Awesome Craftsman Ratchet Score!!

[Stuey]

Okay, so if you've seen my other threads, you already know that I spent a lot of time at my local Sears today. Well, in the ratchet section, there were a few loose items on the bottom shelf. I saw a teardrop ratchet that I've never seen before - it looks like it predates the most recent teardrop design!

Model #: 9-43784, Price: $9.

Does anyone have any info about this ratchet?

The new acquisition is in the middle, and it is surrounded by two teardrop ratchets - one (the longer one, not that you can tell,) is from a 95 piece laser etched socket set, the other from a clearanced laser etched 3/8" socket set when the packaging style of the mini sets were changed. Curious - one of the new-style teardrop ratchets appears to have a much thicker head. I wonder if this is because of the timing of my set purchases, or if it has to do with different manufacturers/factories.

Oh yea, don't forget to throw in a wise crack about our placemats. I wanted to get the photos taken as quick as possible, and the kitchen table has the best lighting at night.

EDIT (This is for you, Merkava): I use the new-style teardrops as paperweights and emergency spares. I whipped them out of their hiding places (I don't even keep them with my 'usable' ratchets) for comparison purposes to today's purchase.

 

[Merkava_4]

You actually frickin' bought those things???

 

[paramudduck]

The silver selector is an older model. Mine from the 80's are like that. I really detest the newer levers.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I just went out to the shop and looked, I have one of those 3/8 drive ratchets with the chrome reversing lever (9-43784) It works quite well, I use it frequently.

Charles

 

[Merkava_4]

****goes into full snob mode****

I wouldn't use those for a frickin' paper weight.

 

[Fedwrench]

It's an older 30 tooth model. The chrome direction switch would later become black metal that quickly wore to a copper color with heavy use before the ratchet was discontinued for the current 36 tooth style. Great find though.

 

[billymade]

Thats crazy, they haven't sold those since the 80s; just to let you know they do not have rebuild kits for those anymore... if you turn it in for warranty replacement, you will get one of the "new" sucky models.... sorry!

 

[Stuey]

I have absolutely no idea how that ratchet ended up on the sales floor, and I doubted that anyone in the store would know, so I didn't bother asking. What also surprised me is that the ratchet was still in Sears' pricing system!!

So approximately how old is this ratchet? The mechanism felt a little clunky, but I wanted it anyways, it looked cool.

Merkava, I added an edit to the first post just for you. I don't actually use the new style teardrops, but I just might, just to make you squirm a bit.

Thats crazy, they haven't sold those since the 80s; just to let you know they do not have rebuild kits for those anymore... if you turn it in for warranty replacement, you will get one of the "new" sucky models.... sorry!

Hmm, so this is at least 18-20+ years old? Neato! The store I bought it at is a Sears Essentias (K-Mart convert), and there weren't any issues ringing it up. Maybe the person who put it on the shelf entered the product number into the register system and arbitrarily assigned it a price?

Just for kicks I may disassemble the ratchet to see what its internals look like.

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

Definetley an older style from the 80's. My dad's got two craftsman ratchets, one has that selector lever, and I believe has the black metal that faded to copper, but both have that style of quick release button. Even though they're old and well used, those ratchets have held up, excellent tools in my opinion. Just because they're not 80 tooth designs doesn't mean they ****.

 

[bchee]

I have absolutely no idea how that ratchet ended up on the sales floor, and I doubted that anyone in the store would know, so I didn't bother asking. What also surprised me is that the ratchet was still in Sears' pricing system!!

That is pretty weird. You're probably right that they entered the number in the computer to make it scan. Maybe it was a warranty return that they decided to sell?

Does the number on the handle match the part number on the packaging?

 

[Stuey]

As far as I can tell, the ratchet is brand spanking new. I thought it could have been 3-5 years old or so, since my awareness of ratchets started 2-3 years ago, and today's Craftsman teardrop design is all I remember seeing.

Yep, the part numbers match up.

 

[MechanicforLife]

Nothing wrong with that ratchet, i got the same style in 1/2 way better than the newer style. Thicker huh.

 

[64merc]

Wow, that is unbelievable!! You really lucked out finding that thing. Since I was a kid in 80's and didn't care about ratchets, that it the first time I've seen one of those in perfect condition. IMO, if you want to keep it, I'll bet it blows the newer stuff out of the water as far as durability is concerned.

I could be wrong, but I bet if you put that thing on Ebay you would get good money for it.

 

[bchee]

Wow, that is unbelievable!! You really lucked out finding that thing. Since I was a kid in 80's and didn't care about ratchets, that it the first time I've seen one of those in perfect condition. IMO, if you want to keep it, I'll bet it blows the newer stuff out of the water as far as durability is concerned.

I could be wrong, but I bet if you put that thing on Ebay you would get good money for it.

I think I've seen a lot of those on ebay and they don't seem that popular. The fine tooth round heads seem to generate more interest (the quick release ones)

 

[Stuey]

I did a quick search via ebay, and these ratchets aren't fetching too much $$. I wouldn't sell it anyways, unless it was worth $200 or something like that, of course.

I just cannot get over how bizzare this all is. Where the heck was this ratchet hanging out for the past two decades??!

 

[bchee]

I just cannot get over how bizzare this all is. Where the heck was this ratchet hanging out for the past two decades??!

That's the same thing that impresses me, as well as the condition it's in.

Also, it's almost 3am and you're on a tool forum

 

[eschoendorff]

Man, I still cannot get over those ghey place mats!

 

[Stuey]

Man, I still cannot get over those ghey place mats!

Huh, they're not grey, they're floral! Just imagine the designs of the ones I enacted my veto powers on.

 

[goodfellow]

Nothing wrong with the old style Craftsman ratchets -- not as good as their older fine tooth models, but they held up well. Consider it a candidate for a secondary toolkit for the car, barn, house -- whatever.

I have several of these ratchets from the 70's, and they found their way into the emergency tool kits that I carry in each car.

 

[krusty the clown]

Huh, they're not grey, they're floral! Just imagine the designs of the ones I enacted my veto powers on.

ghey.....(as in gay) not grey on topic, that ratchet is the same as the first ratchet in got in a tool set for christmas in 79 or 80. i still have it but it's more of a keepsake than a working tool.

 

[Stuey]

ghey.....(as in gay) not grey on topic, that ratchet is the same as the first ratchet in got in a tool set for christmas in 79 or 80. i still have it but it's more of a keepsake than a working tool.

lol, I know what he meant, but I was trying to counter and frustrate him.

So it's possible that this ratchet was in limbo and hidden from the system for 2-3 decades. That could also explain the $8.99 pricetag.

 

[autoace]

The one with the silver lever is probably tough and yesterday's Craftsman, the other two are well, probably typical. Sears tools were alot better in the 80's.

 

[old salvage]

Wow, what a find.
Make sure you save the card too.

 

[autoace]

****goes into full snob mode****

I wouldn't use those for a frickin' paper weight.

Merkava you had a thread about your "fav..wit"ratchet from Japan,1/4 inch drive, that looked like a paper weight, remember...remember

 

[AutoTech]

****goes into full snob mode****

I wouldn't use those for a frickin' paper weight.

Those Craftsman ratchet just don't polish up very well do the Merkava

 

[Jbullfrog]

Thats crazy, they haven't sold those since the 80s; just to let you know they do not have rebuild kits for those anymore... if you turn it in for warranty replacement, you will get one of the "new" sucky models.... sorry!

If you clean and lube it regularly, it will probably be a great tool for your grandkids someday.

 

[Tool Pants]

Neat find. It is like my first ratchet but mine is older because of the oil hole. Mine does not have a part number on the handle, but patent numbers and a date of 1967. Guess that is the date the quick release was patented.

My mother bought it for me around 1971. The Sears store was torn down years ago, or I would go back looking for 1/2" drive with an oil hole and a $9.99 price tag.