New Briton ratchet question

[diogenes]

I got to thinking about my current 1/2" drive ratchet. I thought it was a no name Asian tool, but I went and looked at it and it turns out it is a "New Briton" NB 43. I searched here and Googled, but did not find much on these. Anyone here able to age this ratchet? Or anything else about these?

I bent the thing. I've been known to use a piece of pipe for extra leverage...

 

[sk farmer]

you need more ratchets, but you didn't hear that from me.

 

[diogenes]

you need more ratchets, but you didn't hear that from me.

I'm working on it... See my other post: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53027

Oh, wait a minute. You did.

 

[Bull]

That's actually a "New Britain," and since the spelling is off that is probbaly why you could not find anything on Google.

They were a great old tool company. They had an economy line of ratchets under the "Mustang" brand. I have one, and the shape and gear selector style look identical to the one you have there. A good, basic, no frills coarse-tooth ratchet.

The handle on yours looks a little bent in the pic...is it?

 

[diogenes]

The handle on yours looks a little bent in the pic...is it?

I didn't get the pipe I was using as a leverage extension all the way down when I was "convincing" a bolt to leave it's home...

I'll do a little research when I get home tomorrow morning.

 

[brockstar]

I can't believe that someone hasn't mentioned this site already:

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/newbritain-nonebetter.html

Diogenes, Alloy Artifacts has information on many, many old tool brands and is a wealth of information and is referred to quite often on this board.

Welcome to the board! Any of the ratchets you choose in your other thread will serve you well!

 

[Bull]

Oh no! A cheater pipe? On an old ratchet? That poor thing never had a chance.

In addition to ratchets, you might want to grab an assortment of breaker bars, to save your new ratchets from a banana-handled fate.

I didn't get the pipe I was using as a leverage extension all the way down when I was "convincing" a bolt to leave it's home...

I'll do a little research when I get home tomorrow morning.

 

[bazzateer]

Either the ratchet is very good or the metal in the handle is of poor quality. Unusual for the handle to give out before the ratchet.

 

[diogenes]

Oh no! A cheater pipe? On an old ratchet? That poor thing never had a chance.

In addition to ratchets, you might want to grab an assortment of breaker bars, to save your new ratchets from a banana-handled fate.

I have since availed myself of the fine 1/2" HF breaker Bar. Unfortunately for the poor ratchet, I was unaware of it's lineage or age when I got it from a tenant who liked to bring me things he picked up here and there. I have been using it as my only 1/2" ratchet since the early 90's, usually with a 1/2' to 3/8" adapter due to my lack of 1/2" sockets in most sizes. I have broken a lot of adapters with this ratchet...