The Weird Old Ratchet Contest...Show Me What You Got!

[BigTexasYardSale]

I know you're asking Frank about his Radian, but this is NOT the case with the Allen gearless "Friction" ratchet, which I posted above, or the Blackhawk Freewheeler I have, which uses a series of rollers, and which I have not posted, not considering it terribly old or weird. They grab immediately, release just as quickly, but rotate very smoothly on backswing in my experience. If you're curious, follow the link I posted for the Allen thread above where I posted closeups of the guts.

Thanks, I will do that. It sounds like it really works well.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

I dunno why they did that, on a real New Britain one that my cousin has it has a short switcher.
-Tommy

Here is the inside of one.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I would say 'for a 100 year old ratchet', but the age doesn't matter. The design is amazing. It is nonreversible, though. You have to flip it over.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

on a real New Britain one that my cousin has it has a short switcher.

The longer switch is slightly older. There was an even older design, same long switch, with Frankenstein buttons. Three generations inside of onkyba few years between 1937 and 1942. Search GJ VB on 'Costello ratchet survey' or something like that and you'll find a detailed timeline.

 

[jabberwoki]

No stamping other than on , off.
Works beautifully.
Home made?

 

[3baygarage]

No stamping other than on , off.
Works beautifully.
Home made?

That’s factory. Might be an OTC.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a Ward Master 1/2” drive probably made by Truth that I traded to Twertsy quite a while back. The head looks kind of similar.
-Don

 

[NJ Marty]

I picked up this unknown ratchet a few years ago and I don't think I will ever find out what its origins are.
Last pic is of the tag when it was still attached when I got it. It is very well made and has 24 teeth.

 

[BigTexasYardSale]

I picked up this unknown ratchet a few years ago and I don't think I will ever find out what its origins are.
Last pic is of the tag when it was still attached when I got it. It is very well made and has 24 teeth.

Holy moly that looks primitive.

 

[Cruzan80]

My Allen Universal gets my vote. A "wobble" ratchet, 100yrs before Sears. Pvt. Lugz beat me to posting.

 

[RTM]

^ thanks. now I'm wondering why I couldn't get there.

I found it there just by typing it into google patents leading with US.

US4603606A - Unidirectional drive tool cartridge and method of manufacture - Google Patents

A unidirectional drive tool cartridge for use as a torque transmitting device which includes a housing within which is mounted a unidirectional continuous clutch and drive shaft assembly. The drive shaft is carried within a bearing member located within a clutch. The bearing member has a central...

patents.google.com

 

[Oldtuleguy]

From 1922 h&g ratchet adapter

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some odd sk variants

 

[Oldtuleguy]

An old bonney

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some old cogs

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Wright n70

 

[Oldtuleguy]

An old snapon

 

[Oldtuleguy]

This hinsdale is kinda weird

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Old Blackhawk stuff is just odd in general

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Duro indestro definately had its own style

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Some odd sk variants

What is with that one at the bottom! I like sk and never seen one like that before! Please do share more info.
-Tommy

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My Allen Universal gets my vote. A "wobble" ratchet, 100yrs before Sears. Pvt. Lugz beat me to posting.

Sorry Cruzan! I was motivated to gather up all my old/weird ratchets and ratchet adapters and one-fell-swoop my entries, but I didn't think about the bogart effect! They beat Blackhawk and the gearless ratchet by a century, too! Mr. F.R. Allen was a genius, right up there with John Zilliox.

From 1922 h&g ratchet adapter

Nice ad! They started making them in 1921, though. Earlier than the first Snap-on clutch type (and about a decade earlier than Snap-in would make one with inline gears), and just a little later than the ratchet adapter in Allen's "Bay State" set. But the earliest I have seen is that Eames (1911).

 

[Oldtuleguy]

What is with that one at the bottom! I like sk and never seen one like that before! Please do share more info.
-Tommy

An early 42470. They had not quite figured out the selector. There was a couple other variations as well.

 

[Davefr]

Do ratcheting flare wrenches count?

 

[d42jeep]

An early 42470. They had not quite figured out the selector. There was a couple other variations as well.

I want one of those!
-Don

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

An early 42470. They had not quite figured out the selector. There was a couple other variations as well.

Looks like you had a 1/2 drive ratchet body, then you smashed the head of 3/8 drive New Britain round head inside. Where did you ever find one
-Tommy

 

[FrankLee]

How about ratcheting wrenches with socket adapters?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like you had a 1/2 drive ratchet body, then you smashed the head of 3/8 drive New Britain round head inside. Where did you ever find one

I think I got this one from Roy (skking)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I want one of those!
-Don

I'll look around I think I have another

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks! I have some patent pending ones but none that early.
-Don

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

I'll look around I think I have another

Wow, just wow, you have not only 1, but 2.
-Tommy

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Just bought them because they looked odd

 

[bonneyman]

I've got a trio of old Duro's.
And I like the Utica Cam-Locs. Don't have their specialized socket adaptor, though.

 

[Cruzan80]

Sorry Cruzan! I was motivated to gather up all my old/weird ratchets and ratchet adapters and one-fell-swoop my entries, but I didn't think about the bogart effect! They beat Blackhawk and the gearless ratchet by a century, too! Mr. F.R. Allen was a genius, right up there with John Zilliox.

No worries. I meant to get mine out (and still might, for a closeup). Definitely one of the most innovative ideas for it's time, and best of all, it is 1/3" drive, so still usable!

Edit, 1/2"

 

[Private Lugnutz]

How about ratcheting wrenches with socket adapters?

I'm so happy for you! (Been on the look out for one for YEARS!)

 

[JohnDeere]

I guess I need to expand my 1/3" drive tool collection, I have none!

No worries. I meant to get mine out (and still might, for a closeup). Definitely one of the most innovative ideas for it's time, and best of all, it is 1/3" drive, so still usable!

 

[Cruzan80]

I guess I need to expand my 1/3" drive tool collection, I have none!

That's what I get for trying to type fast on my phone. 1/2" drive plug.

 

[JohnDeere]

Just messin with ya, we knew what you meant.

 

[four.cycle]

Don't have their specialized socket adaptor, though.

Looks like a good time for this handy public service announcement:
Drive plug adapters * / Ratchet adapters * / Drive Couplers * / can be procured from KC Tool in Kansas City, Missouri
If they don't have the part numbers/brands shown below ask them if they have it in another brand.

As an aside, while we're on the subject....

I stumbled upon an ebay listing yesterday that looked like it might be this kind of item so I went ahead and grabbed them. Still not sure that it's going to be what I hope - the item description in the ad was somewhat confusing. IF they are what I hope they are, it looks like Duro/Indestro put this item back into production late in the game (for reasons I can't even begin to fathom) so there's a possibility there might be more of these widgets out there. They're four days out. Will post them when they come in, Catalog photo below.

(* nomenclature on these things is all over the map *)

 

[d42jeep]

I could use a couple of those if the price is right.
-Don