Companion Ratchets

[firworks]

Who makes Companion Ratchets? I found one at a second hand store near here that looks kinda like a Snap-On at least in the handle. It's a bent flex-head.

The head doesn't really look that much like a Snap-On but the rings on the handle make me think they were maybe trying to copy a Snap-On bent handle ratchet.

/\ This is the Snap-On one I think it looks like.

They want 15$ for it. The head is floppy though. Anyone have any thoughts on this thing? I don't think I've seen a Companion branded ratchet before.

 

[MattVette89]

Companion was sold by Sears in the 90s/2000s. Lower line than Craftsman. Not sure who made it, though.

 

[jakemac]

The Companion label was originally used by Sears as an "economy" brand. It was replaced around 1940 by the Dunlap label. As stated, it was occasionally revived for short periods (I suspect it was to hold the copyright) and then just as quickly retired again.

 

[zeke67]

Companion was the low end line before Evolve came out.

Although currently listed as unavailable, and not a flex head, an new Companion is about half of the use bent one you found.
http://www.kmart.com/tools-ratchets...b-1214357359?Brand=Companion&filterList=Brand

 

[Vantastic]

The handle on the bottom one is on wrong.

 

[inliner311]

So i came across this trying to find the manufacturer of this since companion has been retired and I was trying to find if I could get a rebuild kit for it. This is one of my favorite ratchets.

I've searched and I'm 95% confident it's an offset version of the gearwrench 45 tooth flex head. They look exactly the same except for the bend and the companion/gearwrench engraving. I think I bought it when Danaher was making Craftsman so I assume at least some of Companion was made by Danaher too. Gearwrench is made by Apex which was owned by Danaher before being sold off to bain capital.

Hopefully gearwrench has a rebuild kit, otherwise I will buy one of the gearwrench 3/8" 45 tooth ratchets to use to rebuild my companion 3/8" offset.

 

[ecotec]

The Companion brand was used in the 90’s.

 

[inliner311]

From what I've gathered Companion was sold until around 2008. I remember buy this ratchet in a sears around that time. I may have bought it when all the companion stuff went on clearance.