SO 42470 With diamond logo

[Mgdoug3]

I just bought a SK 42470 ratchet. I got it since I wanted a smaller 1/2" that will replace my old Craftsman and to try a round head ratchet. I have a set of Gearwrench 120XP flex heads but they're sometime too long. I already have enough smaller ratchets but an SK seemed like a good idea to try out. After looking more into, it appears the ratchet might be from the 1950s? It has the SK diamond logo near the head, patent number 2232477 and then the model number 42470 at the bottom.

Anyone have an idea the time period it's from?

 

[davethorik]

From what I can tell, the SK in a diamond logo was used until Symington Wayne bought SK in 1962 and possibly later than that, depending on inventory.

I have a 3870 roto that has the SK in a Diamond logo and has the roto patent, which was granted in 61. The gentleman I bought it off of was the original owner, and said he bought it new in 1963. He worked at one Pontiac dealership for over 30 years before retiring. Interesting guy and cool story to go with a very much still relevant tool at 55 years young.

Both this and my SK made Mac X3R are about tied for smoothness, low backdrag, yet still with a nice firm click to their action. One of my favorite SK of all time.

 

[SKI1019]

I agree with what Dave said. Also know that S-K has not changed their part numbers since first used in the 30's so you can still buy a new 1/2" drive ratchet today with that same part number. Also, except for breaking the handle using a cheater bar, they'll still warranty the internal parts of that ratchet. About the cheater bar use, S-K's old catalogs actually says you can use them, but they don't say it will void the warranty. I'm sure you have a very nice piece! Steve

 

[Mgdoug3]

I haven't gotten it in the mail yet but I'm looking forward to it. My uncle has some old New Britain and Husky round head ratchets that are nice to use. I actually took apart the Husky today and after cleaning and lubing it up seems smooth.

After I get the ratchet I plan to clean and lube the head. If there's any defects I'm debating getting the DT drive. Has anyone tried those out? I don't plan on using this ratchet for heavy abuse. I have longer ratchets and strong arms for those jobs.

 

[DadsTools]

I haven't gotten it in the mail yet but I'm looking forward to it. My uncle has some old New Britain and Husky round head ratchets that are nice to use. I actually took apart the Husky today and after cleaning and lubing it up seems smooth.

After I get the ratchet I plan to clean and lube the head. If there's any defects I'm debating getting the DT drive. Has anyone tried those out? I don't plan on using this ratchet for heavy abuse. I have longer ratchets and strong arms for those jobs.

The NBs are real work horses. You can dish out some real punishment on them and they keep coming back for more. A substantially underrated design.

There's a lot of folks who are very fond of those SK round heads, including me. There is a very good reason why they still make essentially the same ratchet after all these decades. As far as round heads go, I think the SK, NB and the original Williams S-52 are among the finest ever made. The SK, however, is the only one you can still get rebuild kits for (I understand the current Snap-on version of the S-52 is different enough so the new rebuild kits will not work on the original Williams model).

I've not tried the DT drop-in kit for the SK yet. From all I've read, most folks felt the 3/8 needed the update more than the 1/4 or 1/2, many thinking that the latter 2 sizes are just fine the way they are. Those who have gotten the DT drop-in kits have been generally pleased with them. But some have reported they significantly increase the backdrag, and that the standard tooth count was good enough that the DT kit was not as big an improvement as they hoped for. IMO if you really want that increased tooth count and don't mind spending the extra money to get it, the DT kit is worth trying.

 

[d42jeep]

I imagine that your ratchet must look like this one that I got last year. '50s or '60s could be about right.
-Don

 

[406Rich]

I`ve got two SK ratchets, they are my go to ratchet, smooth operating, I can get them into places that I can`t with the craftsman.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Don, that's what my ratchet looks like.

 

[DadsTools]

I imagine that your ratchet must look like this one that I got last year. '50s or '60s could be about right.
-Don

Aren't they sweet? Yes, they have an archaic look to them compared with top-end rats of today, and I've read post where some dislike them just for that. But there's something almost magical about the way they feel and work. Just can't seem to retire them no matter what is available today.

Alloy Artifacts show the early ones from the 1930s having the diamond and same stamping layout but with the earlier 1xxxxxx patent number. However, the SK Artisan beaver-tail contract ratchets shown (which clearly have the same mechanism) are given a date of 1940s, and these have the later 2xxxxxx number. So I think that we can extend the dating on the SK-diamond logo having the 2xxxxxx patent number back into the 1940s too.

 

[d42jeep]

It seems like the later patent was used on the 3/8" drive and up ratchets but they continued to stamp the early patent number on the 1/4" ratchets during the same time period. My beavertail 1/4" drive ratchet is an exception to that rule.
-Don