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Tecomaster ratchet set, metric, early 1980's

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Hermann-the-german

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Hello everybody,

I am a german guy collecting ratchet sets, usually less known german brands. Recently I came across a set by "Tecomaster" and Google search took me here to learn something on this brand. So far I know that these Tecomaster sets where sold in Germany by the "Kaufhof" department stores chain in the early 1980's. Other german vendors are yet unknown to me.
My set looks almost unused, but shows some corrosion. The original carrying case was replaced by the previous owner. It was an orange colored steel case with blue plastic liner.

Here is an image of the main tools.



It's 1/2" with double-hex sockets 10-24, 27, 30, 32 mm. The ratchet has 45 clicks (8°).

I would appreciate if somebody could make suggestions on the original manufacturer a rate the quality.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Boilerhouse

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Yes Eaton's Department Store brand name (TECO = Timothy Eaton Co.). My father has a set which he acquired in the early 1970's. I do not know who made their tools.
 
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isb cornbinder

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I worked part-time at Eaton's in Calgary in the 1960s. The TECO brand tools were around at that time. My Father bought SK and MacLeod's Hardware Stores in the 1940s and I continued on with the SK brand.
I have a very few TECOMASTER tools. They came in and part of random tool sets from second-hand stores and garage sales. The few TECO tools I have MADE IN CANADA stamped on them.
 
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3baygarage

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Hermann-the-german said:
Since Tecomaster is a Canadian brand, wouldn't the Tools be labeled with "Made in Japan" then? So far, I did not find any hint.
Click to expand...

They ought to be marked, we would think. They are clearly Asian imports. I have seen those same Tecomaster tools around every once in a while. Whoever made them is probably the same company in Japan who made Kmart socket sets, Bernzomatic socket sets, and countless others.

Unfortunately thanks to the almighty Photobucket, many pictures are wiped out as you probably noticed in that Tecomaster thread.

lbgradwell and Snapmom have some fine examples of older Teco tools made by Snap On.

http://toolarchives.com/node/3594
 
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Hermann-the-german

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OK, thanks so far. Regarding quality I forgot to mention, that the 1/2" square connector of the tools snugs pretty tight into the sockets, almost like with best german brands. The chrome plating in this area may be left on purpose thinner though. No idea on the durability yet since everything looks pretty virginate.
 
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MikeF2316

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3baygarage said:
They ought to be marked, we would think. They are clearly Asian imports. I have seen those same Tecomaster tools around every once in a while. Whoever made them is probably the same company in Japan who made Kmart socket sets, Bernzomatic socket sets, and countless others.

Unfortunately thanks to the almighty Photobucket, many pictures are wiped out as you probably noticed in that Tecomaster thread.

lbgradwell and Snapmom have some fine examples of older Teco tools made by Snap On.

http://toolarchives.com/node/3594
Click to expand...

Notice the pics of the large wrenches that I have in that thread don't have a COO on them.

And I was crying about the state of pictures on that thread. Hopefully lbgradwell and Snapmom will redo their pictures, but I know they have hundreds across the internet, so perhaps they just don't have time to fix them all. Thanks Photobucket!
 
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Hermann-the-german

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Thanks to your knowledge it was able to identify the OEM of my ratchet set. It's obviously a Herbrand ratchet that was labeled for Eaton's. Thanks to Google cached images I restored some of your comparison pictures that were lost in photobucket.



Now as it's pretty sure a Herbrand set, how would you rate the quality?
 
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3baygarage

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MikeF2316 said:
Notice the pics of the large wrenches that I have in that thread don't have a COO on them.

And I was crying about the state of pictures on that thread. Hopefully lbgradwell and Snapmom will redo their pictures, but I know they have hundreds across the internet, so perhaps they just don't have time to fix them all. Thanks Photobucket!
Click to expand...

I see them Mike. I would bet imports as well.

Hermann-the-german said:
Thanks to your knowledge it was able to identify the OEM of my ratchet set. It's obviously a Herbrand ratchet that was labeled for Eaton's. Thanks to Google cached images I restored some of your comparison pictures that were lost in photobucket.



Now as it's pretty sure a Herbrand set, how would you rate the quality?
Click to expand...

Herbrand did not make your set, I can guarantee that. That picture from Caper over on the Gazette is blurry and I have seen it before.

It would be great if he posted a new picture for us. The Herbrand looks like a Wright made ratchet. Wright is know to have made tools for Gray Tools of Canada, 3/4 drive tools at least, and for many other US brands. It's possible they made some Herbrand drive tools.

The Tecomaster switch looks damaged in that photo, but again, I'd like to see it in clarity. It is probably an import. They look similar, but It appears Caper never did see whether the mechanisms interchange.
 
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Hermann-the-german

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3baygarage said:
.... Herbrand did not make your set, I can guarantee that. .... The Herbrand looks like a Wright made ratchet. Wright is know to have made tools for Gray Tools of Canada, 3/4 drive tools at least, and for many other US brands. It's possible they made some Herbrand drive tools.
Click to expand...

Thanks again! So the Herbrand and Tecomaster are most probably rebranded Wright ratchets. How would you rate the Wright quality?

In the opening post I have added a link to a picture that shows the whole set in the original case.
 
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