Companion USA -V- pear head

[3baygarage]

This one is new to me. Can't believe I haven't seen one before, unless I did a long time ago and don't remember, but not likely.

Anyone seen this type?

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Boomerang shaped selector.

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Looks just like.....you guessed it!

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Fake oil hole on top. As if they thought about it and changed their minds.

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[Corndoggeh]

Would make sense, Sears owns/owned the Companion brand. More than likely struck a deal with the manufacturer to use the same shape of internal mech and all. However, it looks like the companion ratchet was stamped into a basic shape and not stamped further into the Cman one, almost like they stopped the stamping at stamp number 4 where the cman ends at stamp 7 or whatever.

However, the boomerang switch is definitely interesting.

 

[3baygarage]

Yeah, the switch is different from what I'm used to seeing.

I don't have a non QR Craftsman on hand to compare to, but the parts look interchangeable. Both are 32 tooth.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Huh. Never seen one of those. The old Companion ratchets I'm aware of were made by Western Forge and are nearly identical to the old Thorson external gear roundhead ratchet.

Corndoggeh makes a good point about this ratchet looking like an incomplete forging for a Craftsman QR ratchet. Maybe Moore Drop Forge had a surplus of non-QR drives and sent them out the door in budget Companion ratchets?

 

[3baygarage]

It appears that's be the case MN. Looks say that Moore/Easco made it. I wonder what the age is. Craftsman ratchets with non QR heads went into the 60's right?

Not that it helps. There were non QR ratchets for Easco, K-D, Napa, that went much later probably.

I'm familiar with the WF Companion "open head". Thought those were the only USA Companion ratchets, but feel like I've seen socketry with the -V- before.

 

[jakemac]

Perplexing for certain.

Sear's stopped using the Companion label around 1940, in favor of the Dunlap brand.
However, they occasionally offered items under the Companion name for short periods, perhaps to keep the trademark on the name. One of those times was in the mid-70's, I believe.

The single line V stamp (-V-) started in 1967 and was used into the 80's.
This would fit with a 70's or early 80's release for that ratchet.

The short handle suggests to me that it may have been part of a small boxed kit sold from a bargain display near the checkout counter. (I'm imagining a red metal box with a clear sliding cover. But I'm probably wrong.)

The handle shape is interesting. It reminds me of early Plomb or Plvmb.
I got no clue on the selector switch. Intriguing.

 

[Bdgjr215]

I think it looks like plomb.you might be sittin on a pretty rare ratchet there.

 

[3baygarage]

Perplexing for certain.

Sear's stopped using the Companion label around 1940, in favor of the Dunlap brand.
However, they occasionally offered items under the Companion name for short periods, perhaps to keep the trademark on the name. One of those times was in the mid-70's, I believe.

The single line V stamp (-V-) started in 1967 and was used into the 80's.
This would fit with a 70's or early 80's release for that ratchet.

The short handle suggests to me that it may have been part of a small boxed kit sold from a bargain display near the checkout counter. (I'm imagining a red metal box with a clear sliding cover. But I'm probably wrong.)

The handle shape is interesting. It reminds me of early Plomb or Plvmb.
I got no clue on the selector switch. Intriguing.

Thanks Jake. We can always count on you with the Crafty timeline.

This ratchet checks in at 9" while the Craftsman maybe a slight over 10.

I think it looks like plomb.you might be sittin on a pretty rare ratchet there.

Yeah, that handle shape.

There can't be a lot out there compared to some. Unless the odds have just been really skewed.


Anyone know of old Companion tools in any catalogs? Were they in any Craftsman or Sears cats?

 

[SMKS]

That is interesting. Thanks for posting the pics.

There are other brands like New Britain they have done similar things. You’ll find tools like Mustang-branded ratchets that use the same mechanism as a vintage Husky or New Britain ratchet, but have a much cruder, poorly finished handle.

 

[bluebolt]

That's a 3/8" ratchet right? The same ratchet in a 1/2" drive version sold recently on Ebay.

 

[DadsTools]

Very nice find! No, I haven't seen one before. Doesn't look to me like an 'unfinished' Craftsman, looks like it had its own unique forging. Wonder if the oil port hole is just partially drilled out or whether it has a plug in it? I've read these holes were used to more easily drill down into the channel for the pawl spring and ball--may have been in this case too but instead of the more expensive oil port ball they just plugged it?

 

[3baygarage]

That's a 3/8" ratchet right? The same ratchet in a 1/2" drive version sold recently on Ebay.

It's 1/2". This is the one you saw.

Very nice find! No, I haven't seen one before. Doesn't look to me like an 'unfinished' Craftsman, looks like it had its own unique forging. Wonder if the oil port hole is just partially drilled out or whether it has a plug in it? I've read these holes were used to more easily drill down into the channel for the pawl spring and ball--may have been in this case too but instead of the more expensive oil port ball they just plugged it?

It was partly drilled out. No port or plug.

 

[3baygarage]

It was partly drilled out. No port or plug.

I take that back Dads. In the light I can see it may well be a plug. It's hard to tell. Possible they did use the hole for assembly and then plugged it off.

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[DadsTools]

I take that back Dads. In the light I can see it may well be a plug. It's hard to tell. Possible they did use the hole for assembly and then plugged it off.

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A plug makes sense to me. There'd be no reason to just partially drill that port and then leave it that way unless someone was spazzing at the factory.

Very nice find. And very cool looking too. It's a keeper for sure.

 

[davethorik]

I was going to suggest it might be a center to aid in a lathe op at the factory (my Proto XL rats have one in the handle). However, I don't believe that ratchet had a lathe op from the looks of it. I'd guess you're right about drilling the hole for ball bearing and plugging it. Neat ratchet. It does look like the love child of a Plomb pebble and a Craftsman RP.

 

[Bdgjr215]

I've been going to the fleas since 1990,and I predominately look at tools ,and I'm sure I've
Never saw one before.maybe a little early to say but dare I say "Prototype"

 

[DadsTools]

I've been going to the fleas since 1990,and I predominately look at tools ,and I'm sure I've
Never saw one before.maybe a little early to say but dare I say "Prototype"

I certainly hope not. Worth more if it's regular issue. No doubt it's rare. I think it's more along the lines of jakemac's suggestion that it was made for a tool set, perhaps a one-off for a holiday special. The grease on it shows it was used in the usual manner.

3bay: Seventh photo down in your original photo set shows shifter from side. looks original, just somebody beat the tar out of it for some reason. They couldn't use the normal CM shifter because the head doesn't extend far enough down to provide a recess for it. V-shape makes sense too as it would give you better leverage working with your thumb. I think it's all legit and regular issue. If you sell it, give good side photos of the shifter to show it's not home-made, just home-mashed.

Wonder what it's worth? If it was a CM, you'd need to furnish a towel with it to mop up all the drool. But a Companion....who knows?

 

[3baygarage]

I was going to suggest it might be a center to aid in a lathe op at the factory (my Proto XL rats have one in the handle). However, I don't believe that ratchet had a lathe op from the looks of it. I'd guess you're right about drilling the hole for ball bearing and plugging it. Neat ratchet. It does look like the love child of a Plomb pebble and a Craftsman RP.

That it does.

I've been going to the fleas since 1990,and I predominately look at tools ,and I'm sure I've
Never saw one before.maybe a little early to say but dare I say "Prototype"

I wondered the same. Maybe just a very short production run. Won't know until another turns up. Part of what I love about the hobby, finding something I haven't seen before.

I certainly hope not. Worth more if it's regular issue. No doubt it's rare. I think it's more along the lines of jakemac's suggestion that it was made for a tool set, perhaps a one-off for a holiday special. The grease on it shows it was used in the usual manner.

3bay: Seventh photo down in your original photo set shows shifter from side. looks original, just somebody beat the tar out of it for some reason. They couldn't use the normal CM shifter because the head doesn't extend far enough down to provide a recess for it. V-shape makes sense too as it would give you better leverage working with your thumb. I think it's all legit and regular issue. If you sell it, give good side photos of the shifter to show it's not home-made, just home-mashed.

Wonder what it's worth? If it was a CM, you'd need to furnish a towel with it to mop up all the drool. But a Companion....who knows?

No question the lever looks legit. It's all one solid piece and yes has some dings to it. I do think a regular Craftsman lever would fit it by looking. I may have to try that that some time.

I don't plan on selling it so no worries there.

 

[jakemac]

That's a 3/8" ratchet right? The same ratchet in a 1/2" drive version sold recently on Ebay.

It's 1/2". This is the one you saw.

For some reason, I was also thinking it was a 3/8dr.
That's what put the image of the box kit in my mind.
Then again, I was in my teens in the late 70's. So my mind was on other things non-tool related. My recall might be suspect.

 

[DadsTools]

Bumping this thread because I just recently saw a socket set with this same ratchet in 1/2" drive with metal box, green IIRC. Looked like it had both 3/8" and 1/2" drive sockets, maybe used an adapter for the smaller sockets. Wasn't complete, but there were a good portion of the sockets marked COMPANION with the -v- code. Rat even had the mashed-up looking shifter. So I can definitely verify it is not a prototype, not a mistake or anything else like that, legitimate product. Probably a one-off special run. Based on its appearance and what else was in the box, I'm leaning toward 1970s. Guy wanted a fortune for it (at least to me), so I didn't grab it.

Anyone seen any more of these since?

 

[3baygarage]

Yes, I can confirm there has been at least one more on the bay since.

 

[3baygarage]

Just want to add that the 1972/73 catalog offered the open gear style WF made ratchets. The catalog is on Blackburntools.com. These ratchets came in 1/4, 3/8,1/2. Here’s a little 1/4 incher.

I’d assume the -V- ratchet came earlier. Were they in drive sizes other than 1/2”? Dads, that’s the new question for sure.

 

[DadsTools]

So far, 3bay, what few reports we have are only for 1/2" drive. In the set that I saw, there appeared to be both 1/2 and 3/8 drive sockets but no 3/8 ratchet, so they may have included a step-down adapter. Like I said, the sockets were marked Companion with the -v- code.

Difficult to say with regard to a more precise dating. Apparently it's an uncatalogued set, at least no one has found the cat reference.

As someone mentioned, it appears as if Sears would occasionally revive the Companion name from time to time, but only briefly. I seem to recall they ran it for a longer time just prior to their Evolv brand introduction.

BTW, nice cat shots and ratchet!

Even the catalog shots can be misleading. For example, in the lower right of your cat page there's two hex socket sets listed under the Companion brand. I've seen a number of these from 60s and 70s, all were marked SEARS on the pouch, no Companion, and no brand name on any of the components.

Someone will have to dig up some obscure cat or ad reference, or find a set with original box + receipt or instruction booklet to tie this down. Even with the cat, though, the photo may not match the actual tool.

In any event, it still looks to be a rare and widely unrecognized ratchet.

 

[bluebolt]

I just got a Companion 3/8" drive flex handle AKA breaker bar with =V= markings, will post pictures later.

 

[bluebolt]

Here's my Companion =V= flex handle.