Duro Ratchet?

[oldtools]

I bought this ratchet today at the swap meet for $3. It has no marking what so ever except for a patent number underneath the lever switch. I check the patent number and it belong to Duro ratchet. I check Alloy Artifact and they show the same exact ratchet, but it has company and other markings on it. Does anybody know anything about this ratchet. If it does belong to Duro, why they don't mark it. Is this a prototype? Is this a fake?

 

[petty4243]

just wondering.... the other manufacturer... is it indestro?.... if so, duro and indestro were made by the same manufacturers.... if you look deeper, you will find wrenches, sockets and other drive tools being the same with only slight varations being the part numbers and names stamped into them... so, i would say no fake, it is either indestro or duro....

read the following... copy and pasted from alloy artifacts.... highlighting the duro connection...


Indestro Super 3202R 1/2-Drive Reversible Pressed-Flange Ratchet
In later years Duro added a reversing mechanism to the pressed-flange ratchets, and then offered them in both male and female drive. The next figure shows an example of a female drive reversible ratchet.

Fig. 147. Indestro Super 3202R 1/2-Drive Pressed-Flange Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1945+. Fig. 147 at the left shows a 1/2-drive Indestro 3202R reversible female drive ratchet, marked "Pat. No. 1,902,878" under the shift lever, with "Indestro-Super" and the model number on the reverse.

The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The ratchet mechanism uses an 18-tooth drive gear, slightly finer than the previous example but still relatively coarse.

 

[Eddie Hudson]

I bought this ratchet today at the swap meet for $3. It has no marking what so ever except for a patent number underneath the lever switch. I check the patent number and it belong to Duro ratchet. I check Alloy Artifact and they show the same exact ratchet, but it has company and other markings on it. Does anybody know anything about this ratchet. If it does belong to Duro, why they don't mark it. Is this a prototype? Is this a fake?

Duro also made tools for other companies, that's why it's not marked. It's real, and it is not a prototype.

 

[oldtools]

just wondering.... the other manufacturer... is it indestro?.... if so, duro and indestro were made by the same manufacturers.... if you look deeper, you will find wrenches, sockets and other drive tools being the same with only slight varations being the part numbers and names stamped into them... so, i would say no fake, it is either indestro or duro....

read the following... copy and pasted from alloy artifacts.... highlighting the duro connection...


Indestro Super 3202R 1/2-Drive Reversible Pressed-Flange Ratchet
In later years Duro added a reversing mechanism to the pressed-flange ratchets, and then offered them in both male and female drive. The next figure shows an example of a female drive reversible ratchet.

Fig. 147. Indestro Super 3202R 1/2-Drive Pressed-Flange Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1945+. Fig. 147 at the left shows a 1/2-drive Indestro 3202R reversible female drive ratchet, marked "Pat. No. 1,902,878" under the shift lever, with "Indestro-Super" and the model number on the reverse.

The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The ratchet mechanism uses an 18-tooth drive gear, slightly finer than the previous example but still relatively coarse.

Thanks. The picture you posted does have the manufacturer on it. Mine has absolutely nothing other than the patent number. That is why the guy selling it so cheap ($3 for 1/2 drive) to me because he think it is an imitation. I took a chance.

 

[four.cycle]

The Indestro ratchet would be a model 3202R with the reverse lever (or a 3202 if it did not have the reverse lever.) both were 1/2" square female drive ratchets.

The drive adapter ("ratchet adapter plug") was a #3215 (with knurled knob), as shown on page 8 of 1948 Indestro Catalog No. 16

The 1959 Indestro Catalog No. 22 shows the 3202R ratchet on page 8, but not the 3202. The drive adapter is still a #3215, OR the #3205 square 1-1/4" extension could be used.

The 1935 Duro-Chrome catalog (page 25) shows the reversible model as a model 678D, but, like the photograph at AlloyArtifacts.org, the catalog shows it as having 'DURO-CHROME' clearly emblazoned on the handle, whereas the Indestro catalog illustrations of the Indestro model 3202R show no manufacturer's name. (Early Duro-Chrome catalogs available at ToolArchives.com)

US Patent: 1,902,878 - Duro Metal Products Co. 1933
http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=10709

(* photos to follow - hopefully!)

 

[four.cycle]

photos of different samples of both the 3202 and 3202R ratchet from Ebay.
note that some have the part number and/or patent number stamped on them, some do not. one is stamped "Indestro Super":

 

[bonneyman]

I've got a triple play of that style. Heavy duty!

The top 1/2" drive one reverses, the bottom two do not.

 

[woody 73]

Good find I don't see them very often maybe one every so many years coming out of old barn sales here in the Midwest.

 

[four.cycle]

bonneyman would it be possible to get close-up shots of those in order to see the numbers/names on them?
do any of the three have any manufacturer's name on them?

an earlier vintage 1/4" drive from Ebay (note same patent number as the 1/2" drive models above):

Indestro #2888 1/4" square female drive ratchet:







woody: all the photos I've posted above were lifted from current Ebay listings.
when my 1/2" arrives I'll get it posted here as well. unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to score it for $3 on Ebay.

 

[Outlawmws]

Duro and Indestro were like conjoined twins. Separate entities, but not really...

And Yep as mentioned, they made a lot for other companies both marked and unmarked...

 

[four.cycle]

Outlaw - the lack (or inclusion) of part numbers, manufacturer's name, and/or patent numbers on just those few samples may well have something to do with the issues brought up in the other thread (Craftsman ratchets) that you and Lugnutz were discussing.
or maybe not.

all the private-label stuff I've seen from Wizard, Powr-Kraft, Westline all had the house brand name stamped on it. but then, my field of view is pretty much limited to what I can see here or on Ebay. being on the west coast, we simply don't have that older stuff unless somebody moved from back east and brought it with them. (although there seems to be no shortage of older Bonney, P&C, and Penens out here... go figure!)

 

[Outlawmws]

Four, I'd bet some of the "bigger" (Regional) hardware chains would order them with paper labels on the boxes without any stampings. thats been very true of Vises.

I don't remember where Bonney was Headquartered, but P&C, Plvmb/Proto, and others were on the west coast. P&C up in your neck of the woods IIR.

 

[four.cycle]

From my childhood, the tool brands I remember seeing hanging behind the counters of local parts stores were Proto, S-K, Blackhawk (which my old man carried for a while before he switched to Challenger), and Husky.
I believe the "regional" thing was mentioned in another thread here somewhere. It seems some brands simply lacked any market penetration in some areas.

P&C was in Oregon. I see P&C sockets turn up quite often. I have one or two in the garage, my buddy has a few of them down at his shop just laying around on counters; orphans.

I have to wonder if it's possible some of those pictured above (and many others we've seen in other threads) lacking identifying marks were WWII vintage (or made in the immediate post-war era), when the extra step in stamping numbers, names, or patents might have been considered superfluous.

 

[bonneyman]

bonneyman would it be possible to get close-up shots of those in order to see the numbers/names on them?
do any of the three have any manufacturer's name on them?

an earlier vintage 1/4" drive from Ebay (note same patent number as the 1/2" drive models above):

Indestro #2888 1/4" square female drive ratchet:







woody: all the photos I've posted above were lifted from current Ebay listings.
when my 1/2" arrives I'll get it posted here as well. unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to score it for $3 on Ebay.

The 1/2" says #678D. The 3/8" is a 4488, the 1/4" is a 4489. The shank info are the same on all.
Does this help?

 

[four.cycle]

^ thanks.

more for comparison: Duro-Chrome 679D 1/2" drive ratchet (photos Ebay)

 

[bonneyman]

So, the only difference between the 678D and 679D is the 78 has a combo male/female knuckle in the head. Maybe one could put a breaker bar into the head and let it take the extra torque instead of stressing the pawls?

 

[four.cycle]

all of those were 1/2" square female drive and used a little adapter widget to connect to the socket (noted above: #3215 Indestro - I didn't cite the Duro-Chrome part number.)

 

[bonneyman]

I guess mine is special? One side is male drive, the other side is female drive. It was gifted to me by a forum member who knew I was looking for a 1/2"er.
Forgive the crude selector knob - it was a rush job of mine.

 

[four.cycle]

oooo that is weird....

bear in mind I know very little about Duro-Chrome - my focus is on Indestro, which I'm pretty familiar with.

guess I need to go poke through the old Duro-Chrome catalogs and make some mental notes.

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro Super 2889 1/4" drive ratchet (missing drive adapter plug) recently listed on Ebay. For comparison purposes:



The unit does NOT have a patent number or manufacturer's name stamped on it.
It is shown on page 2 of the 1948 Indestro Tool Catalog (No. 16) as a “Midget Reversible Ratchet”. The catalog says it is a 1/4” square female drive, not 3/8” drive.
The little widget that pops into the end of it so you can attach a 1/4” drive socket onto it would be a #2831 “Midget 3/4” short adaptor”, according to the catalog.

Its mate - the 2888 NON-reversible model, is shown in a photo posted above.

revised 02/16/16 17:58 PST

 

[bonneyman]

I found a 1/2" drive plug over the weekend for cheap, now my Duro ratchet is dual-knuckled!

 

[four.cycle]

Duro-Chrome model 4276 3/4" square female drive ratchet - patent # 1902878 (photos Ebay)

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro model 3201 1/2" square male drive ratchet - patent # 1902878 - 36-tooth (?)
(as shown in 1948 catalog No. 16 - dropped from production in 1959 Catalog No. 22)
(photos Ebay)

 

[four.cycle]

Duro-Chrome model 4492 1/4" square male drive reversible ratchet - patent 1902878 - not shown in 1935 Duro Chrome catalog; assuming it must be of later vintage. (photos Ebay 1619849087240



(* see also post #38 * )

( * something tells me this one was misidentified in the original Ebay listing. *)

 

[four.cycle]

Duro-Chrome model # 4490 1/4" square female drive reversible refrigeration ratchet - patent no. 1902878 (photos Ebay 401075756015)

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro 3202 1/2" square female drive non-reversible ratchet with drive adapter - patent no. 1902878 - (photos Ebay 291695422911)



note stamping "Chicago, U.S.A."

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro 3202 1/2" square female drive non-reversible ratchet with 3215 adapter - patent no. 1902878 - (photos Ebay) (as above, note stamping "Chicago USA")

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 678D 1/2" square drive reversible ratchet - patent no. 1902878 - (photos Ebay)

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 677D 1/2" square female drive non-reversible ratchet - patent no. 1902878 - (photos Ebay)

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 678D 1/2" square drive reversible ratchet - patent no. 1902878 - (photos Ebay)

 

[Al Borland]

I see these reversible ratchets from time to time in an industrial setting, often mounted on valves in place of the usual handwheel in tight spots. Never occurred to me that they were actually ratchet handles.

 

[four.cycle]

A possible explanation for so many units not having part numbers or brand names on them might be that they were made for private brands, like this "Western Auto Deluxe Chrome-X" 1/2" drive socket set listed on Ebay:



note only marking visible on the ratchet is the patent number: patent no. 1902878

(* photos Ebay item 162032345895 *)

 

[mikebaker1129]

Where do you fellas pick up your drive plugs?

 

[Outlawmws]

Yard/Estate sales mostly

 

[four.cycle]

^ probably going to be the only way to find one. I have never seen one listed separately on Ebay in Indestro, Duro-Chrome, or any other tool brand that made female drive ratchets (i.e., Walden-Worcester, Lane, Ray, etc.)

 

[four.cycle]

I ran across a listing on Ebay for an old #4487 Duro-Chrome ratchet – the seller neglected to note the drive size in the ad – so I poked around a bit on Google and found listings for “ Duro Chrome 4487 “ showing it to be a 1/4” drive, and a 3/8” drive, AND a 1/2” drive ratchet.

So I poked around some more, and opened up the 1935 Duro Chrome catalog and there I find:

1935 Duro Chrome catalog page 22 shows two different models of "Cub" adaptors:
4493 - 3/8" x 1/4" reducing adaptor
693D - 3/8" x 1/2" increasing adaptor

So depending upon WHICH drive adaptor is in the unit, that 4487 can be 1/4”, or 3/8”, or 1/2” drive. (see also posts #50 and #64 in this thread.)

Duro Chrome catalog (1935) shows the 4487 as being a 3/8” drive “Cub” ratchet having an overall length of about 6”.

(as on all of the above, patent number 1902878)

 

[four.cycle]

another Duro Chrome 677D 1/2" square female drive non-reversible ratchet - patent no. 1902878 - (photos Ebay) (this one is new NOS)

 

[four.cycle]

Duro-Chrome model 4492 3/8" square male drive reversible ratchet - patent 1902878 - not shown in 1935 Duro Chrome catalog; assuming it must be of later vintage.
(see also 4492 1/4" square male drive ratchet in post #24)



:

 

[four.cycle]

... and yet another member of the 1902878 family:

Indestro Super 2789 3/8" square male drive reversible ratchet (patent no. 1902878) (photos Ebay)



(* note difference in shank on this one and the one posted on the following page in post #41 *)
(* this one's actually a lot nicer looking in person. I should clean it up a bit and post new photos. *)

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro Super 3202R 1/2" square female drive reversible ratchet (patent no. 1902878) (photos Ebay)