Proto 1/2" pebble ratchet

[notlob]

I picked this up last weekend at a flea market for $5. I haven't found many references to similar ratchets online. Would this be considered an uncommon transition piece? I bit of grease and it works perfectly.

 

[Steevo]

Definitely an early Proto.
The late Plvmb (1945-1948) looks just like it:

Photo from Alloy Artifacts page here:
http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/plomb-drive-tools.html

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

thats a rare find! keep it in a nice spot... or send it to me to keep with my pebble's

 

[Steven67fr]

I've got two like that. It seems that proto kept a handful of items as pebble finish for a few years (line wrenches, the larger ratchets, pickle forks, even the combo wrenches kept the small pebbled field for a while).

One thing that always confused me was the fact that I own a proto/plomb dual marked ratchet that is the standard pearhead style... so it should be earlier than any ratchet marked just proto... but then I have a proto one with the pebble finish (but no mention of Plomb) that has the what would seemingly be earlier pebbled style.

Either way - it's an excellent quality ratchet and your's appears to be in great shape. Keep it, use it, and love it!