P&C 1/4" Ratchet?

[SCscoutguy]

What makes this thing so special?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280884561666?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[boostedgt]

that is a good question, i wish i knew

 

[bigcaddy]

Its chrome!

Nice looking ratchet but not for that price. I found a very old pear shaped 1/4" P&C ratchet and paid about 2.00 for it. Not nearly as nice looking but still does the same thing.

 

[hammergodthor]

I wandered across it about 1/2 hour ago and wondered the same thing.

 

[magova1104]

That is a nice looking 1/4 ratchet! Maybe is like 30 years old and still in mint condition. For a tools collector this is a must have, specially if you are completing/building a P&C set. I saw a 12pc set from Bonney ending in 300 and it wasn't mint like this ratchet.

 

[woody 73]

You have heard of location ,location, location well to a tool collector it is condition, condition, condition!

 

[KEH]

I have a Thorsen 1/4 which is made by the same company. They are sweet ratchets, but not that sweet. I have a 1/2 drive P&C which is in good condition, but not that good. Used it today.

That design ratchet is the most convenient to use of any. Direction change is with the flick of your thumb. Easy to keep cleaned out. Coarse teeth but that's a problem only in close places , like the rear spark plug on a 79 Chevelle 305 v 8. Went out and scared up a Western Auto round head fine tooth when I had that problem.

KEH

 

[Outlawmws]

That is a nice looking 1/4 ratchet! Maybe is like 30 years old and still in mint condition. For a tools collector this is a must have, specially if you are completing/building a P&C set. I saw a 12pc set from Bonney ending in 300 and it wasn't mint like this ratchet.

Peterson closed P&C in the late 60's, so at least 45 or so...

 

[magova1104]

Peterson closed P&C in the late 60's, so at least 45 or so...

Thanks for the info! Maybe I will place a bid in the end.

 

[jabberwoki]

Ouch that's a ****** pricey ratchet. No way worth that much!

 

[jzt]

Ouch that's a ****** pricey ratchet. No way worth that much!

It certainly appears to be.

 

[magova1104]

Ouch that's a ****** pricey ratchet. No way worth that much!

I would buy it just for build a nice 1/4 drive master set. I start with the ratchet, then I look for a breaker bar, sliding T, sockets, build a spinner handle, put everything in a nice red metal box...etc. Just another thing what to do, like a hobby, that's what collectors do.

 

[magova1104]

It's like finding a 65 Mustang in new condition. (that ratchet appears to be NEW) Let's see how much this will ends in 12hrs.

 

[barcalo]

I would never pay that price but I have had the 1/2 inch ones and they are great, great to use. The main reason I like the half inch ones though are the very small head which are not as needed by me for a 1/4 inch socket wrench.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I still can't believe someone paid $80 for that little ratchet.

 

[magova1104]

Mhhh. Interesting. I will be watching for stuff like this. I thing that ratchet is similar to Thorsen ratchets from the 60's?

 

[jusridin]

Wow! I just bought a thorsen 3/8 today for 2 bucks that looks just like that, I would not have paid 3 for it.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Wow! I just bought a thorsen 3/8 today for 2 bucks that looks just like that, I would not have paid 3 for it.

You can get the entire set here and they even look to be in about the same shape.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Thorsen...124?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bc581a04

 

[SMKS]

P&C and Thorsen both produced open gear ratchets, but I would guess they aren't identical. They may look very similar, though. Indestro also made open gear ratchets, and Wright Tool still does.

Thorsen was actually started by people who angrily left P&C, according to Alloy Artifacts:

The Origin of Thorsen

After his disagreement with Peterson and Carlborg, Ned Boyd resigned from P&C Tools and left for California, where he proceeded to establish Thorsen Manufacturing in Oakland. In addition, Boyd managed to persuade two key P&C employees to leave with him to set up the new business, and Thorsen was soon in operation as a competing tool company. According to Derville family recollections, the name Thorsen was "picked out of thin air", basically because Thorsen was a Swedish name and Swedish steel had a reputation for high quality. (Interested readers can find more information in our article on Thorsen Manufacturing.)

The events leading to the founding of Thorsen are corroborated by a newspaper article appearing in the August 1, 1929 edition of the Milwaukie Review. With the heading "Tool Plant to Have New Building Soon" and a byline "Unfounded Rumors Abroad", the article first denies a rumor that P&C was planning to move to Los Angeles or elsewhere, and states that, on the contrary, the company is considering expanding their current operations. Citing John Peterson, the article further notes a rumor that P&C management had sold out and that the company name would change. Peterson indirectly attributes the rumors to a recently organized company in Oakland "with a very similar name", and accuses ex-employees (of P&C) of taking advantage of the reputation of P&C.

 

[Grabit]

i have the Thorsen 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets in this style, apparently i need to figure out how to stamp P&C on them. I'd sell them at that price anyday. Hell i'd probably sell all three at that price.

 

[flathead74]

For what it is worth, I took a Proto 4750 open gear 1/4 inch drive ratchet (the same as the P&C) that was missing its guts and installed all the parts from a similar Thorsen and it works just fine. Since I am more of a Proto guy, I guess that means I now have to find a nasty looking Thorsen in order to scavenge the parts I need to put my other ratchet back together....ah progress!