Snap on L-71 locking rat. 1935

[snapmom]

A Snap on L-71 locking ratchet. 1/2 drive. As no retaining ball, instead it uses a locking collar that rotates and locks in the socket, (ext or univ) . Has a 1935 date code.
There are not to many examples out there, but I could see why. What were they thinking, there is no way to use anyother socket etc., and its very cumbersome to use. But this is the fore runner to the 71-10. has that double tapered handle, and that pear looking head. The first example of this.
This set has some drive tools with it also, extensions, breaker bar, sliding tee.
I am missing a few pieces, so if anyone has some of these, please holler at me.

 

[lbgradwell]

Very cool (as always), snapmom!

 

[JeremyManning]

Neat looking set

 

[Wrenches of Death]

As no retaining ball, instead it uses a locking collar that rotates and locks in the socket, (ext or univ) . Has a 1935 date code.
There are not to many examples out there, but I could see why. What were they thinking, there is no way to use any other socket etc., and its very cumbersome to use.

That's interesting. Many thanks for the post.

Could this have been an early attempt at a system to limit foreign object damage (or even falling object damage) and still have the ability to use different sized sockets on one particular handle? Maybe in the aircraft industry or something?

If it was for a specific, fixed application, like the adjustment tool for the new and improved Acme Model 2 concrete mixer, it would have been much simpler and a lot less expensive to simply pin the socket to the drive plug with an 1/8" or so roll pin. I've pinned several ratchets before for different things and it is a lot more effective than the simplicity of it would imply.

Thanks again!

WoD

 

[glenmore]

I think I would faint dead away if I ever came across something like this in my garage sale journeys.

 

[osborn.ozzy]

Is that a grease fitting on the top of the ratchet?

 

[snapmom]

its a oil fitting, very common on older Snap on rats.

 

[woody 73]

Very Cool thanks for showing those pictures!

 

[billymade]

Very unique ratchet; I have NEVER ever seen one of those @ the fleas... so, if you do not have the special sockets... it is basically a useless ratchet? Kinda looks that way from the pics; do you think this was a transition into the typical drive with a retention ball or a special application of some sort? Definitely, seems like they designed themselves into a corner and created a "proprietary" design that could only use their combo of socket and ratchet to work. Strange setup for sure...

 

[snapmom]

It was listed as the "supreme" socket wrench series. "the very best money could buy" trouble was that their reg. sets were high, and this set had a 62% increase in price over their reg set.. Listed as a "non borrowing set" cause it cannot be used with any other tools but these.
Well, it had to be a disaster, it only shows up in the 35 supplementary cat.

 

[930dreamer]

I'll be at the flea market Saturday morning, nice find.

 

[glenmore]

trouble was that their reg. sets were high, and this set had a 62% increase in price over their reg set.

Hmmm. Seems like this high price thing was in their DNA right from the beginning.

 

[JeremyManning]

can you post a pic of the other pieces, would like to see the extension, does the breaker bar and sliding tee have the same retaining mechanism, did the set come in a box?

 

[Jarhead0408]

Wow, very unique ratchet. If you get tired of not being able to use it on your normal sockets send it my way!

 

[snapmom]

 

[MoToys]

Cool, thanks for sharing.

 

[nicholasbailey1993]

My dad has one of those sockets like that. I always wondered why it was so weird. I guess you learn something new everyday.

 

[JSCraftsman]

A Snap on L-71 locking ratchet. 1/2 drive. As no retaining ball, instead it uses a locking collar that rotates and locks in the socket, (ext or univ) . Has a 1935 date code.
There are not to many examples out there, but I could see why. What were they thinking, there is no way to use anyother socket etc., and its very cumbersome to use. But this is the fore runner to the 71-10. has that double tapered handle, and that pear looking head. The first example of this.
This set has some drive tools with it also, extensions, breaker bar, sliding tee.
I am missing a few pieces, so if anyone has some of these, please holler at me.

Very neat snapmom! I just recently bought one of these L-71 rats. As soon as I had seen it, I knew it was one I haven't seen before. The L-71 RATCHET wording caught my attention. However unfortunately it has lost the entire locking collar assembly and has a common repair kit (RKR970 looks like) replacement installed in it to make it more user friendly. It is a 1934 date code, but damn, it would had been cool if it still had the original locking collar and internals inside it. It should still clean up very nicely after I am done with it. I want to put the original flat style selector back onto it, so it at least has something to offer.

 

[snapmom]

Very neat snapmom! I just recently bought one of these L-71 rats. As soon as I seen it, I knew it was one I haven't seen before. The L-71 RATCHET wording caught my attention. However unfortunately it has lost the entire locking collar assembly and has a common repair kit (RKR970 looks like) replacement installed in it to make it more user friendly. It is a 1934 date code, but damn, it would had been cool if it still had the original locking collar and internals inside it. It should still clean up very nicely after I am done with it. I want to put the original flat style selector back onto it, so it at least has something to offer.

parts are almost impossible to find.

 

[JSCraftsman]

parts are almost impossible to find.

Yeah I figure...basically impossible to find the original style guts for this L-71 rat. I did manage to contact the seller just to see if it was possible they still had them laying around somewhere....but I'd probably have a better chance getting struck by lightning. lol. They were probably discarded by the S-O guy decades ago. What I will most likely do is just put in the Q-R gear and guts from the S-713. That way it has a usable locking style release feature, plus the additional 12 teeth...at least it will have something special to offer, than just a typical 71-10 has. But that's still in debate. I will post pics after it's all cleaned up.

 

[JSCraftsman]

So... after almost 2 years later, this is what I have come up with this 1934' L-71 rat. An original restored bottom end, selector (including sel. screw), pawl, spring, ball, plus coverlate & screws. The gearwheel has the typical 1936/37 flat peened retention ball detent. But still no locking collar anvil assembly. But at least it's about 3/4 restored now.