Craftsman 3/8 ratchet

[rpenterics]

Found this in one of my dad's boxes on our farm (lots of old tools in them) - can any body tell me more about it (age, repair parts, etc?)





if you can't see the picture the handle says:
FORGED IN U.S.A. -V- 43785 U.S. PATS.
3172675. 3208318. CAN. PAT. 7577826-1967

 

[beerdog]

it is probably older if the patents are listed. Check alloy artifacts.

 

[bluebolt]

No picture but if it has a part number it is newer, 1970's is my guess. Does it have the oil hole in the head? Metal selector?

 

[1967lemans]

I believe that it was manufactured by Easco or Possibly Moore Drop Forge.

 

[rpenterics]

No picture but if it has a part number it is newer, 1970's is my guess. Does it have the oil hole in the head? Metal selector?

sorry about that, see pictures above - yes it has an oil hole and metal selector

 

[4xdog]

The really old ones have a metal selector shaped not like a "normal" lever but like a sort of chromed, extended "v"-shaped thing.

1970-ish, I'd guess on yours.

 

[bluebolt]

sorry about that, see pictures above - yes it has an oil hole and metal selector

I see the pics now, it's exactly what I thought. You can get it rebuilt at any Sears tool department, just make them give it back, not exchange it!

 

[bonneyman]

You have what's called a long lever tear drop (LLTD) ratchet. I call it the "baby rattle" style, because the selector knob sort of reminds me of a baby's toy. If I recall correctly, they were made by EASCO from 1967? to about 1992, being replaced by the figure-8 plate style of ratchet.
Yours is probably toward the earlier end of that time frame.

Solid user, rebuild kits are still around, on ebay if nothing else. Keep it!

 

[SMKS]

Sears re-released rebuild kits for these a couple years ago, so there are lots of them around. Sears may even still be stocking the kits.

As others have said, this is from the Easco or Moore Drop Forge era. Many people consider them better than the style that Sears currently sells (either the Chinese or USA version).

Whatever you do, don't exchange it for the current style if yours breaks. Have it rebuilt, or exchange it for the same style (my local Sears keeps rebuilt versions of this style ready for exchange) or buy a kit on ebay for it. Just don't trade it in for the current style of ratchet.

 

[rpenterics]

Thanks for the info guys, a rebuild kit is definitely in its future