Earliest 3/8 Dr Round Head Ratchets?

[thinman]

Who made the earliest 3/8 drive round head ratchets and when were they made?

I have a couple pretty old pear heads. Oldest one is a Blackhawk 9706 "flip" ratchet. It has a drive stud that you push through the ratchet head. You turn the ratchet over to reverse direction. I think this ratchet dates to the 1930's.

The oldest round head ratchet I have is an early S-K with a flat handle rather than round. It's number is 45170 just like the later S-K's with the round knurled handle. I was told that this ratchet dates to the late 40's or early 50's.

I don't exactly collect this stuff but I do seem to accumulate. Curious when the round heads got started. The old pear heads are pretty coarse, like 18-20 tooth. The old cars I've worked on aren't compressed like modern cars but there's still a tight one here and there. Some of the early guys must have wanted something that took less swing clearance.

 

[wrenchr]

SK would be my guess.

 

[3baygarage]

As far as 3/8" drive I do not know. I have these two OTC ratchets handy. They are a pair of push through 1/2" drive brothers. Not sure the age range, but I'd guess likely 30's-40's. The real reason I like them is the difference in the handles. Here are a few pics:

 

[thinman]

3baygarage - your round head OTC's have the push thru stud like my old Blackhawk pear head. Those are the oldest design round heads I've ever seen. Have you ever counted the clicks for a complete rotation?

 

[Stooge]

according to alloy artifacts, SK started a patent for a round head ratchet in late '33,
http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/sherman-klove.html#sk-4270
seems like alot of the stuff i come across from the 30's are mostly all pear heads, both with drive shanks shanks and through style

 

[snapmom]

3/8 Snap on, about 1948

 

[bonneyman]

according to alloy artifacts, SK started a patent for a round head ratchet in late '33,
http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/sherman-klove.html#sk-4270
seems like alot of the stuff i come across from the 30's are mostly all pear heads, both with drive shanks shanks and through style

 

[thinman]

Stooge -- thanks for posting. Your link to info on old S-K's shows 1/2 Dr ratchets with flat handles that look just like my old S-K 3/8 Dr flat handle. Looks like S-K was in the lead on a reversing mechanism 3/8 Dr.

I have a much newer S-K and the head looks exactly like the one with the old flat handle. The click count for a full rotation is the same on both (40). Both the old one and the new one have the same number on the handle (45170). In fact, I think you can still buy a new 45170. Looks like S-K got it right the first time. Maybe a record for continuous production of the same ratchet.

 

[ganymede]

Here's a pre sk rat id like to get my hands on...

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-arti...lings_12dr_ratchet_allen_f_cropped_inset2.jpg

 

[thinman]

Ganymede - I kind of thought Snap On more or less invented the separate socket and ratchet wrench approach. Never even heard of a Billings & Spencer, but say hey, look at the patent date on that pear head ratchet in your link to the Billings & Spencer - Aug 15, 1911. That's clearly way before Snap On.

 

[smschriefer]

I have a Bonney 1/2 push thru (4093) with a round head. I've seen some with a different handle, but this one is flat and must be one of their earliest ratchets. It has the sheild embedded in the Bonney name. That usually indicates late 20's to early 30's as far as I understand it.

 

[smschriefer]

I forgot to add it is a 14 tooth ratchet.

 

[smschriefer]

Here it is in profile...

 

[ganymede]

Ganymede - I kind of thought Snap On more or less invented the separate socket and ratchet wrench approach. Never even heard of a Billings & Spencer, but say hey, look at the patent date on that pear head ratchet in your link to the Billings & Spencer - Aug 15, 1911. That's clearly way before Snap On.

Hmm, I guess it is pear headish . But not completely though.
Anyway, yes there are a few mfg's who started cranking out sockets before Snap On. Frank Mossberg Co of Attleboro Mass comes to mind and I think Starrett, and Walden also did.
Nice to look at those ol clunkers and think they may have been used for fixing horse drawn carriages and those new fangled automobiles.

 

[thinman]

According to Wikipedia, the first ratcheting socket wrench was patented by one J.J. Richardson of Woodstock, Vermont on June 18, 1863. Must have wanted to work on his wagon faster.

 

[ganymede]

Cool. Tomorrow I'm going to look that up on Google Patents.
Thanks thinman.

 

[Plombob]

Here's an ancient P&C. Does this one count?

View media item 31239
BTW - It can go to a good home.

 

[thinman]

Plombob -- That old P&C looks to be in good shape. Is it 3/8 Dr? How many teeth?

 

[nicksnothereman]

Who made the earliest 3/8 drive round head ratchets and when were they made?

I have a couple pretty old pear heads. Oldest one is a Blackhawk 9706 "flip" ratchet. It has a drive stud that you push through the ratchet head. You turn the ratchet over to reverse direction. I think this ratchet dates to the 1930's.

The oldest round head ratchet I have is an early S-K with a flat handle rather than round. It's number is 45170 just like the later S-K's with the round knurled handle. I was told that this ratchet dates to the late 40's or early 50's.

I don't exactly collect this stuff but I do seem to accumulate. Curious when the round heads got started. The old pear heads are pretty coarse, like 18-20 tooth. The old cars I've worked on aren't compressed like modern cars but there's still a tight one here and there. Some of the early guys must have wanted something that took less swing clearance.

I thought is was proto. I'm not a vintage dude though.

 

[Plombob]

thinman - It's like new. I can't put my hand on the rat tonight, but I'm sure it's 3/8". Here's the autopsy I did six months ago. 24 teeth.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204642

 

[3baygarage]

3baygarage - your round head OTC's have the push thru stud like my old Blackhawk pear head. Those are the oldest design round heads I've ever seen. Have you ever counted the clicks for a complete rotation?

I normally don't count teeth as long as they ratchet good. Just for you I counted 24 teeth in one ratchet. The other one feels to be the same, I'm positive, but could use a dabble of oil. Now I have another project to lube a ratchet that doesn't open!

 

[tweedlestan]

Here's an ancient P&C. Does this one count?

View media item 31239
BTW - It can go to a good home.

You might want to send a PM to Jabberwoki. He'd love it.

 

[Stooge]

Stooge -- thanks for posting. Your link to info on old S-K's shows 1/2 Dr ratchets with flat handles that look just like my old S-K 3/8 Dr flat handle. Looks like S-K was in the lead on a reversing mechanism 3/8 Dr.

I have a much newer S-K and the head looks exactly like the one with the old flat handle. The click count for a full rotation is the same on both (40). Both the old one and the new one have the same number on the handle (45170). In fact, I think you can still buy a new 45170. Looks like S-K got it right the first time. Maybe a record for continuous production of the same ratchet.

I've had an SK round head addiction for awhile now for that reason, just a nice feeling using a timeless ratchet. theyve been making them forever and the.simplicity in design make them absolutely bulletproof and keep them from being antiquated/ obsolete. Plus where else can you get new American made for $30 that will last forever or a 40+yr old $2 one that will look and perform just as well.