Craftsman Teardrop Ratchet (1956 - 1993) Type Study

[Mintgrun]

"Now I need to find one for my collection, and I also need to determine if a 3/8", model 43785, Type 9 exists without an oil hole!!!!!!"

This one is pretty close to what you are looking for, but off by one digit, 43784.
The other difference between this and the one Johnnyo needs, is the VF, as opposed to a plain V.

"Remember, there is NOT a 3/8" drive or 1/2" drive Type 13."



this is not the elusive type thirteen 3/8" ratchet, is it?
(sorry, I need to spent more time studying your study)
Tom

 

[Mintgrun]

darn, I was hoping to fill a gap in your collection.
carry on.

 

[jakemac]

Type 9a and type 9b. Simple.

 

[maxcarp709]

Type 9a and type 9b. Simple.

Try using a capital letter 9A or 9B.Thats what I do when labeling sub types.If you have to get even more detailed add a number ex 9A1 or 9A2.The Military and Gov`t latched onto that a long time ago,and the world has been trying to figure it out ever since.
JimC;Thanks for your research and scholarship on the important subject of the Craftsman TD ratchet that has been used by millions around the globe.Most folks would never stop to think"Where did this come from?"How was it made?"How did it evolve?"
This thread made me dig out the 3/8 TD ratchet that I have buried in my Road Kit,of essential but expendable tools.I gave it a look over and had to peel the bar code sticker off to see the production code,and saw it was too new to be part of your survey,but at least it was Made in USA,and can be counted on to do the job when the times comes.

 

[DOlsen]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for putting together this great Craftsman study. I just got around to organizing my Craftsman ratchets somewhat, and I found one which does not seem to fit any of your categories.

It is basically a Type 7 (-V- 43785), but it has no oil hole.

 

[Gear Wolf]

Void

 

[Gear Wolf]

Void

 

[pdalton]

Jim (& anyone else who might be able to help):

I have a Craftsman mechanics' tool set that I bought 40+ years ago (late 60s or - more likely - early to mid 1970s). It's been the only socket set I've owned & used regularly & I've tried to keep it all together over the years. I'm missing 3 pieces from it (the 1/4" ratchet & the 1/2" & 7/16" sockets (3/8") that I want to replace. I was looking for info on the ratchet & that got me to this thread.

After looking through this thread, I'm pretty sure my 1/4" ratchet must have been a 43175, though I can't figure out which of the types you've identified that it would have been. So I'd appreciate your assistance on telling me what I should be looking for if I want to get another like what originally came in this set. I was hoping that, by providing the numbers for the 3/8" & 1/2" rstchets I still have, you'd be able to quickly figure it out.

But when I checked my other ratchets, I'm not so sure. The number on my 3/8" ratchet is VV 43785 & it has the oil hole on the top, just as you described. So far so good. But the number on my 1/2" ratchet doesn't appear to be among those you described (unless I missed it). The number on my 1/2" ratchet is VG 44809, and it does not have an oil hole on its top. This seemed strange, based on what I was understanding from your study. If it helps, the grey plastic "clamshell" box for this set is stamped 33675" & the set came with: those 3 ratchets; 11 6pt 1/2" SAE sockets (3/8" - 1"); 8 6pt 3/8" SAE sockets (3/8" - 13/16"); 9 6pt metric sockets (10mm - 19mm); 9 6pt & 9 12pt 1/4" SAE sockets (3/16" - 1/2" each); 9 6pt 1/4" metric sockets (5mm - 13mm); 5 6pt deep 1/4" SAE sockets (5/16" a 1/2"); a handle driver for the 9 1/4" bits; and a ~ 2" 3/8" extension. (I also have in the box a ~ 2" 1/2" extension, a ~ 6" 3/8 extension, and several size change adapters, but I think I may have added those later.).

I would appreciate any info you can give me to help me locate the "right" 1/4" replacement ratchet for this set. Of course, any info that would more closely "date" this set would be appreciated, as well.

Paul

PS - I will take & post photos of the ratchets I have.

 

[stage20]

VG is way newer than 1993 its been exchanged or someone swapped it out without you knowing.

the selectors are going to be different on the ratchets. pictures will tell all.

 

[WWheeler]

According to the 'Craftsman Hand Tool Manufacturers & Date Ranges' thread the VG code is supposed to be "Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1995" and pdalton had mentioned that he believes the ratchets he has were included in a set "bought 40+ years ago (late 60s or - more likely - early to mid 1970s)". I assume that's what stage20 was basing his post on.

edit:
err, .... On re-reading the posts I see stage20 was replying to your post, Jim. My mistake. Carry on.

 

[pdalton]

Jim -

Thanks so much for your responses, and thanks to the others who responded, too! It all really helped!

Specifically, the date difference you & others pointed out out triggered memories that I suspect explain the number difference on that 1/2" ratchet!

For decades (and certainly from the 1990s to the present) my younger brother & I have worked on our cars together. Unlike me, he actually worked for a while as a diesel truck mechanic for GM &, as a result, he has probably 10x the number of hand tools that I have, including a lot of Craftsman. I've never "lost" or replaced my 1/2" ratchet, but it's certainly possible that I mixed it up with one of his. So I'm guessing that, on one of those occasions, my 1/2" Craftsman ratchet got mixed up with one of his when we were putting up tools.

So I called him this morning & asked about it. At first, he said he didn't think that could be correct, because he hasn't bought any Craftsman hand tools since probably the 1980s. BUT, as we talked more, he changed his mind and said it actually IS a possibility. He said that he has several Craftsman 1/2" ratchets and that, while he hasn't BOUGHT any Craftsman since the 1980s, he has REPLACED several of their ratchets over the years. He said that, whenever a Craftsman ratchet got sluggish or otherwise didn't seem to work as he thought it should, he just took it to Sears & they always exchanged it for a new one off the shelf. He remembers that happening into the 1990s & 2000s, so it's certainly possible that one of those replacement ratchets got mixed up with mine when we worked together!

He recently moved, so a lot of his tools are still inaccessible in boxes in his new garage, but he's going to 'dig around' those boxes & try to find his Craftsman ratchets & report back to me. When I hear back, I'll repost to let you know.

You probably already knew this, but I didn't until I was examining the contents of my set: almost every item in the set has a "Model#" stamped on it! The plastic case, every socket, extension & adapter has a stamped 5 digit number on it. And most are sequential by socket size! I believe only the "screwdriver"-type 1/4" bit driver & 7 included bits don't have model numbers.

Do you happen to know whether the socket numbers also changed over time, or have they remained the same through the?

Paul

 

[pdalton]

Jim -

Sorry about the delay in getting these photos posted.

The first 3 photos are of the two ratchets in my set now 43785 & 44809). Looking at them together, it's pretty easy to see that they really wouldn't have both been in the same set originally. (I'm hopeful my brother will find that he has mine, so we can exchange them.)

The next 5 photos are of the blow-molded case this set came in. Note that the case originally had an internal "removable" cover for the area where the ¼" and 3/8" ratchets are intended to be kept (I "hinged" it myself using duct tape & pop rivets, and it's held up pretty well all these years).

I'm posting these additional photos because I'd like to know what else (if anything) originally came as part of this set and would have been intended to be placed in this covered area. I can't remember what those items would have been, but I've used that space for years to store some adapters, extensions and ¼" bits. So I' like to know what - if anything - originally was there along with the two smaller ratchets.

Perhaps if someone has a catalog for the year(s) this set was produced, maybe it will include a "contents list" that will supply that info.

Paul

 

[Bundoman]

Hey Paul! I have the same set that I bought new in the 90's. I think that the original content list is still in my box. I will have to take a look.

 

[thehorse13]

Paul,

Craftsman placed allen wrench sets in soft plastic cases inside the area with the 3/8th and 1/4th ratchets.

Cool story time.

My best friend's father was in a 1950s band. They are in the rock n roll hall of fame, and he is the drummer for this group. In the very early 90s, 91 at latest, he gave me a set of Craftsman tools in the same plastic blown case as a gift. It was brand new when he gave it to me and I have had it ever since.

When I opened the plastic cover, two sets of allen wrenches were in there with the two ratchets.

If you need some pics, lemme know.

 

[pdalton]

Hey Paul! I have the same set that I bought new in the 90's. I think that the original content list is still in my box. I will have to take a look.

That would be great! But please make sure it really is the same set! I know Craftsman continued some model numbers for a lot of products over many years, but I'm pretty sure I got mine in the late 1960s or early 1970s. So it may or may not be exactly the same as the set you got in the 1990s.

One way might be to check to see if the model# stamped into the blow-molded case is the same as on yours. Mine says "33675".

Paul

 

[pdalton]

Paul,

Craftsman placed allen wrench sets in soft plastic cases inside the area with the 3/8th and 1/4th ratchets.

Cool story time.

My best friend's father was in a 1950s band. They are in the rock n roll hall of fame, and he is the drummer for this group. In the very early 90s, 91 at latest, he gave me a set of Craftsman tools in the same plastic blown case as a gift. It was brand new when he gave it to me and I have had it ever since.

When I opened the plastic cover, two sets of allen wrenches were in there with the two ratchets.

If you need some pics, lemme know.

That really is a cool story! Thanks for telling me about the allen wrench sets. I do have those, I had just put them is a drawer in my bigger toolbox.

Paul

 

[pdalton]

Thanks, Jim.

Any idea how/where I can access the catalogs from that time period?

 

[kshillbilly]

Hi. I know it's been awhile. Does anyone have examples of 13 and 14. I'm pretty sure I had a 14 set just want to make sure

 

[wmbailey47]

I have a very old vv43785 ratchet that came in a set. I’ve cleaned the head but having difficulty reinstalling the ball bearing on top of the spring. What’s the best way to do that. Also I need to confirm the ball bearing size. I think 3/32??

 

[3baygarage]

I have a very old vv43785 ratchet that came in a set. I’ve cleaned the head but having difficulty reinstalling the ball bearing on top of the spring. What’s the best way to do that. Also I need to confirm the ball bearing size. I think 3/32??

Go on Ebay and type in Snap On ratchet repair tool. It pushes the ball down, compressing the spring. It helps to grease the ball and spring together sometimes. Idk the size.