hydro182
Member
Picked up a williams bb-56 3/8" ratchet at the pawn shop. Cant seem to find any info on this particular model. Does anyone know anything about these, as far as vintage,internals etc. thanks in advance..
Donnie
Donnie
williams bb-56
- Thread starter hydro182
- Start date
SMKS
Well-known member
Post a pic and we can help. I'm not familiar with that model.
Hyster Gareth
Well-known member
You may be able to find some information on this site?
http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/williams-supercompany.html
Thanks Gareth.
http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/williams-supercompany.html
Thanks Gareth.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
I got one. They seem to be few and far between. 
Its a 41 tooth.
The ones we have are industrial finish. The B-56 is chrome.
Mine has very little back-drag and feels like a much finer ratchet.
Solid, well built.
Appears to be manufactured after Snap-on acquisition.
It seems related to the 1/2 drive BS-71.
Heres a couple pics...i took it apart so you could see the guts:
Its a 41 tooth.
The ones we have are industrial finish. The B-56 is chrome.
Mine has very little back-drag and feels like a much finer ratchet.
Solid, well built.
Appears to be manufactured after Snap-on acquisition.
It seems related to the 1/2 drive BS-71.
Heres a couple pics...i took it apart so you could see the guts:
Last edited:
Thanks for the info! That looks exactly like mine. I opened it up, gave it a good cleaning and packed it with bearing grease. It is a very smooth solid feeling ratchet. I gave $8 for this and a Bonney 1/2 ratchet. I'm in the industrial trades so I prefer the finish over chrome,I think this one will be in the top drawer!
ganymede
Well-known member
I've never seen inside one. It looks very much like single pawl Wrights.
Thanks for the look.
Thanks for the look.
SMKS
Well-known member
I had one of those branded Hornet, which was another line of tools made by Williams back in the day. It's the only one of that style I've ever seen in person.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Nice find. The older ratchets were built like tanks, even though many modern fine tooth mechanisms are stronger. There was much more style and unique designs.
The B-52s are worth mentioning here too. One of the most distinct sounding ratchets IMO.
I have two B-52's. An early one with Pat. Pending forged into the handle. The ratcheting assembly is different in both of mine and that early one doesn't match any other that I've seen.
The B-52 is kinda responsible for launching my ratchet addiction. I've never been the same since I found that first one. I passed up a 3/8 version at a flea market once because the seller was a ****. I regretted it almost immediately because the price was good.
The B-52 is kinda responsible for launching my ratchet addiction. I've never been the same since I found that first one. I passed up a 3/8 version at a flea market once because the seller was a ****. I regretted it almost immediately because the price was good.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have a TRW branded ratchet that was when TRW owned Williams when they were still in New York before the S-O purchase and move. Mine was bought in the early eighties.