a lucky lucky day in CT

[nz44tool]

I picked up this little ratchet at a consignment place, not knowing what it was, since it was completely covered in hardened grease and dirt (and since I'd never seen one of these before).
A little cleaning and the Snap-on brand emerged, along with the "G", which I think points to 1945 as the birth year.
After I put it back together, I thought I'd try turning a 1/4" socket with it to check the mechanism, but...it doesn't fit, because it's 9/32".
After saying a few forbidden words, I remembered that I have the adapter! (I found it a year or more ago; glad I didn't sell it!)
Now they can live happily together.

 

[AC-WC]

Should you buy a lottery ticket?

 

[nz44tool]

Should you buy a lottery ticket?

Probably should...

 

[micromind]

Should you buy a lottery ticket?

No, he used up all his luck.

 

[d42jeep]

It looks like the Ratchet was made in 1945 and the adapter may be from 1944. With that age difference, I’m not sure they should interact.
-Don

 

[nz44tool]

It looks like the Ratchet was made in 1945 and the adapter may be from 1944. With that age difference, I’m not sure they should interact.
-Don

Wow, if that's the standard, just about everyone I know is in big trouble.
...you'll also notice that I didn't show them mating...

 

[d42jeep]

That ratchet would have been part of this set.
Here is my 1945 9/32” drive ratchet.
My adapter is newer and not guaranteed.




-Don

 

[nz44tool]

That ratchet would have been part of this set.
Here is my 1945 9/32” drive ratchet.
My adapter is newer and not guaranteed.




-Don

Thanks, Don - why the "not guaranteed" stamp? Did Snap-on think these were likely to be abused?
Also - I gotta say, I'm always amazed at the depth and breadth of the collections I see on GJ, and I wonder - where do y'all get this stuff??
I'm not really a collector, and I realize many of the vintage tool folks on GJ have surely been doing this much longer than I have, but still...I NEVER see sets like this at the flea markets, estate sales, and junk stores that I frequent, or even enough pieces to be the basis of one.
A lot of my time on GJ is spent just saying "WOW"!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

why the "not guaranteed" stamp? Did Snap-on think these were likely to be abused?

No necessarily abused. Excuse me quoting myself. Just easier than typing a fresh version of the same answer...

Any tools they thought were susceptible to breakage were exempt from the guarantee. They are denoted throughout every catalog with a star symbol as forewarned with a Note, on the Introduction page (typically, page 2 or 3), where the guarantee was stated, starting in 1939 (Catalog N).

Common sense dictates some of these (e.g., cellulose tipped hammers). Also anything with a tiny, thin, easily damaged edge or tip, for example, such as all the smallest sizes (/32nds) in pin, starter, and drift punches, and all Phillips head screwdrivers. Sockets that were not guaranteed fall into one of two categories: (1) special small sockets with tiny forged structures that could easily be damaged, such as Midget drive (1/4-inch) carburetor sockets with prongs, refrigeration sockets for packing gland nuts, and all Midget and Ferret (3/8-inch) drive screwdriver attachments, and (2) special connecting rod sockets (for Ford, Cadillac, Buick, etc) which had really thin walls for access.

 

[nz44tool]

Thanks, Private L. It's nice of them to put it right on the tool, rather than having the distributor/salesman break the news to you as you show them your tipless $23.00 screwdriver.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's nice of them to put it right on the tool,

And in the catalog - before you buy it and try to take advantage of the guarantee for breaking or boogering it all up. I'd have to go back through my notes on when the 'NO GUAR' markings started. The famous guarantee was 1-year until 1932 or thereabouts when it became lifetime, but they started adding all kinds of caveats about abuse and then started not guaranteeing tools prone to breakage.

 

[Stubby1743]

Just for fun, here is what us Brits were doing along the same lines.

King **** aluminum bodied 9/32" drive ratchets and a King **** 9/32" to 1/4" adaptor.



All three pieces have the UK Govt, property mark broad arrow but no dates. I think however that they are post WW2.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, Don - why the "not guaranteed" stamp? Did Snap-on think these were likely to be abused?
Also - I gotta say, I'm always amazed at the depth and breadth of the collections I see on GJ, and I wonder - where do y'all get this stuff??
I'm not really a collector, and I realize many of the vintage tool folks on GJ have surely been doing this much longer than I have, but still...I NEVER see sets like this at the flea markets, estate sales, and junk stores that I frequent, or even enough pieces to be the basis of one.
A lot of my time on GJ is spent just saying "WOW"!

My 9/32” drive set I received in late 2017 in a trade with Todd W. (Twertsy). I started collecting WW2 tools and I like midget sets so the set appealed to me. It was missing a few pieces and had some incorrect sockets so it was a work in progress for a few years. I finally got tired of looking at the rusty green felt so I replaced it with cork.
As found by Todd. The spinner handle had disintegrated causing the surrounding tools and the box to rust
I found a replacement spinner and cleaned off the rust.
Over time I refined the set and was gifted a particularly rare screwdriver bit by Snapmom.
Here it is completed with a few extras.
With other wartime Snap-on sets.
-Don