Duro Ratchet?

[four.cycle]

^ As far as the "unbranded" models:
Duro Metal Products Co. (Duro Chrome and Indestro) had private-label contracts with several companies: Montgomery Ward ("Powr Kraft"), Western Auto ("Wizard", "Westline", and "Westcraft"), as well as supplying GSA/military contracts.
The abundance of listings (almost daily) of those private-label branded ratchets on Ebay seems to make that clearly evident. (No fewer than four "Wizard" models within the last 24 hours.)
I think it's reasonable to assume (as Outlawmws noted in a previous post in this thread) that Duro stamped out gazillions of "no name" units (lacking part number or brand name) to supply those accounts, many of which are still out there and are still functional; which speaks volumes as to their durability and reliability.

Bear in mind that I'm only looking at Ebay - we don't have any "swap meets" here of any consequence, and Indestro and Duro Chrome simply don't exist in the local Craigslist market.

 

[four.cycle]

A rather anomalous 3202R 1/2" square female drive reversible model with a "paddle" handle.
Stamped with the Indestro model number, but no manufacturer's name or brand. (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay) (see also post 98)

 

[four.cycle]

An Indestro-made 1/2" square female drive non-reversible model, equivalent to the Indestro 3202, but lacking any markings. (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay)

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome model 4492 3/8" square male drive reversible ratchet (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay)

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro model 2889 1/4" square male drive reversible pressed-flange ratchet (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay) (see also posts #60 and #99)

 

[bonneyman]

Really like those old Duro ratchets. Just so useful for a variety of jobs.

Wrenching, hammering, emergency drag brake for the car, boat anchor, fighting off an attacker, ....

 

[four.cycle]

They won't win any prizes for "sleek and trim" or high tooth count, but when you consider that design had one of the longest production runs of any US-made ratchet and some of the oldest examples are still in working condition 7 or 8 decades later, you have to give them credit for having done something right.

 

[Outlawmws]

Those, SK, and Proto are all in the running for that... Have to give SK the lead though as their tooth counts were better back in the day, and even today aren't bad, Tooth counts at 100+- are really overkill 99.9% of the time...

 

[four.cycle]

^ I think those are the only three that used the same design for that length of time, right? Where does the Kilness-patented New Britain model fit into that? Is it a contender, or an also-ran?

 

[kwoswalt99]

^ I think those are the only three that used the same design for that length of time, right? Where does the Kilness-patented New Britain model fit into that? Is it a contender, or an also-ran?

I think SO would be up there.

 

[Outlawmws]

On the NB I'm not familiar with the design and where it was used or how long.

The only SO design that comes close to that longevity is that big kludgy (by today's standards) Industrial guy - I don't know the production numbers, but its pretty low, and not a mainstream ratchet like the Proto/SK's. AFAIK the rest of the SO's have all come and gone.

 

[four.cycle]

On the NB I'm not familiar with the design and where it was used or how long.

The "Kilness patent" (2,554,990): http://alloy-artifacts.org/newbritain-nonebetter-p2.html

GJ member PowderKeg apparently collects them, and has come up with a couple dozen different "brands" using this design (and patent number), all having been manufactured by New Britain Machine. (see HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6217172#post6217172 )
The patent was issued in 1951, but I'm not exactly sure how long the same design was used on New Britain, Husky and other brands.
twertsy or another member who's more well-versed on NB probably knows, but if I had to make a wild guess I'd say they probably were made up into the 1980's, so it's likely they're a contender for "longest run".

Oddly, out of all my ratchets, the only one I have using that design is an old Husky CS45 1/2" drive model given to me by my late step-father - a true warhorse if ever there was one.

 

[Outlawmws]

1951 to 80's I'd have to call an also ran. Proto's design goes back to Plvmb and Pre-WWII, and is still in production, so 80-90 years?

SK round head was I believe also in the 30's, and also continues to this day (Not counting a few months hiatus...)...

Edit: found the SK pat. date: 1934.

 

[T45]

Facom palm control type is over 50 years old, patened early 1960's, and still competitive w/ state of the art designs in 2017.

 

[Outlawmws]

That's still near 30 years less than the Proto/SK.

 

[T45]

I'm just adding to the mix ... there are some good long standing designs out there.

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro 2276 3/4" square female drive non-reversible pressed-flange ratchet (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay)



Made by Indestro Manufacturing Corp., located at 2649 No. Kildare Ave., Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The patent 1902878 was issued Mar. 28, 1933, but there is reason to believe ratchets using that design were made as early as 1932 (see http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=10709 )
I am unfortunately not able to find the item listed in the 1935 Indestro catalog, although it does appear in the 1935 Duro Chrome catalog as a part number 4276. (Duro Chrome was Indestro's "sister company", they both operated under the same roof, but as separate business entities, both making exactly the same tools, but using different part numbers in most cases.)
The earliest reference I can find for 3/4" drive being made available by Indestro is in the 1938 Jensen-Byrd catalog, where they advertise an Indestro 2210 3/4" drive "heavy duty" socket set.
It appears in the 1948 Indestro catalog No. 16 on page 22, and the August 27, 1948 price list shows it as having a suggested list price of $18.20 and a "mechanics net" price of $10.92.
It does not appear in the 1959 Indestro catalog No. 22.



image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/79622803@N02/32526132625/in/dateposted-public/
image; https://www.flickr.com/photos/79622803@N02/32526132615/in/dateposted-public/
image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/79622803@N02/32526132585/in/dateposted-public/
image; https://www.flickr.com/photos/79622803@N02/32526132635/in/dateposted-public/

 

[four.cycle]

Another 3202R 1/2" square female drive reversible ratchet with flat "paddle" handle (see post 82) (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay)

As on the example in post 82, unit is stamped with model number and patent number, but no maker's name. Shown with model 3215 drive adapter plug.

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 4587 1/4" square male drive pressed-flange reversible ratchet (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay) (equivalent to Indestro 2889) (see also posts #60 and #85)

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro 2889 1/4" square female drive reversible pressed-flange ratchet (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay)

 

[four.cycle]

Wards Master Quality 84-4783 1/2" square male drive reversible pressed-flange ratchet (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay) (equivalent to 3201 Indestro, but with flat handle with depressed panel.)

 

[four.cycle]

Westcraft (Western Auto private label) 1/4" square male drive reversible pressed-flange ratchet (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay) (equivalent to 4587 Duro Chrome or Indestro 2889, but with flat handle.) (see posts #99 and #60 )

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 4498 3/8" square male drive reversible pressed-flange ratchet (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay)

 

[four.cycle]

The elusive 3201R Indestro 1/2" square male and female drive pressed-flange reversible ratchet (patent 1902878) (photos Ebay)

Note that the male drive is fixed on one side, and the other side is a female drive.
This unit has an 18-tooth mechanism, which indicates that it was manufactured after 1935 but before 1948 (when this design went to a 36-tooth mechanism.)
Not shown in either the 1935 or 1948 catalog - date range unknown.

 

[d42jeep]

Since the moderators have kindly moved this thread to the vintage forum, I will post some random shots of Indestro ratchets for BK who has provided much of the information contained in the thread. Merry Christmas.
Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some Duro Chrome ratchets.
-Don

 

[Fred Knox]

Here is another example, slightly different from others already posted on this thread. It is a 1/2"-drive plug reversible model, but lacking any markings except for the patent 1902878, the OIL hole, and the PO’s initials!

 

[Patrickm82]

2278 Indestro Super 3/4" square male drive reversible ratchet (patent no. 1902878) (photos Ebay)



(* The 2278 model does not appear in either the 1948 or 1959 Indestro catalogs, nor is it listed on either the 1948 or 1959 price list. The 1948 catalog shows a 2276 non-reversible model only. I believe it is reasonable to assume that this model was manufactured at some point between 1948 and 1959.)

Four cycle do you know if these are serviceable? Is disassembly as “easy” as removing the selector lever? I just got a 2278 this weekend and while it works in both directions I’d like to clean out the guts.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

None serviceable

 

[Outlawmws]

Soak the head in solvent; rinse by letting drain and re-soaking several times - after things seem better soak in ATF, and drain, then maybe MMO.

 

[3baygarage]

I wouldn ‘t even attempt to remove the lever or the plates. It might get damaged, and putting lever back on and securing it might ruin it. I’ve seen a handful of the 1/2” missing the levers over the years.

 

[four.cycle]

^ What Outlaw said.
IF I was inclined to mess around with any of mine, that is what I would do: soak, soak, soak, oil, then soak again, then oil some more.

I have attempted to "clean" the internal workings my inserting that tiny red hose on a can of "Gumout" or brake cleaner into the "oil" hole, and pumping the entire contents of the can through while rotating the mechanism.
The drip-drip-dripping of black gick will continue to go on for hours on some of them.

 

[Outlawmws]

^ What Outlaw said.
IF I was inclined to mess around with any of mine, that is what I would do: soak, soak, soak, oil, then soak again, then oil some more.

I have attempted to "clean" the internal workings my inserting that tiny red hose on a can of "Gumout" or brake cleaner into the "oil" hole, and pumping the entire contents of the can through while rotating the mechanism.
The drip-drip-dripping of black gick will continue to go on for hours on some of them.

I just had a come on.

Sunday I picked up ah old rotisserie spike, complete with prongs and drive motor from a free pile.

Guess what drive size that is? - yep! 1/4" and only 6 RPM So follow along:

1/4" long extension.
Adapter(s) if needed for the drive size.
One cat food can or similar short can.


secure the ratchet head down or at least deep sideways in the cat food can, while "plugged" into the rotisserie drive.
Verify the direction of the motor to the ratchet first!

Fill the catfood can as full as you dare (might be a good idea to have an old baking tray to catch any spills/drippings)
Fill the ratchets via the oil hole as described by four.cycle.

turn on the rotisserie drive.
Let sit
Maybe once an hour give the oil hole another shot.


I'd guess a few hours of this would get that ratchet pretty clear of gunk!

A way to apply a low heat would also help.

 

[four.cycle]

^ As crazy as that sounds, it would probably work.
What I encountered, attempting to "wash out" the internal workings of one of those old dinosaur 3202 models, was that most of what "washed out" through that itty-bitty-teeny-tiny "OIL" hole was black particulate - like soot. And there seemed to be no end of it.
I figured "Okay, I'll shoot some Gumout through it and it'll clean up." (or was it brake cleaner?)
Sprayed and sprayed and sprayed and twirled the thing around and around and around and it just never seemed to drain "clean" - there was still some sort of black gick in there.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with it operationally - even before I started - I was trying to see if it could be "cleaned", and I think the answer is "only to a certain extent">

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I usually just soak them in atf and they start working

 

[d42jeep]

^ As crazy as that sounds, it would probably work.
What I encountered, attempting to "wash out" the internal workings of one of those old dinosaur 3202 models, was that most of what "washed out" through that itty-bitty-teeny-tiny "OIL" hole was black particulate - like soot. And there seemed to be no end of it.
I figured "Okay, I'll shoot some Gumout through it and it'll clean up." (or was it brake cleaner?)
Sprayed and sprayed and sprayed and twirled the thing around and around and around and it just never seemed to drain "clean" - there was still some sort of black gick in there.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with it operationally - even before I started - I was trying to see if it could be "cleaned", and I think the answer is "only to a certain extent">

I usually spray brake cleaner in the oil hole to clean out the old lube. After that dries out I squirt plenty of 3 in 1 oil into the oil hole. The ratchets are generally very reliable although kind of crude.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ I was just trying to see if it would get to a point where the stuff draining out ran clear. It never did - it just continued to dribble black gick.
Maybe I got a really dirty one.
Of the few of those I own, they were all operational when I got them - there's only like two or three moving parts inside - not really a heck of a lot to them.

 

[Provincial]

I wonder if the black residue is graphite. Maybe an oil/graphite mix from the factory?

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like 2 moving parts and a spring...

Graphite might be a good thing in there once cleaned.

 

[four.cycle]

I wonder if the black residue is graphite.

I'd be more inclined to think its just decades of dirt and grime. Every one of those "pressed flange" ratchets I've done that with does the same thing: dribbles out black gick when you blast it with Gumout or brake cleaner. (I have a mess of the 1/4" drive models here... only maybe 4 or 5 of the big ones.)