Look what I finally got my hands on...

[Outlawmws]

Well, its not a Craftsman, and it's not quite old enough to be a Plvmb, but it is a crank Proto ratchet! Well; it is now... I'm callin this an "early B-day present"... well, SWMBO bought the story!

And yes, you should recognize it..

I've, um, "re-purposed" it a tiny bit to make it useful:


I started with this:

And borrowed parts from this, since It was other wise gutted and needs a rebuild kit anyway:

And came up with this!

This is all based on the std. 5449 Proto Ratchet head, so it worked flawlessly.


I know we discussed the possibility of this being used originally on and aircraft. I don't think so anymore as the crank handle itself is solid steel! Not wood or even aluminum. It even has ball bearings inside the handle! Clearly US army type olive drab, so maybe artillery or off a tank someplace?

 

[Tucko]

I've been trying for 4 years to get one. I see about one a year and I either dont have the money to spend or it's priced too high (I've seen them go for up to $200.00). Found it on ebay $88.00, currently there are 2more to bid on, one is at $91.00 and the other is $155.00.

I'd never spend that much for one, but damn, That is a cool tool. Good score!

 

[Plombob]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/181291562886?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1 an old WW2 Proto version

ooba, that one isn't a mechanics ratchet. it's probably off an aircraft of some sort for cranking landing gear or a hatch. The drive has rounded corners...

I've heard those ratchets were for missiles. Don't have anything to back it up though.

Oh.... and all y'all who have those rats.....YOU ****!

 

[airdale]

Outlaw-
Awesome! I would not have been able to resist either.

 

[ihredo4]

Wish mine was in mint condition. Some douche ran a grinder or milling machine across the top to mark it. ***** but it still is one of my goto ratchets. If I have any spark plugs to put in this is the ratchet. Run it down and give it a quick snap of the wrist and the plug is seated. Can't ask for a better tool for the job.

 

[3baygarage]

That's in nice cond. Softail.

I do agree with Jakemac that they are hard to find "in the wild".

 

[zkling]

Wow, 3bay, where did you get all those? What is the one with the extended anvil?

 

[fatfillup]

I have one of the Cman's. If anyone is interested, it is available. Don't have a pic but can get one and send via pm. IIRC, it is in pretty good shape, but not pristine. Works just fine.

 

[3baygarage]

Got them online, actually 2 in 1 day ironically. The only other one I've seen in person was in a guy's collection. I haven't had any luck in the wild.
The other one is Herbrand.

 

[3baygarage]

Hey Outlaw, nice conversion with the chrome kit. Too bad you altered a piece of U.S. military history, LOL.
Seriously though I had my eye on that ratchet for a while and couldn't justify the seller's price. Funny as heck that you of all people ended up buying it. I used to see them up for sale every once in a while. That guy sat on it for some time.
I wonder if anybody's in the market for a "peephole" spud ratchet

 

[coyotejake]

I have one of the Cman's. If anyone is interested, it is available. Don't have a pic but can get one and send via pm. IIRC, it is in pretty good shape, but not pristine. Works just fine.

I'm sure everyone would like to know how much you'd want for it.

 

[sberry]

Congrats to the guy that sold one for 200$.

 

[Stokes_]

Very rare

I'll say, I've never even seen one. BTW, how's Oceanside these days? Lived on Harvard Drive and in Vista for most of my childhood, miss it quite a bit.

 

[Stokes_]

Congrats to the guy that sold one for 200$.

LOL, had to. But hey, we all have our Vices, mine is old SK tools.

 

[3baygarage]

The guy I know who had one claims to have sold it at his at his shop to a somebody for 200.
I'm sure he did, but its a very big stretch. They go all day for less. The guy who bought it probably never used Ebay.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hey Outlaw, nice conversion with the chrome kit. Too bad you altered a piece of U.S. military history, LOL.
Seriously though I had my eye on that ratchet for a while and couldn't justify the seller's price. Funny as heck that you of all people ended up buying it. I used to see them up for sale every once in a while. That guy sat on it for some time.
I wonder if anybody's in the market for a "peephole" spud ratchet

Yeah, but I can alter it back in about three minutes...

The Spud ratchet needed a complete rebuild kit anyway. both pawls and springs were missing.

And yeah, I wasn't going to go for the asking price at all. He barely kept my interest with his counter offer. If there are that many of them floating around, I wonder what they are from?

 

[Richard Cranium]

a pic of mine

 

[3baygarage]

Yeah, but I can alter it back in about three minutes...

The Spud ratchet needed a complete rebuild kit anyway. both pawls and springs were missing.

And yeah, I wasn't going to go for the asking price at all. He barely kept my interest with his counter offer. If there are that many of them floating around, I wonder what they are from?

No idea of the original use. Hoping some old military photos turn up.

I have seen several sell online in past years. That's the only one in a while though.

a pic of mine

Good stuff! I think the GJ members have harvested all of these.

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlaw-
Awesome! I would not have been able to resist either.

Thanks Airdale! (just getting back to this thread) Yeah once I figured out the head just had to be std Proto, I made the offer, and the rest is history!

http://m.ebay.com/itm/181291562886?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1 an old WW2 Proto version

Belated thanks to Ooba, for posting the Eprey link. I wouldn't have got this thing without that! (Hopefully I didn't ****** it out from under you)