Vintage Williams 1/4" Ratchet

[Tool_Master]

Hey Guys, I just picked up this Williams ratchet but it looks too clean. The Williams logo is not very clear. Do any of you know if this one looks authentic?


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[Roberts210]

Is there such a thing as a fake Williams Superwrench? Are the Chinese counterfeiting old American tools now too? I hate to sound so paranoid, but I've seen what they've done with silver coins and fake arrowheads and on and on. Nothing would surprise me anymore, but I hope your wrench is not a fake.

 

[twertsy]

Not a fake, and I've never heard of one. The retaining nut/ring is odd though since it's usually machined smooth, as is the face. Probably just a very early M-51. Can you take a pic of the forge marks on the rear shank?

 

[jakemac]

The pitting on the face and ring makes me think that the ratchet may have been rusted at some point and restored & polished. It's a genuine M-51 ratchet. No worries.

 

[zkling]

That's just the way those are, granted yours is a bit more frosted than most. Maybe made on a monday? Williams made a few variants of those M-51s.

 

[four.cycle]

I want one.

If the Chinese were going to counterfeit a vintage ratchet, I think they'd try with something maybe a bit more sought-after - maybe a "flying V" flex-head or something...

 

[ganymede]

Ive seen a few like that including mine. Bought it about 10 yrs ago at the flea.
Ive also seen Williams adjustables with the same type of chrome. They were all marked 'Williams USA' and I'm guessing date to the late 70's /mid 80's.

 

[bonneyman]

A little tricky to get apart for cleaning/lubing. There's two pins you gotta remove (the outside selector pin, and an internal pin that goes thru the selector shaft and interfaces with the pawl) before you can unscrew the selector out.

Hope these pictures help - they're not the best.

 

[Tool_Master]

Thank you guys. Bonneyman your pictures helped a lot. It makes sense that this ratchet was rusted and restored at some point.


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[davethorik]

Thank you guys. Bonneyman your pictures helped a lot. It makes sense that this ratchet was rusted and restored at some point.


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It probably was NOT refinished. I have the same ratchet, it's how they look. Face and ring not machined, im assuming chrome over the forged finish. Who would go to the trouble of cleaning the rust off and re-chroming and old coarse tooth ratchet?

 

[davethorik]

Here are pics of mine...when I got it, felt like needed a rebuild kit. Upon disassembly I discovered the pin that goes thru the pawl had broken into 3 pieces.

Of course that was about when the ball disappeared into the Bermuda triangle. Also, the original spring was nicely mangled. So that's why I took pics of just the empty housing. I have plenty of 1/4 rats no big priority on this.

Edit: Also noticed, Bonneyman has a different handle than op, Gany, and myself.

The flash makes it kind of hard to see but the selector side of the housing is fully polished, but not the drive side. You can barely read the Williams logo. Knurling looks rough as well.

 

[bonneyman]

Here are pics of mine...when I got it, felt like needed a rebuild kit. Upon disassembly I discovered the pin that goes thru the pawl had broken into 3 pieces.

Of course that was about when the ball disappeared into the Bermuda triangle. Also, the original spring was nicely mangled. So that's why I took pics of just the empty housing. I have plenty of 1/4 rats no big priority on this.

Edit: Also noticed, Bonneyman has a different handle than op, Gany, and myself.

The flash makes it kind of hard to see but the selector side of the housing is fully polished, but not the drive side. You can barely read the Williams logo. Knurling looks rough as well.

In the spirit of full disclosure, the first one of these rats I had to break to get apart. (To see how it was disassembled for the next time). I broke the pawl pin in 3 places.

 

[ganymede]

Heres a couple of 4" adjustables. One is stamped Cornwell, both made by Williams.
The finish isn't quite as rough but you get the idea...

 

[387jiwga]

A little tricky to get apart for cleaning/lubing. There's two pins you gotta remove (the outside selector pin, and an internal pin that goes thru the selector shaft and interfaces with the pawl) before you can unscrew the selector out.

Hope these pictures help - they're not the best.

Hello thanks for your help
how and what did you use to get the first pin out.

 

[bonneyman]

Hello thanks for your help
how and what did you use to get the first pin out.

I grab it with a small vise-grips and pull on it, slightly twisting it back and forth as I pull. It's just a press fit.

 

[387jiwga]

Thank you for the help. It's been cleaned an greased its fully operational now. I'm Just now getting in to more vintage tools for my bag, and I saw this ratchet that caught my eye and I didnt have a 1/4 drive so I bought it and I think I would like to put together a whole Williams 1/4 set just for this ratchet.