Old Mac Ratchet, can't find any info on model

[Hackemoeller]

So I have been using a Mac ratchet that I found in my grandmas garage after my grandpa passed away and I can't seem to find anything on the model # I handed it to my Mac guy one day to see if by chance he h could do anything to fix the skipping in reverse, he laughed and told me the ratchet should be hanging on a wall somewhere for decoration. The head has V4r stamped on it and the Sabina, Ohio marking. The handle which is removable has VR16 stamped on it with Sabina also. Can anybody tell me anything about it? Years they were made? And by far chance if any parts are available?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

3/4 drive?

 

[MattT]

3/4 drive?

V is 1/2".

Without digging out catalogs I'm gonna say that rat is mid to late '50's. If parts were ever available your only hope now would be ebay.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Does it change directions by twisting the handle?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I agree with Matt. The 1/2-inch drive ratchet in the 1951 MAC catalog was Model No. V5R and it was an SK-made round head with a beavertail. (As was the 3/8-inch drive X3R.) The 3/4-inch drive ratchet in that catalog (Z1R) was not a round head beavertail, though. It looked very similar to your V4R. Not sure if the head was removable, but it changed directions by twisting the handle. Maybe they moved away from the beavertails and toward the same design as the 3/4-inch drive Z1R for a 1/2-inch drive V4R?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I am used to seeing 3/4 drive ratchets with removable handles

 

[3baygarage]

Nice keepsake from your grandpa. There aren’t any parts available, as Matt said it’s quite old. That’s only the second one I’ve seen, and the other one I own.

Does it change directions by twisting the handle?

Push button in the head. Like an SK Frankenstein rat but shorter button.

 

[3baygarage]

Have you tried to open it to clean and lube it? Those old Mac gears are kind of funky, they remind me of a water wheel. It might just need lube.

The third from the bottom here sat in a bin at a local tool store for years. I always wanted it but thought the gear was stripped. One day I thought to myself I must be nuts, it’s hard to find and it’s in great shape, so I took a shot. Turned out it just needed a little TLC.

 

[Hackemoeller]

Have you tried to open it to clean and lube it? Those old Mac gears are kind of funky, they remind me of a water wheel. It might just need lube.

The third from the bottom here sat in a bin at a local tool store for years. I always wanted it but thought the gear was stripped. One day I thought to myself I must be nuts, it’s hard to find and it’s in great shape, so I took a shot. Turned out it just needed a little TLC.

I did take it apart and clean it up good and put grease in it, it seems like the the teeth are worn more to the reverse side than the forward

 

[Hackemoeller]

So are we thinking earlier or later than 1951? You guys are full of good info and I appreciate it all

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The only socket set listed and shown in the 1947 catalog is a 3/4-inch drive heavy duty set and the ratchet doesn't look anything like your ratchet or any of the ratchets shown in the 1951 catalog. It has a pear-shaped head and a handle that is concave paneled and gets wider from the end to where it meets the head, with a little triangular shaped piece in the panel just under the head, reminiscent of Duro, or perhaps Armstrong. They must've had a different supplier than SK earlier than 1951.

 

[3baygarage]

So are we thinking earlier or later than 1951? You guys are full of good info and I appreciate it all

I saw it in a catalog once but I don’t remember the year, probably early ‘50s. Sadly both the Toolarchives and Garagegazette are down, if it was either of those places, but it may have been on ebay.

The only socket set listed and shown in the 1947 catalog is a 3/4-inch drive heavy duty set and the ratchet doesn't look anything like your ratchet or any of the ratchets shown in the 1951 catalog. It has a pear-shaped head and a handle that is concave paneled and gets wider from the end to where it meets the head, with a little triangular shaped piece in the panel just under the head, reminiscent of Duro, or perhaps Armstrong. They must've had a different supplier than SK earlier than 1951.

Lugz, I’m not familiar with the one you’re describing. Can you get a pic? It does sound like Duro or I wonder if maybe a Truth style pear.

For 3/4 drive, I know they had some of the styles pictured above. The pin lever version, and the side push button with removable head.

Also, a Wright made pear head (wright/Speedmaster style), New Britain round head, later a Proto classic pear.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz, I’m not familiar with the one you’re describing. Can you get a pic? It does sound like Duro or I wonder if maybe a Truth style pear.

Sure thing. Stand by...

EDIT: Pic now attached below. From Page 6, 1947 cat. Set is HDS-11. Rat is RR1. There are no other socket drive sets or tools listed or shown in the entire catalog.

Now that I'm looking at it harder again, not quite Duro. But I can't place it. I don't know.

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks, wow that’s definitely a Truth style ratchet and I’ve never seen a Mac version. Something else to look out for.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I always forget about TRUTH. Good to know.

 

[MattT]

So are we thinking earlier or later than 1951? You guys are full of good info and I appreciate it all

Later. I checked my catalogs and it's in the '53 and gone by '57.

 

[Hackemoeller]

Later. I checked my catalogs and it's in the '53 and gone by '57.

Thanks, it's just nice to know and be able to tell people how lod somethin is and still workin

 

[mikebaker1129]

GG has started a new forum.

 

[Snaparxon]

GG has started a new forum.

Actually 2 new forums. Will be one at some point.

 

[MattT]

EDIT: Pic now attached below. From Page 6, 1947 cat. Set is HDS-11. Rat is RR1. There are no other socket drive sets or tools listed or shown in the entire catalog.

That's their MAC Allied catalog which is all outsourced/rebranded product. The products primarily manufactured by Mechanics Tool & Forge and Clinton would've been in a different catalog. Clinton is believed to be the socket manufacturing and was started in 1944 IIRC.

1949 is a merged catalog with Mechanics/Clinton in the front and Allied in the back. Mine shows 3/8" sockets in the front and almost certainly also had 1/2" but I'm missing some pages. The 3/4" drive in the back half of the catalog is the same as the 1947.

Thanks, it's just nice to know and be able to tell people how lod somethin is and still workin

You're welcome. I've attached a pic of the rat in the '53 catalog. Was gonna do it earlier but something came up so I just posted the text and ran.