The Ratchet Collection Thread

[twertsy]

Yours is definitely SK, OTG. Dave, I wan't to think Mac made those but not sure what would prove the maker. I don't know of a patent.

The patent is Rueb for the internals, S-K made.

 

[Productbob]

Hi, new to this thread. Usually over on the vise related topics-searching garage sales this morning for vises and came home with this Lowell No. 41 which was sitting in a bucket marked big tools. It's dirty but looks to be in excellent shape. Pics aren't the best but that's due to the guy taking them

 

[d42jeep]

I found some interesting ratchets at an estate sale this morning. The first is an early Craftsman C-97 with plug in quite good condition. The second is a Duro Chrome refrigeration ratchet without a plug and the last is a Chrome X Quality dual 1/4” and 3/8” drive.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

I found some interesting ratchets at an estate sale this morning. The first is an early Craftsman C-97 with plug in quite good condition. The second is a Duro Chrome refrigeration ratchet without a plug and the last is a Chrome X Quality dual 1/4” and 3/8” drive.
-Don

You hit paydirt on that one. That bottom one is definitely a bog made ratchet. Can't remember who Chrome X was apart of. I have never seen one in person.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That chrome x definately looks a little boggy

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You hit paydirt on that one. That bottom one is definitely a bog made ratchet. Can't remember who Chrome X was apart of.

Western Auto brand.

Chrome X was Duro

ChromeXQuality was a Western Auto Supply brand with multiple OEM's, predominantly Duro, but also Herbrand, Vlchek and others. The interesting thing about Don's ratchet is that Bog was an early Western Auto supplier and I don't think anyone has noted them making ChromeX before.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice finds Don. Two tough ones to find.

Here’s a half incher I’d posted along with the dual drive in the Plomb thread recently. Bog made a Hinsdale version as well. Not sure what else.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7787348&postcount=6038

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. I guess that there aren’t many of the dual drive size versions out there. I must have seen that when you posted it but it didn’t stick with me. It’ll go into my box of oddball keepers.
The Craftsman C-97 cleaned up pretty well. When I checked sold listings on eBay I was surprised at how much they go for.
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Thanks. I guess that there aren’t many of the dual drive size versions out there. I must have seen that when you posted it but it didn’t stick with me. It’ll go into my box of oddball keepers.
The Craftsman C-97 cleaned up pretty well. When I checked sold listings on eBay I was surprised at how much they go for.
-Don

That did turn out nice!

 

[Rileysan]

The next version of Husky ratchet is based on the Fors patent, and they date from 1946 to around 1960. We believe the bottom ratchet is the earliest as it represents the patent drawing exactly. The top 3 are a slight variation in how the selector recess is cut away.

From top to bottom:

- 3/8" drive Model 3345 - 50s
- 1/2" drive Model 8480 (x2) - 50s
- 1/2" drive Model CS-41 - 1946 - early '50s

I came across something VERY interesting on eBay Friday while doing some research (it had already sold for $100 BIN). It appears to be a Fors Husky ratchet stamped "Craftsman" and with a circle-H logo.

This is the first one I've ever seen. Did I miss the page where Sears sold this one or is everyone equally as intrigued as I am? Twertsy? Dr. Doom? What say you?!?

 

[r_olson_06]

I cam across something VERY interesting on eBay Friday while doing some research (it had already sold for $100 BIN). It appears to be a Fors Husky ratchet stamped "Craftsman" and with a circle-H logo.

This is the first one I've ever seen. Did I miss the page where Sears sold this one or is everyone equally as intrigued as I am? Twertsy? Dr. Doom? What say you?!?

Dr. Doom was looking for one of them.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I came across something VERY interesting on eBay Friday while doing some research (it had already sold for $100 BIN). It appears to be a Fors Husky ratchet stamped "Craftsman" and with a circle-H logo.

This is the first one I've ever seen. Did I miss the page where Sears sold this one or is everyone equally as intrigued as I am? Twertsy? Dr. Doom? What say you?!?

First one I have seen. Picked up this wards version a while back.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Brian,
We had a brief discussion on that ratchet somewhere during your hiatus. The speculation was some brief and very rare overlap between the end of the NB supplier era and the beginning of the MDF supplier era, when NB switched to the Fors from the Costello ratchets. I forget the thread. Maybe Long C. I also forget who had one. Ironically, he is not a fan of the design. I myself like the Fors pattern.

 

[Rileysan]

Here's another new (to me) item.

Craftsman 1/2" drive "Digitork" torque wrench.

I didn't realize these came with the RHFT head until I found this one! I picked it up at the Portland swap meet last month for $20.

The last two photos are snippets from the 1980 Craftsman catalog.

Brian

 

[Craftsman C-series]

Rileysan: I purchased the circle H ratchet to add to the collection. It will be paired with a C-98 and Craftsman Vanadium ratchet. I’ll post pics.

 

[d42jeep]

I finally had the opportunity to get my trio of beaver tails together at the same place, same time.
-Don

 

[Gear Wolf]

Rileysan: I purchased the circle H ratchet to add to the collection. It will be paired with a C-98 and Craftsman Vanadium ratchet. IÂ’ll post pics.

Thank God someone here wound up with that thing! When the time is right, would you loan me that tool? I am talking 2-4 days tops.

When I did the original Craftsman ratchet series, a few folks loaned me pieces via "inter-toolbox loan" kind of like at the library from here on Garage Journal. Since that point, I've been able to acquire pretty much everything or at least have the few pieces missing on standby for filming from people literally across the country.

This has been a wild ride, and, like I have been saying for years, it couldn't happen without very real help. I am hoping that this charity will allow for the completion of the story. I have known the complete story of these ratchets for a few years, and it wasn't always easy to find now that primary or even secondary sources have been lost to time.

The original series I made is incomplete both in terms of ratchets and information. This time around, we are going to be riding the razor's edge.

Unbeknownst to me, MrCraftsmanTools was starting to work on a similar project years ago. Unfortunately, for personal reasons, he liquidated his collection and quite literally passed the baton to me. Through my own work, his, and the direct assistance of enthusiasts, we are 4th and inches from finishing this puppy. Unfortunately, for my own personal reasons, I literally must be done with this within 2 years maximum. With that said, this bird has to fly or it isn't going to at all.

I believe people will find this go around to be informative and entertaining.

 

[Gear Wolf]

By the way, this is Dr. Doom! ^_^

Kind of like how the musician Prince went from being Prince to some kind of symbol back to Prince, I asked the admin to change my name to be in alignment with the YouTube channel. Whenever people would find me on either platform, it caused a bit of confusion.

 

[Gear Wolf]

Thanks. I guess that there aren’t many of the dual drive size versions out there. I must have seen that when you posted it but it didn’t stick with me. It’ll go into my box of oddball keepers.
The Craftsman C-97 cleaned up pretty well. When I checked sold listings on eBay I was surprised at how much they go for.
-Don

Yours is nearly pristine. $200 to $300 all day long for that one.

 

[Gear Wolf]

I came across something VERY interesting on eBay Friday while doing some research (it had already sold for $100 BIN). It appears to be a Fors Husky ratchet stamped "Craftsman" and with a circle-H logo.

This is the first one I've ever seen. Did I miss the page where Sears sold this one or is everyone equally as intrigued as I am? Twertsy? Dr. Doom? What say you?!?

Yep, I have the dirt on that one. You'll have to convince someone with one to loan it to me to get the story, so I can make finally make the video!

 

[Gear Wolf]

Here's another new (to me) item.

Craftsman 1/2" drive "Digitork" torque wrench.

I didn't realize these came with the RHFT head until I found this one! I picked it up at the Portland swap meet last month for $20.

The last two photos are snippets from the 1980 Craftsman catalog.

Brian

There is a 3/8" variant of that RHFT Digitork too! The RHFT variants only lasted from 1978 through 1981.

Afterward, the Digitork was offered with a foreign sourced ratchet head and body was made/assembled by a company here in the states. This was the beginning of the era where some US manufacturers would play fast and loose with FTC rules on what "Made in the USA" specifically meant.

It wasn't a good time for Craftsman, Sears, or American manufacturing.

 

[Craftsman C-series]

Gear Wolf: I will let you borrow the ratchet so you can make the video. I’ve enjoyed the CRHP and look forward to seeing the grand finale.

 

[Gear Wolf]

Thanks Ken. I wont let you down!

 

[Rileysan]

There is a 3/8" variant of that RHFT Digitork too! The RHFT variants only lasted from 1978 through 1981.

Afterward, the Digitork was offered with a foreign sourced ratchet head and body was made/assembled by a company here in the states. This was the beginning of the era where some US manufacturers would play fast and loose with FTC rules on what "Made in the USA" specifically meant.

It wasn't a good time for Craftsman, Sears, or American manufacturing.

My luck works like this: Now that I'm aware of its existence, I almost certainly won't find one!

But seriously, I almost didn't look at this one. The case was closed and I didn't want or need another torque wrench. I was about to walk away from the table when I saw the 70s/80s Craftsman emblem and decided to open the case. I'm sure glad I did!

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Speaking of RHFT ratchets, I picked up a pair of EASCO 721413 3/8" drive flex head ratchets at the Portland Swap Meet last month. One has since been sold.

Gear Wolf - Can I assume both ratchets have been updated with the quick-release mechanism? If I understood your video series correctly, the quick release mechanisms were unique to Craftsman?

Brian

 

[Gear Wolf]

Speaking of RHFT ratchets, I picked up a pair of EASCO 721413 3/8" drive flex head ratchets at the Portland Swap Meet last month. One has since been sold.

Gear Wolf - Can I assume both ratchets have been updated with the quick-release mechanism? If I understood your video series correctly, the quick release mechanisms were unique to Craftsman?

Brian

Howdy,

You are correct, the RHFT QR was and Craftsman exclusive for a good long while. I would have to check my notes again, but I did directly speak with Peter Roberts and his associates on the phone this last February about the QR aspect.

If memory serves me, part of the settlement meant Sears lost direct control over the patent, which meant that he could market it to other manufacturers. I believe Easco did eventually have QR on their RHFT as OEM in the very late 1980s and early 1990s, before being absorbed into the Apex Tool Group.

The short answer: it depends. ^_^

 

[jpickar]

Speaking of RHFT ratchets, I picked up a pair of EASCO 721413 3/8" drive flex head ratchets at the Portland Swap Meet last month. One has since been sold.

Gear Wolf - Can I assume both ratchets have been updated with the quick-release mechanism? If I understood your video series correctly, the quick release mechanisms were unique to Craftsman?

Brian

I have seen lots of Easco RHFT ratchets with the quick release design and even a few NAPA RHFT with the quick release design. I know the NAPAs came that way as I have a friend who has a 1/4-3/8-1/2 set that he bought new that came with the quick release design.

 

[jpickar]

Howdy,

You are correct, the RHFT QR was and Craftsman exclusive for a good long while. I would have to check my notes again, but I did directly speak with Peter Roberts and his associates on the phone this last February about the QR aspect.

If memory serves me, part of the settlement meant Sears lost direct control over the patent, which meant that he could market it to other manufacturers. I believe Easco did eventually have QR on their RHFT as OEM in the very late 1980s and early 1990s, before being absorbed into the Apex Tool Group.

The short answer: it depends. ^_^

Well you answered my question. Thanks.

 

[Gear Wolf]

No problem. After reading ALL of the litigation briefs related to the QR patent, Sears, and its inventor, it was nice to get the inside baseball that I couldnt find in the press, books, or magazines.

 

[Leonoro]

PM
Thank you

 

[Rileysan]

I finally had the opportunity to get my trio of beaver tails together at the same place, same time.
-Don

I see your post got lost in all the Craftsman excitement! Great set of ratchets! I'm only missing the 1/4" beaver tail from my collection.

Brian

 

[Thru-hika]

Interesting short read about the lawsuit Gear Wolf mentions involving Peter Roberts and Sears regarding the Craftsman ratchet quick release mechanism.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...419ca9b/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8bf1da4a0701

 

[Gear Wolf]

Yeah, the poor guy was really raked through the coals for decades. I ended up forwarding the briefs to a friend of mine who is a lawyer. His response, "Pretty scummy to do that to a young guy..."

At the end of the day, either side didn't handle the initial transaction appropriately, but it was Sears that really went out of their way to bamboozle what was then an 18 kid in the long haul. Considering the legal expenses and the time invested versus the profits Sears made on the patent, what was paid was paltry.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Large companies trying to take advantage of inventors is unfortunately not uncommon.

 

[Rileysan]

There is a 3/8" variant of that RHFT Digitork too! The RHFT variants only lasted from 1978 through 1981.

Afterward, the Digitork was offered with a foreign sourced ratchet head and body was made/assembled by a company here in the states. This was the beginning of the era where some US manufacturers would play fast and loose with FTC rules on what "Made in the USA" specifically meant.

It wasn't a good time for Craftsman, Sears, or American manufacturing.

Never let it be said you aren't influential.

Craftsman 3/8" drive RHFT Digitork sourced from eBay. It was the only one I could find and was (surprisingly) reasonably priced at $50 shipped.

Since we're on the subject of RHFT ratchets - Did Easco brand their own 1/4" and 1/2" flex head ratchets?

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

I came across this by accident. I had just purchased an item on eBay and decided to look at the seller's other items. Lo and behold, here's an SK beaver tail ratchet with the Mac tools name on it (yes, I purchased it).

AA doesn't mention anything about SK making tools for Mac. Can anyone shed any light on it?

Brian

 

[Private Lugnutz]

AA doesn't mention anything about SK making tools for Mac. Can anyone shed any light on it?

The SK-supplied beavertails, 1/2- and 3/8-inch drive (X3R) only, first show up in the 1951 catalog, Brian. Prior to that (1946 and 1947 catalogs), they were the in-house 1944 pear-head Pugh patent (2,430,480) style. TRUTH supplied the 3/4-inch drive stuff. The 1952 catalog also has the SK-supplied beavertails. I don't know how long that run lasted.

 

[Zrxrunner]

Gear wolf, rileysan... any input on the variations I have on the 43784 ratchets. Other than the obvious engraving details and the earlier one having the patent pending on it. I think the 2 have had rebuilds that have the black rings surrounding the drive gear. What I'm really curious about is the different letter engravings between the circlip gear retaining tabs. Any idea what these mean?

 

[davethorik]

Just got this.
Armstrong FA50
3/8 non-reversible ratchet with push thru plug

Plug stamped "ARMALOY"
"ARMSTRONG MADE IN USA"
"F-150"

Like new condition
24 tooth

Edit: on closer inspection, it appears this was a factory error tool, hence the milled flat. You can still see the remains of a 0 that was stamped originally, to the right of the 50. It was obliterated for some reason.

 

[r_olson_06]

I have been shifting focus from ratchets to Plombs but couldn't pass up these. All of these are new to my collection.
Top
BOG hex drive
Proto professional with SK looking selector
Plomb pebble
Dayton made by Thorsen
Tru-Test
Speedmasterade by Wright
Billings vitalloy.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061