I have an OLD Husky brand ratchet from probably the 1960's when OTASCO handled Husky. It is a round head type, 3/8 drive, not quick release. I have had it many years (bought it used), and it is my favorite ratchet. After many, many, uses it doesn't show much wear. I think it's about as good as any ever made. Does anyone know who made these and where they were made?
Old Husky Ratchet
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eschoendorff
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Made by New Britain (IIRC)? Help me out here, Jim....
chevy302dz
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New Britain Machine Company
New Britain CT
New Britain CT
eschoendorff
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Typically, yes it does. It's a keeper. But I don't even know where to start looking for a rebuild kit for it when you need one....
kartracer55
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Id have to guess New Britain if it was from the 60s... Husky and Blackhawk were both New Britain brands. They became stanley when Stanley bought them out.
As for the quality it is excellent, but good luck if you need it warrantied or need a rebuild kit for it. New Britain "went out of buisness" when they were aquired by stanley, and all the HD Husky stuff is WAY different. I had heard some older autoparts stores still carry thier stuff as N.O.S., so maybe its an idea if you ever need a rebuild.
My dad has A small set of SAE husky shallow sockets that still get used to this day. HEs also got a few extensions, that, while showing thier age (beginning to wear) are still used all the time. Got a small 3/8 breaker bar that We also use all the time. Thier stuff was excellent.
Jim
As for the quality it is excellent, but good luck if you need it warrantied or need a rebuild kit for it. New Britain "went out of buisness" when they were aquired by stanley, and all the HD Husky stuff is WAY different. I had heard some older autoparts stores still carry thier stuff as N.O.S., so maybe its an idea if you ever need a rebuild.
My dad has A small set of SAE husky shallow sockets that still get used to this day. HEs also got a few extensions, that, while showing thier age (beginning to wear) are still used all the time. Got a small 3/8 breaker bar that We also use all the time. Thier stuff was excellent.
Jim
eschoendorff
Well-known member
johnf said:
Seriously, if it were me and that ratchet ever broke, I would just hang on to it any comb the fleamarkets and the garage sales and look for a parts donor. Please don't trade it in on a new ratchet from Husky at HD. You can pick those up for under $20 all day. But when your original USA-made Husky is gone, it's gone forever. That's just my opinion, though, of course.
KeukaDan
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I would agree on their quality, my dad has an older set of Husky sockets and a 3/8 ratchet that has survived years of hard work repairing our vineyard equipment trucks and tractors and has never let us down.
l_bilyk
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Maybe there is a blackhawk kit that will work?
It kind of looks like an older Blackhawk. I found one of those (1/2" drive) in the road. Not damaged and works perfect. I have found a lot of good tools in the road especially when riding mountain bikes. Maybe I should start a thread......road finds?
KeukaDan
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I agree that my dads does look like an older blackhawk. I also have had good luck with finding tools along side of the road.
z28toz06
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Why don't you use it and in 20 years when it might finally break hang it up?johnf said:
chevy302dz
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A older New Britain Blackhawk ratchet of the same head type will interchange internally I have taken both brands apart
Husky ratchet
Ok here is what Elroy thinks about Husky tools:
At a flee market a few years ago, this guy had a real nice Kennedy Cantalevel lid tool box for sale. He only wanted $10 for it and there were a few loose tools inside. The box was in real good shape with no dents or rust. It was just a little dirty, dusty is more like it, I think it was paint over spray. Any ways Elroy bought the box and it had a 3/8" Husky ratchet inside. That ratchet was with out a doubt the biggest piece of **** I have ever seen. It was not broken, it was just a **** POS.
Ever sense then Elroy has avoided Husky tools like the plague. I wouldn't own a Husky tool let alone use one even if it was given to me. And if I did have one given to me I think I would just throw it in the trash where it belongs.
I base this opinon upon my first impression of Husky tools. Maybe your experience has been different. Just goes to show how important first impressions are.
Ok here is what Elroy thinks about Husky tools:
At a flee market a few years ago, this guy had a real nice Kennedy Cantalevel lid tool box for sale. He only wanted $10 for it and there were a few loose tools inside. The box was in real good shape with no dents or rust. It was just a little dirty, dusty is more like it, I think it was paint over spray. Any ways Elroy bought the box and it had a 3/8" Husky ratchet inside. That ratchet was with out a doubt the biggest piece of **** I have ever seen. It was not broken, it was just a **** POS.
Ever sense then Elroy has avoided Husky tools like the plague. I wouldn't own a Husky tool let alone use one even if it was given to me. And if I did have one given to me I think I would just throw it in the trash where it belongs.
I base this opinon upon my first impression of Husky tools. Maybe your experience has been different. Just goes to show how important first impressions are.
kartracer55
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How old were they? Are you talking like "vintage" husky or modern stanley husky?
How old? I have no idea. All Elroy knows is that it was just a piece of $hit. I bought the box like 8 or 9 years ago and it took me like a minute to make up my mind what I was going to do with the ratchet. Can you say file 13?
A good friend of mine has a "champion spark plug" ratchet he got from his 89 year old grand father. It's just like the one I threw away from what I can recall. His grand father sold used cars in the 50's and 60's and was out of the business come 1975 or so. Elroys guess is the ratchet was 1960 or so.
The problem with both my friends and the POS Husky I had is they were just plain worn out. It's kind of like having a 30 year old car with 375,000 miles on it, the third engine that smokes and has sat outside every day. It was just a worn out POS.
Ok that car and ratchet were nice at one point in time. That time has passed. That is why they still manufacture new cars and tools.
I still hate Husky tools because they are **** even when new, IMHO.
A good friend of mine has a "champion spark plug" ratchet he got from his 89 year old grand father. It's just like the one I threw away from what I can recall. His grand father sold used cars in the 50's and 60's and was out of the business come 1975 or so. Elroys guess is the ratchet was 1960 or so.
The problem with both my friends and the POS Husky I had is they were just plain worn out. It's kind of like having a 30 year old car with 375,000 miles on it, the third engine that smokes and has sat outside every day. It was just a worn out POS.
Ok that car and ratchet were nice at one point in time. That time has passed. That is why they still manufacture new cars and tools.
I still hate Husky tools because they are **** even when new, IMHO.
l_bilyk
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Why does elroy talk about himself in the third person?
eschoendorff
Well-known member
l_bilyk said:
I dunno. Maybe he hangs out with Bob Dole.
But I happen to like the new Husky ratchets. For the $$$, they really aren't that bad. I have one of their indexible models and and extendable locking flexhead. On both, the ratcheting mechanism is smooth and even... no complaints here. Sounds like Elroy got a dud. There are duds out there. If I were to base my opinion of Snap On ratchets off the first one I ever held, I would have had the same attitude that Elroy has about the Huskys. It was a piece of ****. But mine is quite nice. The other must've been a dud.
eschoendorff said:
Kind of like a NEW Hundai. For the $$$, they really aren't that bad. But they're still a piece of $hit. Now remember this is only Elroys opinion. You got yours, I got mine. That is what makes America so wonderful. We got a choice here, and it's my choice NOT to use or recommend Husky tools, OK
eschoendorff said:
No what Elroy got was a $100 Kennedy tool box for 90% off because it had a little overspray on it. This box just happened to come with a worn out piece of $hit Husky ratchet that I chose to throw away. That's all no more no less.
Oh, By the way, Elroy happens to like Bob Dole. He's a Republican.
I like Republicans
But Elroy does not like or vote the Husky tool ticket.
Just Like I don't like damn Democrates trying to reach into my pocket every chance they get or trying to shove damn liberal gay program at me.
Now remember PLEASE. These are just Elroys opinion.
I do have a right to my opinion don't I?
I like Republicans
But Elroy does not like or vote the Husky tool ticket.
Just Like I don't like damn Democrates trying to reach into my pocket every chance they get or trying to shove damn liberal gay program at me.
Now remember PLEASE. These are just Elroys opinion.
I do have a right to my opinion don't I?
l_bilyk
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You mean, "elroy has a right to elroys opinion, doesn't elroy"? 
lbgradwell
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Uncle Buck
Banned
Na, it is of no use if you can't turn a nut with it! Take it apart, clean, re-grease and put er back to use!
Uncle Buck
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Chris Adams
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What are the markings?
I have an old round head 3/8 CB-45
and an old round head 1/2 CS 43
dang good ratchets from a long time back.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Mine is the 3/8" CB43. I'm guessing 1961 to 1968 somewhere (there are 2 patent numbers on it & the later one is from 1961). New Britain was bought by Litton Industries in 1968, but there is no mention of this on the box (although I guess there needn't be).
Any insights from your specimens?
Attachments
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Uncle Buck
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lbgradwell
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Nice looking old set.
Thanks! It sure didn't look to nice when I got it... Let's just say it was rescued & restored!
russlaferrera
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It seems like Elroy and you have alot in common. From Elroy's posts he seems to be more outspoken than you. Do you know Elroy well? What do YOU think of Husky tools?
Chris Adams
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The half inch is from the late 60's. Pretty expensive in its day. It was my best ratchet when I was just out of school.
Can not recall where I got the 3/8. Had two identical ones, gave one away years ago.
In the second picture notice how small the half is next to my other half ratchets.
Can not recall where I got the 3/8. Had two identical ones, gave one away years ago.
In the second picture notice how small the half is next to my other half ratchets.
Uncle Buck
Banned
OH, you have one of the old Crafty stainless! Sears best of the best in it's day!
BTW, what brand is that dandy old long handled job? It has perhaps an Armstrong,Blackhawk look to it?
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Chris Adams
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The black wrench is brand new. It's a Proto big Dawg.
Just came in today with a companion 3/8 long.
Have not even turned a bolt with it, but I want to. It's got a great feel, the knurling at the end works well in fiddling with it.
The stainless Sears I bought brand new in 1985. It's been a great ratchet, better than anything else I ever got. The Sears next to it is their new thin profile but I like the Stainless better.
Just came in today with a companion 3/8 long.
Have not even turned a bolt with it, but I want to. It's got a great feel, the knurling at the end works well in fiddling with it.
The stainless Sears I bought brand new in 1985. It's been a great ratchet, better than anything else I ever got. The Sears next to it is their new thin profile but I like the Stainless better.
Uncle Buck
Banned
I didn't even think about the industrial finish, I just thought it must be old! And you do know that you can no longer get a gut kit for the stainless don't you?
lbgradwell
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Too funny! I have 1/2" & 3/8" Big Dawgs en route too!
Nice collection Chris; with the exception of the finger-job and the stubby, flex-handle, are they arranged in order of acquisition? Just might be...
Our Huskys are clearly of the same vintage.
Nice collection Chris; with the exception of the finger-job and the stubby, flex-handle, are they arranged in order of acquisition? Just might be...
Our Huskys are clearly of the same vintage.
Chris Adams
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Yeah. Thought about retiring it to a collector. It works perfectly but now I will be thinking about it breaking if I use it.I didn't even think about the industrial finish, I just thought it must be old! And you do know that you can no longer get a gut kit for the stainless don't you?
The thin profile is sorta meant to be its replacment.
No, just in order of how long they are, the picture is from a crop with ten 3/8 ratchets set below them.