Post up your Thorsen tools!

[bonneyman]

I've had a Thorsen 3/8" drive 77 ratchet for years, never had a problem with it. Was told somewhere by somebody that they were the AK-47's of the ratchet world. And I believe it.
Figured I should start a Thorsen thread, as I can't remember seeing one on the forum anywhere. So, if you've got some Thorsen tools, post them up!

Here's my present Thorsen socket set. Trying to complete it. But it's my personal car tool set.

 

[bonneyman]

Also trying to complete a set of middle period (1950-1970) Thorsen combos in metric.

 

[bonneyman]

Have become a fan of the open-gear ratchets made by Thorsen. I have a 1/4" and 3/8" - with a 1/2" on it's way. I'll post a triple play when it arrives.

 

[four.cycle]

all photos which have been posted previously in other threads because this thread didn't yet exist. this is just a small portion of my Thorsen:

 

[four.cycle]

a few more:

 

[four.cycle]

and a few more:



^ the images with the green background are all new NOS stuff I had left from the 1980's when we carried Thorsen - my best guess it that they were salesman samples that had been left behind.

have much more. just need to get it sorted and photographed.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a few of mine, some of which I've had for over 50 years.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Just picked up a 3/8" speeder.

 

[bonneyman]

Here's a more recent pick showing my ratchets, breaker bars, and accessories.

 

[bonneyman]

Got a new open gear rat in today. That makes 4 for me.

Real admirer of this ratchet style. Sorry they don't make them anymore.

 

[four.cycle]

^ very nice old #77 there.

(* now where do you suppose a guy could find a dust cover for that #77J there? *)

 

[MarkWilliams60]

Bonneyman that's the nicest finish I've seen on that 1/2". Most of them are pretty roughly ground.
You know Wright makes those in 3/8 and 1/2 too ? Just in case you want one to use-abuse and leave those oldies in the drawer.

 

[bonneyman]

Bonneyman that's the nicest finish I've seen on that 1/2". Most of them are pretty roughly ground.
You know Wright makes those in 3/8 and 1/2 too ? Just in case you want one to use-abuse and leave those oldies in the drawer.

Thanks! The tool arrived in much better shape than was advertized.
Yes I know. Wright's design is a bit different - they use a set screw to hold the toothed gear onto the knuckle drive.
I probably won't use the 1/2"er. The others probably will, as the head size and weight are so much lower than most other ratchet styles.

 

[bonneyman]

^ very nice old #77 there.

(* now where do you suppose a guy could find a dust cover for that #77J there? *)

Nope - that tool is being given to a forum member.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bonneyman: I agree Thorson deserves a thread of it's own. the older ones are made like tanks and maybe were made to repair them. if I get a little more ORGANIZED i'll post up a few of my older ones. even the newer imports seem to be better quality than normal imports I see.

i'll keep checking in and seeing everyone's cool tools

 

[bonneyman]

Bonneyman: I agree Thorson deserves a thread of it's own. the older ones are made like tanks and maybe were made to repair them. if I get a little more ORGANIZED i'll post up a few of my older ones. even the newer imports seem to be better quality than normal imports I see.

i'll keep checking in and seeing everyone's cool tools

By all means, post up some of your stuff.

I have taken apart my newer 3/8" open gear, following instructions from a forum member. A bit tricky, but not too difficult. Makes cleaning things alot easier. If anyone is interested, I can post up the pics of the various steps.

 

[bonneyman]

A DBE I had at one time.

 

[1969]

I also have a few, hope to post later.

 

[bonneyman]

At one time I had a pair of slip joint pliers marked Thorsen. Didn't take a whole tool pic, just the logo. Never knew Thorsen did pliers.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Thorsen was another "everything from soup to nuts" tool supplier. Their earlier catalogs show a lot of items which were clearly outsourced. Not sure if they actually made their own pliers or not.... I have a couple pairs here... they look similar to my Indestros, but they have green handles.

 

[r_olson_06]

Anybody know the age on this one?

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk

 

[tdcisco1]

picked up a thorsen 3/8 open gear laying in the road a while back,perfect condition. be damned if i can find it now.one of only 2 tools I ever lost!!!

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my Thorsen from my home toolbox. I also found a couple pictures from Christmas 1964. I guess I came by tool collecting naturally. Check out the brand. I was 15.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Wow. What a treasure to still have that photo, Don. Thorsen Red Box Special.

 

[four.cycle]

Red Box Special! very cool.
I found one of those - a little 3/8" set - and was puzzled as to the vintage on it... I suppose " 60's " is close enough?

guess I need to dig some stuff out and get busy with the camera.

( I think my mom was wearing those same cat-eye glasses in '64 !!! )

 

[bonneyman]

Red Box Special! very cool.
I found one of those - a little 3/8" set - and was puzzled as to the vintage on it... I suppose " 60's " is close enough?

guess I need to dig some stuff out and get busy with the camera.

( I think my mom was wearing those same cat-eye glasses in '64 !!! )

Yeah - get busy you slacker!

Nice red box and photo's, Don.

 

[Cruzan80]

Just picked up an 88JNR. 3/8" Dr flex head. Paid a total of $5 for it and a few other odds and ends. Seems people like them?

Says Thorsen MFD USA and then the model on the shank, no other markings.

 

[paulm12]

anyone need a 7/16" Thorsen combo wrench? Shoot me a PM.

Paul M

 

[bonneyman]

Just picked up an 88JNR. 3/8" Dr flex head. Paid a total of $5 for it and a few other odds and ends. Seems people like them?

Says Thorsen MFD USA and then the model on the shank, no other markings.

Pics, please!

 

[davethorik]

Here's my contribution. One of my tiniest ratchets, but I bought the whole Action 1/4 sae set just for the ratchet, because I liked it so much. Very crisp. Model 17MA.

Pictured here with a Wright 2400, my other tiny 1/4 ratchet.

 

[four.cycle]

^ yes! the old 77MC open-gear Thorsen (or 17MA Action, in your case) and that 2400 Wright are probably the dinkiest 1/4" drive ratchets I own! very nice!

 

[bonneyman]

^ yes! the old 77MC open-gear Thorsen (or 17MA Action, in your case) and that 2400 Wright are probably the dinkiest 1/4" drive ratchets I own! very nice!

I like dinky!

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up a couple more at the flea market Sunday.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

^ yes! the old 77MC open-gear Thorsen (or 17MA Action, in your case) and that 2400 Wright are probably the dinkiest 1/4" drive ratchets I own! very nice!

The Plomb 4751 is the dinkiest I've seen, beside the Chapman style stuff.

http://toolarchives.com/node/1515

 

[four.cycle]

any of you guys looking for a few pieces to complete a set?

read my post HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5766467#post5766467

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a like new short DBE wrench I picked up last weekend.
-Don

 

[martin666]

When I was around 15 or so I started buying my own tools, the auto parts store down the street sold Thorsen tools so that's what I bought. Acquired decent collection at the time but since 1970 this set is all I have left

 

[woody 73]

NO Laughing...

I was standing in a garage about a year ago and I was knee deep in **** (dog, bat, deer, rat ,horse and whatever other **** you can name) just hunting for tools.

I picked up these 1/2 sockets (which by the way I would kill to trade for someone that needs to fill their Thorsen set). I am always needing craftsman 1/2 deepwell sockets.

 

[bonneyman]

NO Laughing...

I was standing in a garage about a year ago and I was knee deep in **** (dog, bat, deer, rat ,horse and whatever other **** you can name) just hunting for tools.

I picked up these 1/2 sockets (which by the way I would kill to trade for someone that needs to fill their Thorsen set). I am always needing craftsman 1/2 deepwell sockets.

Well, the sockets don't look none the worse for wear.

 

[four.cycle]

so.... Woody.... you're looking to trade the 1/2" drive Thorsen 12-pt deep-wells for ...... what?

sorry I'm confused.