Show Off Your Antique Ratchet

[d42jeep]

SK 45170 that I still use regularly. I bought it off eBay cheap in a big lot a few years ago. A little cleaning, and new grease made it work as smooth as a new one.

SK in a diamond I think means early '50s, but I'm not sure.



The full set:



Also included was a Craftsman 1/4 drive ratchet from the late '60s.

Perhaps a more appropriate spot for your nice S-K set would be in the main S-K thread which can be located in the sticky at the beginning of the vintage forum. Welcome to the GJ.
-Don

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I found this Greene, Tweed, & Co. FAVORITE REVERSIBLE RATCHET WRENCH No. 1 at the flea market this morning. These came with removable heads in several hex size combinations as well as square drive openings for male drive tang socket wrenches. @Patrick Eubanks posted that version and set upthread here. Lots of neat ads upthread following that post, which the anti-redundancy curmudgeon in me is not going to repost. These track rats were indeed the "Favorites" of yard gangs from 1892 well into the 'Teens.

It’s a neat set up. You need some sockets now

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

It's easy to see why it was so popular. Very simple, but effective. That switch is connected to a spring-fed pawl. Just remove the set screw and pull the switch all the way back to pop the head out. Based on the trade mags, it looks like the version with a square drive opening that took male drive tang sockets operated the same way. @Patrick Eubanks could confirm.

You are correct

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's an old none better ratchet

 

[RTM]

Here are the closest two I have to antiques, a Lowell, covered by this patent from 1931. The ratchet is an O-O, Q-1-B US Patent: 1,798,194, seen in the 1917 catalog, so some feature obviously added later. Unfortunately, this one has ratchet issues, no real surprise with that much rust. The back end of mine (1st pic) looks like the 1917 catalog, but the front end seems to be some new option not shown in the 1917 catalog. Somewhere I saw a listing calling this a lineman's ratchet, which might imply this was for twisting in something like a wingnut or eyebolt?

Lowell Wrench Co. : 1917 : Lowell Wrench Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

1 p., illus., 28.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

The other is a Walden Worcester IR916 square drive ratchet, needing a stud plug to be useful now. This shows up in the 1928 catalog, top left of page 2

Walden-Worcester Wrenches : 1928 : Stevens Walden-Worcester, Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

5 p., illus., 27.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

If someone can use these, let me know.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. Those walden ratchets pop up in late 20s sets.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's an earlier walden ratchet, basically some bent steel rod with a toothed wheel

 

[d42jeep]

Nice. Those walden ratchets pop up in late 20s sets.

Here is my similar one.
Another old Walden ratchet.

-Don

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Here's an old none better ratchet

Man that’s a fantastic set. How hard is the socket adapter to find?

 

[RTM]

Just for giggles, here is a 1895 Standard Tool co. catalog, with special bits for “ratchets”, not ratcheting braces, or braces. Seems to fit here for some of you.

Standard Tool Co.'s Twist Drills, Reamers, Taps, Spring Cotters, Flat and Riveted Keys : Catalogue : Standard Tool Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

54 p., illus., 12.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Man that’s a fantastic set. How hard is the socket adapter to find?

They either come with it or not! Once it's gone chances of finding a loose one are slim to none...

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

They either come with it or not! Once it's gone chances of finding a loose one are slim to none...

As I have found

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's an old none better ratchet

About a week ago I found this exact set complete on eBay. The seller was in England & wouldn't ship to US. I messaged him & got him to add international shipping. By the time he contacted me to tell me I could purchase, someone purchased it out from under me. So frustrating That's a nice example of New Britain's first rat. Nice set!

 

[AntiqueBen]

My oddball mystery ratchet showed up today. After a light cleaning, unfortunately there are no marks or stamps. The action works good. The lever is so odd to me. I would like to figure out who made it & from what era, but that probably won't be easy. Certainly unique compared to anything else I've seen.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Cleaned up nice! Here's an old batco

 

[AntiqueBen]

Cleaned up nice! Here's an old batco

Nice set!! When was that set made? I believe I've seen that ratchet before, but not in that nice service box.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's an old batco

That is a Service Engineering Company set, OTG. I have posted a couple on the King/Newton thread.

When was that set made?

No earlier than 1921. King, Newton, Service, and BATCO were all linked and making these in the 20's.

I believe I've seen that ratchet before, but not in that nice service box.

Interesting. If/when you remember where, report back, please.

 

[AntiqueBen]

That is a Service Engineering Company set, OTG. I have posted a couple on the King/Newton thread.

No earlier than 1921. King, Newton, Service, and BATCO were all linked and making these in the 20's.

Interesting. If/when you remember where, report back, please.

I have a "Honey Hole" that I frequent at an antique mall that has a lot of vintage & antique tools. A couple years ago I seen this Batco ratchet. It was solo, no box, no sockets. I didn't buy it because it was missing the hex plug. I wished I would have picked it up because it was cheap.

 

[Beerhippie]

Here's one I picked up today:





No other markings at all. Just OIL and 4489. Square plug is 1/4" on the wrench side, 0.275" F-F on the drive side. 9/32"? It came with a few sockets(?) that fit--Duro Chrome, Duro Metal, Bonney and two Hinsdale.



I have no idea what the two-prong drives are for, nor these:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

A couple years ago I seen this Batco ratchet.

When you said you saw one somewhere else, I thought you meant in a different case with a set of tools, potentially a BATCO set. I realize you now meant solo or orphaned or by itself. I have never seen that ratchet with any markings other than the markings OTG's example bears - which are Service Engineering Company markings, not Boston Auto Tool Company markings. Did the one you saw have the same markings? Was it marked BATCO? Or are you just calling it that because OTG did?

 

[bonneyman]

They either come with it or not! Once it's gone chances of finding a loose one are slim to none...

Keep looking, bro. You never know!

I've found bits and bobs I've needed literally YEARS after deciding I needed them. Nowhere near as old as your project, but you just never know.
I recently restored Craftsman tool box that was missing the inner tray. Several friends said it was a nice box, but, where's the tray? How often do solitary tray's come up? Shoot, maybe I should have passed on the rusty thing after all? Couple months later a solitary tray came up in the classifieds. A deal was struck....and now my box is complete, holding old tools. You just never know!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's one I picked up today:





No other markings at all. Just OIL and 4489. Square plug is 1/4" on the wrench side, 0.275" F-F on the drive side. 9/32"? It came with a few sockets(?) that fit--Duro Chrome, Duro Metal, Bonney and two Hinsdale.



I have no idea what the two-prong drives are for, nor these:

Duro Refrigeration ratchet and sockets, here is a snapon set

 

[Beerhippie]

Ah! So the square drives are for isolation valves and the prongs are for the valve packings!

Too bad I don't do refrig work anymore....

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Keep looking, bro. You never know!

I've found bits and bobs I've needed literally YEARS after deciding I needed them. Nowhere near as old as your project, but you just never know.
I recently restored Craftsman tool box that was missing the inner tray. Several friends said it was a nice box, but, where's the tray? How often do solitary tray's come up? Shoot, maybe I should have passed on the rusty thing after all? Couple months later a solitary tray came up in the classifieds. A deal was struck....and now my box is complete, holding old tools. You just never know!

Yup I have gotten lucky like that a few times! Mostly though stuff like that is unobtanium....

 

[AntiqueBen]

When you said you saw one somewhere else, I thought you meant in a different case with a set of tools, potentially a BATCO set. I realize you now meant solo or orphaned or by itself. I have never seen that ratchet with any markings other than the markings OTG's example bears - which are Service Engineering Company markings, not Boston Auto Tool Company markings. Did the one you saw have the same markings? Was it marked BATCO? Or are you just calling it that because OTG did?

The reason I remember the one I seen is like OTG's was for a few reasons. The Boston Mass on one side & the word "Service" on the other. That combined with the not only the hex drive, but the two hex openings in the handle. So, yes it had the same markings as OTG's. I always have an eye out for the uncommon.

 

[RTM]

but, where's the tray? How often do solitary tray's come up?

When I'm at garage sales, I grab every loose one I find. One has matched up to something a buddy needed. The rest are just waiting for me to dive into the box painting routine again, see what I need.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Always smart to grab loose trays

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Definitely memorable. Not BATCO, though. That's what I was trying to confirm, so thanks.

 

[3baygarage]

I was expecting one of you all to pick this up but either no one saw it or wanted it.

Miller Combination Tool Co. - No. 2 Giant “Silver Metal” Ratchet Wrench

5/8” Drive
10-1/2” long
Circa 1906-1908 according to Alloy Artifacts.

AA has some great old magazine ads showing this Patent Applied version in 1906. They also had an example of the same ratchet marked Miller in their collection, unlike this one which is unbranded.

It has a sort of brass head and gear. It isn’t perfect, the handle’s steel and has rust damage. Still crisp with its 12 teeth. I suspect a couple were “filled”. Sure ain’t bad though for a 118 year old ratchet!



Just realized there’s an error too. PTA vs PAT! Who do I complain to?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I don't have an affinity for ratchet drills and I normally don't collect them, but I was super stoked to find this little jobbie, made in 1889, at the flea market this morning!



It cleaned up swell.



The mechanism is very simple but effective. That L-shaped spring steel piece keeps tension on the pawl.



But there's only one reason I wanted it. I plan to give it to a popular, helpful, generous GJer.

I'll give everyone one guess who it is!

Thanks, BK!

Thank you BK

Thank you, bk.

Thanks, BK!

thanks BK,

Thanks BK.

@four.cycle

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Man that is a super cool rachet

 

[AntiqueBen]

I don't have an affinity for ratchet drills and I normally don't collect them, but I was super stoked to find this little jobbie, made in 1889, at the flea market this morning!



It cleaned up swell.



The mechanism is very simple but effective. That L-shaped spring steel piece keeps tension on the pawl.



But there's only one reason I wanted it. I plan to give it to a popular, helpful, generous GJer.

I'll give everyone one guess who it is!









@four.cycle

Now there's something you don't see everyday. Nice find Lugz. Very unique. You know me, I love the odd/weird antique stuff from the 1800's. I'm still amazed at all the different ratchet variations from that era & the unique mechanism ideas they came up with. Looks good. Nice save

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was elated to find this L.S. Starrett ratchet this morning at the flea. It is heavy, robust, and extremely well-built. The patent date (Jan. 11, 1916) refers to 1,167,948. It belongs inside the elegant, sophisticated, large wood boxed sets they made in the 'Teens, to include those issued to the US Army's Model 1918 Artillery Repair Truck. I have not been lucky enough to run into the whole set or even a partial set in the wild and this is the first and only piece I have ever found.

Like early Charles Miller and Syracuse sets it has a 5/8-inch drive female opening, which takes 5/8-inch male drive tang sockets. The innards are flame treated. I also included a shot of the captive pawl, which is beveled, and attached to a long shaft terminating in that knurled knob on the end. To change directions, you pull out to release it from the gear, twist 180*, and let go.

It wouldn't turn at the flea, but it disassembled easily on the bench. (No spring to lose!) Stuck with hard grease, it moves like butter now that it has been cleaned and freshly greased.

There are a few others scattered on the board, and I thought there was at least one No. 443-A or -B set, but I could not find it in a search. Probably not identified in text.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I received this Lowell No. 1 LAG ratchet today (pics below). It's constructed identical to my 4ft Lowell Red ratchet. The internal mechanism is the same too. This one is 13" long. It's not marked Lowell, but it's pretty obvious it's a Lowell. Like many other Lowell ratchets it has the center position on the lever to lock out the action. The socket is removable by removing the collar on the back side. The socket & the gear are one piece just like the 4 footer. Used for industrial situations I'm assuming. Not sure what the N-1 forging or N2 stamping stands for? I'm a big Lowell fan so I had to pick this one up.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I received this Lowell No. 1 LAG ratchet today (pics below). It's constructed identical to my 4ft Lowell Red ratchet. The internal mechanism is the same too. This one is 13" long. It's not marked Lowell, but it's pretty obvious it's a Lowell. Like many other Lowell ratchets it has the center position on the lever to lock out the action. The socket is removable by removing the collar on the back side. The socket & the gear are one piece just like the 4 footer. Used for industrial situations I'm assuming. Not sure what the N-1 forging or N2 stamping stands for? I'm a big Lowell fan so I had to pick this one up.

I found this 1915 ad for the Lowell LAG ratchets. It says "Designed for turning coach screws, nuts or bolts, for street railway builders, telephone, telegraph & electric light companies."

 

[Fred Knox]

Here’s an early The Bay State ratchet (PAT APLD FOR). It’s 6” long with a 1/2”-drive on one end and a 3/8”-drive on the other. Upthread, @four.cycle showed a Bay State Tool Co. 1909 advertisement, but it’s a different ratchet design. It still works well.

 

[four.cycle]

how's this for some nomenclature?

"Double-End Carriage and Tire Bolt Ratchet Wrench"


1913 Bay State Double-End Carriage and Tire Bolt Ratchet Wrench ad pp

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The small end on those works on brace bits

 

[Private Lugnutz]

"Bay State" is most famous for their 'Cat Car' emblazoned wood box "Autokit", which had the roto-ratchet Fred alluded to, and became Sears' first socket set, but they have an interesting history with quite a few ownership and name changes and other tools. They sold a really cool Ford kit with those double-ended ratchet wrenches you guys have inside a leather bag with individual pouches for the bits. I would love to find one in the wild one day.

I did find a Bay State Pump Company era Autokit No. 35 in a cigar tin that I cherish. Looks like I missed it when I did my post with links upthread. It has a more conventional, slightly beaver tailed ratchet in it.

 

[Fred Knox]

I love the early Father’s Day responses! Thanks guys. Mine must be the No. 1 model.