The Ratchet Collection Thread

[PowderKeg]

That is good to hear! Unfortunately I ceased years ago to actively add to the collection. Family and work dictate I focus my time elsewhere. Still have what I had accumulated to that point in time though. Great to see so many members continue the "ratchet mania".

Twertsy has a fantastic collection, and some top notch posting on vintage ratchet history.

Been so long since I last posted...........my pic's are saved on an old computer in the closet.

In the coming days may re-run some from 5 years ago from another thread.

Good to see you're still around MH, been wondering what became of you as well! My focus and time spent varies considerably as well.

Powderkeg is up there I think he posted he was around the 800 mark.

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If I were to count every single ratchet around here disregarding size, COO, condition, and duplicates, I'm reasonably sure the total would fall north of 800. However, for a ratchet to join the official obess..., er, "collection" and be added to the list, it must meet several more stringent requirements, generally including at a minimum:
- somehow unique and not an exact duplicate of another listed one
- stamped COO of "USA"
- has been stripped down, cleaned, lubed, and reassembled in working order

There a few more, and there are always a few select exceptions to the rules. Don't want to go into more detail as I've had a post mostly written for quite awhile (with stats too!), but the Sequential Vortex repeatedly rears its ugly head and interferes with completing reassembly, storage, photos, etc.

That said, the official count currently stands at 683, with at least 20 more sitting around in various stages waiting to be added, so I'll go out on a limb and say that "officially" breaking the 700 mark is imminent. I just need to get off my @ss and do it.

 

[r_olson_06]

Good to see you're still around MH, been wondering what became of you as well! My focus and time spent varies considerably as well.



If I were to count every single ratchet around here disregarding size, COO, condition, and duplicates, I'm reasonably sure the total would fall north of 800. However, for a ratchet to join the official obess..., er, "collection" and be added to the list, it must meet several more stringent requirements, generally including at a minimum:
- somehow unique and not an exact duplicate of another listed one
- stamped COO of "USA"
- has been stripped down, cleaned, lubed, and reassembled in working order

There a few more, and there are always a few select exceptions to the rules. Don't want to go into more detail as I've had a post mostly written for quite awhile (with stats too!), but the Sequential Vortex repeatedly rears its ugly head and interferes with completing reassembly, storage, photos, etc.

That said, the official count currently stands at 683, with at least 20 more sitting around in various stages waiting to be added, so I'll go out on a limb and say that "officially" breaking the 700 mark is imminent. I just need to get off my @ss and do it.

Does that count different stamping of the same ratchet such as containing a patent number or not similar to all the variant stamping of the Craftsman RHFT where some are continuing patent numbers some don't. The shape of the A ect?

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[PowderKeg]

Does that count different stamping of the same ratchet such as containing a patent number or not similar to all the variant stamping of the Craftsman RHFT where some are continuing patent numbers some don't. The shape of the A ect?

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Mostly no, I've tried to avoid the "pointy A" vs "flat-top A", font/size changes, script vs block, patent # or no patent #, etc. Different brand names (and the evolution of brand names for effectively the same brand - read that as <SK>vs S-K vs SK Tools vs SK Wayne) on otherwise identical ratchets are absolutely counted though - that's been the primary driver of the whole obsess... er, collection. Obvious changes in reverse switch or handle shape are included as well, while I haven't considered minor internal design changes of individual parts of a gut set.

 

[BrettJ74]

Not sure if this counts yet but while talking to a older gentleman at a garage sale about how he broke this SK 3/4" ratchet, he tells me if I think I can fix it I can have it for free... I think I could probably invest in a repair kit [emoji57]

 

[Rileysan]

Nice find on that ratchet. I believe you can still get rebuild kits from S-K for it. Then you'll have a new ratchet! If you don't want to mess with it, I take it off you hands

Speaking of ratchets, has anyone here every seen an Indestro 3270 flex-head 1/2" drive ratchet? I got it at the swap meet this past weekend for $15. It was more than I am accustomed to paying for a ratchet, but this one was so unusual, I had to have it.

Brian

 

[Username already in use]

I just can't leave a good ratchet behind and so, a few more have followed me home.
3/8" drive are Fleet, American Forge, and Action

1/2" drive are Proto L.A., Bonney, and Dayton

 

[RagTopTA]

I found this OTC Female 3/8 drv swivel ratchet for a dollar at the flea market! works great! Really diggin this one.. cant seem to find any others on flea bay... Any of you guys have one of these? I'm wondering if they made them in 1/2 and 1/4 drvs.... if so... you know I must start the search... Also a Pressed Made in the USA marked Hex drive, and a 3/8 Thorsen...

 

[twertsy]

I found this OTC Female 3/8 drv swivel ratchet for a dollar at the flea market! works great! Really diggin this one.. cant seem to find any others on flea bay... Any of you guys have one of these? I'm wondering if they made them in 1/2 and 1/4 drvs.... if so... you know I must start the search... Also a Pressed Made in the USA marked Hex drive, and a 3/8 Thorsen...

Really like that OTC!

 

[r_olson_06]

I found this OTC Female 3/8 drv swivel ratchet for a dollar at the flea market! works great! Really diggin this one.. cant seem to find any others on flea bay... Any of you guys have one of these? I'm wondering if they made them in 1/2 and 1/4 drvs.... if so... you know I must start the search... Also a Pressed Made in the USA marked Hex drive, and a 3/8 Thorsen...

Nice roto. I am still looking for that one but have the 1/2 version. They sell for about $20-$30 on ebay.

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[Sam'sAutoParts]

I just can't leave a good ratchet behind and so, a few more have followed me home.

3/8" drive are Fleet, American Forge, and Action

1/2" drive are Proto L.A., Bonney, and Dayton

Nice find on the quick release NB made American Forge. Didn't know there was a American Forge QR, only have seen the QRs in New Britain and Husky.

 

[Username already in use]

I found this OTC Female 3/8 drv swivel ratchet for a dollar at the flea market! works great! Really diggin this one.. cant seem to find any others on flea bay... Any of you guys have one of these? I'm wondering if they made them in 1/2 and 1/4 drvs.... if so... you know I must start the search...

I posted a 1/2" OTC roto back on post #29 of this thread HERE along with the rest of the OTC 1/2" set I found at the flea. They're out there. I'm not sure about 1/4" drive though...but I don't think they made one.

Nice find on the quick release NB made American Forge. Didn't know there was a American Forge QR, only have seen the QRs in New Britain and Husky.

Thanks Sam. I know you've got an eye for that NB stuff.

 

[RagTopTA]

thanks yall, I really like it, its very solid! Quickly becoming one of my fav ratchets..... that 1/2 set is awesome! I have been looking around at OTC tools, I have found a pair of 10" pliers and a 8" adjustable wrench, and a older 1/2 breaker so far other than this ratchet!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm not sure about 1/4" drive though...but I don't think they made one.

They didn't make any 1/4-inch drive tools. Not through 1947, anyway.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...and a older 1/2 breaker so far

Is it short with a round handle with lengthwise grip grooves, a square shank, and feel like you could fight your way out of a bar fight with it? If so, it's the wartime breaker.

BTW, your H-260 takes a "push type" male drive plug (H-262). Any plug might work, though.

 

[RagTopTA]

Is it short with a round handle with lengthwise grip grooves, a square shank, and feel like you could fight your way out of a bar fight with it? If so, it's the wartime breaker.

BTW, your H-260 takes a "push type" male drive plug (H-262). Any plug might work, though.

thats the one!! Looks like a Club! Ill post a pic of it tonight! I actually found a 3" male plug by Walden last week that works great, but I want to fond the OTC one now! And some sockets and
and and and.....

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a few vintage ratchets I've picked up recently. The first is an unmarked S-K manufactured 1/4" drive "beaver tail" ratchet. The others are 1/4" and 3/8" drive Snap-on ratchets, both from 1944. All of them are in surprisingly good condition.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

The first is an unmarked S-K manufactured 1/4" drive "beaver tail" ratchet.

Really like that 1/4" beaver tail! Oh, and the SO ratchets aren't too shabby either.

Here's a wartime 1/2" drive P&C 6211 ratchet

 

[ssdave]

Nice find on that ratchet. I believe you can still get rebuild kits from S-K for it. Then you'll have a new ratchet! If you don't want to mess with it, I take it off you hands

Speaking of ratchets, has anyone here every seen an Indestro 3270 flex-head 1/2" drive ratchet? I got it at the swap meet this past weekend for $15. It was more than I am accustomed to paying for a ratchet, but this one was so unusual, I had to have it.

Brian

Brian,

That 3270 is my favorite 1/2" ratchet, and I don't think you can get a better one. It's design is a good mix of strength, usability and overall just a good weight/balance. I use it in preference to any other when I need a big ratchet. I will occasionally use an SK or Proto when I need a longer handle/more leverage. I really like the indexed head. I much prefer that to an infinitely flexible one. I like the positive detents.

 

[r_olson_06]

Here are a few vintage ratchets I've picked up recently. The first is an unmarked S-K manufactured 1/4" drive "beaver tail" ratchet. The others are 1/4" and 3/8" drive Snap-on ratchets, both from 1944. All of them are in surprisingly good condition.
-Don

Nice find on the chrome alloy. Still have found no varations​ of the beaver tail in 1/4 drive but still looking.

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[Jp267]

These are ratchets I inherited from my Grandfather. Have a box with 20 or so more various brands. I'll have to dig them out.

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Probably nothing too special. I'll always treasure them and use them however. When I dig up the other box I'll post those as well.

 

[twertsy]

These are ratchets I inherited from my Grandfather. Have a box with 20 or so more various brands. I'll have to dig them out.


Probably nothing too special. I'll always treasure them and use them however. When I dig up the other box I'll post those as well.

I believe that Craftsman example is pretty special. You don't see a lot of those.

 

[Jp267]

I believe that Craftsman example is pretty special. You don't see a lot of those.

Cool thanks! He really liked Penens tools for some reason. Probably because they were made in Chicago where he lived. Same with Indestro. I think the Indestro ratchets are sitting in the box I mentioned. My favorite is the Williams S53 1/2 inch. That ratchet has gotten me out of so many jams. It's so long it has a ton of leverage.

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[d42jeep]

It's great that you have and are using your grandfathers ratchets. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of them. Here are three that I got from eBay yesterday. The 3/8" drive Thorsen has a socket lock similar to Craftsman ratchets and I needed the open gear 1/4" drive to complete a set. The 1/4" Plomb is from 1943 according to the wartime dating codes.
-Don

 

[Jp267]

It's great that you have and are using your grandfathers ratchets. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of them. Here are three that I got from eBay yesterday. The 3/8" drive Thorsen has a socket lock similar to Craftsman ratchets and I needed the open gear 1/4" drive to complete a set. The 1/4" Plomb is from 1943 according to the wartime dating codes.
-Don

Neat Don! Thanks for sharing. I know I have a 1/4 drive Plomb around, a half inch speed bar, and two Plomb 1/2 drive breaker bars. I'll look for that box over the weekend!

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[d42jeep]

I picked up a familiar looking ratchet at a Tahoe estate sale today. It had owners markings but was otherwise pretty nice.
-Don

 

[Ratchet.]

I haven't got as big or impressive a collection as many on here, but i'm working on that,

Sadly I'm hampered slightly by my geographic location, as don't find as many of the nice old US made ratchets over here without importing them myself, though on the flip side i find stuff that isn't seen in the US too often.. will get some pics up of what i have got soon, but for now here are a couple of more unusual British made ratchets that may be of interest.

Sadly data on many of the old UK tool manufacturers is often hard to find, but from what i can ascertain these are 1950s vintage or thereabouts..

View media item 74048
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First one is a 3/8 drive Tipco W44 mk111 ratchet, whats particularly interesting about this one is that its completely made of aluminum (seems this was common in this era as a few other makes also made aluminum ratchets, including King ****) the fact its 3/8 is quite unusual too as most British socket sets from before the 80s tend to be 1/2 drive.

Other then that its a extremely nicely made ratchet, made to very precise tolerances, virtually no 'slop' in the mechanism, which all works with a very satisfying 'click' , even the selector lever is made of tiny separately machined parts, presumably this was not a cheap ratchet in its day.

Second one is kind of the polar opposite of the last, at least in finish, this one is Swinborne 9/32 square drive ratchet, not seen another one like this, and it has no model number on it.

Swinborne is another company i can find very little info on, though their nicely made 1/2 drive tools turn up very often, seems there was a connection with 'Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Company' which was based in Fraserburgh Scotland (i have a old air drill made by them.. but that's for another thread).. which appears to have been/become part of Chicago Pneumatic Tools.

This is a crudely finished tool, casting is rough and finish grinding is... functional to say the least, this size of drive seems to have been popular with the British MOD, so may have been made for a military contract.. no broad arrow on this one though.

One interesting thing is the open 'oil hole' in the head, very much like the Snap-On midget m-70 ratchet


Next bunch of photos will be more on topic with my Plomb, Snap On and other American made ratchets.

 

[r_olson_06]

I haven't got as big or impressive a collection as many on here, but i'm working on that,

Sadly I'm hampered slightly by my geographic location, as don't find as many of the nice old US made ratchets over here without importing them myself, though on the flip side i find stuff that isn't seen in the US too often.. will get some pics up of what i have got soon, but for now here are a couple of more unusual British made ratchets that may be of interest.

Sadly data on many of the old UK tool manufacturers is often hard to find, but from what i can ascertain these are 1950s vintage or thereabouts..

View media item 74048
View media item 74049
View media item 74050

First one is a 3/8 drive Tipco W44 mk111 ratchet, whats particularly interesting about this one is that its completely made of aluminum (seems this was common in this era as a few other makes also made aluminum ratchets, including King ****) the fact its 3/8 is quite unusual too as most British socket sets from before the 80s tend to be 1/2 drive.

Other then that its a extremely nicely made ratchet, made to very precise tolerances, virtually no 'slop' in the mechanism, which all works with a very satisfying 'click' , even the selector lever is made of tiny separately machined parts, presumably this was not a cheap ratchet in its day.

Second one is kind of the polar opposite of the last, at least in finish, this one is Swinborne 9/32 square drive ratchet, not seen another one like this, and it has no model number on it.

Swinborne is another company i can find very little info on, though their nicely made 1/2 drive tools turn up very often, seems there was a connection with 'Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Company' which was based in Fraserburgh Scotland (i have a old air drill made by them.. but that's for another thread).. which appears to have been/become part of Chicago Pneumatic Tools.

This is a crudely finished tool, casting is rough and finish grinding is... functional to say the least, this size of drive seems to have been popular with the British MOD, so may have been made for a military contract.. no broad arrow on this one though.

One interesting thing is the open oil hole in the head, very much like the Snap-On midget m-70 ratchet


Next bunch of photos will be more on topic with my Plomb, Snap On and other American made ratchets.

Welcome. I have been trying to get my hands on a king **** ratchet for a while. Wait that came out wrong.[emoji3]

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[r_olson_06]

Picked up a new one to me. Appears to be bonney made any insight? Vi Chrome. Sorry for all the others in the pictures need to clean up and put away some items.

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[Username already in use]

That looks just like the Dayton example that I posted on the previous page, post #406.

 

[r_olson_06]

Ahh you are correct. I think I have that one buried somewhere.

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[3baygarage]

Nice find on the Vi Chrome. I don't know much about it other than Bonney made that brand. They came in the older style round heads too.

Ratchet - nice Britsh examples. Can hardly find any British tools here. I would love to find some more examples myself, but shipping charges usually deter me.

 

[3baygarage]

That looks just like the Dayton example that I posted on the previous page, post #406.

That style came in Bonney, Bon-E-Con,Dayton, Vi-Chrome, and Herbrand, that I can think of.

Your Dayton, is that double stamped?

 

[r_olson_06]

That style came in Bonney, Bon-E-Con,Dayton, Vi-Chrome, and Herbrand, that I can think of.

Your Dayton, is that double stamped?

So I am not crazy on the bonney design. I was starting to worry.

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[Username already in use]

Your Dayton, is that double stamped?

Good eyes. Yes, it is.

Here's my additions for the week.
1/2" Williams S-52
3/8" Walden Worcester (wartime)
1/4" SnapOn long handle. Not vintage at 2001, but for $20.... I couldn't leave it behind.

 

[d42jeep]

That is an unusual Walden 3/8" drive ratchet. I don't recall seeing one of those before. I found a perfect socket to go with it yesterday if you'd like to have it.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

That is an unusual Walden 3/8" drive ratchet. I don't recall seeing one of those before. I found a perfect socket to go with it yesterday if you'd like to have it.
-Don

Thanks Don! I don't think I would ever be able to complete the set, but it would be neat to have.

 

[Ratchet.]

Ratchet - nice Britsh examples. Can hardly find any British tools here. I would love to find some more examples myself, but shipping charges usually deter me.

Thanks, interestingly i don't have all that many British made ones myself, probably as I've concentrated on picking up 3/8 drive ratchets in the past which are rarer, 1/2 drive ones are far more common.

I can keep an eye out for some if you want, as they aren't too hard or expensive to find here, would have to work out low cost shipping somehow still though (probably not so bad currently with the exchange rate)

 

[Ratchet.]

All the Plomb/Proto Ratchet i have at the moment, excluding the 1" drive proto pebble i have as i need to track down face plate screws for it and finish restoring it (anyone know what thread size they are, really coarse thread on them)


View media item 74183
Plomb 4751, 4749, wf-21 and a later 'smooth' pebble 5249

These four stay in my work box, and apart from the 4751 (bit too rare to risk breaking) see semi regular use, I love how smooth the action of them is, just something nice about them all, i tend to use my modern snap on ratchets for rough/regular work as don't want to break anything I'm too worried about, or cant get parts for but i do use all my vintage ratchets on occasion





View media item 74182
5 new old stock WF-21's, I have a bunch more of these too.. (if anyone has anything interesting to trade/swap dm me)

these have never been used, or taken apart, note that one has been assembled the 'wrong way' from new.

Also interesting to see the differences from these and the other wf-21 i have, clearly they were made using different forging dies, note the up down arrows, and lack of the blank hole in the handle, the USA stamp is different too, oh and these are cadmium plated, where my user wf-21 is bare steel.


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[3baygarage]

Nice collection. Those are clean looking. That one is interesting with a hang hole almost punched out.

 

[3baygarage]

These are not super old but may fit in with those Plomb.

1/2" Asahi Tools ASH VR 4251 ( made in Japan) - looks like a little bit older knockoff of the Proto style head, which is pretty common these days.

1/2" Fleet 1663-A This one is kinda neat. I couldn't find any reference to it. Not sure if it's from the **** end of Fleet's existence. It follows the Penens head pattern but the cool thing to me was the different style handle than all the Penens and their rebrands out there. I'm sorry, I have a slew of Penens and such ratchets, but not with me to do a side by side comparison. Twertsy does have a number of them in earlier pages.
Some other interesting things about it are a three piece face plate design, one piece pawl (possibly stamped metal), brass lever, and L T (for loosen tighten). I think I've also seen the 3/8 version with this handle IIRC.