Not long ago I stumbled onto this APCO Mossberg Spark Plug Socket set among some old car stuff I inherited from my dad, while searching for some rubbing compound. I thought that some Tool Talk members might like to see them. So here they are, ONLY for those who like OLD tool porn!

Most notably, this set is dated, because of the original paper-label-spark-plug-size chart, which is still intact on the front. The newest model listed is a 1932, which probably gives us a pretty good idea about the age, right?

Interestingly, the Duesenberg listing is misspelled!

It is interesting to note that some pretty rare cars are listed on this little label, including the Cunningham and the DeVaux.

Below is a close-up of one of the sockets.

After looking it over pretty closely, I am now convinced that some of the sockets in this set are period-correct, but not from the original set, since they do not have the part numbers stamped into the sockets. And those part numbers are featured on the paper label on front.
I'm guessing that the paper label on the front of this wooden box is probably more uncommon than the sockets and even the box itself. What do you folks think?

Wow! Never seen one of those boxes, and the sockets are most often rusty singles in the bottom of a bucket.

 Fantastic Thanks for sharing.

Hot Puppies!  I like old boxes almost as much as I like old tools!  And the paper on the front is priceless!  Thanks for posting this.

Very Nice!

That is cooler than all get out and to have gotten it from your dad it doesn't get much better.

Very kewl : )

I have run across those sockets from time to time, but never with a part number on them. I wonder what came first? A set with part numbers followed by generic sockets, or eneric sockets finally made available as a set?

I also wish I knew when the closed end design stopped and became an open socket on both ends...

Sorry to open up an old thread, but I haven't been on this site for a long time, and just noticed I had not replied to the final post.

As far as when the closed-end sockets ended, and both-ends-open design started, I would guess that multiple manufacturers were trying different things at the same time. Once the idea of pressing some steel tubing into a hex socket got started, I'll bet there were dozens and dozens of manufacturers making them in every different configuration.

Neat set Lump thanks for sharing

No problem with opening this old thread, just gives us a chance to look at that old set again.

Cool! I never saw it. From before my time I guess

Definitely porn of the top shelf!
yours Scott

I missed it back in august so it's nice to get another chance to see it, that set is a beauty, I've never seen any spark plug socket sets of that quality before. Thanks for the pictures.