 but that doesn't mean that's what it's worth.

For all you guys looking for replacement pieces for old tool sets, eBay is also a goldmine. I bought 2 SK wrenches that are exact matches to the set I got from my Grandpa. I broke one wrench and another was missing and had been replaced by a China-made wrench. I found both on eBay after setting up an alert, paid $7 each for them including shipping which I thought was a dang good deal and now I have the complete set.

Grouse

 

[DoubleR]

I brought a new S&K 3/8 metric socket set in 1969 out in San Diego Ca. at what they called a Swap Meet. I brought it back home to Mi. on my 350 Honda. I used on the bike to keep it going. Forty motorcycles later I still have it and use it often to work on them. It means allot to me and is worth allot to me but probably not anyone else.

 

[WGM]

In 1970 I bought a Craftsman 1/2" ratchet/socket set. Still use it to this day and it is complete. Never lost or replaced anything out of the set.

 

[SVcummins]

I just saw a set of combination ih wrench set sell for
over 500$ on the Facebook ih free auction site

 

[redtom]

The value on IH chrome tools is way crazy high right now! Hang on to them and watch the ads.

 

[coshoo]

Yeah, that would have been in about 1963 or '64. I liked wrenching, dad did not. We had to do an engine swap on an early '50's Chev, and he put me in charge. I felt like pretty big stuff, telling dad what to do (respectfully, of course), and I think he was pleased that I could take the lead on the project.

When I was in college dad helped me financially, but part of the deal was that I had to fix stuff when I came home on holidays. I remember one time he said "The battery in the Buick keeps running down- could you have a look at it?" I did, and found the generator belt was just completely missing. So I bought another one when I was in town, put it on, and everything tested out OK. Told him I had fixed it, and he asked "What was wrong"? I would never bust his chops, because he was a great guy, just not a mechanic, so I told him "There was a problem with the belt, so I put a new one on". He died in 2004 at 85, and I still miss him and the life lessons he taught me.

 

[tractorguy2]

International harvester tools sell very well on Facebook auction
groups. Even old IH parts boxes sell.