Williams Pre-superratchet???

[Zrxrunner]

I found this one at the local flea today. Has the williams diamond and superratchet selector, but not the handle. Anyone else seen one like this? Possibly pre superratchet? Has patd on it, but no patent number. Works like a champ no matter how old it is.

 

[3baygarage]

Hard to pin a date on these with no catalog image, advertising, or matching patent drawing.

Some have suggested war time. That would seem to make sense, with the more plain utility look and lacking part numbers, however the style sockets that went with these ran for years prior to the war. Of course those sockets had the full brand name, while the diamond W ratchet above is found in sets with sockets and extensions with just a diamond W and prefix letter, no part #.

The Volume branded line is a twin to the diamond W marked drive tools, and Alloy Artifacts points out the use of the Volume trademark used for open end wrenches in a 1929 ad. This would lead one to think these tools are older.

This is a big mystery because the Kress ratchet patent from 1934 is the well known pear head Superrachet we all recognize. No patents that I know of showing a ratchet in the above tapered handle style with above alternate selector has been found and noted anywhere.

A couple past threads.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/somewhat-odd-williams-s51.293446/#post-4908969

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/trying-to-id-a-williams-socket-set.343142/

 

[JjKk40]

I posted mine in the Williams thread before but here's mine. The sockets have the single band (i forget the year Williams switched to the double bands) so maybe 40's and older???? Not wartime as mine clearly look to be either CV or Nickel plated? Contract production and the economy line Volume brand.... heres the pics I posted on the other thread....

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think these ratchets were volume originally , an economy or sub brand for resale. After the volume brand was discontinued, williams just continued selling the ratchets branded williams.

 

[godardjupp]

I found this one at the local flea today. Has the williams diamond and superratchet selector, but not the handle. Anyone else seen one like this? Possibly pre superratchet? Has patd on it, but no patent number. Works like a champ no matter how old it is. See https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/williams-results-pre-superratchet.496563/
Thanks

 

[3baygarage]

Those sets are some nice old beauties. Hopefully the documentation turns up to put an exact date on them. They sure look on the older end of things.