Craftsman ratchet question.

[alton1911]

I bought this today. The fellow that runs the rusty tools section at my local pawn shop, had this waiting for me today. It is a circle “U”. Doesn’t appear to be damaged as much as just worn out. I have a few questions in relation to this ratchet. Parts? Are there any? Where should I look? How old is this ratchet?
Along those lines... I also have about half a dozen, 3/8 and 1/2 Craftsman ratchets that need parts. I am afraid that the new Chinese parts will arrive, and I will not be able to use them.




Thanks for any advice.
alton1911k

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Circle-U was made by the Plomb Empire for Sears in the mid-to-late 1940's. As for parts for that or your other Craftsman ratchets, the best source, in my opinion, remains another ratchet. You pick up 2 or 3 of the same ratchet for a couple bucks each and you make one good ratchet out of it. EDIT: Circle-U is more uncommon than BE or Circle-H, or if your ratchets are later, =V=. But even Circle-U is not so rare that you can't find another one at a flea market or yard sale etc if you're in an area with old tools.

 

[DadsTools]

Circle-U was made by the Plomb Empire for Sears in the mid-to-late 1940's. As for parts for that or your other Craftsman ratchets, the best source, in my opinion, remains another ratchet. You pick up 2 or 3 of the same ratchet for a couple bucks each and you make one good ratchet out of it. EDIT: Circle-U is more uncommon than BE or Circle-H, or if your ratchets are later, =V=. But even Circle-U is not so rare that you can't find another one at a flea market or yard sale etc if you're in an area with old tools.

Sure looks like one of those Plomb/Penens/Challenger/Name du jour racetrack rats, doesn't it? For me, it would depend on which would be of higher dollar value. If it's the Cman, I'd **** a Plomb for the parts in a minute.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Sure looks like one of those Plomb/Penens/Challenger/Name du jour racetrack rats, doesn't it? For me, it would depend on which would be of higher dollar value. If it's the Cman, I'd **** a Plomb for the parts in a minute.

No question it's Plomb Empire. All the other Circle-U pieces are dead ringers too. I've never tried to cannibalize a Plomb for a Crafty Circle-U, or vice versa. Someone who has may chime in if it's doable or not.

 

[alton1911]

No question it's Plomb Empire. All the other Circle-U pieces are dead ringers too. I've never tried to cannibalize a Plomb for a Crafty Circle-U, or vice versa. Someone who has may chime in if it's doable or not.

I have a Penens 1261 that looks at a glance to be a good match. I may try to rob the parts.
Penens ratchet is a good one. So I will still be looking for a donor ratchet.

Thanks again,
alton1911

 

[DadsTools]

I have a Penens 1261 that looks at a glance to be a good match. I may try to rob the parts.
Penens ratchet is a good one. So I will still be looking for a donor ratchet.

Thanks again,
alton1911

Let us know how it works. Awhile ago in another thread we started taking an inventory of all the Plomb-made racetrack ratchets that looked identical but having a bunch of different brand names or even no name at all. I bet the parts were the same in all of them that look virtually identical on the outside.

 

[Gear Wolf]

Private Lugnutz, you can cannibalize the mechanism into any corresponding ratchet whether its a Craftsman, Plomb, WF, Pennens, Firestone, etc. There are a variety of variants Plomb made that all run on the same base parts, which are cross compatible.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Private Lugnutz, you can cannibalize the mechanism into any corresponding ratchet whether its a Craftsman, Plomb, WF, Pennens, Firestone, etc.

Thanks for corroborating, DD.

There ya go, alton.

 

[DadsTools]

Private Lugnutz, you can cannibalize the mechanism into any corresponding ratchet whether its a Craftsman, Plomb, WF, Pennens, Firestone, etc. There are a variety of variants Plomb made that all run on the same base parts, which are cross compatible.

There are actually 3 main variants of the Craftsman version:
- Cadmium plate
- Unpolished Chrome w/ & w/o selector modification
- Polished Chrome w/ & w/o selector modification

I suspected as much. Sounds like Alton's needy C-man will be the DOOM of some unlucky Plombware piece.

 

[thehorse13]

There are plenty of guys who have bins of parts for that ratchet. You may want to hit up Twertsy. There is another Craftsman ratchet guy on here but I can't remember his name right now. He makes videos on how to take the ratchets apart and also goes through every variant out there.

 

[3baygarage]

There are plenty of guys who have bins of parts for that ratchet. You may want to hit up Twertsy. There is another Craftsman ratchet guy on here but I can't remember his name right now. He makes videos on how to take the ratchets apart and also goes through every variant out there.

I think his name is Doctor Strange. No, that’s not it. Doc Connors? Wait, might be Doctor Octopus. Ahh, I give up.

 

[alton1911]

Thanks for corroborating, DD.

There ya go, alton.

Thanks again. I love the look of these plomb type ratchets.

alton1911

 

[Gear Wolf]

The name is a jape on my profession.