The Ratchet Collection Thread

[Private Lugnutz]

It wasn’t so very long ago we were discussing this. Post167 on the wood handled screwdriver thread.

Thanks, LS! So we've got a PH machinists' screwdriver and a ratchet frame. Whatever "S" Drop Forgings stands for, that's a very diverse range in castings in my opinion.

 

[Ed in Virginia]

WOW!!! What an amazing collection of ratchets!!! It's awesome!

Here's a Syracuse Wrench Company ratchet from around 1920 timeframe. Syracuse competed with Walden Worcester and a few others in producing ratchets.

 

[d42jeep]

I don’t know anything about this odd creation except that it’s 1/4” drive and I’ve never seen one before. The handle holds sockets and the drive part comes off the handle and becomes a fingertip ratchet.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The infamous pocket socket

 

[small]

RHFT Craftsman ½” Raised panel differences.
I’m not an active member here, but lurk from time to time. Do a bit of reading and such. My story is very similar to others, I dig tools. My first good tools were Craftsman, and rather than going to the toy stores in the mall growing up, I went to the tool isles at Sears.

My first ratchet was my fathers and it happened to be the ½” RHFT. He didn’t use it or many of his tools very much. Growing up I remember him changing oil in the cars once…

I used a cheater pipe on it one day, while trying to use a bolt extractor on some exhaust manifold bolts. The guy I was with said we’ll just take it back to Sears, and they will fix it free. I of course figured they would toss us out for abusing the tool. Instead, they took it in back and brought it back out with new guts…NO questions asked. Ahh those were the days.

I have not abused it since but it has served me well. I even got my first mechanic job at Sears while going to the Jr College for Automotive classes. Over the years I have picked up many, many, more ratchets. Not to collect necessarily, but to use. I figured; “it would be good to have a spare”, “this is for tight spots”, “this feels better”, etc etc. I guess all the lies I told myself to just buy another ratchet. Added a new one to the toolbox the other day. My neighbor asked, if I now had as many ratchets a screw drivers? I said maybe. My fist wife was there, and he asked, how many do you have? I said here at home, or in the tools box at work, trunk, and second home? If I were to add them up I bet it's less than 50...

Like many here as well, I like the RHFT, and I knew they quit making them and the kits to rebuild them years ago. When I’d see one, somewhere, I’d buy it or not depending on the raised panel markings…

I have just added yet another variation to the mix. I’m up to six different variations on the stampings, and my question is; how many are there?

I have searched the site for a while and read many pages of threads including Craftsman in this section of the forum. It led me to Gear Wolfs Youtubes, but have not seen a comment on these markings.
As of now, my “collection” has been ½” drive. But I also have a 3/8” (or two, as well as the Easco version) as well as ¼”, My first from my dad and the others get used in rotation.... I think once I’m done with the ½” verities I will then work on the 3/8” and ¼” to build a complementary set of each...say 6 or 7 of each set of markings would only be about 20 ratchets!!!!

So any idea how many different handle markings there are on the Roundhead Fine Tooth Craftsman Ratchets?

 

[Jim C.]

Small,

Maybe this will help you find out more about your ratchets. It covers the basic Craftsman Teardrop ratchets in depth. It will help you identify your ratchets and the time frame during which they were manufactured.

Craftsman Teardrop Ratchet (1956-1993) Type Study ©

Craftsman Teardrop Ratchet (1956-1993) Type Study ©

papawswrench.com

There‘s also a RHFT type study that’s right on point. I’ll try to find it for you.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

Here’s the RHFT type study. You won’t need anything more than this to identify your ratchets.

Jim C.

CRAFTSMAN RHFT RATCHET TYPE STUDY 1968-2009

CRAFTSMAN RHFT RATCHET TYPE STUDY 1968-2009

papawswrench.com

 

[small]

This link is spot on and just from a quick glance I may have a way to go, since I have 6 and there seems to be ten. A bit of searching before hand also mentioned the quick release vs non, so I'll be interested to see if both were offered in each type...It's been a neat hobby so far, nothing too serious, just fun when I see one and say "Oh I think that's different" and sure enough it was and got added...I'm sure it will be listed or figure it will be but production numbers? Which type is less common which is more common. Might just need to assume from dates of production on that matter.

 

[Jim C.]

Hey Small,

I‘m glad to know that you found what you were looking for and the type studies assisted you. That was the point of creating the studies. As far rarity goes, and speaking only about the Teardrop ratchets, there were certain ratchets that were in fact more difficult to collect than others. This is based solely on my observations. The Type 1 group is a little bit tough to come by, with the 3/8” drive seeming to be the hard one to find. The Type 3 group is difficult to find but not impossible. Within the Type 3 group, I managed to find one 1/2” drive with a flat top letter “A”. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen. The Type 4 is also a very hard example to find. It’s the first to include the quick release function. To date, I’ve only seen three examples, all 1/2” drive. There are a couple others that are somewhat uncommon and I point that out in Type Study. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Thanks for your interest in both Craftsman ratchet type studies.

Jim C.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a variety of Thorsen ratchets I had out the other day.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's an old chrome alloy (sk)

 

[d42jeep]

This Chrome Alloy (S-K) is a little different. Same part number though.
-Don

 

[small]

@Jim C. Wow that is a lot to get through and I'm trying, work and all! The type study does allow for variations within a type, vs creating a new type. I think I'm going to need to build a spreadsheet to keep it all straight.

Now that I have it seems there are as many as 35 different variations for each drive size. 105 total! I have 6...long way to go I guess.

Again thanks for the point in the right direction...

 

[oak_park]

I picked up this 'pointed A' 1/4 dr. earlier this summer. Seller didn't know about the pointed A, most don't, but wouldn't budge from 20.00. After hesitantly paying, I explained the difference, collectable, keep your eye out for them, etc, he then proceeded to tell me I was full of **** and was making it up. So the next weekend I printed out GearWolf's completed listing where his sold for $250 and gave it to him. His jaw about hit the floor and I thanked him for the 230 gift.

 

[jpickar]

What makes this C-man ratchet a "pointed" ratchet

 

[oak_park]

I'm sorry, I should have explained it, its the letter "A" in CrAftsman thats pointed at the top of the A versus the other ratchet. So check your stampings on your RHFT's, the pointed A's are rare.

 

[jpickar]

OK, thanks, for the info. I checked and I have three of them.

 

[Jim C.]

Hey oak_park,

Nice find. Just based on my observations, and nothing more than my observations, the Type 1 RHFT 1/4” drive ratchets are somewhat uncommon, but not insanely rare. They seem to turn up more frequently, as do the 3/8” and 1/2” models, than some of the current existing info may suggest. That being said, if some one is willing to pay $250 for a 1/4” Type 1, then so be it. I still think that’s not typical nor even close to the average selling price for one. Condition is a factor too and that can certainly add or reduce value. From what I can see, I think you got a nice Type 1 at a reasonable price. I guess the only way to determine if it’s really worth $250 is to put it on eBay and see where it goes.

Jim C.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some S-K branded and S-K made Chrome Alloy branded beavertails.
-Don

 

[Jim C.]

Hey Don,

Those are pretty cool looking. I’ve never seen them before.

Jim C.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They are cool looking!

 

[wrenchr]

Hey oak_park,

Nice find. Just based on my observations, and nothing more than my observations, the Type 1 RHFT 1/4” drive ratchets are somewhat uncommon, but not insanely rare. They seem to turn up more frequently, as do the 3/8” and 1/2” models, than some of the current existing info may suggest. That being said, if some one is willing to pay $250 for a 1/4” Type 1, then so be it. I still think that’s not typical nor even close to the average selling price for one. Condition is a factor too and that can certainly add or reduce value. From what I can see, I think you got a nice Type 1 at a reasonable price. I guess the only way to determine if it’s really worth $250 is to put it on eBay and see where it goes.

Jim C.

I remember when they were a dime a dozen. Not really but were not expensive to buy and I bought them.

 

[Draftpick1]

I picked up this 'pointed A' 1/4 dr. earlier this summer. Seller didn't know about the pointed A, most don't, but wouldn't budge from 20.00. After hesitantly paying, I explained the difference, collectable, keep your eye out for them, etc, he then proceeded to tell me I was full of **** and was making it up. So the next weekend I printed out GearWolf's completed listing where his sold for $250 and gave it to him. His jaw about hit the floor and I thanked him for the 230 gift.

Here is my Craftsmsn pointed "A" set

 

[Username already in use]

Here are some S-K branded and S-K made Chrome Alloy branded beavertails.
-Don

Here is my Craftsmsn pointed "A" set

Nice sets guys.
There a thread for those triple plays right HERE

 

[jpickar]

I goofed up my reply . Edited

 

[Straightgrain]

I picked this up for maybe a dollar at an estate sale yesterday, the style is very similar to a 1940's-1950s model Craftsman. Not much information on the company other than they were made by the Metal Engineering Company out of Illinois.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. I have been looking for one for my set if you are not attached to it

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They were selling moore drop forge stuff around 1950. Also have a 1/4 set and some ignition wrenches

 

[Straightgrain]

That's a nice 3/8 set you have. You'll have right of first refusal if I ever decide to part with it Oldtuleguy.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

You know where to find me!

 

[Username already in use]

Here’s my haul from the past flea season. A couple of nice finds in there.

 

[3baygarage]

Say, as long as we’re talking about shipping ratchets off...that Mac right there

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's a rare bird. Here's a little armstrong NM-51 1/4" ratchet

 

[four.cycle]

OH! did you snag that one? very nice little unit there. not too common, I think.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have a few 9/32 versions, but this is the first 1/4 version. Here it is with an m51 someone filed down to 1/4! The m51 is stamped chrome vanadium, while the nm51 is marked armalloy.

 

[JjKk40]

Here’s my haul from the past flea season. A couple of nice finds in there.

That Mac is sweet!!!! Any idea what company makes those correct fasteners for that old Bonney rat? Mines missing 1 screw as well and nothing local to me has the correct head. I can get the correct thread and pitch but the screw heads are never correct.

 

[Username already in use]

That Mac is sweet!!!! Any idea what company makes those correct fasteners for that old Bonney rat? Mines missing 1 screw as well and nothing local to me has the correct head. I can get the correct thread and pitch but the screw heads are never correct.

Thanks! I'll probably leave the MAC to @3baygarage in my will.

No clue on the screws for the Bonney ratchet. If I had a source, it wouldn't be missing!
If you find something that works, lemme know.

 

[Targa68]

Here is a good looking Britool E77.
Based on the "British Made", this being pre 1960.

 

[Draftpick1]

Napa RHFT set smooth handle

 

[MR.X]

some random ratchets.