Craftsman Socket Cheater Bar Angle Thing

[In The Doghouse]

I found this in some tools that belonged to my deceased father. I remembered it as a kid but had forgotten about it. Based on my memories it is probably about 50 years old. I don't believe I have ever seen another one. I can see putting a 1/2" drive socket on one end and a piece of pipe on the other for breaking loose the tight fasteners.

What specifically is it called and how rare is it?

 

[davethorik]

They are usually called L handles.

 

[James_B]

I have an Australian made Sidchrome version that I bought in the early 70s. It was a pretty standard item in any Australian home or professional mechanic's tool kit in the 70s. My father also has one in his Sidchrome tool kit.

It was standard practice to use a 12" extension on the long end as a cheater.

 

[In The Doghouse]

^^^ You are right. An extension would pop right on that, but extensions are made to twist not pry. I guess it would be hard to bend a 6" extension but a longer one might.

 

[James_B]

^^^ You are right. An extension would pop right on that, but extensions are made to twist not pry. I guess it would be hard to bend a 6" extension but a longer one might.

Didn't matter. Before Stanley took them over, Sidchrome had a lifetime warranty, and over the counter replacements were no problem.

The only Sidchrome I've broken in 40 years was a 1/2" drive 6" wobble extension that was made after Stanley acquired the Sidchrome name and shifted production to China. It became such an ordeal trying to get that one replaced that in the end I just threw it out.

 

[jakemac]

As stated earlier, those are called "L" or "Ell" drivers. They were used like a fixed angle breaker bar. Once upon a time they were included in most small sets, replacing the ratchet driver which was sold separately, to keep the initial cost down.

Those, and the T-handle for a breaker bar are usually the first things to go missing in a set. Most people today don't know what they are, so if found they tend to get tossed in the scrap pile.

Nice find, and even better save.

 

[Flatintoone]

One of these was one of my first collectible tool purchases. I was told then that they are 'rare and sought after, but don't seem to bring much money'. That turned out to be correct. Don't know if the situation is any different today.

 

[In The Doghouse]

I was told then that they are 'rare and sought after, but don't seem to bring much money.

That is typical of anything that i find.

Oh, the 1/2" ratchet in the set was pre-pushbutton release much like that shown in Jake's avatar above. My brother got it as well as the sockets.

 

[zkling]

Just to add, they were commonly sold in spark plug socket sets as to be used for plug changes. I'm in the same boat as I have the set, which, like you came from my father. Don't use them much any more, but every once in a while they are handy, particularly for running up the street to pull the plug on a small engine for the neighbor or the like.

 

[bigcaddy]

I guess my Plomb Ell in 1/2" is somewhat uncommon. I've yet to see another but that might be due to them making the tool just because they can, not because the market demanded it. I'm sure the didn't make many when a breaker bar offered so much more by way of range of motion

 

[joel`fahrer]

I got one of these with other random tools when I bought an air compressor via craigslist..

 

[pendragon1998]

I have one of those. It is so old, the sockets are hex drive instead of square drive. The company logo says WAKEFIELD MADE IN WORCESTER