Show Off Your Antique Ratchet

[AntiqueBen]

collar looks different between the reversible and NEW reversible....quick release then?

I noticed that, but it seems like your Walworth version would have that feature, but it doesn't? This would also change the mechanism inside, which I believe never changed...but I could be wrong.

 

[MR.X]

I noticed that, but it seems like your Walworth version would have that feature, but it doesn't? This would also change the mechanism inside, which I believe never changed...but I could be wrong.

Can you pull the text up of the Ben Smith patent? by the picture, which is all I have, it seems like there's stuff going on there in the handle that's not in the pic from the G.W. Smith patent.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Can you pull the text up of the Ben Smith patent? by the picture, which is all I have, it seems like there's stuff going on there in the handle that's not in the pic from the G.W. Smith patent.

Your right. The Benjamin Smith patent pic shows a difference at the collar where the first G W. Smith doesn't have this feature. Both patent pics below. Datamp says the 1898 Ben Smith version was "not known to have been produced." Doesn't mean that it wasn't though. I'll have to read the Ben Smith patent description & see if he describes how this feature works.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Walworth....

Both ratchets are excellent

 

[AntiqueBen]

The C B. Gracey ratchet showed up today. I'm still always amazed at how some of these old ratchets work. The spring mechanism on this one is pretty genius. It operates so nice & has a loud click as it engages the teeth. I was surprised to see a lot of the original black paint, so I'm going to leave the original finish on it. It's heavy, probably cast iron, & the gear is 13 tooth. I'm glad this one had an original socket. Just pull the pin to release the socket, simple but very functional. Socket looks to be 1-1/4".

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

The C B. Gracey ratchet showed up today. I'm still always amazed at how some of these old ratchets work. The spring mechanism on this one is pretty genius. It operates so nice & has a loud click as it engages the teeth. I was surprised to see a lot of the original black paint, so I'm going to leave the original finish on it. It's heavy, probably cast iron, & the gear is 13 tooth. I'm glad this one had an original socket. Just pull the pin to release the socket, simple but very functional. Socket looks to be 1-1/4".

Oh my goodness

 

[AntiqueBen]

I'd be interested to know 4C if you can find another ad on this Gracey Ratchet. I can't find anything. It's also odd that google lens can find another image of one anywhere on the Internet (except the one I bought). It would be interesting to figure out how long it was offered. I'm guessing not long.

 

[four.cycle]

@AntiqueBen -
re: 1901 Logan-Gregg Hardware co catalog Ashcroft Buda Crerar Adams Gracey Keystone Millers Falls ad pp 158
those old catalog pages were all lifted from various websites. I just find what I can. That's the only document I have that shows "Gracey".
and as we've noticed, you need to take some of those old catalog dates with a grain of salt - I find them now and then that have clearly been misdated, but I have no way to determine what the actual date may have been so I usually just leave them as I got them.
BK

 

[AntiqueBen]

After another evening of research on Charles B. Gracey, I'm not finding much of anything. Even though it was offered in the ad above that 4C posted, I don't believe this was mass produced or sold for any length of time. If it was offered several years we should be able to find more info on the tool & on Charles Gracey. I can't find anything on Charles Gracey either. Maybe it was only offered in 1904. I found an article from the patent office dated August of 1904 describing the ratchet & it's operation (pic below). I did find another ad offering what was called the "Gracey's Improved Double Acting Ratchet Pulling Jack" (pic below). Not only did the word Gracey catch my eye, but at the top of the ad it says Pittsburgh PA. Maybe Charles Gracey dabbled in a few inventions that just never took off. There was an explosion of new ratchet designs during this time, so competition was probably tough if your pockets wasn't deep enough. It's just odd to find only a few references over the vastness of the internet.

 

[RTM]

If it was offered several years we should be able to find more info on the tool & on Charles Gracey. I can't find anything on Charles Gracey either.

There is a separate Charles Gracey patenting things out in AZ, so be cautious.


I know everyone is focused on the 768220 ratchet patent, but he has another at 722695


Found here, with two others

Google Patents

Search and read the full text of patents from around the world with Google Patents, and find prior art in our index of non-patent literature.

patents.google.com

A reissue here

Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office

books.google.com

Founder of ornamental iron company

Iron Age and Hardware, Iron and Industrial Reporter

books.google.com

Lots of stuff out there. Take off patent for more

"Charles b Gracey" patent - Google Search

 

[AntiqueBen]

There is a separate Charles Gracey patenting things out in AZ, so be cautious.


I know everyone is focused on the 768220 ratchet patent, but he has another at 722695


Found here, with two others

Google Patents

Search and read the full text of patents from around the world with Google Patents, and find prior art in our index of non-patent literature.

patents.google.com

A reissue here

Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office

books.google.com

Founder of ornamental iron company

Iron Age and Hardware, Iron and Industrial Reporter

books.google.com

Lots of stuff out there. Take off patent for more

"Charles b Gracey" patent - Google Search

Great info RTM. I saw a few of these. I knew there were two ratchet patents, but finding ads or catalog info specifically on the Gracey Ratchet is almost non-existent. Looks like Charles Gracey was involved in several things, but I wonder why the ratchet info is so scarce? Usually you can take a picture & have google lens search the net for pics of the same thing. Usually I get several hits of examples, except this Gracey Ratchet. The only pic it found on the net was the pic of the one I bought.

 

[RTM]

Here is another patent, 448611, half assigned to C B Gracey of caraopolis.

For a vehicle shaft, so not a fit here.

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/2a/1d/41/21110936a7dba4/US448611.pdf

swing for porches, etc, 600963, half inventor.

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/98/f2/8d/24e3f4a2fe8482/US600963.pdf

New buyers of a company

Industry Week

books.google.com

 

[Oldtuleguy]

An old ratcheting wrench. One end tightens the other loosens. Stamped viking.

 

[Farmer J.]

An old ratcheting wrench. One end tightens the other loosens. Stamped viking.

Never seen one like that before!

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

An old ratcheting wrench. One end tightens the other loosens. Stamped viking.

Now thats cool. I would love to know the time frame on that. Very Auto-Cle looking in its mechanism

 

[AntiqueBen]

Now thats cool. I would love to know the time frame on that. Very Auto-Cle looking in its mechanism

Looks like the 20's. Here is a 1922 ad for the Viking Wrench Set.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Looks like the 20's. Here is a 1922 ad for the Viking Wrench Set.

Now I want one

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That looks like a tough set to put together!

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here you go. This book is a good one

Patrick, by chance, is the C.B. Gracey (Charles B. Gracey) Ratchet in your wrench makers catalog? It was patented on August 23, 1904.

 

[AntiqueBen]

My other G W. Smith ratchet & sockets finally showed up today. I've been itchin to get these. I'm excited, because like I was hoping, I was able to make a complete "B" set including both square & hex sockets. In the ads for this set the ratchet is piece no. 1 & the handle is no. 2. The sockets are numbered 3-8. The only other 2 sockets available were a 1-1/8" & 1-1/4" for the larger "C" set. The seller threw in a few extra interesting pieces. A handle & 1 socket for the smaller "A" set. So, a complete "B" set would be the ratchet, handle, 6 square sockets (3/8"-1") & 6 hex sockets (3/8"-1"), which I was able to complete.

I've realized too that this set was never offered as a "set." All the sockets had to be bought or ordered separately at .25 cents a piece. So, I kinda consider it luck to be able to piece together a complete set. Especially since they're like finding hens teeth.

My opinion is this set doesn't get the recognition it deserves. I have ads of this set dating back to 1887, a good 15 years before Contal's set appeared. This Smith set wasn't just used for larger industrial jobs, but smaller mechanic work, either on wagons, bicycles & early motor vehicles since the smallest socket goes down to 3/8". I don't know of a set before this that offers a complete set of sockets. Yes there are a few older ratchets, like Packer, that had a few sockets & some other bits & bobs that went with it, but not a whole set of sockets. Especially in square & hex both. I'm just as mesmorized by the tanged malleable iron sockets as I am by the gearless roller ratchet. I have a lot of socket sets, but this one is probably my favorite. All the pics are below. The last pic is all my extras. I guess I could try & piece together another set, but the odds of that are pretty slim

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Ok here’s a couple for you guys. I received an auction lot today and it’s full of goodies. The first is a double headed reversible ratchet. Mechanism is pretty primitive. The press in wheel is missing on the second side. Any help identifying would be appreciated.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

More

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Here is the second oddity. Not really a ratchet but cool. Swivel socket pinned to a wrenching handle

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

One more in the lot. Geodore no. 31

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

One more in the lot. Geodore no. 31

The entire lot was pretty great. All remaining ratchets were teens and 20’s. Chicago, bay state, w&M, Walden, mossberg, Indestro and 30 different bicycle wrenches. A make me happy lot

 

[AntiqueBen]

The entire lot was pretty great. All remaining ratchets were teens and 20’s. Chicago, bay state, w&M, Walden, mossberg, Indestro and 30 different bicycle wrenches. A make me happy lot

Nice haul! There's a lot of good stuff there

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Nice haul! There's a lot of good stuff there

The best part is I think I paid 2 bucks for the lot. Shipping was pricey at 36 bucks but I’ll get by. I just listed a pair of my wife’s shoes on marketplace

 

[AntiqueBen]

The best part is I think I paid 2 bucks for the lot. Shipping was pricey at 36 bucks but I’ll get by. I just listed a pair of my wife’s shoes on marketplace

Careful...Remember...Happy wife...Happy Life

 

[AntiqueBen]

My G W. Smith set didn't fit right in the first box I made, so I pulled out some old aged wood & made another one. This way all the sockets can sit in one row along the back on the inside. Since this ratchet & sockets didn't come in a set & all the pieces were bought individually, there never was an original box. The old wood looks period & everything fits good.

 

[MR.X]

Pre Wistah Lowell.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

My G W. Smith set didn't fit right in the first box I made, so I pulled out some old aged wood & made another one. This way all the sockets can sit in one row along the back on the inside. Since this ratchet & sockets didn't come in a set & all the pieces were bought individually, there never was an original box. The old wood looks period & everything fits good.

Is that the same G.W. Smith that was a soldier during the civil war? I googled the name looking for some history and apparently there was a well documented soldier named G.W. Smith

 

[tgrocker]

Hey guys, my name is Tony. This is my first go on this show. Hope I’m posting in the right spot.. I’ve been collecting tools for a couple years now and found this 7/8” ratchet at a yard sale last month. I call it my Frankenstein ratchet. Never seen anything like it. Looks like someone wielded it together from the salvage yard. Looks hell an ugly but functions pretty good. Anyone seen anything similar? The letter R inside a diamond followed by a 6 is the only marking. My guess is super dupper old or some kid in metal shop that fabbed a pretty cool ratchet. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[MR.X]

Hey guys, my name is Tony. This is my first go on this show. Hope I’m posting in the right spot.. I’ve been collecting tools for a couple years now and found this 7/8” ratchet at a yard sale last month. I call it my Frankenstein ratchet. Never seen anything like it. Looks like someone wielded it together from the salvage yard. Looks hell an ugly but functions pretty good. Anyone seen anything similar? The letter R inside a diamond followed by a 6 is the only marking. My guess is super dupper old or some kid in metal shop that fabbed a pretty cool ratchet. Any thoughts? Thanks

So funky...Like to see a video of it working.

 

[Beerhippie]

Hey guys, my name is Tony. This is my first go on this show. Hope I’m posting in the right spot.. I’ve been collecting tools for a couple years now and found this 7/8” ratchet at a yard sale last month. I call it my Frankenstein ratchet. Never seen anything like it. Looks like someone wielded it together from the salvage yard. Looks hell an ugly but functions pretty good. Anyone seen anything similar? The letter R inside a diamond followed by a 6 is the only marking. My guess is super dupper old or some kid in metal shop that fabbed a pretty cool ratchet. Any thoughts? Thanks

It does look like the handle--which seems to have been from a nail-puller--has been welded on by an owner. Otherwise, pretty damned cool!

 

[Steven 33]

Anyone know what these are?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Bottom one looks like one of those flip flop ratchets sold by sk, duro indestro and hinsdale in 30s.

 

[RTM]

Anyone know what these are?

Since this one might be patented there might be a way to poke DATAMP by category to find it.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Since this one might be patented there might be a way to poke DATAMP by category to find it.

Hard to tell from the pics but is the lower “socket” on the unknown ratchet set up for bits?

 

[Steven 33]

Hard to tell from the pics but is the lower “socket” on the unknown ratchet set up for bits?

Both sides have about a 7/16 square opening and since it's not reversible I assume it's made to maybe put a plug in whichever side is needed maybe?

 

[d42jeep]

Anyone know what these are?

With the multiple bands of knurling, I would assume the flip flop ratchet is S-K.
-Don