Hmmm. I have a 1/2" Flex-head Craftsman ratchet — that I think I purchased from Sears in 1981 — that's stamped:
[ FORGED IN U.S.A. — V — 44983 ] , (so manuf by Easco ?), with [—————— PATENT PENDING —————— ] on 2nd line of the stamp.
So a previous serial # to yours. Although mine has the centered selector w/button & the finger spin gear disc. I'll have to watch that video ^abv ( that
@IRQVET kindly shared).
However back in 95', I unfortunately had over $5,000 worth of tools stolen from a locked business jobsite, so I'm not entirely sure if this is my 81' 1/2" ratchet, or not
(btw — that I bought to work on a 1948 Ford F-1, that I purchased from the original owner, and a 1952 F-2 [w/orig wood floorboards in bed] that I had purchased [for $50] also from the original owner, one day while I was out Sage Grouse hunting, while sashaying thru the high [4,000'+ abv sea level], desolate Winter Wheat farmlands of
Douglass County, WA . The 52' Ford F-2 was still covered with Mt St. Helens ash from its eruption, approx 150~200 miles to the SW, a few years earlier. The F-2 had been parked under a lean-to on one side of one of the wheat farmer's huge barns, for over 13 years he guess-timated. But all four tires still held air and were full! When I came back the next week to trailer it home, we got the 52' Ford F-2 running in 45 minutes! Anyhoo, just some fond memories
).
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