Aluminium King **** ratchet

[Ginge]

Here are my 40s - 50s vintage king **** 3/4 , 1/2 , 3/8 , 9/32 aluminium ratchet, hoping someone might know what the what the screw sizes would be, iv been trying to find out for roughly three months and no luck starting to thing they were specifically made for the ratchets. Any information would massively help and be appreciated.

 

[bonneyman]

I'd be taking those puppies down to the biggest Ace Hardware in my town and start trying out various screws from the fastener aisle.

If you came into my store and talked to me I'd be having a field day! I'd have a variety of taps to try out if no machine screws fit. I'd get you set up!

 

[Garcky]

Here are my 40s - 50s vintage king **** 3/4 , 1/2 , 3/8 , 9/32 aluminium ratchet, hoping someone might know what the what the screw sizes would be, iv been trying to find out for roughly three months and no luck starting to thing they were specifically made for the ratchets. Any information would massively help and be appreciated.

Some variation of a British standard from the 40s, I'd guess. That 9/32" drive ratchet dates them. That size was short-lived. King **** is a British tool company. I don't know the specs for small screws like that.

 

[yatg]

Have you tried using the screw from the other ratchet?
If it fits, then you'll have a screw in you hand you can measure.

 

[kyrbz]

I'd guess it's a British thread. Maybe BA (British Association) which was used for smaller screws. As someone mentioned, I'd take a screw out of the ratchet and measure it with a Whitworth or BA thread gauge. If it's a British thread, you're definitely not going to find one in a hardware store in the US. Maybe someplace like -

https://britishfasteners.com/screws.html

 

[Stubby1743]

I've just tried to remove a screw from either of my 9/32" ratchets and they are all too tight and I don't want to risk stripping out the head. Sorry. Looking at the end of the screw, my guess for the thread would be 6BA.

In the picture one of the ratchets is fitted with a King **** 9/32 to 1/4 adaptor which makes the ratchet totally useable.

Ginge, where in the world are you located?

 

[Ginge]

I've just tried to remove a screw from either of my 9/32" ratchets and they are all too tight and I don't want to risk stripping out the head. Sorry. Looking at the end of the screw, my guess for the thread would be 6BA.

In the picture one of the ratchets is fitted with a King **** 9/32 to 1/4 adaptor which makes the ratchet totally useable.

Ginge, where in the world are you located?

Yeah some of my 3/4 and 1/2 where like that, I appreciate you trying tho I’m from England.

 

[Ginge]

I'd guess it's a British thread. Maybe BA (British Association) which was used for smaller screws. As someone mentioned, I'd take a screw out of the ratchet and measure it with a Whitworth or BA thread gauge. If it's a British thread, you're definitely not going to find one in a hardware store in the US. Maybe someplace like -

https://britishfasteners.com/screws.html

Thank you for the link that will be really useful, yeah I tried taking them
To a place that identifies screw threads and even they had no idea the pitch doesn’t Match the screw size.

 

[Ginge]

Have you tried using the screw from the other ratchet?
If it fits, then you'll have a screw in you hand you can measure.

Yeah I have but the pitch and the thickness of the screw don’t match any in my charts.

 

[Ginge]

I'd be taking those puppies down to the biggest Ace Hardware in my town and start trying out various screws from the fastener aisle.

If you came into my store and talked to me I'd be having a field day! I'd have a variety of taps to try out if no machine screws fit. I'd get you set I

I appreciate that but unfortunately I’m English and we don’t have ace hardware

 

[Stubby1743]

Have you tried 6BA for the 9/32 ratchet?

 

[Ginge]

Have you tried 6BA for the 9/32 ratchet?

Yeah mate it’s about the correct size but the thread form is a lot courser
on the screw at about 40 tpi

 

[kyrbz]

Just curious, do hardware store in the UK typically carry Whitworth nuts and bolts? I mentioned Britishfasteners.com which is in the states but a better source especially if you’re in the UK is

Nookysnuts.com

When I’m working on something old and British, Nookys is where I typically get my hardware from. Always been happy dealing with them

 

[Farmer J.]

How about telephoning King **** and asking them? Always pleasant to chat to, and usually able to help.
01935 382 222
or email:
[email protected]

 

[outofbounds]

That's Alu-MIN-ium for all us Yanks.

 

[Ginge]

Just curious, do hardware store in the UK typically carry Whitworth nuts and bolts? I mentioned Britishfasteners.com which is in the states but a better source especially if you’re in the UK is

Nookysnuts.com

When I’m working on something old and British, Nookys is where I typically get my hardware from. Always been happy dealing with them

No not typically but you occasionally if your lucky but we have these special shop where they basically only sell nuts and bots, I’ll definitely give them a try then thank.

 

[Ginge]

How about telephoning King **** and asking them? Always pleasant to chat to, and usually able to help.
01935 382 222
or email:
[email protected]

Yeah iv sent a few emails to them but all they where able to tell me is when they stopped manufacturing them aka the 50s

 

[Dave455]

Hi Ginge - shouldn’t be a mystery, it’s either going to be BA, BSF or BSW. Can’t see it’s going to be anything else.

If it’s not BA, then it’s BSF or BSW.

1/8 BSW is 40 tpi so it might be that.

I’ve got one of those ratchets somewhere so I’ll try to find it and measure the screws!

 

[Dave455]

Just curious, do hardware store in the UK typically carry Whitworth nuts and bolts? I mentioned Britishfasteners.com which is in the states but a better source especially if you’re in the UK is

Nookysnuts.com

When I’m working on something old and British, Nookys is where I typically get my hardware from. Always been happy dealing with them

I have three hardware shops locally, two stock Whitworth, one doesn’t

They don’t have a huge selection, but you will always find 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8, and often things like allthread (threaded rod) and roofing bolts.

I’m in a rural area so the local farmers use it a lot.