Odd tool du jour.

[ColdDuckTime]

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-50s-CRA...ryZ42263QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

...plus, a funny thing...I was wondering why socket drives are square just this morning and I ran into this...

http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?products_id=538

...and the perfect box to store these in.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FERR...ryZ35001QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[jerryW]

I picked one of those ratchets at a swap a few years ago for $6!
Then saw another one for $15 and thought that was a rtp off price. Shoulda woulda!


jerry

 

[swgray]

I got one of those on ebay with a box of sockets.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I have wanted one of the Craftsman Speed ratchets for years. They sell for $75 on E-bay and I have yet to find one in person.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Yup, I saw one of those Cman speed ratchets 20 some years back and tried to buy it from the guy on the spot. He would not sell it and I have been searching for one ever since! I would love to have one, but not $75.00 worth!

 

[daddylama]

had a craftsman speed ratchet that i got at a swap meet for $20, 'cause i'd never seen one before.

traded it for a vintage snap-on timing light about 10 years ago. didn't know the speed ratchets went for so much... hell, i forgot all about the thing until seeing this post. the timing light is bitchin', though... so think the trade was cool.

 

[tony p]

re: the original post
Facom have done that CDX-drive for quite a time, and while I tend to think it "never caught on", it still seems to be available so presumably someone uses it.
(There's a stack of Facom stuff on special offer or clearance deals in the UK - exchange rate won't make it so cheap in the US though!) but no CDX stuff, so I guess they are still selling it ok.

I've only ever seen it once to touch - the range is quite limited and the dedicated sockets are only metric, but they have adaptors. I suppose for someone starting out, working only in metric and wavering between 1/2" or 3/8" drive it might be attractive. They claim the kit is rated for around 370ftlb (!), but you'd have to be a real he-man to pull that on a 10" ratchet...
The ratchet I saw had their typical jewel-like finish, nice feel and beautifully smooth 72-tooth ratchet, but I can't help thinking this is all just must making life unnecessarily complicated...

I'm concerned about Facom though - I recently bought another 1/4" drive set new at about $75 (list is about $300 - I'm converting prices) - some stuff I wanted to double-up on for a travelling kit but couldn't justify it at list.
A couple of items didn't quite have the nice fit I expect from them, then noticed that some Facom stuff, while the same design and pattern number as before, doesn't bear the legend "Made in France".

I'd not needed to buy any new tools for ages, and in fact, it was browsing the net to see what might be going on with Facom that led me to discovering this forum.

 

[eschoendorff]

re: the original post
Facom have done that CDX-drive for quite a time, and while I tend to think it "never caught on", it still seems to be available so presumably someone uses it.
(There's a stack of Facom stuff on special offer or clearance deals in the UK - exchange rate won't make it so cheap in the US though!) but no CDX stuff, so I guess they are still selling it ok.

I've only ever seen it once to touch - the range is quite limited and the dedicated sockets are only metric, but they have adaptors. I suppose for someone starting out, working only in metric and wavering between 1/2" or 3/8" drive it might be attractive. They claim the kit is rated for around 370ftlb (!), but you'd have to be a real he-man to pull that on a 10" ratchet...
The ratchet I saw had their typical jewel-like finish, nice feel and beautifully smooth 72-tooth ratchet, but I can't help thinking this is all just must making life unnecessarily complicated...

I'm concerned about Facom though - I recently bought another 1/4" drive set new at about $75 (list is about $300 - I'm converting prices) - some stuff I wanted to double-up on for a travelling kit but couldn't justify it at list.
A couple of items didn't quite have the nice fit I expect from them, then noticed that some Facom stuff, while the same design and pattern number as before, doesn't bear the legend "Made in France".

I'd not needed to buy any new tools for ages, and in fact, it was browsing the net to see what might be going on with Facom that led me to discovering this forum.

Yup... Facom was bought our by Stanley Corp....

 

[tony p]

Do you know if they've actually shifted any of the production elsewhere?
(I'm wondering if they thought "Made in France" was a bigger turn-off in some markets than "Made in Xxxxx"!)

 

[Danglerb]

Thats odd one old mechanic I know was very pleased with a maid in France.

 

[tony p]

Danglerb said:
<< Thats odd one old mechanic I know was very pleased with a maid in France>>

He-hey!
Reminds me of that joke: "What makes a great French breakfast?"

(A roll in bed with a little honey. Er - can we say things like that here?)