The Ratchet Collection Thread

[Oldtuleguy]

4570 was earlier part number, 45470 was later

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I haven't received this one yet. Yes, Lowell always marked their tools well. The catch on the side that engages the teeth remind me of Packer, but the selector is the weirdest I've ever seen. It doesn't look homemade. It looks like it was manufactured that way. I'm anxious to get my hands on this one.

Post more pics when it arrives. I have a weird Billings and Spencer rachet coming. Similar design just different shape

 

[d42jeep]

Here's the difference I saw in your pic between your 4570 & the 45470 handle.

I see what you mean now. It may just be that one handle was machined down further than the other during the manufacturing process.
-Don

 

[AntiqueBen]

I don't have many Armstrong ratchets but I ran across this one in one of my toolboxes. It's a 1/2 drive & it's weighs a ton (over done in my opinion). I'm not seeing this one on AA, so maybe it's newer? It's stamped model 12-903. I'm not up to speed on Armstrong history so I'd like to figure out the age of this one. Any ideas??

 

[DonovanSpeed]

Top left to right: JH Williams super ratchet, Walden, Blackhawk, Snap On, Industro (?), Herbrand, Craftsman, Cornwell, Armstrong.
Bottom left to right: Snap On, Bonney, Craftsman, Indestro, Mossberg Model T connecting rod, Mossberg, Duro-Chrome, Duro-Chrome refrigeration or gas train can’t remember, Unknown, JH Williams.

 

[DonovanSpeed]

Almost forgot Craftsman and Industro.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Almost forgot Craftsman and Industro.

Real cool. You look like me. I just want one of everything. To see how the ratchet evolved.

 

[DonovanSpeed]

Real cool. You look like me. I just want one of everything. To see how the ratchet evolved.

Yeah like most of us, I’m a hoarder. I can’t pass this stuff up when it pops up for cheap. I don’t think I’ve paid more than $10 for any of those. Most were well south of that.

 

[Ksem89]

My humble collection, not all Vintage, but All USA made (except possibly the stubby ratchet) It will slowly grow, I had most of the craftsman as a gift from my dad when I left home. They have never let me down! Once I found the snap on, it sparked my interest to look out for more!!
- Wiliams 15" 1/2 - S52EHLA
- Williams 10 3/4" 3/8 - B52 EHLA
- Craftsman 1/2 T1X 44809
- Craftsman 3/8 T3X 44808
- Craftsman 3/8 T2X 44811
- Craftsman 1/4 K4X 44807
- Williams 3/8 B52A
- Crescent 3/8 LT70
- Snap On 3/8 AT8022
- Unmarked Stubby 3/8 ( Found it, probably my only non USA)

k

 

[bmwrd0]

I don't have many Armstrong ratchets but I ran across this one in one of my toolboxes. It's a 1/2 drive & it's weighs a ton (over done in my opinion). I'm not seeing this one on AA, so maybe it's newer? It's stamped model 12-903. I'm not up to speed on Armstrong history so I'd like to figure out the age of this one. Any ideas??

Sometime this century, most likely around 2000. The handle design is what tells me that.

EDIT: Also, Armstrong changed its model number system in 1977, going to the **-*** system that your ratchet has. But, that handle, again, makes it much newer.

 

[MisterEd]

NASA 3/4 Inch Square Drive. Really??

 

[misterbill]

NASA 3/4 Inch Square Drive. Really??

Maybe these guys instead of the space folks?

 

[z28lsc]

One of my favorite Plomb ratchets. The Ranger A.T 175

 

[d42jeep]

Looks familiar. They can’t be too common.
-Don

 

[z28lsc]

Looks familiar. They can’t be too common.
-Don

I know. I have only seen maybe 2 or 3. definably not common.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Does anyone recognize the R & B Co. from Kansas City Missouri? Or it could be simply R.B. Co. This is on a large railroad ratchet. It's marked a No. 27, but I'm not sure what the other numbers are. Anyone familiar with any of this? Pics below.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

After several years of vigilance, I added this duro 4499 3/8 ratchet to my duro indestro collection

 

[AntiqueBen]

Does anyone recognize the R & B Co. from Kansas City Missouri? Or it could be simply R.B. Co. This is on a large railroad ratchet. It's marked a No. 27, but I'm not sure what the other numbers are. Anyone familiar with any of this? Pics below.

Still trying to figure this one out. Anyone recognize this R&B Co 1" ratchet? I can't find anything online. Did the railroad use ratchets like this?

 

[z28lsc]

My Bog 202A 1/2" drive.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I need some help with this one guys. When I saw this, I had to get it. It's a 9 tooth 1" drive ratchet made by a R&B Co in what looks like Kansas City Missouri. This thing is an absolute beast weighing in at around 20lbs. The handle is 1 1/4" steel & is 28" long. The action & lever operation is smooth. It was filthy & covered in a layer of grime & rust. It surprisingly cleaned up good. I can't find anything online about R&B Co in Kansas City. I only seen vague references to a R&B Co in Google Books search, but no tool references. I'm guessing it was used on the railroad or bridges because of it's size. You can see how big it is compared to a 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4 in. drives. Anyone have any thoughts, ideas or what era this is from??

 

[AntiqueBen]

Woo-hoo! USPS finally delivered my Feb17 eBay purchase from bobm_z. After I get the internals cleaned up, I hope to have a working F.H.Ayer rat for my mixed box of extruded sockets.
As received, the nickel finish is good, but the internal rust had pretty much seized the mechanism. No wonder it was described only as a “special tool” in the item description.

Lugz brought to my attention your discussion here about the F.H. Ayer set. Oldtuleguy recently started a thread on F.H. Ayer. He & I have complete sets. I'm trying to do some research on Ayer, but old ads & historical info on Ayer is almost non-existent. I'd love to see pics of your set for comparison. Here is a link to the Ayer thread if you'd like to share any pics or info on your set or anything else you may know about this set.
Thread 'F.h. Ayer' https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/f-h-ayer.531830/

 

[My Junk is Stuff]

Just picked up this little 1/4” drive Trutest at lunch.

 

[My Junk is Stuff]

I actually picked up this little 3/8”s drive Proto last week same place with the Cresent Pliers. $4.95 each for the ratchets and $1 for the pliers. This guy keeps an awesome spread of old stuff on six tables in two booths. Word is this is the leftover stuff he can’t sell quick from estate sales. I’ve picked up a bunch of older aluminum housing corded drills for $4.95 each too . Love em!!

 

[AntiqueBen]

I lucked out today & found a Craftsman (Plomb) 1/2" ratchet for $20. I understand they only made these from 1944-48 & the ratchet only came in full socket sets. Since this was made during WWII it is plated with cadmium (which I heard is poisonous if you breathe the dust from it). This is so different from any other Craftsman ratchet & rightfully so since it was made by Plomb. It feels nice in the hand. I think it's one of the most attractive handles Craftsman ever had. This is the first one I've found in the wild around here (Cincinnati). I have a ton of Craftsman ratchets & this is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
Good 'ol American tools still made even during WWII.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I know this obviously isn't a ratchet but the seller called it a nut driver. I'm not sure it's a nut driver either. I suppose it is a brace since it has a rotating handle & what appears to be a chuck. I guess you could equip this with sockets. I've never seen this Craftsman tool before so I'm wandering its age. I would guess the 40's. I'm not finding anything online yet....I'm still researching. Anyone seen this tool or know anything about it?

 

[PghJKB]

Looks like a drill to me.

JKB

 

[Lesserstore]

I know this obviously isn't a ratchet but the seller called it a nut driver. I'm not sure it's a nut driver either. I suppose it is a brace since it has a rotating handle & what appears to be a chuck. I guess you could equip this with sockets. I've never seen this Craftsman tool before so I'm wandering its age. I would guess the 40's. I'm not finding anything online yet....I'm still researching. Anyone seen this tool or know anything about it?

Craftsman 4242 hand drill, sold between 1948-52.
From 1948 catalog:

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a 7/16 blackhawk ratchet from 1940. The handle can apparently be unscrewed and flipped to change the length

 

[four.cycle]

^ very cool. so you gotta "shortie" and a "longie" in one package!

 

[Beerhippie]

Here are a few from the Hippie shop:



T-B:

T&E SRC0250, NIBP
Craftsman -V- 44985
Indestro Super 3201
Indestro Super 2775
T&E SRC0150
Pair of SK 45170
New Britain MN 45
Craftsman -V- 43185
Oxwall--for when I want to see how the other half lives
Duro Refrigeration wrench

I'm sure there are more around somewhere....

 

[AntiqueBen]

Found a few good ones today.
1) Plumb 1/2" WF-38
2) Armstrong 1/2" No. SA50
3) Bonney 1/2" AA707H
4) Double male 1/2" extension

I particularly like like the Plumb. Plumb made the WF series ratchets under a government contract from 1942-45. That's why it has a cadmium finish due to the war effort.

The Armstrong I'm not sure about. I've seen a S50 & a SA51, but I've never seen a SA50. It has the original stud stamped S-150 & Armstrong made in USA.

I don't know much about Bonney ratchets. I only have a few. This one strikes me as odd because the lever is on the stud side & the other side of the head has an open concept exposing the snap ring. Also, the double male 1/2" extension is not marked. It's nice & heavy. I always pick these up when I see them cheap. I really like the Plumb ratchet. The mechanism is so smooth. I don't see these out in the wild much at all. Are these scarce ratchets?

 

[AntiqueBen]

I didn't realize the Plumb WF 1/2" ratchet has variants on how they're marked. The first 2 pics below are how my ratchet is marked. The 3d & 4th pics are of the same ratchet but marked different than mine. I also noticed that most of the ones I see online the lever is pointing down, but mine is pointing up. Not sure the purpose of the different markings. Just seems like more work on their end to produce the same ratchet with different style stampings.

 

[d42jeep]

According to Plomb they were cranking tools out of 31 factories during WW2. There are many wartime variations in Plomb tools. Some Wright Field Plomb tools are difficult to impossible to find but ratchets seem to be quite common.
-Don

 

[AntiqueBen]

According to Plomb they were cranking tools out of 31 factories during WW2. There are many wartime variations in Plomb tools. Some Wright Field Plomb tools are difficult to impossible to find but ratchets seem to be quite common.
-Don

Thanks Don. Cool ad. I also didn't realize that on some WF (wartime) ratchets the arrows flanking the Plvmb logo were pointing in opposite directions instead of them both pointing down like normal. I read about this on AA. Mine actually has the uncommon stamping of one pointing up & the other pointing down. Had you heard of this?

 

[AntiqueBen]

This is crazy, but I found another variation in the WF-38 ratchet. All the variations online have an oval head & face plates. Mine has a slightly larger head & my face plates are not oval. They are shaped with an indention half way down the face plate. It's the same on both sides. I only found one other ratchet online that has a head shaped like mine & it also has an inverted arrow on one side. Mine also does not have recessed screws in the face like the other version. So, it would appear that the ones with the inverted arrow have a different shaped head & face plates. It has me wandering now if there are different mechanisms inside? Pics below.

 

[d42jeep]

They are usually pretty similar on the inside but not exact. Most of mine are midgets but have many of the same variations as the larger ratchets.
-Don

 

[AntiqueBen]

They are usually pretty similar on the inside but not exact. Most of mine are midgets but have many of the same variations as the larger ratchets.
-Don

Nice examples Don! Looks like the face plate differences are across all sizes. I still find the inverted arrow interesting. AA says the WF wartime ratchets went until 1945. Do you find this to be accurate?

 

[d42jeep]

I think so. I never jumped onto the WF collecting train and so my experience is limited. I think that the occasional postwar Proto WF tool has been found so as is usual with tool collecting, there are no absolutes.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

To answer some of your questions, there are a few Plomb that are scarce and the wf-38 in general is common. Especially the small print. Only a few Plomb are truly scarce.

Also, the Bonney gear is backwards.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Also, note, if you haven't, @AntiqueBen, that we have an extensive Plomb (not Plumb, different mfgr) thread where all of these variations (racetrack vs oval vs figure 8 face plates, arrows/plombobs, etc) you're discovering have been discussed before, if you'd like to consult it for more information and examples. Search on faceplate, arrow, switch, etc, and you will find them. When you're in the A-Z Index in the Sticky to find the thread, you will see additional Plomb threads on even more esoteric Plomb topics, such as their Pebble period, the infamous lawsuit, etc. Plomb is one of a handful of very popular brands here on GJ. Enjoy!