Anybody seen this Ratchet before?
- Thread starter BB&D
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Strouty
Well-known member
I think it is originally made by proto and I have a couple of them. Good for oddball positions for sure. Mac may have rebranded it or it could be the other way around.
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Strouty
Well-known member
They are called indexable flex head ratchets. I have a 1/4" and 3/8" one, it appears they are no longer made. I found one as a reference:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/78530/Proto_5257FL_Indexable_Flex_Head_Ratchet
http://www.drillspot.com/products/78530/Proto_5257FL_Indexable_Flex_Head_Ratchet
Never seen a flex and a swivel, especially in a Mac. But have seen hf and Stanley have the swivels.
What's really interesting and quite the mouthful is, wait for it
Boxed flex reversible ratchetcing crows foot wrenches. Only set I ever seen was on eBay, labeled IH.
What's really interesting and quite the mouthful is, wait for it
Boxed flex reversible ratchetcing crows foot wrenches. Only set I ever seen was on eBay, labeled IH.
3baygarage
Well-known member
The Mac and Proto are the basically the same. The Mac ones don't go cheap when they come up online. If the one on craigslist is reasonable I'd jump on that.
ibedayank
Well-known member
Proto
Ratchet, Indexable
Model: J4757L
http://images.drillspot.com/pimages/2/250_300.jpg
for more.. google indexable ratchet
Possibly a XRIC10FPA or just PA. Definitely a MAC ratchet, maybe they were made by Proto if that is what Strouty is talking about. 
That looks to be towards the high end if not more of what they go for. More than what he would get on ebay probably.
That looks to be towards the high end if not more of what they go for. More than what he would get on ebay probably.Strouty
Well-known member
Possibly a XRIC10FPA or just PA. Definitely a MAC ratchet, maybe they were made by Proto if that is what Strouty is talking about.
I was figuring that Proto made them for MAC to rebrand. They are nice, but not used very often. They are definitely a conversation piece when people see them.
bobcatdan
Well-known member
I use to own that exact ratchet, they were made around 2000, that's when the indextable craze was hot. I bought one, had it for a few years, never used it much and traded it off on something.
come on guys. look at the ratchet head. it is without a doubt a mac ratchet. that still might even be in the mac catalog. if not, it was until recently. i have a couple of the proto models that mac made for them. some of them had a blank polished head without the mac markings. the only proto marking was on the handle and that would wear away with use.
that same style head was also used on the mac and proto spinflex ratchets.
that same style head was also used on the mac and proto spinflex ratchets.
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Strouty
Well-known member
Technically it is a Stanley, MAC may have made it for proto or proto may have made it for MAC. It appears no one makes them anymore. Stanley owns them all.
DynoDale
Well-known member
I have both Proto and MAC:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=728117#post728117
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=728117#post728117
Strouty
Well-known member
You are a sic man. Do you see any real difference between the two?
Can you tell a big difference in the proto vs the mac? Didn't know if there is any quality difference or if you just pay tons more for the name on it.
that is a rather strange response that makes little sense so let me clear this up.
that style of ratchet is still made by mac in a regular and flex head. look in a catalog if you don't believe me. it was at one time offered in the proto lineup in several different models. there was even a stanley version if i recall.
i don't know for sure but that ratchet probably predates the stanley purchase of mac. anyway, that has been the bread and butter mac ratchet for a long time. there is no question that is a mac design no matter who owns them now.
Strouty
Well-known member
It appears they do well on ebay. This is from last month too.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-MAC-To...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-MAC-To...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
I saw that too. From what I see doesn't look like they come on ebay very often either.
Strouty
Well-known member
I don't know who originally made it, I was stating that either mac made it for proto or vise versa. How was that confusing? Stanley bought mac in 1980, so I was not sure who did what to whom.
Strouty
Well-known member
You may be able to make a buck, then go buy a good everyday ratchet.
because you threw out some info that wasn't accurate. stanley bought mac in 1980. this ratchet style is on the front cover of a 1979 mac catalog on ebay right now, obviously before stanley was involved. i try to put up accurate info. the op asked a question about this style ratchet and when someone asks a technical question it is best to put up accurate info.
is it splitting hairs? does anyone care? i don't know but to the best of my knowledge,that is a design that can be attributed to mac or someone in the mac organisation at the time. i cn say with almost 100% certainty that mac made all of those versions. it is not a stanley or proto designed or made ratchet even if stanley now owns mac.
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Strouty
Well-known member
Thanks for the history lesson teach. (sarcasm intended)
a lot of people use this and other sites as a reference tool. it only took me a few minutes to find accurate info. if i am offering an opinion or a guess i like to state it as such but when answering a question i try to make sure it is the correct answer. if i am wrong and someone points it out i will retract it or correct it, not be sarcastic about it.
Strouty
Well-known member
Tell me exactly what you would like me to change and I will do it. I do not know who makes the ratchet and I have stated that, I OWN a proto version of it, therefore I thought proto made them. I knew that MAC was owned by Stanley and that Stanley also owned Proto. I also checked before posting and MAC was founded in the late 1930s and Proto was founded in 1907. I figured Proto was the bigger of the two companies and had made the oddball ratchet for both companies. Apparently your 1979 catalog proves me wrong. I fully apologize to the tool gods as well as you. I retract all previous statements and would like to go on record (my GF will make a note of this) as to the fact that I am wrong. I meant no harm to the internet or GJ by posting information that may have been hypothesized by my faulty data. I am going to struggle every day to overcome this burden, but I am strong, so I will prevail. Again I apologize to all involved in this thread for my misdoings.
Strouty
Well-known member
Here is my Proto version, plus my 1/4" drive that is indexible only (I thought it was flex as well, my memory must be going). I don't think I would want to really put my weight into either of them, but they are pretty handy for tight spots.
Look like nice ratchets, but I don't want to spend that kind of money on a ratchet that I don't know if I can put any weight on or have to worry about. I am sure they are decent quality, but just looks like too much could go wrong with them with so many features.
Strouty
Well-known member
I agree, they are specialty ratchets. I bought them for a specific pain in the *** job and they worked well. I have several ratchets that I use, some get abused, others get babied, but they all get used.
radrush
Well-known member
Jarhead0408
Well-known member
I want to say the Proto version was called the Spinflex IIRC.
Neat ratchets, but hard to spend that amount of money on them.
Neat ratchets, but hard to spend that amount of money on them.
Spinflex was a different ratchet. Mac and Proto both sold spinflexes. I have proto ones in both 3/8 and 1/4", which I scored on Grainger.com for like 20.00 each. The proto stuff uses the same head guts as Mac.
The indexable ones didnt have any fancy name, that I know of. What I need to find out is what part number was stamped on the MAC variants, So I can ask my Mac truck guy.
I suppose I can email proto and see if they have any
The indexable ones didnt have any fancy name, that I know of. What I need to find out is what part number was stamped on the MAC variants, So I can ask my Mac truck guy.
I suppose I can email proto and see if they have any
part number found! http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76100
rodsnratfinks
Well-known member
Used to have the Proto one. Hardly ever used it so I sold it.
Dave455
Well-known member
If you can live without the comfort grip then KoKen offer these.
dutchgray
Well-known member
Its a tool that would be used so infrequently that a comfort grip is a bit pointless IMO, I think I would buy the Koken.
XxToolAholicxX
Well-known member
Its a Proto Stanley design. Stanley owns Proto and Mac.
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I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit
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I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit