Show Off Your Antique Ratchet

[four.cycle]

Previous Bay State Auto Kit thread from 2016

Previous Allen Bay State thread from 2019 ( this appears to be the "Bay State" thread with most replies and activity)

Bay State Tool Co. advertisements 1905-1913

Bay State Tool Co. advertisement 1920-1938

 

[AntiqueBen]

Anyone ever seen this Rex Adjustable (Ratcheting) Wrench set? If anyone has one I'd like to see pics. I understand the sockets, but I'd like to see how the open end wrench heads work on this thing.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Just hooks onto them

 

[AntiqueBen]

Just hooks onto them

Wow! That is sweet. I've never seen this set before. Is it ratcheting?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No but I think there was a ratcheting version

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a link to a thread on them

the Rex Wrench Co Boston Mass

I posted a picture of this awhile back and at the time the wrench handle was the only thing missing from the set.There was a picture or two of these sets on the Alloy Artifacts site and with them was a photograph of a handle next to a ruler which was most helpful. A good friend of mine who lives...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

OG crows foot

 

[AntiqueBen]

I found a Greene Tweed & Co ratchet. I think this is the larger example at 24" long. I know these were used for larger industrial situations, but I think this was used for railroad rail because of the number 20 on one end of the socket. Works great & has a 12 tooth operation. I'd like to figure out the "N" in a circle logo. It's on the handle & the socket. I'm sure that's probably the forging company that made it for Greene Tweed. Anyone know this logo?

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I found a Greene Tweed & Co ratchet. I think this is the larger example at 24" long. I know these were used for larger industrial situations, but I think this was used for railroad rail because of the number 20 on one end of the socket. Works great & has a 12 tooth operation. I'd like to figure out the "N" in a circle logo. It's on the handle & the socket. I'm sure that's probably the forging company that made it for Greene Tweed. Anyone know this logo?

I don’t know the logo but know the ratchet well. That’s a mass of steel. The sockets are no joke either

 

[Beerhippie]

Here's an old P&C 1/2" open-gear I picked up recently, after de-rusting in the electrolysis vat:







It was so rusty I didn't notice the P&C logo until I got it cleaned up. I just thought the open-gear design was cool and the price was right--$1.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I don’t know the logo but know the ratchet well. That’s a mass of steel. The sockets are no joke either

Yep, it's a big one. It's an oldie too. It was patented in 1891. See HERE

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's a few interesting ads for Greene Tweed's Favorite Ratchet Wrench. One ad advertises making war work easier. An ad during World War I showing a lady using the wrench. Also, likely the first ad for the ratchet in Iron Age dated 1892.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Here's a few interesting ads for Greene Tweed's Favorite Ratchet Wrench. One ad advertises making war work easier. An ad during World War I showing a lady using the wrench. Also, likely the first ad for the ratchet in Iron Age dated 1892.

The fitment on the sockets is pretty stout. I have found sockets for the smaller general purpose ratchet and ones for the large (railroad I’m sure) version. The tang of the socket extends through the ratchet opening to the other side. 100 and twenty or thirty years later and it’s still cool. I still like to convince myself that the 1800s was a long time ago. It really wasn’t. Between the automobile, railroad and associated tool manufacturers, it really was a golden time of innovation.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I posted this over in the "J.J. Richardson's Ratchet Wasn't The First" thread, but I thought I would post it here too for reference:

I found what I believe to be the first catalog pics of D.M. Moore's patent ratchet wrench for Lowell Wrench Co. Lowell Wrench Company started in 1869. I found this pic in a Walworth catalog dated January, 1 of 1870. In the pic it is advertised as Moore's triple action ratchet, but you can clearly see the Lowell Wrench Company stamping on the ratchet. So, this is probably the earliest image of Moore's patented ratchet with Lowell Wrench Company's name on it. Its difficult to say if Moore's ratchet was ever produced after his patent in 1864 & before 1869 when Lowell Wrench Company started their business. If it was I've never heard or seen any information, references or pics indicating this. Until any 1864-1869 information would be discovered, this 1870 pic is the first advertisement for Moore's patented wrench for Lowell Wrench Co. Below is the pic of ratchet along with the title & preface of the catalog.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I lucked out & found another early Lowell ratchet online. This one also has the Dec. 6, 1864 patent date stamp. Unlike my other two 1864's, this one is set up as the drill model option like shown in D.M. Moore's original patent. Pics below are horrible, so I'll post better pics when it arrives.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I noticed on AA they were unclear on the exact date that Lowell Wrench Company moved to Worcester & they listed a reference from 1883 showing Lowell was in Worcester. I found a much earlier reference showing that Lowell Wrench Company was already in Worcester in 1871. Pics below.

 

[AntiqueBen]

My other Lowell 1864 ratchet drill showed up today. After a light cleaning it turned out nice for its age (over 150 yrs). As far as finish & construction it's much closer in similarity to the original flat handle version. I would call this one version 2 of the 1864's. The flat handle 1st, this ratchet drill 2nd & the other one 3d. There are obvious differences between all 3. The ratchet drill's round handle is not as thick as the other round handle. Also, the head of the ratchet drill is the same thickness as the flat handle. The guts of all 3 are identical. It's amazing the 150 yr old springs are still in great shape. I noticed on the inside by the mechanism & behind the face plate is stamped 11? Not sure yet what this indicates. Any ideas? I'm still surprised I found this one, especially the drill version. They're so difficult to find.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I just realized that a lot of my really old tanged sockets & drill bits fit the tapered opening on the 1864 Lowell ratchet drill. Actually, all my tanged sockets from my G.W. Smith (1883) socket set fits it too.

 

[RTM]

I just realized that a lot of my really old tanged sockets & drill bits fit the tapered opening on the 1864 Lowell ratchet drill

Yup, but those augers won’t work well with metal. You need to acquire metal spiral bits.

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

 

[Beerhippie]

Did that ratcheting drill use a clamp of some kind to provide pressure (like a rail drill)? Seems the design isn't good for manual pressure.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Did that ratcheting drill use a clamp of some kind to provide pressure (like a rail drill)? Seems the design isn't good for manual pressure.

You had to use something like this.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Yup, but those augers won’t work well with metal. You need to acquire metal spiral bits.

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

I know. I'd like to find an old set of reamer bits with tanged ends.

 

[RTM]

I know. I'd like to find an old set of reamer bits with tanged ends.

Got mine a few years ago.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Got mine a few years ago.

Sweet! That's exactly what I'm looking for. Nice set & nice box.

 

[RTM]

Sweet! That's exactly what I'm looking for. Nice set & nice box.

Seller had no clue what it was, but knew it should be expensive. My reasonable offer was accepted.

Used a non tanged one a few weeks back to fix the arbor flange for a bench grinder.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Seller had no clue what it was, but knew it should be expensive. My reasonable offer was accepted.

Used a non tanged one a few weeks back to fix the arbor flange for a bench grinder.

Nice. They certainly come in handy when you need them.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I'm looking for opinions. My Lowell 1864 ratchet drill I posted above has a #11 stamped on the body inside by the mechanism & on the back side of the faceplate. I know that sometimes manufacturers stamp numbers on tools during the manufacturer process to keep the right parts together for assembly. But in this case, that explanation doesn't make sense. All of the faceplates would be identical, so there would be no reason to mark them for assembly purposes. Then why stamp the same number on the body of the ratchet next to the mechanism? It seems to me maybe Lowell could have stamped serial numbers on their early tools. I don't think this stamp was for manufacturing reasons to keep the parts together since the two parts that are stamped would be identical to all the others. With that said, could this ratchet be serial #11?
Any thoughts?

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I'm looking for opinions. My Lowell 1864 ratchet drill I posted above has a #11 stamped on the body inside by the mechanism & on the back side of the faceplate. I know that sometimes manufacturers stamp numbers on tools during the manufacturer process to keep the right parts together for assembly. But in this case, that explanation doesn't make sense. All of the faceplates would be identical, so there would be no reason to mark them for assembly purposes. Then why stamp the same number on the body of the ratchet next to the mechanism? It seems to me maybe Lowell could have stamped serial numbers on their early tools. I don't think this stamp was for manufacturing reasons to keep the parts together since the two parts that are stamped would be identical to all the others. With that said, could this ratchet be serial #11?
Any thoughts?

You could check the patent drawings and see if they numbered the drawing parts. I have seen the parts numbered. Just thinking.

 

[AntiqueBen]

You could check the patent drawings and see if they numbered the drawing parts. I have seen the parts numbered. Just thinking.

That's a good thought. The patent drawing does have numbers & letters to explain the operation. The part of my ratchet that is stamped #11 is referred to as #7 in the patent drawing. That was a good thought but doesn't match up. So it doesn't look like it refers to the patent drawing. Pics below.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I just checked one of my other 1864 ratchets & it's stamped #71. So the numbers are different between ratchets.

 

[four.cycle]

#11 might have been the guy who was working on that particular bench that day?

 

[AntiqueBen]

#11 might have been the guy who was working on that particular bench that day?

That's a thought too, but I've never heard of workers having their own corresponding stamps to mark tools.

 

[AntiqueBen]

#11 might have been the guy who was working on that particular bench that day?

I was thinking more about your theory. One of my other 1864's is marked #71. I doubt they had 71 work stations that early in the game

 

[four.cycle]

^ Hey, I'm just tossin' out random ideas into the ring.... I have NO clue why they would stamp a number on a component piece. Some forging marks / stampings just don't make sense no matter how you try to suss them out.

 

[AntiqueBen]

^ Hey, I'm just tossin' out random ideas into the ring.... I have NO clue why they would stamp a number on a component piece. Some forging marks / stampings just don't make sense no matter how you try to suss them out.

Oh I know 4C. Sometimes I try to make sense of something when sometimes there is no clear answer. I tend to be a "either it's black or white" kinda guy & unclear nuances drive me crazy

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Hey its over 100 yrs ago

 

[four.cycle]

^ Yes. Sometimes it's better to try to not overthink some of this stuff because it will make you go crazy.

 

[AntiqueBen]

^ Yes. Sometimes it's better to try to not overthink some of this stuff because it will make you go crazy.

I agree. It's not worth losing sleep over. Some things there's just no answer to. Not being able to figure something out is what drives me crazy, but I have to accept it

 

[Beerhippie]

Hey its over 100 yrs ago

And being over 100yrs old, it's entirely possible that the faceplates were individually fitted.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I posted this over in The Billings & Spencer Patent thread, but I thought I'd post it here for reference:

The 1882 Billings & Spencer Double Action Ratchet Drill showed up today. It does have a 3d position. Loosen, tighten & the 3d position disengages both pawls & it spins freely. It's very heavy & all the teeth are intact & operates perfectly. It cleaned up nice for its age. It's also stamped No. 1 DA. Being able to push the lever & change directions was a monumental improvement on Packers ratchet drill. If your driving (tightening) a reamer drill bit through metal & it catches or sticks, being able to back it out a little would drastically help to start drilling again. I lucked out on this one. It's in great shape.