Post up your Thorsen tools!

[d42jeep]

The dimple may indicate the location of the recess for the retaining ball inside the drive end of the socket. I’d have to double check but it’s a possibility.
Here are a couple of Action screwdrivers I found at an Oakland estate sale on Friday. They look just like their Thorsen counterparts except for the attractive? color of the ball on the end.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Wow. Thanks! That is really helpful.

Question:
The really old sockets have a dimple in them... What was that for? OR why is it there?

I have some extra Thorsen 1/2" drive sockets if anyone is looking. Let me know what you need.

I checked a few sockets and the dimple does indicate the location of the depression to more securely hold the socket to the ratchet or extension. I’m not sure if the pictures are going to show it clearly but here they are anyway. I checked the socket with an extension and it was held much tighter when the ball was lined up with the dimple.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I was able to find a 19mm deep socket that perfectly matched the rest of the set. Mission accomplished. Here are before and after pictures.
-Don

 

[jamesly]

I checked a few sockets and the dimple does indicate the location of the depression to more securely hold the socket to the ratchet or extension. I’m not sure if the pictures are going to show it clearly but here they are anyway. I checked the socket with an extension and it was held much tighter when the ball was lined up with the dimple.
-Don

AHHHH... Thanks. The newer sockets don't have that.

 

[mr natural]

Ah the dimple thing, proto sockets had a star.. Why oh why other than some add in strength where it's not going to break anyway I decided to say screw originality as I want them to work well (as they are meant to) and am taking my die grinder and a round bit (ball shape), carefully putting detents in extensions and sockets.. just have enough sticking out of the collet so it can't go any farther than it needs to.. they look fine and work awesome

 

[d42jeep]

At yesterday’s estate sale, my wife spotted this Thorsen roll with a couple of wrenches still inside and the rest were lying on the workbench. They only seem to be missing the 13mm. Here are some before and after pictures.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Nice Metric shortys, Don. Good find.

 

[bonneyman]

At yesterday’s estate sale, my wife spotted this Thorsen roll with a couple of wrenches still inside and the rest were lying on the workbench. They only seem to be missing the 13mm. Here are some before and after pictures.
-Don

 

[jamesly]

Nice!

At yesterday’s estate sale, my wife spotted this Thorsen roll with a couple of wrenches still inside and the rest were lying on the workbench. They only seem to be missing the 13mm. Here are some before and after pictures.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, Guys! I went through the Thorsen hoard to make sure I had the missing 13mm wrench. Sure enough.
-Don

 

[jamesly]

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.

Please do. I love these open gear ratchets. They are badass.

 

[bonneyman]

Please do. I love these open gear ratchets. They are badass.

Can do.
To give credit where credit is due I want to give a shout out to platypus20, a forum member who told me how to do this procedure. I never would have figured it out on my own. Thanks sir!
The open gear rats are constructed with the drive knuckle being press fitted into the drive gear. The knuckle has a square portion for fit with a round pin portion that inserts into a "washer" on the back for the rat. The pin is covered by a thin (1/32") mild steel section which is then ground and polished - you can't see the pin outline on the back.
You have to drive the knuckle and pin assembly out with a mallet. Put a 3/16" punch in the center of the back disc, and rap it a few times. You'll have to "break" the surface of that thin steel cover. As I said you can't see the outline, but it is there. Time for a bravery test!

 

[bonneyman]

Continue tapping until the knuckle assembly falls out. You can then remove the drive gear.
Drive out the pin holding the pawl in place, being careful not to lose the ball and spring under neath.

 

[bonneyman]

Thus disassembled it's much easier to clean and lube the tool. Unfortunately when reassembled, the 1/32" cover of steel is gone, so they'll be a slight depression and the the back of the drive pin will be visible. I guess you could epoxy over it and paint it if that bothers you.


Wright's version of the open gear has the drive knuckle locked into the gear with a recessed allen head screw through the teeth section of the gear. Alot easier to disassemble it.

 

[d42jeep]

Found some Thorsen at a Sonoma estate sale yesterday morning and some Action screwdrivers at a Walnut Creek sale afterward. The 19/32” and 21/32” sockets don’t come along too often.
-Don

 

[ganymede]

Thanks Bonneyman & Platypus!
Ive owned a 77 for years and could never figure out how it was held together.

 

[BFBOB]

At yesterday’s estate sale, my wife spotted this Thorsen roll with a couple of wrenches still inside and the rest were lying on the workbench. They only seem to be missing the 13mm. Here are some before and after pictures.
-Don

dunno about the wrenches, but SHE's a keeper for sure!

 

[d42jeep]

I guess so. We’ve been together since ‘72. She is really good at spotting vintage tools as well as being an excellent copilot, finding our way to the sales. She has become a Google Maps expert.
-Don

 

[jamesly]

Thus disassembled it's much easier to clean and lube the tool. Unfortunately when reassembled, the 1/32" cover of steel is gone, so they'll be a slight depression and the the back of the drive pin will be visible. I guess you could epoxy over it and paint it if that bothers you.


Wright's version of the open gear has the drive knuckle locked into the gear with a recessed allen head screw through the teeth section of the gear. Alot easier to disassemble it.

Thanks for that great info. Very nice of you to share.

 

[jamesly]

Found some Thorsen at a Sonoma estate sale yesterday morning and some Action screwdrivers at a Walnut Creek sale afterward. The 19/32” and 21/32” sockets don’t come along too often.
-Don

No they do not... Are those 1/2" drive?
Let me know if you would be interested in trading or selling those. Nice score.
I have 1/2" Thorsen deep sockets...Indestro sockets, to trade.

 

[d42jeep]

No they do not... Are those 1/2" drive?
Let me know if you would be interested in trading or selling those. Nice score.
I have 1/2" Thorsen deep sockets...Indestro sockets, to trade.

If they are duplicates I would be willing to trade then. If not, I’ll probably hang onto them. I’ll let you know next time I go through through my Thorsen stuff.
-Don

 

[PartsGuy]

Dayton branded 1/2 drive

Have stumbled onto a lot of 1/2" drive stuff since I started collecting Dayton tools this year. Here's my small collection of 1/2" drive ratchets, and I was wondering if the earlier Dayton CHGO 48 stuff was Thorsen manufactured, too? My earlier ratchets and sockets don't have the Dayton/Grainger part numbering, but all styles of my Dayton wrenches do.....

Always on the prowl for vintage Dayton drive tools, esp 3/8".....

TomD

 

[3baygarage]

Nice collection there. Your top three ratchets are Bonney made, the bottom one is Thorsen.

 

[PartsGuy]

Thank you for the fast ID/correction. Maybe I will cross-post the pic in the Bonney thread too!

 

[jamesly]

If they are duplicates I would be willing to trade then. If not, I’ll probably hang onto them. I’ll let you know next time I go through through my Thorsen stuff.
-Don

Great stuff!~

 

[CRTDI]

I checked my '56 price sheet and neither of your mystery numbers are shown. Nice board!
-Don
Edit... This '58 catalog page from Four.cycle may prove helpful as far as the X suffix.

I picked up this 1/4" socket set recently. I thought it was interesting for the box to be finished in crinkle red instead of green. The smallest sockets in this set also caught my eye because I haven't seen these tapered style sockets in any of the 1/4" sets before. The tapered sockets are all marked with X suffix model numbers.

 

[d42jeep]

Although anything is possible, it seems strange that the set has a decal from Oakland with a ratchet that I believe was made after the move. I’ve also never seen a Thorsen box in red wrinkle finish. The sockets all seem to match one another though, just maybe not the drive tools.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Speaking of Thorsen boxes, I recently received this one from Username (thanks). I was trying to decide if I should put the wartime looking tools in it but I think that I’ll transfer the tools from the lower box, which don’t fit all that well.
-Don

 

[CRTDI]

Although anything is possible, it seems strange that the set has a decal from Oakland with a ratchet that I believe was made after the move. I’ve also never seen a Thorsen box in red wrinkle finish. The sockets all seem to match one another though, just maybe not the drive tools.
-Don

Very good eye you have. Was wondering if anyone would catch that. I could be wrong, but I believe that the extensions and the slider bar are original to the set. I've been looking for an open head ratchet with a satin finished handle, but they seem to be tough to find. Hopefully, this particular ratchet will just just be visiting temporarily.

The breaker bar was also added and may not be correct for this set as well. Just not sure at his point.

 

[d42jeep]

Check post #23 in this thread. I should be able to figure out what is original by now!
-Don

 

[CRTDI]

Yeah, you might have seen a thing or two...lol

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: one of the coolest photo there is on GJ, ever, in my opinion. Seriously. I can't imagine anything cooler than a vintage photo of a member actually opening a tool-set for Christmas when they were a teenager. The glee!

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

Those Thorsens are beautiful, I’ve never seen the tapered sockets before, since I don’t collect tools for the reasons you guys do I will look for those (and other brands) here in Central Texas to send to you if they are good enough to meet your standards [emoji13][emoji41]


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app. Great Christmas you had there.

 

[d42jeep]

Very good eye you have. Was wondering if anyone would catch that. I could be wrong, but I believe that the extensions and the slider bar are original to the set. I've been looking for an open head ratchet with a satin finished handle, but they seem to be tough to find. Hopefully, this particular ratchet will just just be visiting temporarily.

The breaker bar was also added and may not be correct for this set as well. Just not sure at his point.

This set may not have all of the correct pieces, but interestingly even though all the sockets are 6 or 8 point, they aren’t tapered nor do they have an X after the part number. This box is what I expect a period Thorsen box to look like.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I spent some time today going through my Thorsen tools and filling up the box that Username sent with what I think are all period correct tools. These tools should all be made prior to any country of origin markings. I moved the wartime looking tools into the smaller box.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Added this guy to the ratchet collection. Not positive if this one has been posted before.

3/8 drive non-chrome 77J.

Couldn’t help myself from disassembling, those two screws were just way too tempting

Should have passed on the teardown though. Accidentally dumped the spring out in a tool box drawer, then shot both the brass pellet and spring across the porch in one of many attempts to set the pellet back in place. Would have been the end with a BB!

Worked like new and still does after reassembly.

 

[d42jeep]

No they do not... Are those 1/2" drive?
Let me know if you would be interested in trading or selling those. Nice score.
I have 1/2" Thorsen deep sockets...Indestro sockets, to trade.

James,
My only odd size extra is a 19/32 Action which I’ll post a picture of below.

Added this guy to the ratchet collection. Not positive if this one has been posted before.

3/8 drive non-chrome 77J.

Couldn’t help myself from disassembling, those two screws were just way too tempting

Should have passed on the teardown though. Accidentally dumped the spring out in a tool box drawer, then shot both the brass pellet and spring across the porch in one of many attempts to set the pellet back in place. Would have been the end with a BB!

Worked like new and still does after reassembly.

That is a very cool early ratchet. I found some Thorsen at a garage sale today. The u-joint with the TT in a circle is very old.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Nice oldie there.

I wonder what the age on the ratchet is. A couple other non chrome examples I saw online didn’t have screws.

 

[bonneyman]

Nice ratchet, 3 bay.

The only older one I had lacked the screws, too. I'd be interested to find out the era of the screwed ones.