Alloy Artifacts

Sockets and Drive Tools

In this section we'll look at the various types of interchangeable sockets and drive tools offered by Billings. This class of tools has turned out to be much more difficult to examine and evaluate than other types of Billings tools, with several factors contributing to the difficulty. The first is the relative scarcity of examples; compared with the rather common adjustable and fixed wrenches, examples of Billings sockets and sets have been very difficult to acquire. For example, even the early Billings bicycle wrenches made more than 100 years ago can be easily found, but so far we have been unable to acquire even one 1940s era socket set.

A second contributing factor is that Billings made several abrupt changes to its manufacturing technology for socket products, with little if any overlap between the various phases. Socket production went from pressed-steel before 1920, to male-drive forgings in the 1920s, and finally to female-drive machined sockets in the 1930s and beyond.

The final factor is that Billings relied heavily on outside contract manufacturers for much (probably most) of the production from 1930 onward. Based on a careful examination of tool examples, the major producers of Billings-marked sockets and drive tools have been identified as Walden, Herbrand, and Wright, in approximate chronological order. In addition, New Britain Machine has recently been identified as a secondary provider of socket tools, beginning in the earlier years when Walden was the major supplier and continuing into the 1950s.

Walden was the primary supplier for Billings from 1930 through at least the early 1940s, with New Britain Machine playing a secondary role. Herbrand became the major supplier in the mid 1940s and continued until at least the mid 1950s. Wright appears to have become a supplier of drive tools initially in the late 1940s, overlapping with Herbrand during this period. By the mid to late 1950s Wright was probably the primary supplier of sockets, and continued in this role even after Billings was acquired by Crescent Niagara. During the 1950s New Britain Machine continued as the supplier of 1/4-drive sockets, with catalog illustrations clearly showing their socket design.

In order to provide a framework for examining these tools, we'll divide the production into four periods as follows.

• The Early Period up to about 1920, characterized by pressed-steel sockets.
• The Male-Drive Period from 1920 to 1929, with male-drive forged sockets.
• The Chrome Alloy Period from 1930 to the early 1940s, featuring alloy steel sockets and tools primarily by Walden.
• The Modern Period from the mid 1940s and later, with hot-forged sockets produced by Herbrand and Wright.

The sections below will show examples from each of these periods.

The Early Period, Pre-1920

The earliest interchangeable sockets produced by Billings were made of pressed steel, and were similar to the well-known sockets of Mossberg, Walden, and others. (See our Mossberg No. 10 Socket Set for an example of this style.) Sockets of this type had been in use since around 1907 or so, and were quite popular for automotive maintenance and other service jobs.

The Billings pressed-steel sockets were available at least by 1919, as several such sets are shown in the Chandler & Farquhar catalog of that year. Of the five sets listed in that reference, four of them came with a Model CA Ratchet similar to the one shown here, and the other set used a "Eureka" model ratchet. The socket wrench sets in the 1919 catalog included the No. 31 with 30 sockets, No. 21 with 20 sockets, No. 9 with 8 sockets, the "Ford Special" with 8 sockets, and the "Eureka Ford Special" with 9 sockets. A ratchet and other accessories, such as extensions or universal joints, were also part of the sets.

The Billings sockets were compatible and interchangeable with the pressed-steel sockets from Mossberg, Walden, and other manufacturers, and this leads to an interesting observation. Billings pressed-steel socket sets are frequently acquired with some (or even most) of the original sockets replaced by Mossberg sockets; in place of the expected Billings B-Triangle logo on the sockets, one often finds the Mossberg M-Diamond logo instead. Although this might lead one to conclude that Billings sockets were inferior and more prone to breakage than other makes, there are several other factors that must be considered first.

The first observation is that all makes of pressed-steel sockets were subject to breakage. With the thin walls of the sockets and the relatively low strength of steel at that time, breaking a socket would not be unexpected.

The next consideration is the ease of replacement. Mossberg was the leading producer of pressed-steel sockets, and Mossberg sockets were readily available as individual pieces, not just in sets. Thus when the owner of a Billings, Walden, or any other maker's set needed to replace a broken socket, it was probably much easier to buy a Mossberg replacement.

Another factor relates to the type of drive tools supplied with the socket sets. Mossberg sets generally included a ratchet with a large opening (approximately 11/16 square) to drive the sockets from the outside, which places only compressive forces on the socket base. Other makers (including Billings) provided only 1/2 square tools to drive the sockets from the inside, thereby introducing tensile forces that tend to split the socket base. Sockets driven from the inside could thus fail on either the drive end or the service end, leading to overall higher failure rates.

In weighing all of these considerations, it's probably fair to say that the Billings sockets generally performed as expected for tools of this type, with possibly a somewhat greater failure rate than some other makes.

The Billings pressed-steel socket sets are now quite rare and difficult to find, but we have been able to acquire two examples, a Billings No. 31 set and an "Allen Friction Wrench Set" with Ford-special sockets. The No. 31 set is currently being prepared for display and will be shown at a future time.

Allen Friction Wrench Socket Set

We'll begin this section with a rare example of the Billings "Allen Friction Wrench Set", a collection of pressed-steel sockets and drive tools supplied in wooden box.

Fig. 162. Top Cover of Billings Allen Friction Wrench Socket Set.

Fig. 162 at the left shows the top cover of the socket set, marked "The Billings & Spencer Co." with the B-Triangle logo and "Trade Mark". The text "Allen Friction Wrench Set" appears on a line below, followed by a repeat of the company name and "Hartford, Conn", but the latter text is quite difficult to read. (The text here is repeated on the inside cover, providing two chances to decipher the worn markings.)

Fig. 163. Billings Allen Friction Wrench Socket Set.

Fig. 163 shows the Allen Friction Wrench Set in its wooden storage box. The markings on the inside cover appear to be a duplicate of those on the outside cover; both examples are rather worn, but between the two, most of the markings can be made out. The end of the box (shown below) marks this as a "Ford Special" set, meaning that the socket sizes had been chosen for the common service requirements of that make. (At this time, "Ford" meant "Model T".)

The set (as acquired) consists of the Allen Friction Wrench ratchet, a double-male extension, a universal, and nine pressed-steel sockets. All of the tools are built around a 1/2 square drive standard, with the sockets driven from the inside. (Mossberg socket sets used a ratchet sized to drive the sockets from the outside, which greatly reduced the chance of cracking the sockets at the base.)

The sockets are definitely not all original, as two of the square ones are marked by Mossberg, and other sizes may have been substituted. The five hex socket have sizes 17/32, 19/32, 5/8, 25/32 (cracked), and 29/32, and all are marked with the Billings B-Triangle logo. The three square sockets have sizes 13/32, 19/32, and 25/32, and only the smallest one is marked with the Billings logo; the two larger sizes have the Mossberg M-Diamond logo. The special oval socket has no markings of any kind.

Fig. 164. End Markings of Billings Allen Friction Wrench Socket Set.

Fig. 164 at the left shows the end of the box, marked "Allen Friction" and "Ford Special".

Currently we don't have a Billings catalog reference for this set, but a 1922 Marwedel catalog lists an apparently identical set as the Allen Wrench No. 9 Ford Special Set. (The ratchet in the illustration appears to be identical to the one here except for markings, and even has a B-Triangle logo.) According to the catalog description, the set consisted of the friction ratchet, short and long extensions, 8 regular pressed-steel hex sockets, and one spark plug socket. The hex socket sizes are given as 13/32, 17/32, 19/32, 11/16, 23/32, 25/32, 31/32, and 1-5/32.

The same catalog shows several other Allen socket sets, such as the No. 31 and "Eureka Ford Special", all of which appear to be identical to the corresponding Billings sets. These listings indicate that Billings was still acting as a manufacturer for Allen Wrench & Tool as late as 1922.

Allen Friction Ratchet

Fig. 165. Billings 1/2-Drive Allen Friction Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 165 shows the 1/2-drive Allen friction ratchet from the socket set. The shank has forged-in markings "The Billings & Spencer Co. H'T'F'D. CT." on one side, and the reverse is marked "Allen Friction Wrench" and "Pat Aug 15 1911" with the B-Triangle logo.

The overall length is 8.4 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The patent date on the shank corresponds to patent #1,000,878, issued to Fred R. Allen on that date. The patent describes the design of a gearless ratchet, using a friction cam to alternately grip and release the drive wheel.

The Allen friction ratchet was initially produced by Allen Wrench & Tool of Providence, Rhode Island. Billings was apparently the contract manufacturer for Allen, but also offered the tools under its own name.

Double-Male Extension from Allen Friction Wrench Set

Fig. 166. Billings 1/2-Drive Double-Male Extension.

Fig. 166 shows the unmarked 1/2-drive double-male extension from the socket set.

The overall length is 7.5 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

Double-Male Universal from Allen Friction Wrench Set

Fig. 167. Billings 1/2-Drive Double-Male Universal.

Fig. 167 shows the unmarked 1/2-drive double-male universal from the socket set.

The overall length is 3.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

No. 31 Socket Set

The No. 31 socket set was the largest of the pressed-steel sets offered by Billings. Based on the description in the 1919 Chandler & Farquhar catalog, the set consisted of a Model CA ratchet, short and long extensions, a universal joint, a screwdriver bit, 30 regular sockets, and one spark plug socket.

The sockets in the set included the 27 hex sizes 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 13/32, 7/16, 15/32, 1/2, 17/32, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 21/32, 11/16, 23/32, 3/4, 25/32, 13/16, 27/32, 7/8, 29/32, 15/16, 31/32, 1, 1-1/32, 1-3/32, 1-5/32, and 1-9/32, plus three square sockets with sizes 13/32, 17/32, and 21/32. The size of the spark plug socket wasn't specified.

Fig. 168. Billings No. 31 Socket Set to be added.

The 1920s: Forged Male-Drive Sockets

In the early 1920s Billings discontinued the production of pressed-steel sockets and adopted a very different socket design. The new sockets were rugged forgings built with male drive tangs, probably a natural design for a drop-forging company to consider, but very different from the heavy-wall machined sockets produced by others at that time.

These new sockets were forged of carbon steel, the standard material for all of Billings' tools of the time, and appeared to be strong but were rather bulky. (Perhaps for the latter reason they seem not to have been very popular.)

The Billings catalog of 1923 offers forged male-drive sockets in various sets, and they may have been available for some time prior to this. (No pressed-steel sockets were listed at this time.) These sockets were still being offered in the 1929 Billings catalog, but were likely discontinued by 1930 or shortly thereafter, when Billings started offering standard female-drive sockets of alloy steel.

Even by 1923, most of the tool industry had already adopted 1/2-square drive sockets with female drive ends as the standard, and the Billings tools must have seemed old-fashioned.

No. 52 Socket Set

Our example for this period is a No. 52 socket set, described in the 1923 catalog as the "S.A.E. and A.L.A.M. Ratchet Socket Wrench Set".

Fig. 169. Cover of Billings No. 52 Socket Set.

Fig. 169 shows the inside cover of the No. 52 set, marked "Billings & Spencer" with the B-Triangle logo.

This socket set (and several similar models) were furnished in wooden boxes with cutouts to hold the tools.

Fig. 170. Billings No. 52 Socket Set, ca. 1920s.

The tools in the No. 52 set are shown in Fig. 170 at the left. The standard contents of the set consisted of a ratchet, brace, extension, a screwdriver attachment, a spark plug socket, and 12 hex sockets. The sockets ranged in size from 3/8 up to 1-1/4.

The set as acquired was missing two of the original sockets (9/16 and 11/16), and one extra socket (13/32) had been added at some point.

Model CA Ratchet

Fig. 171. Billings 1/2-Drive Model CA Ratchet from No. 52 Socket Set.

Fig. 171 shows the 1/2 female drive model CA ratchet from the No. 52 set. The shank has forged-in markings "Billings & Spencer" with the B-Triangle logo on one side, and "Hartford Conn USA" on the reverse. The overall length is 8.5 inches.

The ratchet body is ruggedly built and hardened all over, and the mechanism uses an 11-tooth gear with a cylindrical pawl. The ratchet can be disassembled for cleaning by depressing the pawl with a pin, after lining up the access holes in the gear.

The drive gear was originally fitted with a spring clip to retain the inserted tool, but the clip has broken off.

This simple but effective ratchet design remained in production for many years, and a later model can be seen in the Model CB Ratchet figure.

Early 1/2-Drive Brace (Speeder)

Fig. 172. Billings 1/2-Drive Brace (Speeder) from No. 52 Socket Set.

Fig. 172 shows the 1/2 female drive brace (or speeder) from the No. 52 set, with no markings visible on the tool. The overall length is 10.8 inches, and the finish is black paint.

The drive end of the brace is a 1/2 square socket fitted with a spring clip to retain the male drive studs of the sockets.

Male-Drive Sockets

Fig. 173. Billings 1/2 Male Drive Sockets from No. 52 Socket Set.

Fig. 173 shows the three largest sockets from the No. 52 set, marked with the fractional sizes on the drive stud.

The sizes are, from the left, 1-1/16, 1-1/8, and 1-1/4. The finish is black paint.

Chrome Alloy Period

By 1930 Billings had switched to the industry standard female drive for its sockets. A "Socket Wrenches and Handle Units" catalog from this year shows a number of Billings socket sets and drive tools, with drive sizes of 1/2 square, 3/4 square, and 1 inch hex drive, and with sockets made of alloy steel. A 1931 Samuel Harris catalog (published in late 1930) also shows a similar collection of Billings socket sets.

The sockets tools supplied at this time bear a striking similarity to those produced by Walden-Worcester, strongly suggesting that Walden was the contract manufacturer for most of these tools. In particular, Walden was the earliest known producer of tools with 1 inch hex drive, having offered these as early as 1928 (or before). Williams and Armstrong also produced 1 inch hex drive tools, but their production appears not to have commenced until 1931, and the somewhat earlier reference for the Billings tools of this size points to Walden.

5824 Chrome 12-Point Socket

Fig. 174. Billings Chrome 1/2-Drive 5824 3/4 Socket, with Inset for Broaching.

Fig. 174 shows a rare 1/2-drive Billings 5824 3/4 socket, marked "Made in U.S.A." and "Chrome" with the B-Triangle logo. The socket has a knurled band around the center, and the upper part has tapered walls.

The finish is plain steel.

This socket is basically identical to the Walden 8xx series sockets in construction and dimensions, as can be seen from the Walden-Worcester 8xx Sockets. (We'll add a side-by-side comparison photograph at some point.)

5128 Chrome 8-Point Socket

Fig. 175. Billings Chrome 1/2-Drive 5128 8-Point 7/8 Socket, with Inset for Broaching.

5136 Chrome 8-Point Socket

Fig. 176. Billings 1/2-Drive 5136 8-Point 1-1/8 Socket, with Inset for Broaching.

5820 Vitalloy 12-Point Socket

Fig. 177. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive 5820 12-Point 5/8 Socket, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail.

Fig. 177 shows a rare 1/2-drive Billings Vitalloy 5820 5/8 socket, marked "Made in U.S.A." with the B-Triangle logo and "Vitalloy" trademark.

The finish is chrome plating, though much has been lost to wear and rust.

The socket has a knurled band around the center, and the upper part has tapered walls.

5132 Vitalloy 8-Point Socket

Fig. 178. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive 5132 8-Point 1 Inch Socket, with Inset for Broaching.

5856 1/2-Drive Extension

Fig. 179. Billings 1/2-Drive 5856 Extension, with Inset for Logo.

5859 1/2-Drive Sliding Tee Head

Fig. 180. Billings 5859 1/2-Drive Sliding Tee Head, with Inset for Detail.

5150B 1/2-Drive Socket Set

Fig. 181. Billings 5150B 1/2-Drive Socket Wrench Set, ca. 1931-1935.

Fig. 181 shows a rare example of a Billings socket set from this period, identified by a catalog illustration as the Billings No. 5150B 1/2-drive socket wrench set. Based on the description in the 1937 catalog, the original contents included a Model CB ratchet, 5861 ratchet plug, 5853 sliding T-handle, 5864 extension, 5860 universal, and 12 double-hex sockets. (The set as acquired was missing the universal and a number of the sockets.)

The sockets in the set were from the Billings 58xx series of double-hex tapered-wall sockets, and the original sizes were listed as 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 25/32, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, and 1 inch. The set as acquired included models and sizes 5814 (7/16), 5816 (1/2), 5824 (3/4), 5825 (25/32), 5830 (15/16), and 5832 (1 inch).

All sockets are marked "Billings Chrome" and "Made in U.S.A." with the B-Triangle logo. The socket design includes a finely knurled band around the center, and the finish is chrome plating with polished upper walls. These sockets closely resemble the example shown above as the Billings Chrome 5824 Socket, but with a chrome plated finish.

5853 1/2-Drive Sliding-T Breaker Bar

Fig. 182. Billings 5853 1/2-Drive Sliding-T Breaker Bar, with Inset for Construction Detail.

Fig. 182 shows the sliding T-handle from the 5150B set, a 1/2-drive Billings model 5853 breaker bar, marked "Made in U.S.A." with the B-Triangle logo.

The overall length is 9.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with some loss due to rust.

This sliding T-handle has some distinctive features not commonly seen in tools of this type. The sliding head has a threaded opening on the top, presumably for a thumbscrew (now missing) to lock the position of the slider. The oversize bar has a diameter of 11/16 and is not fitted with stops at the end, allowing the sliding head to be removed. This would allow the bar to be used with other accessories, although the current set does not have any other tools requiring a bar.

5864 1/2-Drive 10 Inch Extension

Fig. 183. Billings 5864 1/2-Drive 10 Inch Extension, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 183 shows a 1/2-drive Billings 5864 10 Inch extension from the 5150B set, marked "Made in U.S.A." with the B-Triangle logo.

The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The extension has a decorative band of cross-hatched knurling around the drive end, a detail not previously seen in any Billings (or Walden) tools of this era. In fact, this extension closely resembles the models made during the 1930s by New Britain Machine, which were sold under various brands including None Better, Husky, and the Craftsman "BE" and H-Circle line. See for example the None Better and Craftsman Extensions in our article on the Craftsman tools.

Modern Period

By the mid 1940s Billings had switched suppliers for its socket tools in favor of Herbrand. Herbrand was a high-volume producer of a full range of automotive and service tools, and their line of alloy-steel socket tools was very successful at that time. The identification of Herbrand as the producer for Billings is easily made based on the cross-hatched socket design and distinctive slide-shifter ratchets, both illustrated in later figures.

Wright Tool also became a supplier for Billings in the 1940s, probably initially for ratchets and possibly other drive tools, and later for sockets as well. Wright may have overlapped with Herbrand as a socket supplier during part of this period. Since Wright and Herbrand used similar hot-forging techniques for producing sockets, the sockets from the two companies are sometimes difficult to distinguish, at least after Herbrand dropped their decorative knurling in the mid 1950s.

But in the mid 1950s Wright changed the design of certain socket sizes from a reduced-base to a cylindrical form, whereas Herbrand maintained the reduced base for these same sizes. As the Billings sockets follow the later Wright design, it appears that Wright became the dominant socket supplier from the mid 1950s onward.

S-1222 1/2-Drive Socket

Fig. 184. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive S-1222 11/16 Socket, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail.

Fig. 184 shows a 1/2-drive Billings Vitalloy S-1222 11/16 socket, marked with the "Billings Vitalloy" logo and "Made in U.S.A." (see lower inset).

This socket closely resembles the sockets made by Herbrand in the mid 1940s through early 1950s, as can be seen by comparison with the Herbrand S-1xx Sockets.

SD-1222 1/2-Drive Deep Socket

Fig. 185. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive SD-1222 11/16 Deep Socket, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail.

Fig. 185 shows a 1/2-drive Billings Vitalloy SD-1222 11/16 deep socket, marked with the "Billings Vitalloy" logo and "Made in U.S.A." (see lower inset).

The socket is equipped with a cross-bar hole, a standard feature for earlier sockets intended for spark-plug service. The base of the socket has a band of cross-hatched knurling, perhaps useful for an improved grip.

This socket closely resembles the Herbrand deep sockets of the mid 1940s to mid 1950s, as can be seen by a comparison with the Herbrand DS-26 Deep Socket.

S-824 1/2-Drive 8-Point Socket

Fig. 186. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive S-824 8-Point 3/4 Socket, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail.

Fig. 186 shows a 1/2-drive Billings Vitalloy S-824 8-Point 3/4 socket, marked with the "Billings Vitalloy" logo and "Made in U.S.A." (see lower inset).

H-1254 3/4-Drive Socket

Fig. 187. Billings 3/4-Drive H-1254 Socket, with Insets for Broaching and Detail, ca. 1945-1953.

Fig. 187 shows a 3/4-drive Billings H-1254 1-11/16 socket, marked with the "Billings Vitalloy" logo and "Made in USA". The finish is chrome plating, with polished upper walls and a satin finish on the base.

SD-1216 1/2-Drive Deep Socket

Fig. 188. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive SD-1216 1/2 Deep Socket, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail.

Fig. 188 shows a later 1/2-drive Billings Vitalloy SD-1216 1/2 deep socket, stamped with the "Billings Vitalloy" logo and "Made in USA" (see upper inset).

This socket closely resembles the production by Wright from the mid 1950s onward.

CB 1/2-Drive Ratchet

Fig. 189. Billings 1/2-Drive CB Ratchet.

Fig. 189 shows a 1/2-drive Billings model CB ratchet marked "Made in U.S.A." with the B-Triangle logo. The overall length is 8.4 inches.

The ratchet is constructed with a heavy forged handle, hardened all over, and a relatively softer rotating gear with 11 circular arc teeth. The ratchet was equipped with a double-male drive plug, model SP-150 for this example, but a model 5681 drive plug in earlier years.

The model CB ratchet was the successor to the earlier Model CA Ratchet, and is very similar to that earlier tool. These ratchets were offered for many years, from the 1920s (or earlier) until at least 1961.

S-1112 Vitalloy 1/2-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar

Fig. 190. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive S-1112 Flex-Head Breaker Bar, with Insets for Design Details.

Fig. 190 shows a 1/2-drive Billings Vitalloy S-1112 flex-head breaker bar, marked "Made in U.S.A." on the knurled handle, and with "Billings Vitalloy" in a distinctive form (see center inset).

The overall length is 12.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The left inset shows a close-up of the flex head, illustrating the groove used to provide a positive detent for the straight position.

The handle is equipped both with a cross-bar hole and a 1/2-drive end broaching, as shown in the right inset. These features allow the breaker to function as a T-handle (with a bar inserted) or as an extension, increasing the utility of the tool.

This breaker bar closely resembles the Herbrand S-13 model of late 1930s to mid 1940s production, as the design and dimensions are almost identical.

S-1112 Vitalloy 1/2-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar, Short Version

Fig. 191. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive S-1112 Flex-Head Breaker Bar (Short Version).

Fig. 191 shows another 1/2-drive Billings S-1112 flex-head breaker bar, very similar to the previous figure but slightly shorter in length. The overall length is 11.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, now missing in many areas due to wear and rust.

S-1410 Vitalloy 1/2-Drive Ratchet

Fig. 192. Billings Vitalloy S-1410 1/2-Drive Ratchet, with Inset for Reverse.

Fig. 192 shows a 1/2-drive Billings Vitalloy S-1410 ratchet, marked "Vitalloy" in forged raised letters, with "Made in U.S.A." and the B-Triangle logo on the reverse. The overall length is 10.3 inches.

The ratchet mechanism uses a 24-tooth main gear with dual pawls, and the shift lever operates a lobed cam to alternately deactivate one pawl. This type of mechanism provides simple and reliable operation with very low back-drag, and has been used by a number of other tool companies, notably Armstrong and Plomb/Proto.

This ratchet is almost certainly one of Billings' own production, as the forged flat handle doesn't resemble any other known examples, and raised-letter markings would be unlikely for contract production. Based on a review of catalogs, this ratchet model had been introduced by 1949 or earlier, and remained in production at least through 1961.

LS-1410 Life-Time 1/2-Drive Ratchet

The next two figures show Billings ratchets marked with the Life-Time trademark and bearing the same model number, but with very different design and construction.

Fig. 193. Billings Life-Time 1/2-Drive LS-1410 Ratchet, with Inset for Reverse.

Fig. 193 shows a 1/2-drive Billings LS-1410 ratchet with a forged flat handle, with stamped markings "Billings" and "Life-Time" on one side, and "Made in U.S.A." with the B-Triangle logo on the reverse. The overall length is 10.2 inches.

This ratchet is nearly identical to the S-1410 Ratchet shown above, but note that the markings here are stamped rather than forged into the handle.

LS-1410 Life-Time 1/2-Drive Slide-Shifter Ratchet

Fig. 194. Billings Life-Time 1/2-Drive LS-1410 Slide-Shifter Ratchet, with Inset for Reverse, ca. 1954.

Fig. 194 shows a 1/2-drive Billings LS-1410 ratchet with a distinctive transverse slide shifter, marked "Life-Time" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse cover plate. The overall length is 10.0 inches.

The original finish was chrome plating, but it has now worn away over most areas to expose the underlying copper plating. (Chrome plating on steel is usually done as three layers, chrome over nickel over copper.) This extensive but uniform loss of plated finish likely indicates a problem with the plating process.

The design and construction of the ratchet is virtually identical to the Herbrand model S-5 ratchet from around 1954, and this ratchet was almost certainly made for Billings by Herbrand. Earlier Herbrand ratchets used a longitudinal slide shifter that required asymmetrical pawls of a special contour, but by the mid-1950s Herbrand had changed to a transverse slide of the type shown here.

In addition to the design similarities, Herbrand ratchets of this era are also known to exhibit the loss of finish evident here. See for example the Herbrand J-5 Ratchet, a very similar 3/8-drive model.

S-102 Vitalloy 1/2-Drive 2 Inch Extension

Fig. 195. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive S-102 2 Inch Extension, with Insets for Detail.

Fig. 195 shows a rare 1/2-drive Billings S-102 2 inch extension, marked "Vitalloy" and "USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 2.0 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

S-135 Vitalloy 1/2-Drive 5 Inch Extension

Fig. 196. Billings Vitalloy 1/2-Drive S-135 5 Inch Extension, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 196 shows a 1/2-drive Billings S-135 5 inch extension, marked "Vitalloy" with "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse side.

The overall length is 4.8 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

The drive end is equipped with a cross-bar hole, allowing use as a T-handle as well as an extension.

LS-135 Life-Time 1/2-Drive Extension

Fig. 197. Billings Life-Time 1/2-Drive LS-135 5 Inch Extension.

Fig. 197 shows a 1/2-drive Billings LS-135 5 inch extension, marked "Life-Time" and "Made in U.S.A." on the head.

The overall length is 4.7 inches, and the finish is plated chrome.

The drive end is bored for a cross-bar hole to allow use as a T-handle.

This extension closely resembles the Wright N12 Extension shown in our article on Wright Tool & Forge.

LS-1310 Life-Time 1/2-Drive Extension

Fig. 198. Billings Life-Time 1/2-Drive LS-1310 10 Inch Extension.

Fig. 198 shows a 1/2-drive Billings LS-135 10 inch extension, marked "Life-Time" and "Made in U.S.A." on the head. The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is plated chrome.

The drive end is bored for a cross-bar hole to allow use as a T-handle.

The drive stud end of the extension shows a small raised ridge left by the forging operation, showing that the fluted end was shaped by the forging die rather than by turning.

LS-9A Life-Time 1/2-Drive Socket Set

The previous figures have shown several examples of tools in the Billings Life-Time series, and we'll now show a socket set incorporating some of these tools. Billings packaged its tools into a number of different sets, with varying numbers of sockets and drive tools for every application and budget. Our example here is one of the smaller sets.

Fig. 199. Cover of Billings Life-Time LS-9A Socket Set.

Fig. 199 shows the top cover of the Billings Life-Time LS-9A socket set, with the Billings name embossed on the top.

Fig. 200. Billings Life-Time LS-9A 1/2-Drive Socket Set, ca. 1960.

Fig. 200 shows the Billings Life-Time LS-9A 1/2-drive socket set in its metal box. The paper label on the lid is somewhat tattered, but includes the text "Billings Life-Time Alloy Steel" and "1/2 Square Drive Socket Set". (The model number "LS-9A" is faintly stamped at the top.)

The set consists of a LS-1410 ratchet in the Billings-made flat-handle style, a LS-135 extension, and seven sockets in the LS12xx series. The sockets are, from the left, LS1224 (3/4), LS1222 (11/16), LS1220 (5/8), LS1218 (9/16), LS1216 (1/2), LS1214 (7/16), and LS1212 (3/8). The box includes space for more sockets, but this starter set included only this modest selection of sizes.

Fig. 201. Billings Life-Time 1/2-Drive LS-12xx Sockets, ca. 1960.

Fig. 201 at the left shows the seven sockets from the LS-9A set, all marked "Billings Life-Time" and "Made in U.S.A." with LS12xx model numbers. The models and sizes are, from the left, LS1212 (3/8), LS1214 (7/16), LS1216 (1/2), LS1218 (9/16), LS1220 (5/8), LS1222 (11/16), and LS1224 (3/4).

These sockets closely resemble the sockets produced by Wright Tool, as can be seen by comparison with the Wright 1/2-Drive Smaller Sockets and Wright 1/2-Drive Larger Sockets. The sockets made by Wright and Herbrand are often quite similar in appearance and construction; however, after 1955 Wright changed its design to use a cylindrical form for sizes 5/8 to 1 inch, but Herbrand continued using a reduced base for these sizes. The 1/2-drive Billings sockets of this era all have a cylindrical form in the larger sizes, indicating that the production was most probably by Wright Tool.

H-1121 Vitalloy 3/4-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar

Fig. 202. Billings 3/4-Drive H-1121 Flex-Head Breaker Bar, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 202 shows a Billings 3/4-Drive H-1121 flex-head breaker bar, stamped "Vitalloy" and "Made in USA" on the shank (see inset).

The overall length is 21.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The distinctive design of this tool closely resembles the Herbrand H-15 Breaker Bar shown in our article on Herbrand. Particular points of similarity include the massive wedge-shaped fork, the use of a spring-loaded plunger to control the head movement, and the banded knurling on the handle.

H-1220 3/4-Drive T-Slider Breaker Bar

Fig. 203. Billings 3/4-Drive H-1220 T-Slider Breaker Bar, with Insets for Top and Marking Detail.

The overall length is 20.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

H-1421 Vitalloy 3/4-Drive Slide-Shifter Ratchet

Fig. 204. Billings 3/4-Drive H-1421 Slide-Shifter Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Reverse, ca. 1958-1962.

Fig. 204 shows a 3/4-drive Billings H-1410 ratchet with a sliding shift button, marked "Vitalloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse cover plate. The overall length is 22.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The design and construction of this ratchet match the description of the Herbrand model H-11 ratchet shown in Herbrand catalogs from 1954 and 1960. In particular, the five knurled bands on the handle are characteristic of this time period. (The Herbrand H-11 ratchets from the 1940s had a fully knurled handle.)

The Billings catalog from 1955 shows a different style for their H-1421 ratchet, but by 1961 the catalog illustration matches the Herbrand model exactly, right down to the five bands on the handle and the distinctive shift button.

The ratchet mechanism uses a 30-tooth main gear with dual pawls, and the asymmetric pawls have a special contoured surface so that the movement of the shifter stud will alternately deactivate one pawl. Herbrand developed this mechanism sometime in the late 1930s or early 1940s, and used it on ratchets from 3/8 up to 3/4-drive.

An example of the Herbrand linear slide shifter can be seen in the Herbrand S-10 Ratchet. Herbrand's later production (by the mid-1950s) changed to a transverse slide shifter for the 1/2-drive and smaller sizes, probably to avoid the need for asymmetric pawls.

This ratchet has a smooth, quiet action with remarkably low back-drag for its size, and the generously long handle gives great leverage.

C-118 Vitalloy 3/8-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bars

The next two figures show examples of the Billings C-118 3/8-drive flex-head breaker bar.

Fig. 205. Billings 3/8-Drive C-118 Flex-Head Breaker Bar.

Our first example is shown in Fig. 205 at the left, a 3/8-drive Billings C-118 flex-head breaker bar, marked "Vitalloy" and "Made in USA" on the knurled handle.

The overall length is 8.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Fig. 206. Billings 3/8-Drive C-118 Flex-Head Breaker Bar.

Fig. 206 at the left shows a similar Billings C-118 breaker bar, marked "Vitalloy" and "USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 8.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

C-128 Vitalloy 3/8-Drive T-Slider Breaker Bar

Fig. 207. Billings 3/8-Drive C-128 T-Slider Breaker Bar.

Fig. 207 shows a 3/8-drive Billings C-128 T-slider breaker bar, marked "Vitalloy" and "Made in USA" on the bar. The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The inset shows the open form of the sliding head.

C-147 Vitalloy 3/8-Drive Ratchet

Fig. 208. Billings 3/8-Drive C-147 Ratchet.

Fig. 208 shows a 3/8-drive Billings C-147 ratchet, marked "Vitalloy" and "USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

This ratchet closely resembles the Wright 34xx ratchet series, except for the hand grip, as can be seen in the Wright 3400 Ratchet. The Wright soft-grip handles were introduced in the early 1960s, and prior to that the company did make ratchets with knurled handles.

1/4-Drive Tools

Based on a review of their catalogs, Billings didn't introduce 1/4-drive socket tools until sometime in the 1950s. Our earliest reference is the 1955 Billings catalog, and the illustrations of 1/4-drive tools in that catalog closely match the examples made by New Britain Machine for their Husky, None Better, and other brands.

New Britain Machine had been a secondary supplier to Billings back in the 1930s (see the 5864 Extension for an example), and the 1/4-drive line shows that New Britain continued as a supplier into the 1950s.

M-8xx 1/4-Drive 8-Point Sockets

Fig. 209. Billings M-8xx 1/4-Drive 8-Point Sockets, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail, ca. 1950s.

Fig. 209 shows a group of three rare 1/4-drive Billings M-8xx 8-point sockets, stamped "Vitalloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the base.

The models and sizes are, from the left, M-808 (1/4), M-810 (5/16), and M-812 (3/8). (For some reason, the markings on the 1/4 socket are upside-down compared to the other two.)

The finish is chrome plating.

These sockets have a distinctive band of cross-hatched knurling around the base, a decorative feature used on the sockets produced by New Britain Machine from the mid 1930s through the 1950s. Sockets in this style were widely sold under the New Britain, None Better, and Husky brands, and as the Craftsman "BE" and H-Circle brands as well.

These examples closely match the 1/4-drive sockets illustrated in the 1955 Billings catalog.

M-124 1/4-Drive Sliding Tee Handle

Fig. 210. Billings M-124 1/4-Drive Sliding Tee Handle, ca. 1950s.

Fig. 210 shows a 1/4-drive Billings M-124 sliding Tee handle, stamped "Made in U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 4.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The sliding head has a band of cross-hatched knurling, a decorative feature found on sockets and tools made by New Britain.

M-116 1/4-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar

Fig. 211. Billings M-116 1/4-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 211 shows a 1/4-drive Billings M-116 flex-head breaker bar, marked "Made in U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 5.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The knurled handle is equipped with a cross-bar hole.

M-206 1/4-Drive Handle

Fig. 212. Billings M-206 1/4-Drive Handle.

Fig. 212 shows a Billings M-206 1/4-drive handle, marked with just the company name and model. The overall length is 6.3 inches, and the drive shank is finished in chrome plating.

References and Resources

Photographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in my personal collection.

Catalog Coverage

Product information was obtained from a number of Billings & Spencer catalogs, as summarized in the table below.

Billings products were offered through a wide variety of industrial and automotive suppliers, and were even offered by name in some early Sears Roebuck catalogs! The list below shows some of these other references for Billings products.

• The 1919 catalog from the Chandler & Farquhar Company, an industrial distributor, offers an extensive selection with 40 pages of Billings tools. The listings include adjustable and fixed wrenches, wrench sets in canvas rolls, and one page of socket sets with pressed-steel sockets.

• The 1922 catalog No. 11 from the C.W. Marwedel Company, an industrial supplier, lists several of the Billings adjustable wrenches, including the Models A, B, D, E, and G. The Model G wrenches were available in sizes from 6 to 18 inches. Also listed are Billings Model M and Model CC pliers.

• The 1924 Catalog No. 91 from Beckley-Ralston, an automotive supplies distributor, offered Billings open-end wrenches and other tools.

• The 1931 catalog No. 11 from the Samuel Harris Company, an industrial supplier, lists about 12 pages of Billings tools. Most significantly, the listings include several pages with illustrations of early chrome-alloy socket sets.

• The 1931 Sears Roebuck (Spring and Summer) catalog lists two wrench sets from Billings & Spencer, a set of five S-wrenches or six open-end wrenches, both apparently older carbon-steel models. The set of open-end wrenches sold for only $0.65, compared with $1.85 for a set of alloy steel Craftsman wrenches.

Patents and Trademarks

Patent and trademark information was obtained from the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO) web site at uspto.gov. Patent documents were obtained from sites offering free downloads, notably freepatentsonline.com.

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