The Ratchet Collection Thread
- Thread starter twertsy
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davethorik
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Ole Slewfoot
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Walden 4054 "Starwheel' 3/8 palm ratchet.
First pic I saw I knew I wanted one. Got this off the bay with a reefer ratchet.
"Looks great and in excellent working condition. " LOL the reefer rat doesn't work at all, you can kind of feel it skip against something. Anyone know how the head come out?
Anyway the palm ratchet is pretty well new inside and quite good out. 32 teeth, and opposed trapezoidal /====\ dogs with a spring running through the shaft between them trying to increase their offset in whichever direction is selected.
-\=====/
----(//)
/=====\
Does this mechanism have a name?
Its way beefier that it needs to be for not having a handle, and the housing is a solid chunk of steel I could feel the spring coils drag on the hole, and it felt cheap, so I degreased, shot some graphite spray, let that dry, then worked some synthetic bearing grease in there and a drop of ATF to soften it up. Now it's nice for what it is, but back drag is a little high, and if they would have angled one of the pawls a few degrees it would be 64 teeth. the selector has 2 roll pins through it, one into each pawl. Could have slotted the pawls so the selector didn't bounce. Whatever, hand feel is awesome and it doesn't take much room.
First pic I saw I knew I wanted one. Got this off the bay with a reefer ratchet.
"Looks great and in excellent working condition. " LOL the reefer rat doesn't work at all, you can kind of feel it skip against something. Anyone know how the head come out?
Anyway the palm ratchet is pretty well new inside and quite good out. 32 teeth, and opposed trapezoidal /====\ dogs with a spring running through the shaft between them trying to increase their offset in whichever direction is selected.
-\=====/
----(//)
/=====\
Does this mechanism have a name?
Its way beefier that it needs to be for not having a handle, and the housing is a solid chunk of steel I could feel the spring coils drag on the hole, and it felt cheap, so I degreased, shot some graphite spray, let that dry, then worked some synthetic bearing grease in there and a drop of ATF to soften it up. Now it's nice for what it is, but back drag is a little high, and if they would have angled one of the pawls a few degrees it would be 64 teeth. the selector has 2 roll pins through it, one into each pawl. Could have slotted the pawls so the selector didn't bounce. Whatever, hand feel is awesome and it doesn't take much room.
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Private Lugnutz
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I'd be tempted to throw that thing, ninja style, at someone who pissed me off. 
No, seriously, that is a super cool find.
No, seriously, that is a super cool find.
davethorik
Well-known member
Hahahaha
"You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon popped into my head when I read that, so my vote is Al !!
There are some Walden round head ratchets that use the same mechanism. I've only seen pics, not sure of model #s, but I was curious about the dots on the selector, so thank you for filling in that blank.
d42jeep
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Here is an early pivoting 1/2” drive ratchet I found at an estate sale today. I thought when I minimized the rust on the handle I would find a brand name but no such luck. It’s in really nice condition and looks only slightly used. Any guesses?
-Don
-Don
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3baygarage
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Well, some early SK and Fulton usually have 3 bands around the handle but not labeled.
Duro had several variations of flat handle, some are labeled and some aren’t I think.
Indestro had one with a knurled handle but labeled.
Hinsdale had a few variations as well, several flat, and an unmarked banded I believe.
Basically, I got nothin’.
d42jeep
Well-known member
Thanks, guys. Other than the knurling it is a dead ringer for the S-K on AA. S-K kind of had a penchant for not marking their tools early on and even up through WW2. I have an otherwise unmarked hex ratchet with just 105 on it that apparently was from an S-K #105 socket set. I guess it’ll go in with these other early S-K tools I found in March.
-Don
-Don
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Private Lugnutz
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The knurling is precisely what makes me think Hinsdale on that rocker, Don. They've come up before and I've posted a catalog image before. I'll try to find it.
d42jeep
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Private Lugnutz
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Third party production.
Ole Slewfoot
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30 hours in WD-40, and my reefer ratchet came back to life, another win for the collection.
RubiconJK
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I found this 3/8" drive Cornwell ratchet today at the flea market. I don't see a model number anywhere on it. I was doing some research to find out date of mfg and a possible model number when I found Todd's old post. I see similar models in the 1952 catalog on Tool Archives, but since his note mentioned possibly 1930's production I thought I'd ask for Todd's or anyone else's opinion. Thanks.
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davethorik
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I wish I knew more specifics about Cornwell, but that ratchet is newer- head held together with a snap ring, not threaded cover that has spanner holes in it, like Williams round heads.
New Cornwell ratchets are laser etched with the model # on the exposed portion of the gear above selector. I don't know how older ones were labeled.
New Cornwell ratchets are laser etched with the model # on the exposed portion of the gear above selector. I don't know how older ones were labeled.
RubiconJK
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Dave, I think you are correct as usual. After making my post, I pulled up the current Cornwell catalog and this design ratchet is STILL in production. It appears there might have originally been a "button" or something on the round back portion of the lug where the model number might have once been. They show a JR30 in the current catalog as a chrome version. Mine is more of a bare metal, so there is still a bit of a question for me on age.
3baygarage
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Probably an industrial finish rat, JR301.
Specs
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Just landed this on May 2nd... 
View attachment 1
After WD-40, Simple green, and Palmolive dish soap, and a jewelers Flat screwdriver... YEARS OF GOD KNOWS WHAT came off. Super lube after drying off with q-tips... sounds good, i’ll put it through paces tomorrow.
Its not a diamond sk, but has the pat pend# number ... seems old enough
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View attachment 1After WD-40, Simple green, and Palmolive dish soap, and a jewelers Flat screwdriver... YEARS OF GOD KNOWS WHAT came off. Super lube after drying off with q-tips... sounds good, i’ll put it through paces tomorrow.
Its not a diamond sk, but has the pat pend# number ... seems old enough
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PowderKeg
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Very nice set Mr. Tool, though a bit new for the vintage section.
View media item 82232
View media item 82233
Well, the thread hasn’t moved much and somehow another 3/8 Vi-Chrome turned up! It’s in great shape. Probably been sitting long as it took a bit of persuasion to get the plunger going inside.
Oh their vintage at least for being a unique design - haven't seen any other ratchet brand with a gut and retainer design just like like these. Sure there are many unique ratchet designs (both actual and patent), but they're mostly pretty early in ratchet design history. These appear to be what, maybe late '60's to late 70's and stamped USA. I've been out of regular ratchet circulation for awhile so I'm not current on what if anything Twertsy or others have discovered, but I don't have much of anything on their origin, just a couple in the obsess, er collection.
RubiconJK
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Thanks guys. It looked old with the bare metal finish and I never thought about looking at a new catalog!
3baygarage
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PK- I don’t have any info on the design, and there’s so little info on the brand. I agree, the ratchet above looks later, though AA seems to mark the brand as from the 50’s.
davethorik
Well-known member
I have seen a number of black industrial finished Cornwell tools, I remember when I bought my industrial finish Proto 5450XLBL long 1/2 rat a number of years back for work purposes. It was a day after I bought the Proto on ebay new for $15, a nos SR701 (1/2 long black 30t) Cornwell also popped up on eBay for really cheap, I think $25 or $30. Kicked myself a couple times for not getting it, got worked up, thought long and hard... but I had just gotten a good deal on that Proto, which ended up being one of my top 5 and an even better deal than the Cornwell anyway.
The reason the SR701 was so cheap, somehow in storage a caustic material was spilled on the handle, the black stripped, and had light surface rust. Purely cosmetic, guts unaffected. But just like my Proto, they wear to a greyish eventually, which might be just the base metal. But no chrome chipping!
I have noticed that some of the older Cornwells with the screw in faceplate seem to have markings on the coke bottle handle, like woody 73 mentions here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4552595&postcount=6
I am glad they did away with the screw in faceplates, to be honest. I have a Williams M-51 Superratchet in 1/4 drive and that thing was an absolute nightmare to get apart. However I will take the SK-style snap ring the newer Cornies have any day of the week and will be thankful for it!
While were on the topic, I'm interested in learning more about the knurled handle Cornwell ratchets, because you see very few. However the Coke bottle is my favorite ratchet grip of all time and usually I'm a 'knurling knut', so to speak.
RubiconJK
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I do like the way the "coke bottle" handle feels in my hand and understand why they stuck with this design for so many years. They are also very heavy compared to other similar length 3/8" drive ratchets I have. Appears almost indestructible! I like knurling also and tend to accumulate a lot of knurled sockets from sales. I think its because it reminds me of gun checkering for which I am also a sucker.
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I think the Proto and the Penens are the same size, but the Tru-Test is definitely larger.
honza.vosalik
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RagTopTA
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Family photo.
Im pretty sure I saw a Fleet version on the bay last week!
Nope my bad, it was in a haul I made a few weeks ago....
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7160855&postcount=2935
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r_olson_06
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That is a Craftsman BT ratchet made by Vlchek. They are pretty hard to find. I know they are pretty early BE era if I am not mistaken. They were the premium ratchet offered by Craftsman during that time.
Oldtuleguy
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r_olson_06
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I have the same ones with the selector scheme. I was think that I had 2 different eras of ratchets since the selectors were different.
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Oldtuleguy
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I think just the 3/8 had slide selector
Private Lugnutz
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crankshaftdan II
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LN:
I think I remember someone found a Blue Point version of this same ratchet-can't remember (CRS) anymore which forum it was posted on!!
Private Lugnutz
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Didn't know they made one! Same era I would assume!? I'm going to ask snapmom.
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Private Lugnutz
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I picked up this motley mixed brand (SK, Williams, Bonney) / mixed era midget set in a strange case today and it had a 1/4-inch removable drive plug in it! I have to admit I am drawing a blank on the whole concept, unable to think of a major mfgr who was making a female midget ratchet with a drive plug. It's marked "RF49". Williams made a 1/4 to 9/32 plug adaptor, but it wasn't for a ratchet, its part number was MM-150, and this is 1/4-inch on both ends.
As long as I have your attention, I'm also wondering if anyone recognizes the box, because I don't. It's not SK or Bonney. Is it a Williams? It looks to have been red originally. It's a mess. Someone lined it with something, possibly tape, that is deteriorating, and that's a strip of tape on top, too. It's roached. But if it's Williams I may try to save it even though there's no decal.
As long as I have your attention, I'm also wondering if anyone recognizes the box, because I don't. It's not SK or Bonney. Is it a Williams? It looks to have been red originally. It's a mess. Someone lined it with something, possibly tape, that is deteriorating, and that's a strip of tape on top, too. It's roached. But if it's Williams I may try to save it even though there's no decal.
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3baygarage
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I think the drive plug is to a Bonney refrigeration ratchet. Not sure on the box.