Early S-K Pat. Pend. 1/2" Ratchet???

[350XinNY]

I was at an estate sale last Labor Day weekend and stumbled upon some neat old tools.

This ratchet looked cool and had pat pend on it so I picked it up. I have searched some but, all the other pat pend 1/2" ratchets from S-K have the model number stamped in it. This one just has a "P" in it. Also, the end of the handle has an off centered cross in it. Was this one made by Plomb for S-K??? See the pics....

Thanks for any help in dating/other info...

Bruce

 

[r_olson_06]

I was at an estate sale last Labor Day weekend and stumbled upon some neat old tools.

This ratchet looked cool and had pat pend on it so I picked it up. I have searched some but, all the other pat pend 1/2" ratchets from S-K have the model number stamped in it. This one just has a "P" in it. Also, the end of the handle has an off centered cross in it. Was this one made by Plomb for S-K??? See the pics....

Thanks for any help in dating/other info...

Bruce

Hey Bruce,
This is SK made. This was one of the early directional non push plug ratchets they made. There was 2 earlier versions one included and L & R with a different selector and the other included a sort of thumb wheel wheel style selector which is very rare. I had a pat pending ratchet similar to yours that was Black Oxide finish which would put it during war time. Don could probably narrow down a date range for you.
Hope this helps.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[ganymede]

The patent is probably #2232477
which would date your ratchet in the 1939-1941 time frame.
The p and the x are just owner marks.

 

[350XinNY]

Thanks guys!

 

[d42jeep]

The patent is probably #2232477
which would date your ratchet in the 1939-1941 time frame.
The p and the x are just owner marks.

I think that is the correct patent number but the wartime finish leads me to believe that the ratchet was probably made in 1942. The wartime ratchet in my set is slightly newer and is marked with the patent number. I would be interested to see the snap ring area.
-Don

 

[ganymede]

I think that is the correct patent number but the wartime finish leads me to believe that the ratchet was probably made in 1942. The wartime ratchet in my set is slightly newer and is marked with the patent number. I would be interested to see the snap ring area.
-Don

Interesting.
Did SK really keep them chrome plated till the war started. ?

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a prewar socket set and S-K Chrome sockets shown in the 1941 catalog. I'm pretty sure they were Chrome plated right up until the metal restrictions went into effect. At least all of my examples are.
-Don

 

[ganymede]

SK was kinda quirky with patent stampings.
Nice sets there.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ironically, even though it's always been such a highlight in the tool collecting world, I have never been able to nail down a definitive date on when the restrictions on chrome-plating on tools kicked in. The OEM of the OPA (precursor to WPB once war was declared) seized control of all chromium on July 15, 1941. They banned ALL plating of any kind (aluminum, copper, brass, nickel, and chromium) for ornamental purposes in the building and housing industries (nails, screws, light fixtures, etc) on September 30, 1941. They banned chrome-plating in the automotive industry (bumpers, dashboards, lock caps, vent window latches, mirrors, trim, etc) on December 15, 1941. I have never found anything that specific for hand tools. The early Defense Bulletins (pre-July 1941) discussing the coming tide of allocations and restrictions, including all the hand-wringing from industry, don't even mention hand tools as one of the three main uses for chromium-plating. EDIT: My hunch is that it was either included in the mid-1941 M Orders restricting the use of chromium in steel production or it was part of the building and housing bans.

 

[d42jeep]

It seems so inconsistent. Manufacturers were allowed to use up their on hand materials. I have many dated 1942 Snap-on tools that are plated so I figure that it got phased in during late '41 and early '42, and varied between manufacturers.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

We know that the govt had a grace period on steel from the WPB Order E-6. Mfgrs were allowed to continue making tools with restricted steel (CV and CM), if they had the steel on hand already, until November 1942. Maybe the same held true for the chromium in the electroplating solution. I was just commenting on when it took effect, though, and the fact that none of the documents discussing chrome-plating bans mention hand tools by name.