Whats your favorite vintage rachet?

[gatewaysysop]

If we're talking strictly vintage and not necessarily overall favorite to use, then I would say my favorite is probably this one:



Snap On F71N, given to my by my father. He used it eons ago when he was working for a utility company of all things. Well worn internals, smooth as butter and zero back drag. Don't have any others that feel quite like it. Coarse tooth but very usable.

Close second in the vintage category is probably this one, the SK Frankenstein:



Rock solid, low back drag, just about the perfect handle length and nice knurling.

 

[Beerhippie]

This one isn't as old as some here, but I bought it new some twenty-odd years ago. It's the brewery shop ratchet #1, first-to-hand when I need a 3/8" drive (90% of the time):



T&E Tools SRC 150. This is a "toothless" ratchet--I think T&E called it "the infinity ratchet". It has nil for backdrag and works well in very tight spaces. No direction switch--you turn it over and push the driver through to change directions. Very nicely finished, but it is starting to show some wear. Not surprising for something used many times a day for a couple of decades.

I can't find anything on it searching here, the 'net and T&E's site. The main thing I learned at the T&E site is "them ain't cheap tools".

 

[Tynee]

This one isn't as old as some here, but I bought it new some twenty-odd years ago. It's the brewery shop ratchet #1, first-to-hand when I need a 3/8" drive (90% of the time):



T&E Tools SRC 150. This is a "toothless" ratchet--I think T&E called it "the infinity ratchet". It has nil for backdrag and works well in very tight spaces. No direction switch--you turn it over and push the driver through to change directions. Very nicely finished, but it is starting to show some wear. Not surprising for something used many times a day for a couple of decades.

I can't find anything on it searching here, the 'net and T&E's site. The main thing I learned at the T&E site is "them ain't cheap tools".

I'd never heard of T&E Tools before. Perusing their website, looks like a full range of tools, storage, accessories, etc. I see its Australian, but do you know where they manufacture?

 

[Beerhippie]

I'd never heard of T&E Tools before. Perusing their website, looks like a full range of tools, storage, accessories, etc. I see its Australian, but do you know where they manufacture?

Here's an NOS SRC250 1/2" drive "Infinity" I picked up a while back:





There is no COO actually stamped on either rat.

I'm not sure when these were made. I do know that T&E no longer lists these "Infinity" wrenches, nor is there a rebuild kit for them--I'm not too sure they're rebuildable.

 

[PMD1966]

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.

I have the same ratchet, along with a 3/8" version. Purchased them both over 50 years ago.

 

[Fly Fishing Rick]

This wartime 1/4" S-K is my favorite because it has a wonderful, precise feel and sound with very little back-drag.

 

[bmwrd0]

In 1/2" a Thorsen open gear long handle, 3/8" a Cornwell JR-30. and, while I rarely used 1/4", an Armstrong.

 

[IRQVET]

Nice vintage ratchets, love the WW2 pass down stuff.

 

[toolmiser]

My Dad's SK's. They are nice smooth ratchets.

 

[joel63]

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

That's a great one.
I have several; use them all the time. (when I need to)

 

[Packard V8]

The S-K round head is the working man's choice. I've never seen one broken, never seen one worn out. They're a bit heavy, but that's where the durability comes from.

FWIW, over the years I've put Craftsman socket sets in every garage and several trucks; usually found the ratchets to be ****; several of mine now have round-head S-K ratchets in place.

jack vines

 

[Davefr]

Cornwell JR-30GS

 

[Rinspeed]

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.

I'm not sure how many SK round heads I have but it must be at least 8 or 9 and I still use them quite a bit. Fairly easy to find on Ebay for $15-20, they a great ratchet.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'm not sure how many SK round heads I have but it must be at least 8 or 9 and I still use them quite a bit. Fairly easy to find on Ebay for $15-20, they a great ratchet.

I bought one of the 45170 (3/8") new back in the late seventies/early eighties and I'm still using it. 40 teeth was a pretty fine-tooth back then, and it's still silky smooth with little or no backlash or drag.

I wonder how many of these were made? It seems every sale I hit with tools of a certain age has at least one. I have three now and have to just give 'em a pass even when they're cheap.

Still on the look-out for the 1/2" and 1/4"--those are not common around here.

 

[toolz]

SK still going strong - heavy but feel right in the hand

 

[Rinspeed]

Still on the look-out for the 1/2" and 1/4"--those are not common around here.

I know I only have one 1/2" but if I have an extra 1/4" I will send it to you.

 

[belvedere]

I have a 1/2" round head SK that belonged to my late grandfather. I keep it and occasionally use it for sentimental reasons, but
much prefer modern ratchets for regular use.

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

Craftsman “butterfly” raised panel handles. They’re the ratchets Dad had. I still have the 1/4 drive set with most of the original sockets, sliding tee, and breaker bar in the original tin box with plastic insert. The only thing missing is the cross bar that goes in the handle of the breaker.

 

[mjdarg]

I picked up this Wright 2400 1/4” drive round head with a custom long handle on it at a flea market a few years back. The head is super compact and it’s actually nice to use. The extension is a tube so the balance is a bit weird, but I really like using it.

I don’t use the Ferret ratchet much, but I do use from time to time. It’s a 1941 and it’s crazy that’s it’s every bit as compact as my new Koken 72T pictured next to it.

 

[1967lemans]

My favorite is that 3/8 plomb

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

William ratchet

 

[d42jeep]

Pretty hard to argue with S-K ratchets going back to WW2 but I really like my shorty 3/8” drive Cornwell too.
-Don

 

[Pasha]

SK Wayne 40970 1/4" drive ratchet.

The 40970 is still the best 1/4 ratchet ever made imo
The SK 3870 is another gem.

 

[ecotec]

I have a lot of vintage ratchets, but I prefer modern ratchets. I have too many modern ratchets to use the vintage ones.

I put upgrade kits in a couple vintage SK ratchets recently. I need to make an effort to use them more, to see if I like them. I did use a pear head 3/8” SK ratchet for a few years at work, before I moved to a higher tooth count Wright.

I would love to find a kit to upgrade a pear head Proto ratchet, and a Williams B-52.

 

[F-22]

SK still going strong - heavy but feel right in the hand

Are these SK ratchets the same as the New Britain production? I have an old US made Husky from New Britain that looks very similar. It is indeed a very good ratchet...

 

[KnurledNut]

Are these SK ratchets the same as the New Britain production? I have an old US made Husky from New Britain that looks very similar. It is indeed a very good ratchet...

From Alloy-Artifacts:
“In the early 1950s New Britain licensed a patent for a new ratchet design that promised great strength in a very small head. The ratchet design and a later improvement were developed by Luther Kilness, and the patents were issued as #2,554,990 in 1951 and#2,981,389 in 1961. These are basically second-generation improvements on the original round-head fine-tooth patent #1,981,526 developed by S-K's Theodore Rueb in 1934.

The Kilness-design ratchets were highly successful products for New Britain, and probably should be considered as one of the company's most important contributions to tool development.

Kilness patent ratchets were offered under the New Britain and Husky brands, but have not been observed for the None Better brand. The Husky product line in particular included a number of models based on these patents, as the following figures will show.

Kilness patent ratchets were also available in the Blackhawk line under the "Powergrip" moniker.”

 

[genog]

If 1980's is vintage enough, here's mine

It's my Go-To

 

[cody1325]

My favorite is that 3/8 plomb

Plus, aren't repair kits still available? If I'm mistaken, the basic design of these pear heads changed little over the past several decades.

Thus, it's why mine (all '60s Proto) in 3/8 and 1/2 are still in use. Still need to add a 1/4" to have every size I need (and of course, a 3/4" for stuff like the Bush Hog bolts). Mine supply near me has the repair kits on the shelves.

That is compared to my others:

SK--now overseas, Great Star discontinued the long-running round heads--which I still use. My Tuff-1 is a Facom-design flash in the pan (but still used a lot--bought earlier this year at the mine supply)

Challenger round-head quick release--discontinued ages ago.

Blackhawk round head--discontinued ages ago.

Craftsman. Only reason I don't retire them is the sheer number (and quick release). I know I have about five each '60s-end of US production in 3/8 and 1/4" plus a pair of older 1/2s. For many, rebuild kits are still easily sourced cheap on eBay.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Hard not to love SK. I have some from the 70's and some brand new round heads.

-Ryan

 

[jries25]

Here's an NOS SRC250 1/2" drive "Infinity" I picked up a while back:





There is no COO actually stamped on either rat.

I'm not sure when these were made. I do know that T&E no longer lists these "Infinity" wrenches, nor is there a rebuild kit for them--I'm not too sure they're rebuildable.

Hey there,
T&E still does exist and I am a representative here in the United States. These ratchets are still being produced and you could purchase them from Mid American Tool out of Chicago. We are the distributor for T&E here in the USA with our partners working out of Australia.

 

[Beerhippie]

Hey there,
T&E still does exist and I am a representative here in the United States. These ratchets are still being produced and you could purchase them from Mid American Tool out of Chicago. We are the distributor for T&E here in the USA with our partners working out of Australia.

I'm aware that T&E tools still exists, but I couldn't find diddly about these ratchetless ratchets, even using the part #s--SRC 0150 and SRC 0250. T&E doesn't list a repair kit for them, either.

Is T&E based in Australia? Made there?

 

[terrific]

Next time I'm out that way, I need to remember to grab a part number from my Dad's 3/8 SK round head ratchet.
He might object to it being called vintage. We used it for everything, because we didn't have 1/2 tools, and because the handle fit perfectly inside the pipe-like handle of a Heyco VW tire tool which came with Jettas at the time. You could not machine a better cheater pipe, and the SK made a very fine 15" ratchet.

 

[dnschmidt]

Has anybody noticed how short ratchets use to be compared to what's considered standard length today. Either bolts have gotten tighter or American's are getting weaker.

 

[Mecha]

The Blackhawk 3/8" flex head long handled round head. It was my grandfather's. 70's I think. It's perfect.

 

[WWheeler]

For vintage ratchets, RHFT all the way. 1970s ratchets that were strong and durable and had the fine tooth swing arc to rival most of the best ratchets today, and lubed up they have the least backdrag of any ratchet I've ever held. They have an asynchronous double pawl that effectively doubles the # of clicks, or range of travel between the # of teeth, so the 1/2"dr had 45 teeth = 90 clicks, so ~4° of travel between teeth engagement, the 3/8"dr had 41 teeth = 82 clicks / ~4.4° arc swing, and the 1/4"dr had 35 teeth = 70 clicks / ~5.1° of arc swing.


I have multiples of all sizes of Craftsman RHFTs, but just a 1/2" dr Armstrong. I'd sure like to get the 1/4" & 3/8" drs to go with it.

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

1/4 drive Craftsman butterfly, that was Dad’s. I still use it occasionally.

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

Edited because I already posted

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Easco RHFT ratchet, because it has the nice Craftsman style head, with the nice SK knurled handles. (general use)
The Snap on 3/8" drive in a 1/4" body ratchet, because it fits several needs, and was found at a damaged freight store for around $20. (specialty use)
Thorsen open gear ratchet from a collector/toy ratchet. (planned use is VW bug toolkit)

Heirloom ones, my grandfathers non SK marked SK 1/4" drive, or his Husky female drive ratchet from his garage in the 20's.

 

[Robinson1]

SK 45170

 

[Steve_P]

The Blackhawk 3/8" flex head long handled round head. It was my grandfather's. 70's I think. It's perfect.

Mine too. I have my dad's. This one was way ahead of its time. I looked and can't find a pic of mine, but it looks just like the SK, which I also have; the SK has 40 teeth.

The Blackhawk has 60 teeth, ~11" OAL, flex head. This was my main ratchet in the 1980s thru early 2000s and everyone that saw it was immediately in love with it because of the flex head and longer length.