Who has encountered this style of Craftsman ratchet?

kythri · Jan 5, 2013

Just found this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Old-Vi...381?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337ef6433d

I'm intrigued - I've NEVER seen a ratchet like this.

Anyone know anything about it? I'm skeptical about the "old" or "vintage" claims on this ratchet (well, I'm skeptical about most all "old" or "vintage" claims on eBay anymore), as it seems to have a more modern styling, but yeah, interesting nonetheless.

It's not $41 interesting, but...

rusty65 · Jan 5, 2013

The ratchet looks bent in the middle to me? I think that's why they stopped making them because they were some what pliable?

andywander · Jan 5, 2013

Yeah, it says "RARE", too. That's a big turn-off for me in an ebay heading.

jerryW · Jan 5, 2013

Used to have a set of those. Retaining ring kept coming off in the middle of using it. Ended up selling them off cheap, before the craze for them. Not too rare, not too common.

They were out in the 80's.

jerry

jdcompman · Jan 5, 2013

It's very much an old Craftsman ratchet. It is indeed stainless and it is not pliable or have problems with handle robustness. As far as the rare claim. They aren't that rare really. I used to have a 3/8 and 1/4 versions. The ratcheting mechanism on them leaves a lot to be desired. i.e. it's terrible. I think they are very cool ratchets though. And that one is in extraordinarily great condition.

Toolhorder · Jan 5, 2013

It's actually pretty rare and they don't come around for sale often. I think it wasn't made very long before it was discontinued. I found one at a flea market awhile back and promptly listed it and made a nice profit.
They made two versions, one says "stainless" and the other is stamped "lifetime"
Mine was the "lifetime" model.
They are suppose to have that bend in them. It's normal.

flippin · Jan 5, 2013

I still have my 3/8" version. As mentioned it wasn't very smooth but it was pretty cool looking for the time. I decided to keep it for posterity. It was my first good quality ratchet which I purchased while in High School. I remember reading about it in Popular Science which spoke of the neat features; Stainless, external gear for thumb control, 5 degree off set to reduce "knuckle dusting". i still use it on occasion just for shits and giggles. IIRC it was first available around 1985.

Fedwrench · Jan 5, 2013

I had one that I sold when they developed the cult following and crazy ebay prices. Actually there are two versions of that ratchet. The first ones has the word "stainless" on it while the second version had the word "lifetime" on it. I think the ratchet was really ahead of it's time. It offered a thinner head for improved access, an offset comfort type handle for knuckle clearance, and it was lightweight for its day.
The sockets and extensions that cam with the sets had black rubber rings/sleeves around their base for better finger spinning but, I thought they just added to the size of the socket and got in the way.
The ratchets were definitely a unique to Craftsman design though. :thumbup:

SMKS · Jan 5, 2013

Yup, they're pretty rare. I think I've owned a total of two. I sold them both on ebay.

As others have said, they're marked "Stainless" or "Lifetime."

I think the mechanisms is pretty weak, but as noted, they're very low profile.

I believe the era was late 1980s and very early 1990s.

930dreamer · Jan 6, 2013

I'd never seen that style of ratchet before.

mtwaterguy · Jan 6, 2013

I have a few of those ratchets in all three sizes. Trying to complete a set of the banded sockets if anyone has some.

kythri · Jan 6, 2013

Pictures added to the OP for posterity.

Thanks for the information! I'll have to keep my eyes open in case a set comes up cheap.

sumner52000 · Jan 6, 2013

I picked up one this week. Saw it in a pic on craigslist where guy listed a workbench full of tools. I bought the 1/2 Lifetime ratchet, set of sockets from 7/16- 1 1/4", large metric sockets, breaker bar, 1/4 ratchet and large screwdriver all craftsman for $50 and an hour drive. I plan to post pics when i get a day off this week.

Quick question.

Mine says Lifetime but it is still stainless steel right?

nine4gmc · Jan 6, 2013

andywander said:
Yeah, it says "RARE", too. That's a big turn-off for me in an ebay heading.

When the shoe fits though...

That is a rare ratchet, and it is vintage, unfortunately 80's is now vintage.

SMKS · Jan 6, 2013

sumner52000 said:
Mine says Lifetime but it is still stainless steel right?

I'm not 100% sure about this. Some googling may turn up an answer for you.

When I sold one on ebay some person messaged me and claimed the Lifetime models weren't stainless, and that they switched away from stainless for cost reasons.

I have no idea if he was full of it or if that's correct.

sumner52000 · Jan 9, 2013

Got some pics of the one i got Friday.

RW-7 · Jan 9, 2013

Sorry About the HUGE pics.
Here is one in my collection. I mostly use it for spark plugs. The thumb wheel on it really helps get the plug threads started in tight spots.
I took a profile pic and it does look a little thin and almost seems to have a bit of an angle to it. Handy little fucker this here ratchet is. That's for sure!

RCStocker · Jan 10, 2013

I have had them and sold them cheap. I never knew they worth worth the money.
Thanks, Now I know.

El Barto · Jan 11, 2013

I remember seeing those when they came out and I really wanted them. If I remember weren't these part of a whole new design line-up? I think that the sockets were supposed to have larger numbers for visibility and the ratchets were low profile. When I went to buy them, they had already been taken off the shelf.

radrush · May 4, 2014

RW-7 said:
Sorry About the HUGE pics.
Here is one in my collection.

In the pic is a Lifetime ratchet (not a Stainless ratchet).

I am curious, do you remember if you bought that ratchet new off the shelf, or did you return a Stainless ratchet in on warranty replacement?

The Stainless version appears to have had a 5-year run - featured in tool catalogs dated 1987 - 1991. However, I could not find the Lifetime ratchets in the catalogs and as a result I suspect that these were "warranty replacement ratchets".

Who has encountered this style of Craftsman ratchet?

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