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

[AntiqueBen]

Not sure if this counts as weird, but I always thought this would have been an innovative idea for the time. This set up gives you an early 10 tooth reversible ratchet to use with pressed steel sockets.

 

[Bob/Ohio]

Here is a pair of ratchets that are not really old, but not too common.

Bob

 

[AntiqueBen]

I know this really isn't a ratchet. I guess you could consider it an adjustable fixed ratchet for square fasteners? I've never seen anything like this & there are no markings. Is that like a speed handle on the top? I like the weird & unusual, so when I seen this, I had to get it.
Anyone seen anything like this??

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Anyone seen anything like this??

Yes. In the 1920s Park Metalware in Orchard Park made an adjustable socket wrench they branded "Xcel". Instead of that wingnut, you twisted the entire handle to open or close the jaws. Later, in 1935, Blackhawk copied the design and branded it the "Adjusto". Yours is much older. Not a ratchet.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's a "Wizard" ratchet made by The Richards MFG Co. Pretty unique how the jaws are independently adjustable. It's a 12 tooth ratchet. The round reversible knob is inside the top of the handle & has a 3d fixed position. Not sure how long these were made, but definitely different.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I like this thread because I have a lot of odd ball ratchets. Here is a Victor Carlson ratchet. It's a 16 tooth ratchet about 9" long. You twist the color to change direction. Reminds me a little of Auto Cle. I think this ratchet came with a set of specific sockets made to fit the ratchet. Not sure why mine has a patent date of 3-7-08. The patent on Datamp has different dates on this ratchet? The British patent is 5-7-08.
See Datamp patent HERE

 

[rockettauto]

Here's my entry. No maker's mark and I have no idea why you would make such a thing.

I believe this is a replacement shaft for a torque multiplier. That groove at the socket length on the squared part is there to make it shear at the max designed torque rather than damage the multiplier.

Much as you see in this type of VW torque multiplier.

VW Torque Multiplier Tool - Fits 36mm Axle and Flywheel Gland Nuts

Check out the deal on VW Torque Multiplier Tool - Fits 36mm Axle and Flywheel Gland Nuts at JBugs.com

www.jbugs.com

But it's possible it's a lockup tool. Either way that groove is there to protect something else and make sure it breaks first.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Here is a very early S-K ratchet followed by it’s AA write up.
-Don

You I’m jealous now

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Surprised nobody posted the Auto-Cle / Mossberg ratchet yet, so here it is:
Pics are of Lug's ratchet and of my set.
Link to thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/my-favorite-ratchet-wrench-mossberg-auto-cle.320336/

I love it. I have been searching for some time for one

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I like this thread because I have a lot of odd ball ratchets. Here is a Victor Carlson ratchet. It's a 16 tooth ratchet about 9" long. You twist the color to change direction. Reminds me a little of Auto Cle. I think this ratchet came with a set of specific sockets made to fit the ratchet. Not sure why mine has a patent date of 3-7-08. The patent on Datamp has different dates on this ratchet? The British patent is 5-7-08.
See Datamp patent HERE

GreAt rachet. I think I may have one of these

 

[AntiqueBen]

I found one earlier this year in England. I was happy to find it. They're extremely hard to find.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I found one earlier this year in England. I was happy to find it. They're extremely hard to find.

That is awesome

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Not as old as a lot of the stuff in this thread but here is my new weirdest ratchet. Herbrand S-12 1/2” drive speed handle ratchet. I wasn’t able to find any info about this one online. Works but needs lubrication and the cover plate screws are peened to prevent disassembly. Gonna soak the head in motor oil for a couple days and then see how it feels

 

[four.cycle]

^ quite the find there. I would imagine with some penetrating oil it should come back to life.

 

[3baygarage]

Great find Cody. That knob is an add on piece if you didn’t know, and often not present. My question since I haven’t handled one before is does it have any markings? Doesn’t look like it from here. I need to find one!

 

[elidas]

How about a nice Snapon.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

@3baygarage very cool, thanks for letting me know, I didn’t realize that! I checked and I can’t see any markings on mine but there’s a layer of paint on one side that may be covering some.

 

[Tactile]

 

[Squez]

This is all I have to offer not weird but old? Cornwell jr2-u?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Interesting selector on it. Might be an early one

 

[bonneyman]

Nice ergo shape on that Cornwell. Is it nicely balanced?

 

[thetazman]

Post deleted

 

[four.cycle]

Hello @thetazman -
I think your "ratchet" (also posted here) is the handle for a "Reliable" auto jack. See the "mycompanies" site for a picture:

Elite / Elite Mfg. Co., Ashland, OH / est. 1906 acquired by H. Channon Co. 1929 / "Reliable" auto jack / https://mycompanies.fandom.com/wiki/Elite_Manufacturing_Company / https://www.times-gazette.com/story/news/2006/08/26/auto-jacks-were-big-business/19112650007/ /

 

[thetazman]

Hello @thetazman -
I think your "ratchet" (also posted here) is the handle for a "Reliable" auto jack. See the "mycompanies" site for a picture:

Elite / Elite Mfg. Co., Ashland, OH / est. 1906 acquired by H. Channon Co. 1929 / "Reliable" auto jack / https://mycompanies.fandom.com/wiki/Elite_Manufacturing_Company / https://www.times-gazette.com/story/news/2006/08/26/auto-jacks-were-big-business/19112650007/ /

Thank you for the information. I have deleted my post in this thread as it would seem it's not appropriate for this thread.

 

[four.cycle]

No, not at all... all kinds of devices are "ratchets"... not all of them are necessarily designed for driving sockets.
Better to document all of them to save the next guy the trouble of being confused.

This one sends all kinds of people off into the weeds (you will find them listed with various descriptions on ebay):

 

[Corndoggeh]

Maybe not weird in general but these are definite unicorns... A 1/2" and 3/8" gearless/0 degree offset ratchet made by Hinsdale.

Both were picked up the same weekend exactly 1 year apart with the 1/2" being in a random grab grab bag with snapon and craftsman in it (I really just wanted the snapon ratchet at the time and paid $20 for the bag of 4 ratchets and 20 sockets/wrenches) and the 3/8" was found in a 3 for $5 bin at an estate sale at the end of the day. Both times I was reluctant to go yard saling because I was tired from the holidays and both times I found these beauties that I've yet to see any other pictures of online.

This hinsdale is kinda weird

EDIT: I STAND CORRECTED! Looks like a 2nd 1/2" one does exist.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Maybe not weird in general but these are definite unicorns... A 1/2" and 3/8" gearless/0 degree offset ratchet made by Hinsdale.

Both were picked up the same weekend exactly 1 year apart with the 1/2" being in a random grab grab bag with snapon and craftsman in it (I really just wanted the snapon ratchet at the time and paid $20 for the bag of 4 ratchets and 20 sockets/wrenches) and the 3/8" was found in a 3 for $5 bin at an estate sale at the end of the day. Both times I was reluctant to go yard saling because I was tired from the holidays and both times I found these beauties that I've yet to see any other pictures of online.



EDIT: I STAND CORRECTED! Looks like a 2nd 1/2" one does exist.

Man I love them.

 

[Beerhippie]

Not really a ratchet, but it achieves the same purpose:



APCO Mossberg, maybe WWII vintage? It cam on this APCO Mossberg TW:



Which is the only example I've even found pictures of without a WWII military # on it.

Anyhow, the adapter locks when you push in and is spring-loaded to freewheel when you let go.

Not exactly what you all call "vintage", but 80s-90s and a ratchetless ratchet:



T&E, I think they called this the "Infinity" drive. Push-through. No longer listed on their website, and I had no reply to my email about rebuild kits.

Duro-Chrome (?) refrigeration set:





Some Hinsdale and Bonney sockets and the box it came in.

Not terribly weird, but cool:



1/2".

 

[madmotorcycle]

I’ve spent a lot of time reading posts on this forum lately, so much interesting knowledge you all share, so I thought I’d finally join and add something.

I inherited a small tool box from my grandpa years ago and this duro ratchet was in it, it was odd because the rest of the stuff was assorted junk. I googled the number on the head and the patent is from 1933. It’s in good working condition, no rust, I’ve never even wiped it off.

I’m new here but if anyone is interested in it, let me know.

 

[d42jeep]

Welcome to the Garage Journal. Your heirloom Indestro ratchet is a great example of a government specification matching 41-H-1505 ratchet that might have been included in the early WW2 Motor Vehicle Mechanics Tool Set or the later war General Mechanics Tool Set. These ratchets weren’t too sophisticated but they were reliable and strong. I suggest that you hold onto it as something to remember your grandpa by.
—Don
Here are some sets shown in the WW2 Navy NAF catalog. These sets all came with a ratchet identical to yours.

 

[madmotorcycle]

Welcome to the Garage Journal. Your heirloom Indestro ratchet is a great example of a government specification matching 41-H-1505 ratchet that might have been included in the early WW2 Motor Vehicle Mechanics Tool Set or the later war General Mechanics Tool Set. These ratchets weren’t too sophisticated but they were reliable and strong. I suggest that you hold onto it as something to remember your grandpa by.
—Don
Here are some sets shown in the WW2 Navy NAF catalog. These sets all came with a ratchet identical to yours.

Ive been on the fence about keeping it. He was in ww2, in the army. It would be awesome to know he brought that back but no one in the family knows anything about the ratchet. Thanks a lot for the info and photo, I’ll be showing that to the family. Ironically my grandpas name was Don as well.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a selection of Indestro and Duro ratchets.
1/2” drive.
Some smaller ones.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

@madmotorcycle -

^ There is a dedicated thread for those Duro/Indestro "pressed flange" ratchets (patent 1902878) HERE

Many were manufactured with no maker's name or part number stamped on them - some of them show only the patent number.
16 tooth - earliest production
18 tooth - later
36 tooth - last production

(can't pull the year ranges from memory, but I believe I posted them IN that thread I cited above.)

 

[BigTexasYardSale]

One image shows the gear like part removed. What holds that part in place? Is it held stationary against rotation and/or laterally on the shaft? I’m guessing some type of machinery table. You can pull it completely out and move it from one location position to another. Or, with that extra long square drive section, slide it in further to get it out of the way. Can you show a pic of just the gear from the top or bottom?

Mystery ratchet thing finally solved! Ebayer charlotte38 contacted me to let me know this thing is the guts for a Fiskars Sidekick. The gear like part of it is what engages the handle.