Score: SK 4170 1/2" Ratchet
- Thread starter goodfellow
- Start date
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Congrats!
What's the model number? Is it old?
What's the model number? Is it old?
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
i think he means a 40170 ratchet.
OP
goodfellow
Well-known member
Correct krusty!! Thanks for catching my fat fingered mistake. Yes it is a model 40170 ratchet. I lost one just like it a few years ago. Except that one was a JC Penney model. Most people don't remember that JC Penney used to sell a fine line of quality tools, and that SK was their supplier.
I finally found this one at a reasonable price.
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krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
That was what my first set of tools was that the folks bought me back in HS, everything was stamped 'JC Penney" wonder who made the combination wrenches? SK?
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Those full polished JC Penneys wrenches from the late 70s were great. SK ratchets are great too. The long 1/2 drive is quite strong and durable.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Age may not matter from a "use" perspective, but my interests are more historical!
Yeah, they were called Penncraft. I think they stopped offering them in the 70s... Does anyone remember if that's accurate?
What makes you think SK was the contract producer for these? I think New Britain was the more likely producer, but I'd love to hear/see what you know..!
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Oop! I see there have been more posts since I opened this thread & wandered away from the PC...
eschoendorff
Well-known member
that ratchet reminds me of a Williams S-52 (IIRC) ratchet that I have.
OP
goodfellow
Well-known member
I actually have another JC Penney ratchet; 3/8" bent flex handle. I bought a JC Penney toolset back in the early 1970's and at the time, the JC Penney sales folks were touting their tools as being manufactured by SK. So I have no actual proof, except what the sales folks at the time were relating to their customers
Here is the JC Penney model; compare that with the current SK bent handle flex head --
http://www.skhandtool.com/Default.aspx?fusemode=10&pid=45183
The JC Penney part number was 3316, current SK model is 3770
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old salvage
Well-known member
Nice one Goodfellow.
Years ago I was walking through college section of the city and some homeless guy had a blanket laid out on the sidewalk. Strewn on top was an assortment of junk for sale including a vintage box of Nicholson files and a beat to heck model 42470.
I bought some files (didnt have enough for the whole box) and the ratchet. It was rusted to heck and obviously had a cheater bar put on it. got it home, de-rusted it, cleaned it and the thing works fine. Clicks nice and crisp with minimal slop.
Not bad since it was abused and one of the earlier made specimens too.
Years ago I was walking through college section of the city and some homeless guy had a blanket laid out on the sidewalk. Strewn on top was an assortment of junk for sale including a vintage box of Nicholson files and a beat to heck model 42470.
I bought some files (didnt have enough for the whole box) and the ratchet. It was rusted to heck and obviously had a cheater bar put on it. got it home, de-rusted it, cleaned it and the thing works fine. Clicks nice and crisp with minimal slop.
Not bad since it was abused and one of the earlier made specimens too.
MAD
Well-known member
I am rather fond of these original SK pro series ratchets. I started using them back when I was working as a tech and my boss jumped in to help me on a job that he thought was proceeding at too slow a pace. He asked to use my ratchet but he had an expression like I had just handed him a steaming turd when I gave him my f731.This was a guy that had a box that was loaded with Snap-on. Later I noticed that his ratchets were all SK. That experience was a real eye opener to me. It taught me not to be a slave to any tool brand and buy the tools that work best for me from all of them.
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Nice find. I have one of those that's about 30 years old. They just don't wear out.
There's a new one on ebay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/SK-1-2-DRIVE-RA...ryZ20773QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
There's a new one on ebay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/SK-1-2-DRIVE-RA...ryZ20773QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
plinker
Well-known member
Except for a Snap-on roto head 1/4 ratchet and a Craftsman 3/8 w/ top spinner, All of my round head ratchets are S-K.
The only reason for the Snap-on one is because S-K doesnt make one in that style in that drive size (I wish they did, S-K has a finer swing arc).
You can find S-K ratchet at really good deals on ebay, I picked up a 40970 1/4 ratchet for 2.50 and a 45170 for .99 cents (plus 6$ shipping).
The only reason for the Snap-on one is because S-K doesnt make one in that style in that drive size (I wish they did, S-K has a finer swing arc).
You can find S-K ratchet at really good deals on ebay, I picked up a 40970 1/4 ratchet for 2.50 and a 45170 for .99 cents (plus 6$ shipping).
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lbgradwell
Well-known member
Well, that's as good as anything I've found to date! If they were actually telling customers SK was the maker, they likely were...