Craftsman Teardrop Ratchet (1956 - 1993) Type Study

[Jim C.]

Updated version of the of Type Study:

http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=23826.0

 

[SweetD]

Nice study, an interesting topic for sure. Thanks for posting, I will be following!

Dave

 

[ARFLY]

This is cool. When were the ratchets with the V selector made? My dad had one ratchet and it was a 1/2" with the V shaped selector lever. He died in 1991 when I was 15. I've always wondered how old that ratchet was. When I was a kid it wasn't exactly a priority to ask.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

This is cool. When were the ratchets with the V selector made? My dad had one ratchet and it was a 1/2" with the V shaped selector lever. He died in 1991 when I was 15. I've always wondered how old that ratchet was. When I was a kid it wasn't exactly a priority to ask.

Just had this conversation. They were produced between about 1959-1966.
FYI - Officially, Craftsman referred to them as Butterfly selectors. They were replaced by the Long Lever selector in 1967.

Pre '67

 

[Ponchoguy]

The "V" was likely during the Moore Drop Forge/Easco days and the double "V" is a Danaher product.

 

[JR 42]

Nice work! Looking forward to seeing the type study.

JR

 

[ARFLY]

Thanks for the info on those ratchets. I had always assumed the V lever ratchets were made in the 70's, but I didn't know. My Dad and Mom got married in 1961, so he probably got it around the time they got married.

 

[maddawg1952]

I have posted this in several forums and threads on GJ, but it might fit in here too. It's a pic of my at home box with some of the ratchets that were available in my lifetime. I was born in 52 and was in trade school in the late 60's when I bought some of them,others were in sets that were and b-day gifts from my dad, some I traded other ratchets for also.

 

[wingnut_1]

I have posted this in several forums and threads on GJ, but it might fit in here too. It's a pic of my at home box with some of the ratchets that were available in my lifetime. I was born in 52 and was in trade school in the 60's when I bought some of them,others were in sets that were and b-day gifts from my dad, some I traded other ratchets for also.

Very nice collection Maddawg!

 

[maddawg1952]

Thanks. My working box in the garage has tons more ,just not so nicely displayed. Most of my at home hand tools are v-series craftsman.

 

[maddawg1952]

Jim C if you do a search of posts in GJ, a member named Lauver did a nicely written date and code number list of ratchets. Titled.... Craftsman Hand Tool Manufacturers & Date Ranges

 

[onemore]

Pretty cool info. I worked at Sears back in 1990-1993 and rebuilt many of these ratchets. i have a few "trade ins" that were old or unique that i couldnt throw in the "scrap" return bin. i will try to find them and post some photos.

 

[maddawg1952]

Yes, I've seen this photo on other sites and also here on the GJ. I think I actually commented on it when it was initially posted. Great collection of vintage Craftsman ratchets! In terms of this type study, I see a Type 1 set and a Type 2 set on the left and others on the right. You've got some real beauties in that drawer!



Great! You may be able to help me at least see some of the versions I have not yet observed. I hope you'll let me tap into your collection. From what I can tell, there's about 40+ versions of the Craftsman TD ratchet within the time frame I focused on, 1956 - 1993. These 40+ ratchets are spread across all three drive sizes. I have personally observed/seen 40 of them. There are some versions, particularly as they relate to manufacturer code, that I haven't seen. I believe they exist, but I have not personally seen them. For instance, I have observed at least one 1/4" drive and one 3/8" drive with a -VE- manufacturer's code, however, I haven't seen the -VE- code on a 1/2" drive. I believe it exists, but I just haven't seen it yet. The manufacturers codes really got crazy toward the end of the type study. Hence the Type 11 category. It deals mostly with manufacturer date codes that seemed to change frequently within the same decade, which was roughy 1980ish to 1993.



As I mentioned in my initial post, I consulted Lauver's Craftsman date range study frequently. It was super helpful.

Cool Let me look thru all the drawers of my rolaways there are 3 of them and see what ones I can take photos of may take me a day of 2 b4 I get to it please be patient wiil llook and see if I have a VE set

 

[sonvolt]

Cool stuff always like the history and specs of manufacturing and tools

 

[michaelf]

I was a drop forger at Moore Drop Forge in Chicopee, Ma. we forged 1/2 in ratchets two at time 24 hrs. a day. One drop hammer was totally dedicated to the 1/2in ratchet. I often wondered how they could sell so many. Moore Drop, was a great place to work with great people, I was lucky

 

[maddawg1952]

I was a drop forger at Moore Drop Forge in Chicopee, Ma. we forged 1/2 in ratchets two at time 24 hrs. a day. One drop hammer was totally dedicated to the 1/2in ratchet. I often wondered how they could sell so many. Moore Drop, was a great place to work with great people, I was lucky

Any pictures from those days? I always heard they were a great company to work for b4 Danaher/Easco bought them out

 

[woody 73]

Jim Hi,

Did you want us to show you a few pictures of older craftsman ratchets or do you have it all covered by now? I get the feeling you just want to share your information for now is that the case or would you want any more pictures?

 

[JR 42]

Off to a great start, thank you!

I'll have to dig up my old Cman rats, I have one or two with oil holes.

JR

 

[thesilverone]

I was a drop forger at Moore Drop Forge in Chicopee, Ma. we forged 1/2 in ratchets two at time 24 hrs. a day. One drop hammer was totally dedicated to the 1/2in ratchet. I often wondered how they could sell so many. Moore Drop, was a great place to work with great people, I was lucky

Do you still live in Mass?

 

[michaelf]

No, I do not live in Ma. anymore, only have one friend in Ma. now everybody has left, best move I ever made out of Ma.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

With the Type 1's, and going into type 2 and 3, can we try to figure out when the word Oil was stamped? I would assume earlier production runs. But from what I've seen going into type 3's, when you get there, it may be completely random as well.

 

[maddawg1952]

Regarding the word "Oil " stamped on the head, This whole set(1/4" 3/8" and 1/2" quick release v series) has it. but the previous set without the quick release none of them have it.

 

[maddawg1952]

OK Jim C, Here is the marked oil head set. Best I can do with a cell phone camera

 

[Ponchoguy]

Very interesting reading about the "QR" mechanism and how it was invented! Look at the 1986 and 1989 articles:

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=50037

Of course as noted, Sears went on to sell a TON of these ratchets!

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Good thread...

but must......

resist the urge.....

to start collecting.....

these ratchets......

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

From my understanding, prior to the 70's, the VV maker was a spot order maker. If the regular V guy's couldn't get X amount of something done in time, VV finished off the order. Like this combo wrench that I have listed, it's from the =V= era but clearly marked VV. Been cleaning up old tools for 4 years now and it's the first I've seen.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cra...ly-Rare-/171893015722?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

I've seen 1/4 without an oil hole, but not sure if they were Type 8 or not. I used to be a ASM for Sears Hardware, and had to teach everyone how to rebuild ratchets for exchange. Me being me, I also ordered in a lot of older rebuild kits for these, so that people who wanted to keep their "dad's ratchet" could. That was 6-7 years ago though, and spurred by me rebuilding the first ratchet I ever had, a 1/4" RHFT patent handle that my grandfather gave me when I was 6.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

Also, from my understanding, and I forget where I heard it, the VV was also a Moore Drop Forge plant, but not the main one where the V tools were made.

 

[carhunter]

Thanks for the info on those ratchets. I had always assumed the V lever ratchets were made in the 70's, but I didn't know. My Dad and Mom got married in 1961, so he probably got it around the time they got married.

Just had to add a similar comment -

Dad received his first tool set from his parents as a Christmas gift back sometime after high school in the mid-60s, and he continued to use it until just recently, despite having other newer ratchets and sockets.

He had the VL style 1/2 drive ratchet with the V selector, which was given to him as part of a metric set for working on the VW Beetle he bought used during a visit to Hollywood and drive back to Ohio. That set, along with a handful of other tools in a Craftsman box, went everywhere with him for the next 20 years.
He remarked that it was odd for someone to have a metric socket set in the 60's, since there were so few imported cars in the area.


I used his tools so much as a kid that the particular font of the sockets is burnt into my memory, and it led me to pick up wrenches and sockets of varying vintages over the years...although its nowhere near a collection.

Great thread

 

[Gear Wolf]

Jim I've noticed some of what you are talking about since I have started collecting.

The 1/4" -v- seem to have a few iterations even with the same product #. Some have the oil port and some don't. What is up with that?

 

[Gear Wolf]

That is a great piece of information to know! Thank you. I thought something was wrong when it took me a few months to find a non-oil port QR 1/4".

 

[Gear Wolf]

Jim I read in your study that you didn't account for flex ratchets that would fit within this study.

I'm curious to know, if from your experience, your study, or what others have told you, if the 3/8" Hourglass selector flex head ratchets always have an OH? I haven't seen any 1/2" Flex of the same type have one, but the 3/8" always seem to have one from my experience.

 

[maddawg1952]

I had noticed that on several ratchets and was curious what it was all about but never pursued looking for information.

 

[maddawg1952]

LOL.......... having stared at that nub for long periods of time laying on my back under some god forsaken broken down stuck on the side of a hill in a pile of dirt piece of yellow heavy iron waiting for something to cool down or drain out, I admit to not being normal . I'll even admit to thinking it was a welding bogger several times when I was cleaning tools to put away. How's that for normalcy?

 

[Gear Wolf]

I'd tend to agree with your observation Jim. In the ratchet history project I'm working on I'd say I probably have 7 complete sets of these ratchets and the newest ones appear to have the "nub".

You'd think the level's position would be enough of a visual queue to know what direction your ratchet is in but apparently not. I'd wonder if that wasn't added just because it was a simple and free visual upgrade...

 

[Gear Wolf]

Void

 

[jakemac]

I know that this is outside the dates of your study, but here's a 2002 (VR) 1/4dr offering, with the black plastic selector. I've always hated the QR feature, I think this is the only 1/4dr QR that I own. Most of my ratchets are the early TD's with the butterfly or long lever selector. I don't even remember where I picked this up. It just sits in the back of a drawer trying to be forgotten.

One thing I noticed when I took it apart, is that the detent ball on this version of the ratchet is smaller than on the earlier 60's TD's that I'm used to using.

 

[Johnnyo]

Hi Jim,

I know it's been quite a while since you last posted to your “Teardrop Ratchet Type Study” but I did have a related question if you or someone else within the community could take a shot at it. Many years ago, probably very late 70's to mid 80's (just a guess) I purchased a set of Craftsman ratchets 1/2”, 3/8” and 1/4” drives with sockets and some other tools as a kit. Years later the 3/8” ratchet mechanism started to slip so I stopped using it. Maybe four years ago I went to my local Sears Hardware store (no longer open) and swapped out my “broken” ratchet with a brand new one. It wasn't until recently that I discovered that Craftsman tools are no longer made in the USA, and yes the one that I swapped out is not made in the USA. I now realize that I should have kept the original and taken it apart and worst case tried to get a rebuild kit. So now I would like to try to find a replacement for that original 3/8” ratchet. So ultimately, my question is which 3/8” ratchet (model number etc.) should I be looking for?

Based on your naming convention my 1/2” and 1/4” ratchets can be described as follows:

Type ?: Year?, TD, NonOH, LL, QR, FA, -V-, 44975
(1/2” drive)

Type ?: Year?, TD, OH, LL, QR, FA, -V-, 43175
(1/4” drive)

My best guess is they are Type 9, however there is some information in your study that may suggest otherwise...

The makers code on my two ratchets are -V- , I believe your study is showing Type 8 and 9 should be a -VV-?

Both of my two ratchets have the two piece QR mechanism. I believe you mention in the study that the 1/4” drive ratchets with the two piece QR mechanism should only be found in Types 3-5?

Am I close? Can you help? Thanks in advance and thank you for all the time and effort you put into this study. See attached photos:

 

[Username already in use]

Great info here. Thanks for taking the time to put this together and I'm interested in the update as well.

As I was paging through your thread here, I noticed that you were missing this type. Perhaps you've collected one up in the interim and it will appear in the update?

This is the only pic I have on hand, but I can snap some more if you're interested. The model IIRC is a =V= and it has the OH on top. Foundry mark of B up near the head of the ratchet.

 

[Johnnyo]

Thank you Jim! This is exactly what I was looking for. I look forward to reading your additional posts on this study. Once again, great job on all your hard work.