Whats your favorite vintage rachet?

[thetoolguy37]

What's your guys favorties? And why?

 

[thetoolguy37]

(If it's not too personal)

 

[nadogail]

The SnapOn that followed my dad home from the WW2 shipyards

 

[908Jim]

I have a Snap-On 710 series that I still use regularly and I would never part with it. I'm always looking for another in good shape on ebay. It is a 1960's vintage, and I just got a rebuild kit from Snap-On with a manufacture date of November 2023 so they're still supported after 60 years.

Yes, it is a 20 tooth but somehow mechanics survived for decades without high back-drag 7,000 tooth ratchets!

 

[CGarage]

I have a WW2 era Snap-On midget 9/32 that is converted to 1/4 drive that I like for its small size.

I have a few early 70s era Facom ratchets that I like because the Art Deco contours are beautiful in an industrial design sort of way. These were included in boxed tool kits from Facom I own from that era.

I have had vintage SK, Proto, etc and don’t think much of their ratchets, personally, compared to alternatives available.

 

[lardy1]

Williams Superratchet. Forged logo rather than stamped with Pat. Pending. A real early one.

 

[bowtie57]

My old Bonney T-702K and Powr Kraft 84W4843 with black "tootsie roll" handle (made by Wright if I'm not mistaken)

 

[Al Borland]

New Britain Kilness ratchets.

 

[mark-NJ]

I have a small 1/4" drive S&K ratchet from the 60s that was my dad's. The "ratcheting sound" is unique....I've never heard another one that sounded like it. The result being that whenever I use it, I'm taken back to my childhood with him teaching me how to use tools. I've been listening to that distinct ratchet sound since I was about 8 and old enough to 'help' him fix stuff.

 

[Snapped-off]

Snap-on quick release 936 series is as vintage as I go.

 

[Pinemarten]

SK Wayne 40970 1/4" drive ratchet.

 

[thetoolguy37]

Personally mines between a craftsman 1/4 BE and a 3/8 blackhawk pat pend 9706s rachet

 

[65k10]

While part of me has found the New Britain Killness ratchets really neat, if I would go by what vintage ratchets end up getting used, then I have to go with the Proto 24t pear heads. While I do enjoy scanning ebay for other vintage ratchets trying to find one in good condition for the right price, the Proto ratchets are still being made so I can just grab a new one from Zoro if desired. It also makes finding rebuild kits easy. Being able to convert the 5249 3/8 ratchet to 1/2 is also handy. I can pair one of those with the long 5450 and some 1/2 drive sockets for a set of tools to keep in a tractor. This works well enough for most field repair situations without having to make space for 3/8 drive tools.

 

[ecally]

New Britain roundhead, because my Dad gave it to me.

 

[Beerhippie]

I purchased one of these new back in the '70s:



I have no idea which one, nor just where the other one came from. I guess I can use one in one hand to remove bolts while the other is installing them.

There are subtle differences between the two if anyone knows how to date the S-K 75170.

When I bought this ratchet--whichever one it was--it was one of the best on the market. Fully enclosed, rebuildable mechanism featuring a 40-tooth "micro ratchet", which was much finer than most back then. After all these years of banging around in an toolbox in whatever rig I owned at the time, they're both still silky-smooth. S-K still offers rebuild kits for these.

For the little stuff, I'd have to pick this old New Britain set:



Thanks to a member here, that set is now complete.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Wright 3429 3/8” drive bent handle fixed head ratchet. Wish they still made these.

 

[johninct]

My Father's Snap-On 7110 1/2" drive.

 

[matthew]

For sentiment - my grandfather’s ‘37 vintage Snap-On.

To use - my 1/4” Indestro round-head.

 

[Fedwrench]

The old Craftsman Round Head, Fine Tooth, Quick Release Ratchet in 3/8 drive flex head trim because, it was probably the best Craftsman ratchet ever made.
The ageless SK round head ratchet with the knurled handle because, I was raised on them as a kid when there were real Auto Parts stores (JARCO) in my case, that sold the tools all over Southern California.
The Cornwell 30 tooth series ratchet. The classic coke bottle shaped handle design, the pretty bulletproof ratcheting design with few parts, and an unchanged design for like 70 years or longer.

 

[roofdweller49]

The ageless SK round head ratchet with the knurled handle because, I was raised on them as a kid when there were real Auto Parts stores (JARCO) in my case, that sold the tools all over Southern California.

This is definitely before my time, but were these the most common ratchets after Craftsman ratchets? I see tons of them on eBay all the time, and none of them seem recent. (Lots of Wayne era) What era were they most ubiquitous?

 

[Wamsutta]

Speaking of vintage ratchets, I have always wished I knew what Snap-on used at the factory to center punch the switch lever. I know it was a pointed punch of some kind, but what kind is the question. Whatever they used, they always got the dimple dead nuts center and that is extraordinary.

 

[KnurledNut]

1/4 drive: Snap-on TM737 (Runner-up: Wright 2426 branded as International Harvester)
3/8 drive: Williams B54 (SK 3870)
1/2 drive: Vulcan by Williams S53 (Craftsman 44973)

 

[dnschmidt]

Williams B-52 and B-54. CLASSICS. I own a boatload of ratchets (actually maybe two boatloads) and these are still my favorites.

 

[Speed-Racer]

Speaking of vintage ratchets, I have always wished I knew what Snap-on used at the factory to center punch the switch lever. I know it was a pointed punch of some kind, but what kind is the question. Whatever they used, they always got the dimple dead nuts center and that is extraordinary.

I just learned transfer punches existed a few weeks ago. Link to a harbor set for a visual picture.

Transfer Punch Set, 28 Piece

Amazing deals on this 28Pc Transfer Punch Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[four.cycle]

My go-to 1/4" kit. I order of preference:
2875 Indestro (late 3-point selector, flat handle)
TM739 Snap-on
2875 Indestro (early 4-point selector, round handle)
2875A Indestro (late 6-point selector, round handle)

3/8" drive: 2775 Indestro (52 tooth RHFT)

1/2" drive: CS43 Husky (Kilness patent RHFT)(workhorse)

 

[RAS61]

A Proto pear head - looks, feels, and works great. Also a bargain, quality is way above the minimal price you can pick them up for

 

[Rockable]

I've been using my old Craftsman 3/8", round head, fine tooth, quick release ratchet for so long that it just feels right in my hand. I rebuilt it not long ago, so it will probably last me the rest of my life.

 

[Pinemarten]

Williams B-52 and B-54. CLASSICS. I own a boatload of ratchets (actually maybe two boatloads) and these are still my favorites.

Police Chief from Jaws..............."you're gonna need a bigger boat!"

 

[Mgdoug3]

I have a few I can think of. I use my SK Wayne 45170, SK 3870, and Williams Superratchet S52 often. I like how the Williams is slightly longer than a regular length 1/2" ratchet but still short enough to use after breaking free a bolt. The New Britain ratchets are great to use too.

I have a fondness for old round head ratchets and I use several of them but my most used ratchets are all modern ones.

 

[joecon]

I have a couple, a Herbrand 1\2 drive my dad gave me. several SKs that came to me over the years. A 1\4 drive that my brother gave me as a birthday present. I have Snap on and Matco that I use a lot but they don't have the same meaning.

 

[isb cornbinder]

What's your guys favorite? And why?

I like the unusual Craftsman crank handle ratchet. I never use it. I have collected a complete set of the Craftsman ratchets with the arrow selector. I do not use any of them, including the vintage SnapOn ratchets in 3 sizes.

 

[kb1982]

The flex head third from the left on the bottom is my favorite vintage ratchet. Pretty sure it's an Industro. I'm fond of the Tuff 1 ratchets also. The Armstrong ratchet on the far right, it could be a self defense weapon.

 

[ALinCarolina]

Mine is a Snap-on Ferret 3/8" I inherited from my father. Rumor is he won the set in a poker game while still in the service in the mid forties. Can't find a pic right now.

 

[Zeus36]

Cornwell:

Got a bunch of them 42 years ago before they got melted down. Very comfortable handles, all metal, solid ratchet selector that does not inadvertently switch direction.
They want at least 100 bucks each for these now...

 

[F-22]

I have an old 60's Husky USA which was made by New Britain. Very elegant, I love how the handle is a long machined taper that wides out into a very deep knurling for the handle. The mechanism is very surprisingly high tooth count (I think about 60 teeth) for that old of a ratchet. The main issue it has is relatively heavy backdrag compared to a more modern high end ratchet, otherwise it is really great.

 

[Beerhippie]

Cornwell:

Got a bunch of them 42 years ago before they got melted down. Very comfortable handles, all metal, solid ratchet selector that does not inadvertently switch direction.
They want at least 100 bucks each for these now...

Them's beauts right there!

 

[Banjorear]

Not vintage, but it was the first "real" ratchet I bought with my own money. It's an early '90's hard handled Snap-On 3/8". I'm fortunate to own a slew of new SO ratchets now, but for some reason I'll reach for that one first.

 

[KnurledNut]

The flex head third from the left on the bottom is my favorite vintage ratchet. Pretty sure it's an Industro. I'm fond of the Tuff 1 ratchets also. The Armstrong ratchet on the far right, it could be a self defense weapon.

+1 to Tuff 1’s, but I dont consider them vintage yet!

 

[MarkH]

I go with the original. Some have the DT 80 in them. Can service it and I still like the handle.

 

[shanker]

Proto Big Dawg