woody 73
Well-known member
An old story that I hear all the time in some cigar shops that I visit, when a group of old geezers like myself sit down and start shooting the bull; it never fails when the loudest guy starts talking and it goes something like this; "Boys what is the cheapest cigar on the planet that smokes like a good expensive $100.00 cigar and only costs a buck"?
That story reminds me of the time so many years ago around 2000, when Kobalt wanted into the tool market and they started producing Williams made tools marked as kobalt with the statement "Made by the snap On Company", but much cheaper in price. We all know that was very short lived, some bean counters got their way and they found another Chinese company to cut there costs even further.
Well along the way back in 1992, (I think), someone at the K-mart Company hit the jackpot and they found a company in Taiwan to produce their Benchtop line of ratchets. That lasted for a few years and during that time they made a very nice ratchet that was well machined, no slipping direction, and the fit and finish was very nice.
I seem to remember, (long before the GJ), reading somewhere or hearing about it that "No self respecting mechanic would ever be caught dead using their Chinese made tools"; blah, blah, blah...
Sad in a way, but it turned out they were selling them instead to Harry Homeowner and young kids just starting out. I never gave them a second look; until one day a few years ago that by chance I bought a small tool box and inside of it was a long 3/8 drive benchtop ratchet and that ratchet is a joy to use, even running circles around craftsman ratchets that would skip direction just looking at them.
Which brings me full circle in that I made the long drive this week to the famous 127 garage sale, (longest garage sale) and I found a tool dealer selling tons of ratchets. I know I need more like a hole the head, but I found a nice example, not abused by a cheater pipe or used as a hammer and I had to have it. Well the guy stood very firm at $2.00 dollars and I knew it was coming home with me that day.
So without further ado some pictures of the ratchet in question, and one picture of the ratchet taken apart before I cleaned it up and lubed it. So this special tip for any tool hunters out there if you are looking for a very nice ratchet and you don't want to spend that $100.00 dollars then this is your chance to pick up a good deal for a very low price. They are out there waiting to be found because K mart sold many of them.
Happy Hunting.
That story reminds me of the time so many years ago around 2000, when Kobalt wanted into the tool market and they started producing Williams made tools marked as kobalt with the statement "Made by the snap On Company", but much cheaper in price. We all know that was very short lived, some bean counters got their way and they found another Chinese company to cut there costs even further.
Well along the way back in 1992, (I think), someone at the K-mart Company hit the jackpot and they found a company in Taiwan to produce their Benchtop line of ratchets. That lasted for a few years and during that time they made a very nice ratchet that was well machined, no slipping direction, and the fit and finish was very nice.
I seem to remember, (long before the GJ), reading somewhere or hearing about it that "No self respecting mechanic would ever be caught dead using their Chinese made tools"; blah, blah, blah...
Sad in a way, but it turned out they were selling them instead to Harry Homeowner and young kids just starting out. I never gave them a second look; until one day a few years ago that by chance I bought a small tool box and inside of it was a long 3/8 drive benchtop ratchet and that ratchet is a joy to use, even running circles around craftsman ratchets that would skip direction just looking at them.
Which brings me full circle in that I made the long drive this week to the famous 127 garage sale, (longest garage sale) and I found a tool dealer selling tons of ratchets. I know I need more like a hole the head, but I found a nice example, not abused by a cheater pipe or used as a hammer and I had to have it. Well the guy stood very firm at $2.00 dollars and I knew it was coming home with me that day.
So without further ado some pictures of the ratchet in question, and one picture of the ratchet taken apart before I cleaned it up and lubed it. So this special tip for any tool hunters out there if you are looking for a very nice ratchet and you don't want to spend that $100.00 dollars then this is your chance to pick up a good deal for a very low price. They are out there waiting to be found because K mart sold many of them.
Happy Hunting.
