bought some ratchets with a cool story today

[davestlouis]

https://goo.io/KKQVMl

Went to a pawn shop I frequent, and he had goo-gobs of ratchets...S-K, Snap On, Armstrong, Proto. I picked through and settled on 3 industrial finish ratchets:
1. Armstrong 19-903 3/8 pearhead
2. Proto 5249BL 3/8 pearhead
3. Proto 5229BL 1/2 pearhead

All are obviously used, but in good working order. I mentioned the huge stock of ratchets, and the shop owner reports that the industrial finish tools used to be used at the Ford plant in Hazelwood MO, where they built Explorers for years. They were disposed of when the plant closed and wound up in someone's basement. That person now pawned them, along with all sorts of extensions, nut drivers and whatnot. The plant is being torn down right now, the lot is being redeveloped for some sort of retail.

Cool ratchets, wonder how old they are.

 

[ImportTuner]

Went to a pawn shop I frequent, and he had goo-gobs of ratchets...S-K, Snap On, Armstrong, Proto. I picked through and settled on 3 industrial finish ratchets:
1. Armstrong 190903 3/8 pearhead
2. Proto 5249BL 3/8 pearhead
3. Proto 5229BL 1/2 pearhead

All are obviously used, but in good working order. I mentioned the huge stock of ratchets, and the shop owner reports that the industrial finish tools used to be used at the Ford plant in Hazelwood MO, where they built Explorers for years. They were disposed of when the plant closed and wound up in someone's basement. That person now pawned them, along with all sorts of extensions, nut drivers and whatnot. The plant is being torn down right now, the lot is being redeveloped for some sort of retail.

Cool ratchets, wonder how old they are.

Got any pics ...

 

[krusty the clown]

the HAP built aerostars back when i worked at a ford dealer in florisant, not sure what was built there before. that plant was there for a long time so no telling how old they could be.

 

[davestlouis]

working on it, the plumber is here cleaning out a drain.

 

[krusty the clown]

maybe instead of ratchets next time your at the pawn shop you should pick up a pipewrench

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I'd like to know where they were used.

The local plant, the people I know/knew that worked there, used air tools.

 

[krusty the clown]

here's an interesting article about the hazelwood plant

http://www.bluesarthouse.com/ford/plant.htm

 

[wilbilt]

It's sad that we keep having to refer to American manufacturing facilities in the past tense.

Nice score on those historic ratchets.

 

[davestlouis]

I think they started in the late 50's with Fairlanes and other middle of the line sedans, built Aerostars and some USPS chassis that were Aerostar-based, then Explorers/Mountaineers and Aviators. The winodws are all gone, and the structure is starting to come down.

 

[davestlouis]

Krusty you beat me to the punch with the website...looks like most of my info was wrong.

 

[krusty the clown]

ah...you were only off a couple years

 

[jay50]

when did the plant close? What was final product?

 

[krusty the clown]

they first announced it would close in 02 but agreed to keep it open if a contact could be settled with the uaw. it remained operating until 2006. as mentioned earlier they made explorer/mountaineer's there.

 

[davestlouis]

Took all 3 apart, fairly clean inside but dry as a bone. I lubed all of them and they feel smooth and slick. Shame on me, I actually went looking for some of that Permatex that Merkava is in love with, Autozone didn't have it, and I was too lazy to look elsewhere, so I took the kids to Steak n Shake for dinner. I used Hoppe's No.9 gun oil, just like I always do.

 

[Hip2u77]

I'd like to know where they were used.

The local plant, the people I know/knew that worked there, used air tools.

At the plant I worked at all the assembly jobs were done with air tools, but the skilled trades, upgraders (people that fix mistakes on the line), and most anyone that went out in the lot to fix stuff used hand tools.

 

[bchee]

Took all 3 apart, fairly clean inside but dry as a bone. I lubed all of them and they feel smooth and slick. Shame on me, I actually went looking for some of that Permatex that Merkava is in love with, Autozone didn't have it, and I was too lazy to look elsewhere, so I took the kids to Steak n Shake for dinner. I used Hoppe's No.9 gun oil, just like I always do.

Still no picts?


What sections did you check at Autozone?

 

[davestlouis]

The genius behind the counter said their particuar store has almost no internal engine stuff, they don't even stock cams or other engine guts, he pointed me to an older store 10 minutes away and I just didn't bother to go. I'll get pics up in the AM.

 

[justinmc]

so I took the kids to Steak n Shake for dinner. I used Hoppe's No.9 gun oil, just like I always do.

I fully expected to get a line about asking the lady at Steak n Shake if you could empty their grease traps for your ratchets.

What kinda deals did they have on those ratchets? Sometimes you see stuff like that struck w/ "for industrial use only" "no warranty" and that sort of thing.

 

[davestlouis]

I didn't joke around with the poor woman at Steak n Shake, there was an overnight shooting at one about 20 miles from here, and the cook and waitress were killed 2 nights ago, so they are all a little nervous. There were no markings on the ratchets except normal retail markings. The Proto's have a heavy finish that reminds me of Parkerizing on some firearms...it seems to absorb oil just like some 1911's I have. The Armstrong has a smoother finish, most of which has worn off. It's amazing how little the ratchets changed from the 40's era Plombs I have, to these Proto's of unknown vintage.

 

[davestlouis]

 

[64merc]

Man, I really like that Armstrong!!

 

[wrenchr]

Man, I really like that Armstrong!!

+1 here!!!

 

[davestlouis]

The piece of orange **** on the Armstrong head was a piece of gooey paper that was stuck to it, didn't see it until after I took the pic. It's gone now.

 

[billymade]

Armstrong head looks identical to Snapon; only diff is the handle!

 

[davestlouis]

Yeah, I have several Armstrongs and really need to see if the guts interchange with some of my Snap On's. The Armstrong doesn't say anything about being sealed, and the only o-ring I saw inside went between the gearset and the housing where the dust cover would be if there was a separate dust cover. I wonder if the Snappy 7-series are more similar to the Armstrong than the 830 series.

 

[48548]

I want to know which head can handle more torque, a snap on 36 tooth, armstrong or the old proto 24 teeth pear head?

 

[wrenchr]

Armstrong head looks identical to Snapon; only diff is the handle!

The guts will interchange to!!

 

[davestlouis]

Hell I'm afraid to find out...I'd hate to hurt my new toys.

wrenchr you snuck your post in on me...I'm responding to the post above yours.

 

[wrenchr]

I want to know which head can handle more torque, a snap on 36 tooth, armstrong or the old proto 24 teeth pear head?

The proto is a strong proven design. But 24 teeth is not good.

 

[davestlouis]

I'm truly surprised that you guys aren't getting all googly-eyed about the Proto's, I just threw the Armstrong in the pic because it was in the desk drawer next to the Proto's. You never know what people will find interesting.

 

[48548]

I have about 40 or so plomb/proto ratchets and I like them for being strong and never have ever broken one. I can't say the same thing about a snap on or craftsman, but then I use my snap on more because of the teeth count, more teeth are better sometimes, but when it comes to strength I use the proto for those jobs.

 

[Flash21]

awesome pick-up, love that Armstrong

 

[davestlouis]

There's something about those Plomb/Proto ratchets that intrigues me...the heads are really shallow in section, but wide, and I really like the way the ratcheting action feels, 24 teeth or not. Reality being what it is, I tend to grab a different ratchet every time I do a job, I can't seem to settle on a favorite, but I like pearheads and I really like the Plomb and Proto.

 

[48548]

I tend to love the proto and mainly plomb for the 1/4 jobs, they just feel better with the 5 inch or so handle, than the snap on's do.... I guess it is nice to see a design that has stood the test of time, I know of 3 people who where pulling on a proto 5450 long handled 1/2 drive and the handle broke before the head(Pipe on ratchet handle by the way), that must be a strong head design.

 

[bchee]

Man, I really like that Armstrong!!

that armstrong handle hasn't changed after all these years

 

[eschoendorff]

I have Proto and Armstrongs that are the same design. The Proto sits in my box. 24 teeth = PITA. Armstrong = what Craftsman raised panel ratchets SHOULD be.

BTW... did you grill those ratchets? I heard that they are tasty with BBQ sauce!

 

[davestlouis]

Ed, you are the only one to comment about my artistic backdrop. The only way I can get decent pics is outside, and the grille was the closest spot.

 

[krusty the clown]

Armstrong head looks identical to Snapon; only diff is the handle!

yes, and i've posted before that the f720 guts will interchange!

 

[davestlouis]

Who actually made the guts of the Armstrong and F720's?

 

[krusty the clown]

Who actually made the guts of the Armstrong and F720's?

i think thats considered a "proprietary trade secret"