Show your DBE Ratcheting Wrenches!

[Peter Burritt]

Hello there!

I don't believe GJ has a DBE ratcheting wrench forum, and I feel like it deserves a small home here! I tried finding histories of ratchet wrenches on other sites but it seems like there just isn't a lot of information out there about these really handy tools!

So a few things I hope this forum may tackle are:
1. Creating a space for people to share their own new/used DBE ratchet wrenches that they own or find,
2. Folks sharing knowledge of history on particular brands, and
3. sharing individual experience and recommendations from using or handling different brands and models

I don't have much information about these tools myself, so I cannot provide much about them other than that I enjoy their function in applications where they are the only tool that will work.

 

[richfinn]

Hello there!

I don't believe GJ has a DBE ratcheting wrench forum, and I feel like it deserves a small home here! I tried finding histories of ratchet wrenches on other sites but it seems like there just isn't a lot of information out there about these really handy tools!

So a few things I hope this forum may tackle are:
1. Creating a space for people to share their own new/used DBE ratchet wrenches that they own or find,
2. Folks sharing knowledge of history on particular brands, and
3. sharing individual experience and recommendations from using or handling different brands and models

I don't have much information about these tools myself, so I cannot provide much about them other than that I enjoy their function in applications where they are the only tool that will work.

What kind do you have? Any pics?

I'm looking for a good XL flexhead set in Europe

If anyone has any recommendations???

 

[BFHtime]

do both sides have to ratchet or one side? Also flex or not. Reversible or not.

 

[Peter Burritt]

What kind do you have? Any pics?

So here are my Powr-Kraft DBEs that I currently have on me in my truck bag. The bigger one is a 3/4 x 7/8 and the small one is 5/8 x 11/16. They both have 84-4738 marked on them which I assume is to signify the set number. I only acquired them at the beginning of this year and they are in dire need of a little TLC. (I haven't had the time to clean because I'm neck deep in college work) The ones that my father own (Back home) are nearly all craftsman branded

I'm currently trying to expand my collection of these in smaller and larger sizes, it's just difficult trying to determine what brands made these tools well when there is little talk of them anywhere.

 

[Yarpo]

Gearwrench DBE (Only one side ratchets, not sure if that qualifies)

Carlyle DBE Reversible, offset, and spline

Both sets are some of my favorite wrenches, I don't ever reach for the blackhawk ratcheting wrenches almost ever, I think I can count less than 10 times in the past year I've needed them. The Gearwrench ones are my favorite, very long and I break things free with the traditional end, ratcheting things out with the other. Not sure I have any other close up photos other than when I bought them tho. Paired with my Wright wrenches I'd take those three sets with me anywhere if need be. Very versatile.

 

[Mr_B]

What kind do you have? Any pics?

I'm looking for a good XL flexhead set in Europe

If anyone has any recommendations???

perhaps carlyle Kabo made DBE, cheaper in uk than us .
for none reversible perhaps welzh 6pc set or britool hallmark .

 

[lardy1]

Those laminated type ratcheting wrenches have been around for years. I really don't know the history but I know they came in offset and straight configurations as well as 6 and 12 point drives.

Ratcheting wrenches have come a long way since Powr-Kraft was selling them. Occasionally a thread pops up regarding the older style. From the ones I've read, the laminated types aren't particularly well received by most but that those that like them absolutely love them.

I had never seen a Powr-Kraft version of them. Thank you for posting them.

 

[Peter Burritt]

Those laminated type ratcheting wrenches have been around for years. I really don't know the history but I know they came in offset and straight configurations as well as 6 and 12 point drives.

Ratcheting wrenches have come a long way since Powr-Kraft was selling them. Occasionally a thread pops up regarding the older style. From the ones I've read, the laminated types aren't particularly well received by most but that those that like them absolutely love them.

I had never seen a Powr-Kraft version of them. Thank you for posting them.

Happy to share! Do you know what in particular about the laminated style ratchet wrench people dislike? I assume the bulkiness of certain brands may have driven people away from them.

 

[richfinn]

perhaps carlyle Kabo made DBE, cheaper in uk than us .
for none reversible perhaps welzh 6pc set or britool hallmark .

I've looked at both the Welzh and the Britool, don't really know if either are any good??

 

[Mr_B]

^
I have a hallmark long ring, aviation slight offset step style ring one end and fixed ratcheting ring the other in a 12pc set, taiwan made and as decent as most style wrench sets like this as most better ones are coming from same manufacture sources within taiwan .
Welzh is a bit hit or miss but worth considering and more so if could see in advance or at least purchase where return would be fairly easy .
Welzh did have 2 different manufacturers and the stamped brand in black tool roll was the better ones .
Shame facom don't do any as really like the ratchet wrenches they got coming out of taiwan .

 

[four.cycle]

Those laminated type ratcheting wrenches have been around for years. I really don't know the history but I know they came in offset and straight configurations as well as 6 and 12 point drives.

They were designed by one John W. Lang of Lang Tool in Racine, Wisconsin. The first patent number was 2500835 issued Mar 14 1950. He later was issued patent 4748875 Jun 7 1988 for the model with the angled heads. There is also a later patent 4819521 issued Apr 11 1989.

Per A & E Manufacturing Co., the parent company of Lang Tool, John W. Lang's father, Daniel M. Lang, started Lang Tool in 1932.
Lang was producing the ratcheting box wrench as early as 1947, prior to the issue of the first patent in 1950.

They have been, and still are, manufactured by A & E in Racine, Wisconsin, and stamped with any number of different brand names - among them some brands which are sold from the backs of big panel trucks, as well as Montgomery Ward's "Powr Kraft".

A search on Ebay for "ratcheting box wrench - USED" will turn up an almost infinite number of different brand names stamped on Lang-designed units.
So many, in fact, that I do not include the more obscure brands (like "Yellowjacket") in my List of U.S. manufacturers and brands of mechanics hand tools

This is the only Lang-designed ratcheting box wrench I own, a "Kastar" model probably left over as a salesman's sample from when I was an independent sales agent representing Kastar about 30 years ago:



Kastar also manufactured them for Indestro / Duro, presumably to "fill a gap":



Which is a bit puzzling, as Indestro designed and manufactured their own version, shown below:



The Indestro model was available only in the flat style, not the angled-head version, and the metric sizes were not made available until Indestro's later years.
Indestro (like Lang) made these for a number of private-label accounts, and they can be found in the second-hand market with a variety of different brand names on them.

==

There is another variant of the "laminated" style ratcheting box wrench, which was sold by Sears in their "Craftsman" line (among others), about which I know nothing.

 

[Peter Burritt]

Wow this information is great and really clears things up! I was just searching through datamp trying to figure some of this stuff out as you posted this.

I'm familiar with Lang Tools and their specialty products but I never realized their connection to the ratchet wrench

 

[four.cycle]

Lang / A & E / Kastar = all the same outfit.
Lang started in Racine in 1932.
Kastar originally was located on Long Island, in New York. Their production from that period - feeler gauges and small stamped "ignition wrenches", are marked with a "star in a circle" logo:



The great majority of their output is made for private-label accounts, in particular a brand sold from the backs of big white panel trucks.
There are a few more posts about this in the "Ebay Hot Deals" thread:
here and here

 

[Ralf11]

3. I bought a KTC one that I like pretty well.

I'd like to find out who makes the really nice Snap On's tho...

 

[Randydrummer]

View attachment 1View attachment 1 View attachment 1
Sae set from Montgomery Ward (Powr Kraft) ratcheting that I inherited from grandad.
Craftsman 421 series metric 12 point ratcheting.
Craftsman =v= series in sae.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Randydrummer]

Powr Kraft in Sae.


Craftsman in metric.

Craftsman =v= series in sae.




Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bonneyman]

I have a set of SAE GearWrench combos form the mid 90's. They are nice.

have one DBE ratcheting wrench, marked Crescent. Extra long, I put a hex to square adaptor in it for those tight reach jobs. The Indestro DBE in the pic with it was redone by me.
Also have a set of stamped Dunlap DBE's. They are in deep storage for the Apocalypse!

 

[d42jeep]

They were designed by one John W. Lang of Lang Tool in Racine, Wisconsin. The first patent number was 2500835 issued Mar 14 1950. He later was issued patent 4748875 Jun 7 1988 for the model with the angled heads. There is also a later patent 4819521 issued Apr 11 1989.

Per A & E Manufacturing Co., the parent company of Lang Tool, John W. Lang's father, Daniel M. Lang, started Lang Tool in 1932.
Lang was producing the ratcheting box wrench as early as 1947, prior to the issue of the first patent in 1950.

They have been, and still are, manufactured by A & E in Racine, Wisconsin, and stamped with any number of different brand names - among them some brands which are sold from the backs of big panel trucks, as well as Montgomery Ward's "Powr Kraft".

A search on Ebay for "ratcheting box wrench - USED" will turn up an almost infinite number of different brand names stamped on Lang-designed units.
So many, in fact, that I do not include the more obscure brands (like "Yellowjacket") in my List of U.S. manufacturers and brands of mechanics hand tools

This is the only Lang-designed ratcheting box wrench I own, a "Kastar" model probably left over as a salesman's sample from when I was an independent sales agent representing Kastar about 30 years ago:



Kastar also manufactured them for Indestro / Duro, presumably to "fill a gap":



Which is a bit puzzling, as Indestro designed and manufactured their own version, shown below:



The Indestro model was available only in the flat style, not the angled-head version, and the metric sizes were not made available until Indestro's later years.
Indestro (like Lang) made these for a number of private-label accounts, and they can be found in the second-hand market with a variety of different brand names on them.

==

There is another variant of the "laminated" style ratcheting box wrench, which was sold by Sears in their "Craftsman" line (among others), about which I know nothing.

I found this S-K offset ratcheting wrench with the Lang patent numbers at a garage sale this morning.
-Don

 

[JradM]

Does it count if it's a double box-end wrench but only one side ratchets? I have these:


They are excellent - they seem to be clones of the Gearwrench ones (Apex makes most of the "Maximum"-branded tools, a Canadian Tire house brand).

They also come in a flex-head variety, but I'm not sure if I'd like that or not. Having the deep, socket-end on an XL handle is very handy to break things loose. Then flip to the other end to ratchet the fastener off or on, which would otherwise be slow and awkward with an XL-sized wrench. For lots of automotive work where the fastener might be a bit rusted and stuck, these are the bees knees.

On the other end of the spectrum, I kinda want to get these Vim Tools Nano Flex wrenches - but haven't yet:

 

[Toold_up]

A search on Ebay for "ratcheting box wrench - USED" will turn up an almost infinite number of different brand names stamped on Lang-designed units.
So many, in fact, that I do not include the more obscure brands (like "Yellowjacket") in my List of U.S. manufacturers and brands of mechanics hand tools

YellowJacket is all HVAC stuff. I used the Lang style a lot when I was a tech. They fit the bill in that industry.


In automotive work they are too bulky. The automotive style are thinner around the box and the handles are just like any other automotive wrench. Here is a picture of my Matco ratcheting box wrenches (In SAE because f*** metric)

 

[Fedwrench]

Here's a sample handful, from top to bottom:

Blackhawk reversible, boxed end offset 15 degrees, 12 point 72 teeth.
SK G Pro short double flex head spline boxed end 72 teeth.
Gearwrench four in one 8 x 12 on one side, 10 X 13 other side. 12 point reversible, 72 teeth.
SK G Pro deep offset spline boxed end, 72 teeth reversible.
Tekton standard length six point, 72 tooth double flex head wrench.
Matco first gen proswing made in the USA by Armstrong, fixed 15 degree offset boxed end on one side, 0 degree offset 72 tooth ratcheting 12 point boxed end on the opposite side. Probably my favorite style of wrench for all time.

Sadly, many of these wrenches are no longer made. Great wrenches though.

 

[bcradio]

Here's a sample handful, from top to bottom:

Blackhawk reversible, boxed end offset 15 degrees, 12 point 72 teeth.
SK G Pro short double flex head spline boxed end 72 teeth.
Gearwrench four in one 8 x 12 on one side, 10 X 13 other side. 12 point reversible, 72 teeth.
SK G Pro deep offset spline boxed end, 72 teeth reversible.
Tekton standard length six point, 72 tooth double flex head wrench.
Matco first gen proswing made in the USA by Armstrong, fixed 15 degree offset boxed end on one side, 0 degree offset 72 tooth ratcheting 12 point boxed end on the opposite side. Probably my favorite style of wrench for all time.

Sadly, many of these wrenches are no longer made. Great wrenches though.

Love that offset wrench!