Plomb odd size ratchets?

[Garage-Junkie]

Ok, so although the standard is 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2", lately I've been finding Plombs for sale that list them as 9/32" and 13/32", saying they were for industrial use and were to keep people from taking them for home use.....honestly this is the first time I heard this, and was wondering if these folks are off their rockers (and they are really 1/4" and 3/8" versions, slightly off due to mfr fluctuations), or if there is any merit to this.......

[old salvage]

9/32nds was a standard size years ago. It wasnt to keep people from stealing its just that that was one of the sizes. 1/4" became more popular for whatever reason and 9/32mds was phased out in the 40's i think.

[cruiser808]

I have a 9/32 Plomb ratchet. Appears to be WWII vintage as it has "WF" on it.

[krusty the clown]

both snap on and plomb offed 9/32 drive sets before WWII. i have heard that they were for industrial use for the reason you stated but i think it was just the standard of the day. i'm not familiar with 13/32 drive.

[Garage-Junkie]

Ok, so they're accurate, and then that means they won't work with tight, accurate 1/4" sockets is my guess

[krusty the clown]

Ok, so they're accurate, and then that means they won't work with tight, accurate 1/4" sockets is my guess

they don't interchange

[Garage-Junkie]

cool, thanks.

[T56 Impala]

Somewhere, I have a 9/32 "T" ratchet. Again this was an old military tool. I'll have to dig around for it.

[bchee]

every time a thread like this comes up, I worry that 1/4", 3/8", or 1/2" will be phased out, and then every ratchet, socket, or extension I have will be obsolete. Unless I use adapters...

[Bolster]

I use my 9/32 Snap-on as a 1/4 drive with the S-o A-6 adapter (9/32 to 1/4 drive), which I keep on the ratchet permanently. It acts like a little 3/4" extension.

I'm not familiar with 11/32 either.

I have heard the "to keep people from stealing sockets" story, too, but all you'd have to do is to also steal a ratchet, so how much harder would that be?

[Bolster]

every time a thread like this comes up, I worry that 1/4", 3/8", or 1/2" will be phased out, and then every ratchet, socket, or extension I have will be obsolete. Unless I use adapters...

Don't even the Europods use the same drive sizes we do?

[speed bump]

Don't even the Europods use the same drive sizes we do?

Yep.


One other size that I would like to find that was made by Blackhawk was 7/16" hexite drive. It was supposedly strong enough due to the Hexite alloy to take all the 1/2" sizes but compact enough to deal with the 3/8" sizes.

Also I haven't ever found ratchets to go with them but my friend has found several pawn shop Plomb and other brand appearing 1/2" drive sockets that are slightly undersized for some reason or another.

[snapmom]

Blackhawk had a 7/16 drive. Also I have seen a 13/16 dr tool, I had one but gave it to a collector.

[v8garage]

Yep.


One other size that I would like to find that was made by Blackhawk was 7/16" hexite drive. It was supposedly strong enough due to the Hexite alloy to take all the 1/2" sizes but compact enough to deal with the 3/8" sizes.

Also I haven't ever found ratchets to go with them but my friend has found several pawn shop Plomb and other brand appearing 1/2" drive sockets that are slightly undersized for some reason or another.

I have noticed some sockets in flea markets and pawn shops that appeared to be undersized 1/2". Usually on closer inspection you can tell that someone has used them for a drive tool and beat on them with a hammer. The 9/32" Plombs are pretty common especially in the WF series. Never heard of an 11/32" or 13/32" drive. I have some 5/8" drive Proto sockets.

[T56 Impala]

I was told last night by my father:

"The US military used these odd sizes during the war to hinder others from using our tools to make field repairs on thier equipment."

[Rigmaster]

I was told last night by my father:

"The US military used these odd sizes during the war to hinder others from using our tools to make field repairs on thier equipment."


AN interesting perspective, but when you think about it, it doesn't really hold water.

Unless the enemy stole/comandeered a bunch of our sockets with plans to use their ratchets with them and then they'd be screwed.....


:lol_hitti

[snapmom]

I think the military conection was because there were so many 9/32 tools made for the war effort, the most common 9/32 so tools are 44-45. Then so converted to 1/4 dr. in 44-46, but even after that they made 9/32 dr industrial tools. in 44-45 there were very mass produced and the quality of work was much less than in prev. years. Just take a look at some of the rats (9/32) then, the screw holes are off center in many of them.

[bomber]

well, this certainly explains the mystery ratchet in my box that ALMOST fits my sockets!

;-}

Thanks, gents!

[Garage-Junkie]

I guess theoretically I could buy them and cut down the head a little with a file so that it would fit my regular 3/8" sockets :)