Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Odd socket

 

No markings but it’s 13/16” so it’s probably a spark plug socket, the unusual part is that the other end is closed off and domed with 3 little holes like a salt shaker. There must be a reason for this design, but I don’t know what it is.



5 comments:

  1. Here's one on eBay without the holes; it's intended to be turned with a wrench and my bet is the holes were put in as an identification mark. Like "the tools with three pockmarks are Fred's."

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry; left out the link:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/226104083660

    ReplyDelete
  3. I expect you’re right. Many used tools have distinguishing marks like that.i think the closed end would be more money to manufacture, with no real gain. In the eBay ad I like the 3/4” drive comment, that would be a 3/4” wrench.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That type of socket was common in the on-vehicle tool kits back in the day because those kits did not include ratchet or other square-drive handles. And in a pinch, it could be turned with an adjustable wrench or even (in a real pinch) a pair of pliers. Generac still incudes a cheapo formed spark plug socket with their generators but I've never seen one actually used by anybody:

    https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-e34yoau/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/101811/18814/200541__31994.1763128929.jpg?c=2

    I come across too many top-tier tool-truck wrenches, beautifully chrome-plated, with grinder-rash stripes put on them by their owners. I get it, though.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Maybe spark plugs were more fragile in those days, i.e. the closed end was to protect their frail little tips?

    ReplyDelete