Bought my first SO ratchets today

[bareass172]

I found a guy on CL selling an entire box of tools, all good stuff - Williams, Mac, SO, SK, and old us Cman. I looked it over but didn't need any of the extras so I asked for info on the SO ratchets and then talked him into selling to me. I got:

Snap on 3/8 ratchet model F720
Snap on 1/2 ratchet model 71-15

I did a little research on them and found the 71-15 is pretty old, while the F720 is not as old. Reading about them says I can get a rebuild kit for the F720 that should have a finer tooth gear. I have yet to get my hands on them, the CL listing was near my folks so I had my dad go snag them for me. I know they are both in good working order (my dad checked) but I can't wait to get my hands on them and check for date stamps.

I paid $35 for the set, I thought it was a good deal. What are your opinions? Thanks!

 

[ickytoy]

seems like a good deal to me

 

[bareass172]

Woo, thanks for all the replies!

I checked the date stamps and the 71-15 is from 1946 and the F720 is from 1984. Very cool in my book! Just the idea of owning a ratchet that old, it makes me wonder what stories it could tell.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Woo, thanks for all the replies!

Maybe because there aren't any comparable Harbor Freight ratchets to compare them to and argue about.

I checked the date stamps and the 71-15 is from 1946 and the F720 is from 1984. Very cool in my book! Just the idea of owning a ratchet that old, it makes me wonder what stories it could tell.

Throw some pictures up if you can, it does sound like you got a good deal. Do you know if it needs a rebuild kit, or just needs to be cleaned out and oiled?

 

[joel63]

I found a guy on CL selling an entire box of tools, all good stuff - Williams, Mac, SO, SK, and old us Cman. I looked it over but didn't need any of the extras so I asked for info on the SO ratchets and then talked him into selling to me. I got:

Snap on 3/8 ratchet model F720
Snap on 1/2 ratchet model 71-15

I did a little research on them and found the 71-15 is pretty old, while the F720 is not as old. Reading about them says I can get a rebuild kit for the F720 that should have a finer tooth gear. I have yet to get my hands on them, the CL listing was near my folks so I had my dad go snag them for me. I know they are both in good working order (my dad checked) but I can't wait to get my hands on them and check for date stamps.

I paid $35 for the set, I thought it was a good deal. What are your opinions? Thanks!

The F720 ratchet will serve you well.

If you can get a ratchet service kit #RKRF730, you can convert it to an F730 and have a smooth and fine operating ratchet.

Don't know much about the 1/2 dr one though.

Anyway, enjoy using them.

 

[joel63]

Take a look at this:

http://www.collectingsnapon.com/catalogs/catalogs.php?loggedin=0&catalogPage=947

 

[3baygarage]

You did good on the price BA. That's about what I'd have paid too, depending on condition.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

wow, I just checked the prices on eBay on the 1/2 inch rat, and they seem to run about $40 all the way up to $90

Nice looking ratchet, I would say you got a good deal on the pair of them.

-Sam

 

[bareass172]

My dad scooped them up for me and checked them out, so I don't have pics as of yet. When he gets pics I'll be sure to post them but if they were in bad shape, even just the finish, he would have likely passed on them for me. As far as rebuilding, my dad says they both worked very well and smooth when he checked them for me. Now my dad is no mechanic, but he has definitely done his fair share of wrenching so I trust his opinion. Before I bought them I checked Ebay and here and did some general "googling" and felt that it was a fair deal. I also saw that he 1/2" drive prices were all over the place on Ebay, and I read here about the 730 rebuild kit giving me a better gear. My plan is to get them and open them up to evaluate. Depending on the inner gear in the 720 and the overall condition, I'll either lube and slap them back together or order a whole rebuild.

Thanks for the link to the ad, I used that site to get the date codes and didn't even think to check for the ads in his archives. I sent that link to my dad, he'll enjoy it too. I actually wrote another email to the seller after getting the date codes, just asking if he knew any of the history of them. I'm a bit of a history buff and a lot of a tool junkie, so if there's a backstory to the thing (even if it's just "my dad's dad gave it to me") I'll be glad to know it. I think it's incredible to own something that was made right after the war, when the country was getting back on it's feet. Heck, it's even older than my dad!

I'll add pics as soon as I can get them.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Awesome....now I'm watching several auctions for both of those model ratchets...Dammit GJ
-Sam

 

[bareass172]

Awesome....now I'm watching several auctions for both of those model ratchets...Dammit GJ
-Sam

That's what keeps happening to me!!!

The seller replied to my question about the history of the ratchets. He said:

I got those recently from an active duty Coast Guard Colonel in Brookhaven who was moving to a new assignment. They must have been his grandfathers - the date correlates. There were initials etched on one handle I believe.

Sad that guy gave up a family heirloom of sorts, but I'm glad to know at least a little about it.

 

[bareass172]

Finally got my hands on these today, the F720 is nothing special. I'm going to rebuild it tomorrow and see how it feels. If it's fine I'll leave it, otherwise I'll contact SO and get a rebuild kit that will give me a better tooth gear. The 71-15 was almost too cool. Just to double check and see the date stamp and know for sure that it's a 1946 was awesome. I was disappointed to see that the original SO stamp and model # was a little rough, but it is visible. This ratchet shows a little more wear than the average one I see used, but I'd still say it's in excellent shape since it's almost 70 years old. I'm also planning to rebuild and evaluate this ratchet, it's definitely a little sloppier than it should be. If it's really bad after a rebuild than I'll contact SO and see about a rebuild kit for this one too. I feel it's almost sacrilegious to do that on this one, but I want to continue to use this one. It's obviously not a showpiece, it deserves to keep working.

 

[bareass172]

last 2 pics, including patent and model stamps.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice ratchets.

 

[Conductor562]

They might be the first, but I bet they aren't the last