TerryB Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 (edited) Thanks to my late father-in-law, my wife and I received Snap-on Stock shares from his estate when he passed away. He was a Snap-on dealer beginning his career with them in the mid 1950s and continuing until the late 1980s. Today we got our stockholder packet with the notation on the annual report indicating this year is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the company. The report didn’t say we would be getting any 100th anniversary swag for being stockholders but it is great to see a company going strong after that length of time. A funny story about meeting my wife. We met through mutual friends. At the time she had her own home as did I. One weekend I was helping her with a project at her house and told her I needed a screwdriver. She said to find the toolbox in the closet as her home repair tools were in it. I go to the closet and find a small Snap-on tool box, inside was a whole bunch of Snap-on and Blue Point tools. Confused, I said to her “how is it you have all these Snap-on tools for your house?” Response, “oh that’s easy, my dad is one of those Snap-on tools sales guy that sell from his truck”. It was like finding out dad owned a gold mine! We’ve been together for 36 years, married for 31. The tool discount was wonderful for as long as it lasted! Edited March 19, 2020 by TerryB (see edit history) 5 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Does she have a sister? 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Great story Terry, did have a chrome shop, or part ownership in one? Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 I’m a total poser but my main box has only snap on in it. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Terry, In told you in a PM your my hero, you are my man... John PS I only hope get to meet one day in person, to tell you face to face 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Ditto, ditto, and ditto, John. 100% ditto. I still hope to drive all the way across the country for one last Hershey before I send that bucket flying from a well-placed kick. Then I would get to meet you, Terry, and even YOU TOO, John, my friend. I understand you share a peculiar taste in music with me ! 🤔💀🤪🙂 Old and in the way these days, rather incapable of gravity defying feats anymore, - CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Notice Snap-on does not have engraved on it made in USA anymore. They gave me a new ratchet on exchange after the switch broke off of the one I had . Then I found the ball was missing on the new one the first time I went to use it. I phoned to complain about the quality and they could not tell me where it was made as their tools come from different country's now. I am guessing China maybe India but did you notice they did not reduce the price when Snap-On left the quality USA made. By the way Terry she is a keeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Great story, reminds me of Fran the Snap-on guy who visited the garage I worked at years ago weekly. All young guys at the time. Everyone bought a few tools at a time on credit. I did as well although I was not planning on being a mechanic. I did oil changes, etc, for a little while which beat pumping gas for a kid. Fran was a good guy who had time for everyone. As it was, I was thinking about careers. I thought that might be a cool gig but I know it has challenges like any other small business, AR in general and occasionally getting stiffed by someone was a big part of it. Saw that happen firsthand. To this day I wonder how many stag tickets Fran bought over the years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 I have most of my first purchase of Snap on Tools from 1964 when I worked in a body shop. A set of 1/4" drive sockets, etc. Don't ask me why that was my first purchase as I was only 16 at the time! I still have both of my Snap On Tool Boxes I bought just a couple of years later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 As Steve says the tool trucks are not what they were years ago. I know in my area Snap-on is having a tough time getting owner operators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick35 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 I have an old snap-on upper tool box,I think it's a 1958.I know it's not the oldest in existence out there but I think snap-on should hold a contest for the oldest tool box with the winner getting new tools or a new box.Just my opinion.Thanks,Greg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted March 19, 2020 Author Share Posted March 19, 2020 Snap-on tool sales from the franchise truck operators is now only 35% of their business as seen in the chart from their stock information book. I’ve also attached a photo of all the companies now under the Snap-on ownership umbrella. They are quite diverse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejboyd5 Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Let's celebrate the 100th by posting pictures of Snap-On's interesting offerings: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted March 19, 2020 Author Share Posted March 19, 2020 If you lived or worked in Schuylkill or Berks county PA you might have known my father in law. This old box I found has his business attached to it. Note the old Snap-on logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 Great thought - let's see some Snap on relics. This was sent to me today by a good friend who enjoys his Model T and all the stuff that goes with it. This early Snap-on tool box has a chart in the lid showing the Model T chassis and how tools were used for specific purposes. Doubt there are many of these still around! Terry 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 In 1981, Snap-On Tools of Canada celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Here is my 50th Anniversary freebie which I still have. Craig 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 Was it a truck like this? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3macboys Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 This one needs to be kicked back to the top - I'm sure that there is going to be a lot time spent in the shop for the next few weeks, has to be more old and odd tools out there - or pictures of vans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 On 3/19/2020 at 1:49 PM, ejboyd5 said: Let's celebrate the 100th by posting pictures of Snap-On's interesting offerings: I have one of these. It's for adjusting valves on OHV engines. Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 On 3/19/2020 at 1:26 PM, TerryB said: Snap-on tool sales from the franchise truck operators is now only 35% of their business as seen in the chart from their stock information book. I’ve also attached a photo of all the companies now under the Snap-on ownership umbrella. They are quite diverse. Interesting to see that Sioux Power tools is listed. I have a lot of Sioux valve grinding equipment and accessory's. Just did a valve job several days ago on an all aluminum LS that is in a Chevy pickup. The owner said they did not build many pickups with this engine. Most are in Corvettes I was told. It's a lot newer than the stuff I usually work on so I'm not real familiar with all the details. Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldford Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 I had a thread some time ago regarding my Snap-On item. It's a display case shaped like a typical garage with a removable plexi cover. I use it to hold some of my model cars and trucks. Bought it in Rhinebeck over 20 years ago. When I brought it up several years ago, no one had ever seen one like it... Frank 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 On 3/19/2020 at 9:15 PM, Laughing Coyote said: Was it a truck like this? First Gear makes scale models of these small vans including the I-H Metro seen above, which are made for several different companies with their logos on them. I don't have a Metro, nor do I have one with Snap-On logos on it, but I do have a '50 Ford stepvan and a 1961 Divco Dividend van with Lennox logos on it which Snap-On offered at one time. Craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyardjeff Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 Its hard to imagine one trying to sell tools out of a small van 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted March 21, 2020 Author Share Posted March 21, 2020 My father in law’s first snap on vehicle was a 1948 Chevy with the interior gutted, second was a 1955 Willys wagon and then finally a van in the early 1960s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plymouthcranbrook Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 I am so old that I can remember Snap On being made in Kenosha. A few years ago they had a sale in their Headquarters of overstock and I purchased several items at that time. Still expensive but have held up very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
playswithbrass Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 Here is a different from the run of the mill tool and a box before snap on went red. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W_Higgins Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 This works really well on the era of car for which it is intended, though I must admit the new optical machines require a lot less of a workout to accomplish the same job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 Have had this since the last century ('93 maybe) but still use daily. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 18 hours ago, W_Higgins said: This works really well on the era of car for which it is intended, though I must admit the new optical machines require a lot less of a workout to accomplish the same job. The shop my better other half is in partners with just put in one of those new alignment systems all computerized with cameras. All you need to do is tell it what make or car it is and it will tell you what to do from there. Her Brother in law still has a Bear Alignment sign that hung on the old shop back in the 1960's. Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W_Higgins Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Dandy Dave said: The shop my better other half is in partners with just put in one of those new alignment systems all computerized with cameras. All you need to do is tell it what make or car it is and it will tell you what to do from there. Her Brother in law still has a Bear Alignment sign that hung on the old shop back in the 1960's. Dandy Dave! If you've ever done an alignment on a knee action GM product that uses the single pin to set both the caster and camber, it is absolute luxury to watch both numbers change on the screen as you rotate the pin. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted March 23, 2020 Share Posted March 23, 2020 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W_Higgins Posted March 23, 2020 Share Posted March 23, 2020 Over they years they have offered many different tool box stickers. This one is my favorite. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now