Haven't we all wondered how J.H. Williams Ratchets aided the Navy in WWII?

3baygarage · Mar 15, 2014

Here's how: the crank handle on a World War II USN BOMB HOIST.

The hoists were made in York, PA by American Chain & Cable Co. Inc, Manley Mfg. Division.

The ratchet handles were sourced from J.H. Williams of Buffalo. Apparently they are the standard S-50 1/2" ratchets of the time, with the length and angle modified.

I purchased this bomb hoist because I just felt the need to have it as a part of my collection. Here it is before being cleaned or anything. I wanted to show it just the way I got it.

This is from 1942, see the plate in the last pic.

3baygarage · Mar 15, 2014

Here's a few more pics. Also a link to a really cool old film from the time.

The hoist was mounted atop the wing of the plane and the cable would drop through to raise up the bomb.

You can see these hoists in action in the film at around 7:10.

https://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.12990

e_d · Mar 16, 2014

I have a similar model I will have to check to see if it is the same.

3baygarage · Mar 16, 2014

Sweet. I've only seen these (MARK VI) and the long boom arm type MARK VII.

The MARK VII does not have a Williams ratchet handle as far as I know, just the other crank.

Tellingthem · Mar 16, 2014

That is pretty cool.

3baygarage · Mar 16, 2014

Tellingthem said:
That is pretty cool.

Thanks. I thought so too when I realized what the handle was an then when I pictured these things being used on a plane.

That video is pretty awesome too, it brings it all together.

north · Mar 16, 2014

Thanks for the pics and the link. Interesting film and cool to see the hoist in real use. What's the weight of the hoist?

Shoebox Driver · Mar 16, 2014

Now that's cool.

warmpancakes · Mar 16, 2014

wait, you have a bomb hoist collection? you must post more pictures

3baygarage · Mar 16, 2014

north said:
Thanks for the pics and the link. Interesting film and cool to see the hoist in real use. What's the weight of the hoist?

Somewhere around 36 lbs roughly.

warmpancakes said:
wait, you have a bomb hoist collection? you must post more pictures

LOL, no. I have a ratchet collection. That's what I was referring to. The garage just isn't big enough!

Haven't we all wondered how J.H. Williams Ratchets aided the Navy in WWII?

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