proto wf 38 ratchet

[riley.m]

i found a proto wf 38 ratchet at a pawnshop on the oregon coast. i also found some other cool tools. i am trying to get some pictures but my bluetooth doesnt seem to be working. ill post pics as soon as i get them up

 

[riley.m]

im in the process of buying a camera. i will post then.

 

[chrislehr]

I just picked up one on Ebay a few days back

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39450

 

[riley.m]

I just picked up one on Ebay a few days back

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39450

no no no, this one is a PROTO. Ive never seen one of these.

 

[philw]

Most of the WF tools have been associated with Wright Field during WWII. In fact, Alloy Artifacts site has them listed as 1942-1945.
Since it's marked Proto it has to be later production or at least stamped with the Proto name at a later time.

Maybe Plombs contract continued after the war for a few years?

The Plomb tools site speculates that Plomb had such a huge surplus they continued to sell them until they emptied their inventory, which seems very plausible.

Whatever the case, the Proto marked WF ratchets seem to be a rare version.

 

[older=better]

I just got one of these today. It's in perfect working condition.
I found it on cregslist got it and a bunch of stuff from around the same time.

It's stamped proto but under that it's stamped wf038UE or possibly U8 or maybe even UA

What would one of these be worth? I was going to use it but I could sell it if its worth anything.

 

[Conductor562]

Pics or you're full of ****

 

[older=better]

I up loaded 2 already

 

[Conductor562]

I up loaded 2 already

You aren't the OP.

Those don't say Proto that I can see.

 

[older=better]

No im the guy just just bought these today and found the only results on Google brought me here

 

[older=better]

Does this say proto?

 

[Plombob]

Welcome older=better! I have one of those, and I don't care for the handle. Otherwise, it's a tough ratchet. I'd say if it was cleaned up, and it had a smooth action, you could get $10 easily.

 

[older=better]

This lol sorry upload failed to big first time.

 

[older=better]

Cool. I kinda wanted to work with it. I paid the kid 40 for this stuff. There's a few old junk open combination wrenches to a few old wooden handel files and a ballance beem for a cherry picker all of matches but its nasty with surface rust.

I didn't wanna use the stuff if it was something special.

 

[Conductor562]

No im the guy just just bought these today and found the only results on Google brought me here

The point is that my post wasn't directed at you, but since you're seeking information about your WF-38, here goes.

History: Your ratchet was made by the Plomb tool company (now Proto) during WWII. WF stands for Wright Field (Now Wright Patterson AFB) which was a major supply point and destination of contracted items during WWII. 38 is the military catalog number for the tool. It is a 24 tooth ratchet and can usually be rebuilt with the same repair kits available today.

Condition: On a scale of 1 to 10, yours is about a 3 assuming it works perfectly. Before the rust it likely had a cadmium finish and somewhere under there it still does, so don't use a wire wheel/brush on it without adequate breathing protection.

Value: Not many people are buying WF rats as users. They are collector items for the most part and value is directly tied to condition. They aren't terribly rare (Unless they are stamped Proto) as there were literally tens, upon tens, upon tens, of thousands of them made for use during the war and sold as surplus after. Really excellent examples sometimes bring close to $50. If I were in the market I'd say $10 in that condition.

Is that what you were looking for?

 

[Conductor562]

This lol sorry upload failed to big first time.

Now we are talking a different game. The fact that it says proto makes this an entirely different animal. Still not in the best of condition, but I wouldn't take a dime under $50 dollars for it if it were mine.

Then again, I have a thing for Proto

Nice find!

 

[older=better]

Yeah thanks.

Do you know anything about these?

 

[Conductor562]

Do you have a better pic of the faint stamping on the larger end of that wrench? Looks like it could be an old J.H. Williams "Superwrench", but I can't tell from that pic.

As for the thing on the right, I have no idea what that thing is.

 

[older=better]

I'm afraid it's so faint this is the best I can do with it

 

[older=better]

Trying again. Sorry but my upload keeps failing

 

[Conductor562]

Nah, can't tell man. Certainly has a Williams look about it though.

 

[older=better]

Okay so I searched around this morning and I found this. Idk if I can post a link or not but unless this is some how interactive with the coating of the proto ratchet I'll be using it on all this stuff.

Its a presses know as electrolysis. And if I can post this link it is easy and straight forward to follow plus it offers 100% rust removal with out any further damage to metal surfaces.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Electrolytic-Rust-Removal-aka-Magic/

 

[Conductor562]

Looks like it's certainly worth a shot. Evapo-Rust works ok on the too. I used it on one one of my War Finish combos without any ill effects.

 

[Plombob]

Your upload might be failing because it's too large. You can reduce the file size with many free programs. I use FastStone Image Resizer.

You could run some white chalk over the lettering on the wrench to see if it brings it out.

 

[older=better]

I'm trying the electrolysis thing right now. I'm not using a charger I'm using a power supply from a add machine rated at 9v and about half an amp. There's bubbles.

And yes I hade to use my Facebook app to shink them because it was the fastest way to get them up.
You see I no longer even own a computer. My galaxy note 2 has completely replaced it.but yes it was my fault that I didn't size correctly I was in a hurry.

 

[older=better]

Okay it is not effecting the finish at all but it has so far removed about 90% of the rust.

This is the best thing since pb blaster. I'll put up new picks after it is totally clean.

 

[Conductor562]

Okay it is not effecting the finish at all but it has so far removed about 90% of the rust.

This is the best thing since pb blaster. I'll put up new picks after it is totally clean.

Looking forward to the pics. A big GJ props to you for putting in the effort to save it :thumb up:

If you're ever looking to sell it, look me up.

 

[older=better]

There's still a little rust on it but you can clearly see the finish on the ratchet as it continues to soak in the solution.

 

[Conductor562]

Looking good

 

[3baygarage]

Looks like more cruel and unusual ratchet punishment.

 

[older=better]

I think its done.

I'll take offers on it.

 

[older=better]

A few more pictures

 

[older=better]

5B786 was the stamp on that open end combination wrench the we couldn't read.
I have no idea what it means. But the wrench has a similar finish to the proto ratchet.

I'll let it set in my rust bucket over night and see is anything else becomes readable.

 

[Conductor562]

Turned out better than it started.

Really can't help on the wrench. Has the appearance of an old Williams or Billings, but it could be anything.

 

[older=better]

Thanks for your help conductor. I'd have never figured out what this was if you hadn't taken the time to respond.

 

[Conductor562]

No problem man. That's what we're here for. Learn what we need to know and pass along what we do.