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Help to ID unmarked vintage ratchet..?

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Lomotil

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Attached are pictures of a ratchet I dug out of an antique shop's warehouse in South Texas, there are no markings on it whatsoever, and I did my best to restore it (and used it on a few things, too!)

It's a 1/2" reversible, pear-shaped, 28-tooth ratchet, solid construction, comfortable to use... Has anyone ever seen one that looks like this? I'm dying to know who made this piece!
 

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Lomotil

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Oh, and FWIW, I did modify the tool slightly. The two screws that hold the mechanism in place were sharp/rough on all edges, so I honed them down so that they'd be flush-fitting on the outside, and rounded enough on the tips to not be sharp on the business side. I also straightened the removable plate and rounded off the edges.
 
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Lomotil

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...Looking it up as we speak, err... 'type.'

It was found in an old wooden box that had a ton of old tools that I couldn't recognize, unfortunately, this was back when I was just starting on my vintage tool crusade. If I'd had seen said box today, I would've made an offer on the whole lot. There were tools in there for shoeing horses, etc. Sadly, I went back to the town a month or two ago to see if it was still there, but the building had been sold to someone constructing a bar, and no easy trail to find the original owner.

Thanks for the info!
 
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Lomotil

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On the Alloy Artifacts page for Walden-Worcester (a fantastic site, btw - great info!) - the closest thing I see to mine is the "Walden 1150 1/2-Drive Ratchet" - looks identical in design, except for the lack of the name stamped between the grooved sections of the handle, and the lever-type selector switch, in place of the round one on mine.

I've had this ratchet apart, and it certainly looks as if the selector knob is original... I just wonder when this particular wrench was made...
 
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Lomotil

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Borrego said:
I think I have that Walden-Worcester ratchet......
Click to expand...

Can you post pictures of it? How did you come by it, and do you know any history behind yours?

I'm really fascinated with these older tools, and grateful for the input and replies I've gotten on this forum so far! Thanks! :)
 
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Lomotil

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Oh, and for what it's worth, I'd found the ratchet at the antique shop roughly 2-3 years ago, restored it, and was actually using it on an 80's Suburban 4x4 project of mine. Blew the transmission on the 'burb after lifting and putting 38" Boggers on it, and it's been parked in my driveway for at least six months.

Just a few days ago, I went into the cabin to find another tool, and noticed that I'd left this wrench inside it, still attached to a socket I was using back then - saw that it had some new surface rust on it, and said "hell no!" - brought the wrench back inside for a complete cleaning/lube, and had to search for it online...
 
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caper

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Yours would most likely be the Stevens-Walden version with the round selector.They are usually just stamped with a SW.The head is also different on the Stevens/Walden as compared to the Walden Worchester,one has 2 screws and the other has 4.Yours should be a Stevens Walden 4050 if it's 3/8 dr.Unsure on the number for 1/2".

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PowderKeg

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I'd agree with the others and say Stevens-Walden. Take a very hard look around the handle between the knurling. My 3/8" Stevens-Walden (marked only with an "SW" in a circle and not the entire name) is almost entirely worn down - it looks to have been finely/lightly stamped to begin with - and not deep like later Walden ratchets. You may be able to discern some intentional markings that might resemble wear or scratches at a casual glance. Then again, I've seen a few of those ratchets that I couldn't find any hint of id on no matter how hard I looked.

Caper, you found a flex head Walden? That's another new one to me - I've got a standard handle with that head, but I've never seen a flex head version of any Walden. Gotta go revise the fleabay search parameters again....
 
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Lomotil

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caper said:
Yours would most likely be the Stevens-Walden version with the round selector.They are usually just stamped with a SW.The head is also different on the Stevens/Walden as compared to the Walden Worchester,one has 2 screws and the other has 4.Yours should be a Stevens Walden 4050 if it's 3/8 dr.Unsure on the number for 1/2".

P1110357.jpg
Click to expand...

It sure does look like that, but like PowderKeg said, I can't find any markings or even a trace on it. I'll try with an eye loupe next, but the wrench is out in the car from taking it on a job...

Great input, guys! Such a great group of folks on this forum! :bounce:
 
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