vintage ratchets - any good ones?

[Davefr]

Davefr, the Proto ratchet I showed in the closeup above shows a much beefier set-up than the example you posted. Would mine be older than the one you described, or newer?

Maui

My guess is yours is much older!!

 

[bonneyman]

In 1/2" drive, my favorite ratchets are the ooooold Herbrand S-10 and the Thorsen #77 open gear.

 

[davethorik]

I have a Snap-On SL710 I picked up on ebay a few yrs ago for $20, it's a 24 tooth standard length ratchet. Tooth count obviously not that high but the ratchet is a brick *********.

I'm also a big fan of Wright ratchets, both the newer double pawl and older single pawl models. The older Williams superratchets are nice but imo the newer dual pawl Wright's are nicer than Williams.

 

[CRTDI]

In 1/2" drive, my favorite ratchets are the ooooold Herbrand S-10 and the Thorsen #77 open gear.

Open gear Thorsens = The AK-47 of ratchets... nothing glamorous, but very tough.

 

[jwsia]

Another vote for the Williams S-52 design. I have them in 1/2 3/8 and 1/4. I don't care for the 1/4 but the other 2 are great.

Bonney needs another vote on here too. I have one of these and its one of the smoothest ratchets you can own. IMO

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bonney-Ratc...581970?hash=item3abd82ff12:g:UPIAAOSwB4NWwRXM

 

[tweedlestan]

I actually did mention the Proto/Plomb 5449. But as ones to avoid.

Proto used a thin sheet metal selector lever and it's only held onto the outer shaft of the internal pawl cam by being peened on. It's very common for it to loosen up and when it does you need to push the lever beyond it's range of movement to disengage he pawl. (assuming it hasn't already fallen off and got lost).

It's the worst (wimpiest) selector design of any ratchet I've ever seen. You can't always re-peen it because there's often not enough metal to re-peen.

I think Proto improved the selector in the current model.

I strongly disagree. I have yet to see a used Proto 4749/5249/5449 etc. that cannot be easily made to work if it's not already usable.


They are also among the sturdiest ratchets available.

 

[four.cycle]

^ a couple interesting comments above.

I don't have a Proto 5449, but I do have several 1/2" drive ratchets that use a stamped steel selector lever very similar, and none of them seem to have worked loose - and none of them are what could be called "new".

I think the US-made Thorsen stuff is grossly underrated, for reasons which aren't exactly clear to me. I have several of the little 1/4" drive ratchets and a couple 3/8", but no 1/2" models. Guess I'll have to keep an eye out for one.

bonneyman and CRDTI: just out of curiosity to either of you own an open-gear 1/2" drive Indestro? if so, how would you compare it to the Thorsen equivalent?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Wright tootsie roll handle ratchets

 

[byoungblood]

The only aspect preventing me from buying a vintage ratchet is lower tooth count. If anyone has a particular suggestion, feel free to let me know, thanks

As mentioned before, old Williams round heads (M52/B52/S52) ratchets, and Wright ratchets from about mid-60s forward all have dual pawl mechanisms that give an effective 80+ tooth count.

 

[KEH]

Great thread. Agree with all comments. My first ratchet was a Thorsen 77 open gear, given to me by S and BIL, I used it for years. They are very easy to use one quicl flick of the thumb changes direction. I only saw the need for a fine tooth ratchet when changing the driver side rear spark plug on a 79 Chevy v 8, found a Wizard RHFT (Indestro) which works fine. In fact the vintage Western auto tools are fine generally.

The Proto pear heads are an old design which is still made. They are very tough and I have 1/4 through 3/4. My only objection is that the sockets are hard to remove from the 1/2 ratchet and for this reason I have thought of selling the set. The 3/8 Protos are great and while not fine tooth are very smooth.

KEH

 

[twertsy]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the Blackhawk "free wheeling" gearless rats. Here's my users / Situation:

Fastener where I have to hang with all my weight to get it loose (1/2"): Old flat handle Armstrong

Big Jobs (3/4"): Very old ('20s) Cornwell Gearless -- I love this ratchet!

Tight Spaces (3/8"): Blackhawk FW Gearless (or dual 80 sometimes)

Normal jobs (3/8-1/2"): Williams S-52/B-52 or Vintage Plomb/Proto

Small Jobs (1/4" rat): S-K

 

[Davefr]

I think the US-made Thorsen stuff is grossly underrated, for reasons which aren't exactly clear to me. I have several of the little 1/4" drive ratchets and a couple 3/8", but no 1/2" models. Guess I'll have to keep an eye out for one.

I agree. I forgot about the Thorsens. The open gear design makes them extremely compact. They can get into tight spots where bulky pear heads can't. In addition the selectors are reliable and simple. (no accidental reversals)

 

[bonneyman]

Open gear Thorsens = The AK-47 of ratchets... nothing glamorous, but very tough.

10-4

 

[sleepy127]

Here are my 3 favorite: Thorsen 77J, Thorsen 77M and S.K 40975. I pick these up before any of my newer snap on or other brands



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[four.cycle]

I know the OP said he was looking for 1/2" drive, but here's a 1/4" drive model that was listed on Ebay two hours ago in case anyone is interested:

Duro Chrome 4575 1/4" drive RHFT ratchet (same as #2875 Indestro)
used
$16.00 + $5.75 shipping "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-5-D...076190?hash=item464b01221e:g:Yc8AAOSwyjBW8a09

 

[thesilverone]

williams superratchets

 

[four.cycle]

... just thought of another one I own: an old "Husky" (US-made) CS-45 1/2" drive ratchet.
no, it's not "the best", but it's been in use for over 40 years and still works just fine! worth a mention.

 

[johninct]

Snap-On 7110, 7115

 

[don long]

I just picked up this box and found it to be full of old ratchets

And this one is the strangest one of the bunch

 

[gdocktor3]

I just picked up this box and found it to be full of old ratchets

I see you have one of those "push button" ratchet's with the buttons on the side of the head. How many times have you been ratcheting the tool and hit something with the button, changing the direction?

 

[four.cycle]

nice catch!!

looks like one of them on the left is put together backwards - with the selector lever on the drive side.

 

[Kev442]

My 32ish year old Master Mechanic Taiwan ratchet next to my Dads 1975 S-K.
I was too poor to afford a Craftsman starter set @ $59.99, so I picked up the MM in all three sizes, each with their own red tin box for $39.99. No deeps or long extensions, but I made do for several years until I added a Cman kit. It's been a very reliable ratchet and is now reasonably smooth after many years of use.

So, there are three little nuts in the picture. They were in the S-K box, and just by finding them, I know about the last thing my Dad did with it. Replaced the tail light in Mom's 1992 Buick Regal. My Dad never was one to sweat the details, if three nuts will hold, the other three go over his shoulder....

 

[davethorik]

My 32ish year old Master Mechanic Taiwan ratchet next to my Dads 1975 S-K.
I was too poor to afford a Craftsman starter set @ $59.99, so I picked up the MM in all three sizes, each with their own red tin box for $39.99. No deeps or long extensions, but I made do for several years until I added a Cman kit. It's been a very reliable ratchet and is now reasonably smooth after many years of use.

So, there are three little nuts in the picture. They were in the S-K box, and just by finding them, I know about the last thing my Dad did with it. Replaced the tail light in Mom's 1992 Buick Regal. My Dad never was one to sweat the details, if three nuts will hold, the other three go over his shoulder....

That reminds me, I have some master mechanic usa tools that were made by Easco. There are Master Mechanic USA rhft ratchets out there.

I just picked up an older Cornwell TR3 1/4 ratchet today. Nice ratchet, speaking of vintage.

 

[Outlawmws]

That reminds me, I have some master mechanic usa tools that were made by Easco. There are Master Mechanic USA rhft ratchets out there.

I just picked up an older Cornwell TR3 1/4 ratchet today. Nice ratchet, speaking of vintage.

You were aware Easco made the Craftman RHFT ratchets for Sears right?

Cool thread. Lots of great ratchets have come and gone. Sometimes I wonder why some of them have gone...

The rats I've probably used the most over the years are probably the 3/8/ & 1/2" Craftsman RHFT, 1/2 Proto, and 3/8 Indestro flex head, I've used may other as wel, but those got the most use as those were my primaries in my 20's and 30's when I did the most wrenching.

 

[Project 2501]

Even though I have encountered the problem mentioned earlier in this thread with two different 1/2" drive plomb ratchets that have had the selector lever fall off and leaving them in a state where im unable to re-peen them myself satisfactorily.... plomb ratchets are still my go to...

 

[VolvoRyan]

The SK's always amazed me. The patent for those is as old as time, and they still hold up OK today. I have a Snap-On F720 from 1978 that's super clunky and stiff. No comparison to the SK's.

I have new Snap-On, Matco, LP90, and SK round heads with 'DT' kits, but I still grab plain old round head when I can.

-Ryan

 

[genog]

I have some of the Vintage ratchets mentioned in this thread.
In my opinion, they are ALL Good!

Reading through, I was not understanding the need nor the desire for fine tooth ratchets (fine teeth?)
Just brushed off the reasoning as a desire for the Latest and the Greatest.
The More-is-Better fad.

But then, someone mentioned needing ratchets with fine teeth in order to work in modern engine compartments...
Now I get it.

I pop the hood on my cars and wonder how in the heck do I work on this sucker??!!
My hands are too big!

 

[Outlawmws]

But then, someone mentioned needing ratchets with fine teeth in order to work in modern engine compartments...
Now I get it.

I pop the hood on my cars and wonder how in the heck do I work on this sucker??!!
My hands are too big!

This is why I have so many different extensions, swiveling extensions, swivels, swivel sockets, a couple of 1/4" ratchets with 3/8 drive, swivel and rotating head ratchets, long and short handled ratchets, fine tooth ratchets, combinations of them... Does it ever end?

Then we get into the different size/length sockets, not to mention ratchet wrenches...

 

[MarkH]

We use the RHFT ratchets as much as possible. The RHFT ratchets had one of the smallest arc swings you will find until the ultra fine tooth (88 plus)ncame out. 44 I believe teeth. The craftsman had quick release others did not. We used them and now use Wright, SK, and other round heads if needed. It depends what we can get. The reason they tolerated some way too long cheater bars without breaking. Respectable swing. The Wright style is the quickest to open up and oil.

 

[Outlawmws]

Mark, the Easco/Craftsman RHFT were 45 teeth and dual pawl, so effectively 90, except for the 1/4" which was 42/84. incredible in its day...

 

[MarkH]

Thanks. I need to watch Gear Wolf another time until I get it right.

At that time there seemed to be two types of round heads. One that looked like the Craftsman from the Easco group and everything else that seems to look like the old SKs. The main difference seemed to be how much you cussed removing and putting the retainer back. The ones the used the ring that wrapped around the head make oiling it quicker.