Show Off Your Antique Ratchet

[Pagemaker]

My favorite old New Britain

 

[AntiqueBen]

I wanted to give everyone an update on the original first Lowell Wrench Company catalog I acquired. I received it & I must admit....it doesn't disappoint. I've done A LOT of Lowell research over many years & there are images in this catalog I haven't seen before. It's amazing this thing has survived this long & despite all, it's in awesome condition. So, I pondered on how to share this with everyone and I came up with an idea.

In my opinion, Lowell Wrench Company is a true American success story. Started in 1869 & still going 156 yrs later. I thought I would offer them the opportunity to re-release their first catalog in some way well over a century after it was originally released (if they're interested). I contacted Lowell & in fact they do not have this original catalog. I think they are pleasantly surprised that one still exists. They said they are interested in releasing it to the public on their website & various other related online content. It would be nice if they would release printed versions of the catalog, but I'm not sure if that could happen yet. I thought as to splatter the pics online it would be cool if Lowell officially released it.

As I learn more details I'll keep you guys posted

 

[RTM]

I thought as to splatter the pics online it would be cool if Lowell officially released it.

Or scan it and upload it to ITCL, and send Lowell the link to share on their site.

 

[d42jeep]

Average looking hex drive ratchet I found recently. I was hoping for an indication of who made it but I didn’t see any markings whatsoever.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I contacted Lowell & in fact they do not have this original catalog. I think they are pleasantly surprised that one still exists.

Apparently nobody in Lowell's front office with an interest in the company history has checked eBay in the last five years?! Or done any kind of general Googling in which that guy's eBay sale would pop up?

They said they are interested in releasing it to the public on their website & various other related online content.

Cool.

(I don't know if you know of Chapman Mfg or if you've ever seen the Chapman thread, but several years ago I found a Chapman midget set inside a snap-shut eyeglass case with a 1942 OPA label inside. I ended up sending it to Tracy (nee Chapman) Kammisar, granddaughter of the founder and the current Pres./CEO for the little history display case they have in their lobby. They had never even seen let alone have one that old before. I didn't ask for quid pro quo, but in return, Tracy promised to send me an Anniversary Set they were planning with new tools packed inside a replica snap-shut eyeglass case, but they couldn't find a supplier for the cases! Good fortune did smile down on me, though, as I found another identical set a few years later. You can find the whole story in the GJ Chapman thread here.)

The only reason I mention it is maybe your generous instinct to share the PDF with Lowell for them to make a little ordeal out of its public release on their website will somehow pry other older Lowell catalogs out of the good karma universe.

And, because I have a suggestion.

While you're in contact with Lowell, and they are in such a grateful mood for you thinking about them, maybe you can ask them to scan any catalogs or historical publications they do have and upload it on their website. Neither their 'About' page or their 'Blog' features any.

Long before your time here on GJ some of us other Lowell fanciers had been scrambling on the Lowell thread to build some technical history and the only references we had to work with on IA/ITCL are miscellaneous ads from 1919, 1920, 1928, and 1937.

Worth a shot.

Or scan it and upload it to ITCL, and send Lowell the link to share on their site.

I'm with you, of course. IA/ITCL is always my first thought for any old catalogs. But once it's scanned and in the public domain - which is the important part - it can be downloaded and uploaded to ITCL.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Apparently nobody in Lowell's front office with an interest in the company history has checked eBay in the last five years?! Or done any kind of general Googling in which that guy's eBay sale would pop up?

Cool.

(I don't know if you know of Chapman Mfg or if you've ever seen the Chapman thread, but several years ago I found a Chapman midget set inside a snap-shut eyeglass case with a 1942 OPA label inside. I ended up sending it to Tracy (nee Chapman) Kammisar, granddaughter of the founder and the current Pres./CEO for the little history display case they have in their lobby. They had never even seen let alone have one that old before. I didn't ask for quid pro quo, but in return, Tracy promised to send me an Anniversary Set they were planning with new tools packed inside a replica snap-shut eyeglass case, but they couldn't find a supplier for the cases! Good fortune did smile down on me, though, as I found another identical set a few years later. You can find the whole story in the GJ Chapman thread here.)

The only reason I mention it is maybe your generous instinct to share the PDF with Lowell for them to make a little ordeal out of its public release on their website will somehow pry other older Lowell catalogs out of the good karma universe.

And, because I have a suggestion.

While you're in contact with Lowell, and they are in such a grateful mood for you thinking about them, maybe you can ask them to scan any catalogs or historical publications they do have and upload it on their website. Neither their 'About' page or their 'Blog' features any.

Long before your time here on GJ some of us other Lowell fanciers had been scrambling on the Lowell thread to build some technical history and the only references we had to work with on IA/ITCL are miscellaneous ads from 1919, 1920, 1928, and 1937.

Worth a shot.

I'm with you, of course. IA/ITCL is always my first thought for any old catalogs. But once it's scanned and in the public domain - which is the important part - it can be downloaded and uploaded to ITCL.

Cool Chapman story Yes, I will definitely be asking them if they are sitting on any catalogs to release them. I'm sure there are more catalogs in the weeds somewhere. It would certainly increase traffic to their website if they post more catalogs in addition to mine.

On a quick side note. I'm not sure if Lowell made anything smaller than this no. 11? Not sure when Lowell first made the no. 11 either?

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's a pic of my late 1800's tool kit. I thought I'd post these pics here due to the complete G.W. Smith ratchet & socket set.

Everything you need to fix & keep your Wagon running. Well, almost everything

 

[Beerhippie]

What's the spur-trigger revolver?

I can see where it would be handy for punching holes in leather rigging....

 

[AntiqueBen]

What's the spur-trigger revolver?

I can see where it would be handy for punching holes in leather rigging....

That's an old Iver's Johnson Defender 7 shot 22. Dates to late 1880's. You never know who might show up while you're fixin your wagon wheel