Bonney oh sweet Bonney

[Elroy]

So how does the old Bonney sales pitch go: Cheap tools are for chumps?

Well Ole Elroy is known for being on the look out for high quality, old tools and this prime example came across our path last night:

A virgin 3/8" drive Bonney in prime fully functional condition.

Notice how the ratchet head is sealed with rivets on both sides.

Seeking age and value estimates on behalf of the owner. It is available and Elroy offered his opinion but we're seeking additional comments from other Garage Journal, "board certified" experts. Comments please.

 

[welderwink]

how old is that thing

 

[Hiball]

Cant help you on the Value of that Ratchet, but thanks for sharing some pics. I Personally wouldnt have a problem dropping $30 bucks for it just to have it in my box regardless of its actual value.

 

[wyndycity]

Nice! I have one just like that too. Same model: T35 but has USA stamped to the right of "Bonney." I bought it for a few bucks at a flea market. Being stamped F:O, I dated it from ~1938 using the codes explained on this site:

http://www.vintage-trek.com/bonney_tool_date_codes.htm

I'd save you the trouble but I can't quite make out the date stamp on yours due to the yellow paint.

 

[cruiser808]

Outstanding! Elroy has done very well for himself.

 

[Mickey O]

I would guess somewhere in the '40's, no idea of the value.

 

[Bull]

There is a guy on Papaw's site selling a similar vintage Bonney rat for $8. Perhaps that is an anomaly, though.

 

[wyndycity]

You can find more details on this Alloy Artifacts page, a little more than halfway...

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/bonney-forge-tool-p3.html

 

[caper]

Pretty sure I paid $12 for mine on ebay.Nice old ratchets but pretty coarse mechanism.They are fairly common on ebay.

 

[Elroy]

Nice old ratchets but pretty coarse mechanism.

20 tooth

Pretty sure I paid $12 for mine on ebay.They are fairly common.

Elroy would venture to say that was a good purchase. I wouldn't say they're common especially in 3/8".

 

[krusty the clown]

I wouldn't say they're common especially in 3/8".

yeah, they are fairly common. there were a lot made during WWII.

 

[Elroy]

I wouldn't say they're common especially in 3/8".

Elroy made that statement simply because he has never seen a 3/8 in that style before. With Elroy's luck they'll be coming out of the wood work now.

The owner of this particular ratchet was hoping for between $35 and $50.
We negotiated down to $25 but Elroy didn't bite. It's a clean piece and has obviously been well cared for.

Thanks for the clarifications.

 

[alex71]

I have one of those. Its a nice little ratchet. I reach for it when I need a compact 3/8 drive. Despite being only 20 tooth, the action is pretty smooth. Definitely better than my Snap-On F720.

 

[T56 Impala]

Those are actually fairly common ratchets. The T-35 was a war production tool IIRC. There is also A PWA and NAF variant that I know of. There may be more. I think I paid $5 for two of them. One was not working when I got it, but a good soaking in ATF fixed it right up.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

There is a guy on Papaw's site who was selling a similar vintage Bonney rat for $8. Perhaps that is an anomaly, though.

Fixed it for you, Bull! ha ha!

Elroy, I have a Bonney exactly like yours except it's a 1/2"...and the aforementioned one that will soon be on the way...

 

[eddyyy302]

Elroy,
I bought the same 3/8 ratchet this weekend at an estate sale! Found it in a box with taiwanese sockets, the ratchet is MINT. I oiled it, but the mechanism is very coarse, just the nature of the beast. I love the selector on these ratchets though.

Dan

 

[Bull]

Fixed it for you, Bull! ha ha!

Elroy, I have a Bonney exactly like yours except it's a 1/2"...and the aforementioned one that will soon be on the way...

Oh, you scooped that one, John? hard not to, for a measly $8!

 

[Bolster]

Those are actually fairly common ratchets. The T-35 was a war production tool IIRC. There is also A PWA and NAF variant that I know of. There may be more. I think I paid $5 for two of them. One was not working when I got it, but a good soaking in ATF fixed it right up.

Dang, that's impressive knowledge of tool arcania.

 

[sk farmer]

can't be to rare. i have a 1/2 drive version. mine has screws to hold it together though. they have a nice feel.

 

[mooman]

So for $25, it doesn't look like much of a deal.
Would a long bath in ATF help out that corseness?

 

[Trenmik]

So for $25, it doesn't look like much of a deal.
Would a long bath in ATF help out that corseness?

I actually put Permatex in a 1/2 4 month ago. It about a half-hour to get it in the tiny oil-hole & work it into the ratchet since this is before I learned about the soaking in ATF (since I didn't want to used 3-in-1) and had to wiggle the drive gear which hardly budged before.
I'd have to say despite the time it took (someone could probably find a faster way to do it short of working it w/ a socket and holding it under a container full of RLL) it worked excellent on my $5 1/2 4098 "24 teeth". It now resides in one of my toolboxes... "I was so pleased with the results".
This lead to my present love and fascination with Bonney along with their wrenches.
I have a Bon-E-Con 3/8 (T-35 similar) in the garage waiting to be worked on next to the 2 different 40's 3/8 soaking in ATF...... I think when I go to work the 2 soaking ratchets I clean the Bon-E-Con up and give it a try again. Guess I can always throw it in the ATF soak if it doesn't smooth-out faster this time.

 

[CamarosRus]

Asking for opinions on BONNEY Wrenches Flare-Box Set from 7/16" - 1 1/8"

(Line Wrench/Flare wrench one end AND same size Box on the other end)

As NEW

I'm not familiar with BONNEY. May I assume that company is out of business.

Wanting to determine any collectability or value before posting for sale.

Thanks

 

[caper]

Sweet old set.Yes Bonney is out of business so the tools have no warranty anymore.They are/were a fairly popular brand.That style of open end is rather odd.Typically used for hydraulic tubing but having a box end on the other end seems strange as box ends are useless for hydraulics.Is that set missing the 13/16" and the 1 1/16"?Might be hard to find ones to replace them if it is.

 

[oldtools]

How is bonney compare to other brands like proto, Snap On, etc... Is it a middle of the pack brand?I saw a lot of bonney at the swap meet and don't pay much attention to it. I am always in the look out for Plomb, SO, Armstrong, Matco, Proto, and Williams.

 

[Mickey O]

How is bonney compare to other brands like proto, Snap On, etc... Is it a middle of the pack brand?I saw a lot of bonney at the swap meet and don't pay much attention to it. I am always in the look out for Plomb, SO, Armstrong, Matco, Proto, and Williams.

They used to make some of the Matco wrenches, the good ones, they are great tools, add them to your list.

Look for these (if you find a 14mm 6 point long sell it to me):

 

[sk farmer]

i have a 14 mm long 6 point

 

[Mickey O]

i have a 14 mm long 6 point

When and where did you get it? For sale? How much? Or are you just letting me know what you have that I can't get?


I've got a 9/16" 6 point filling it's spot temporarily ( a few years now ).

 

[woody 73]

Funny but I came across a 1/2 inch Bonney ratchet just a few days ago. It looked as if someone took a hammer and destroyed the rivets; So sad to see a good tool abused.

 

[71Datsun510Wagon]

......they are great tools, add them to your list.....

NO, NO, NO! With all due respect, Mickey O has it all wrong!

Bonney makes piss poor wrenches. To help you out of this jam, just send them to me for proper disposal.

PM for my address.



Rob

 

[Rnz520]

I have a 10 to 19mm set of Bonney made Matcos. Best wrenches I've ever laid my hands on, I just love working with them

 

[Bull]

I bought a full set of flare/box combos like that on eBay last year for about $35.

 

[TheGrooveking]

+1 on the Bonney Matco wrenches being the best. I bought all of mine back between 80 and 87, still the wrenches I grab first.

TheGrooveking

 

[nolatoolguy]

WOW, nice

you should post those at pawpas wrench under tool talk

 

[oldtools]

They used to make some of the Matco wrenches, the good ones, they are great tools, add them to your list.

Look for these (if you find a 14mm 6 point long sell it to me):

Wow, those are some nice wrenches. So Bonney is up there with the top dog. I will start buying Bonney tools next time. I ranks these American tool companies to help me bargain for the tools. All tools are made in USA. Am I wrong?

Top of the pack:
-Snap On
-Cornwell
-Matco
-MAC
-Plomb/Proto
-Armstrong
-Williams
-Bonney
-Wright

Middle of the Pack:
-Billing and Spencer
-Blackhawk
-Duro and Indestro
-Herbrand
-Hinsdale
-New Britain
-Walden Worchester
-Vlchek
-Utica
-Kraeuter
-Frank Mossberg
-OTC
-SK

Low end of the pack
-Barcalo
-Lectrolite
-P&C
-Bog
-Craftsman
-Husky
-Truth
-Thorsen

 

[superautobacs]

I've picked up one of those 3/8" ratchets, but mine's a Gray-Bonney version and the plate is held on by screws.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Fixed it for you..

TheGrooveking

Top of the pack:
-Snap On
-Matco
-Bonney
-Wright
-Plomb/Proto
-Armstrong
-MAC
-SK
-Williams
-Cornwell

Middle of the Pack:
-Billing and Spencer
-Blackhawk
-Duro and Indestro
-Herbrand
-Hinsdale
-New Britain
-Walden Worchester
-Vlchek
-Utica
-Kraeuter
-Frank Mossberg
-OTC
-Craftsman

Low end of the pack
-Barcalo
-Lectrolite
-P&C
-Bog

-Husky
-Truth
-Thorsen

 

[oldtools]

Fixed it for you..

TheGrooveking

I didn't think SK would be in the crowd with Snap On. I have some SK tools and I didn't think they were as good as Snap On. I didn't think Craftsman is that high either. If Bonney is that good, I will start buying them at the swap meet.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I didn't think SK would be in the crowd with Snap On. I have some SK tools and I didn't think they were as good as Snap On. I didn't think Craftsman is that high either. If Bonney is that good, I will start buying them at the swap meet.

What do you have from SK? Granted, I bought all of my SK back in the 70's and 80's, but its all been rock solid.

TheGrooveking

 

[Elroy]

In Elroy's mind that list is a little skewed.

Based upon name only and utilizing functionality as a selection parameter then maybe the list is OK.

If you're talking about antique "collector" wrenches that list isn't even close.

 

[TheGrooveking]

In Elroy's mind that list is a little skewed.

Based upon name only and utilizing functionality as a selection parameter then maybe the list is OK.

If you're talking about antique "collector" wrenches that list isn't even close.

Specifics...it would be interesting to see both lists in your perspective Elroy, one by functionality/tool quality and one on collectability.

TheGrooveking