Wright Ratchet Question

[Zrexxer]

I purchased a Wright 3500 3/8" ratchet from an eBay seller who had three NOS ones with a "make an offer" option; he accepted my offer of $12.99 and it arrived today.

The 3500 is apparently not a current model number; do any of our Wright gurus know the approximate age of this ratchet?

I still can't say I like the looks of the Wright comfort grip.. it's fugly with a capital FUG... but I have to admit, it's reasonably comfortable in the hand...

 

[Hiball]

It appears to have the "P" stamp so that would be 1974. You can get that info from alloy artifacts for future reference.

 

[Zrexxer]

Doh! Never occurred to me to look on AA for more recent stuff too... Thanks.

 

[Paullew]

Not bad for 13 bucks..... I take it with shipping around 20 $ total? Nice.

 

[Zrexxer]

Not bad for 13 bucks..... I take it with shipping around 20 $ total? Nice.

Yep, $19.50 delivered Priority Mail.

 

[Scooterfish]

Curious what is the tooth count? Nice find, I wish I had some from Monkey Wards

 

[tonydanzah]

you weren't lying about that handle, it looks like a spare piece of hydraulic hose

 

[sk farmer]

you weren't lying about that handle, it looks like a spare piece of hydraulic hose

it is called a tootsie roll. you can still get them to.

 

[cruiser808]

IIRC, Mr. Wright pulled a patent for the handle in 1964.

 

[Hiball]

As ugly as that handle appears, it suprisingly is very comfortable and Durable. Ive been using That handle in my shop for about 6 mos and it looks the same it did when i bought it. Im normally not a fan of soft grip handles, I had a bunch of Dual 80 soft grip ratchets and i couldnt get used to there handle. In all fairness they where a bit smaller and it just didnt feel "Wright" (LOL) I sold them off here via the classifieds and thru Ebay.

 

[Zrexxer]

Hiball how soft are the Wright handles usually? This one is definitely as hard as an old tractor tire. I was wondering if they were all that firm or if this one had just hardened over the years.

 

[64merc]

Hiball how soft are the Wright handles usually? This one is definitely as hard as an old tractor tire. I was wondering if they were all that firm or if this one had just hardened over the years.

I know you weren't asking me, but they definitely get harder with age. I had a really old one and the handle was really hard and broken/cracked. I got a new one due to chrome peel, and the handle is a lot softer. It's firm, but feels more like rubber than plastic, if that makes sense.

 

[Hiball]

Hiball how soft are the Wright handles usually? This one is definitely as hard as an old tractor tire. I was wondering if they were all that firm or if this one had just hardened over the years.

There Pretty firm actually, The newest ratchet i have is 2006 so thats all i have to judge it by. I have a 63 model that is alot shinier and alot harder, I dont know if its because of the age or they changed the material, My guess is the age. I wouldnt consider Wrights grip a "soft" handle as much as i would call it a comfort grip, theres not much flex when you sqeeze it hard.

I know you weren't asking me, but they definitely get harder with age. I had a really old one and the handle was really hard and broken/cracked. I got a new one due to chrome peel, and the handle is a lot softer. It's firm, but feels more like rubber than plastic, if that makes sense.

Hmm.. I have a 63 model which would be the first year and it is definitely Harder but i dont see any signs of Cracking. Although it might have lived a charmed life also.

 

[64merc]

I believe the weak point on the comfort grip handles is the very tip. With age, they get hard and crack or break off where the shank ends. I'm definitely not complaining, and I think they are awesome ratchets.

 

[Hiball]

Here is some pics showing the difference between the 63 model and the 06 model, You can tell the 63 model is much shinier and along with that attribute its a little harder. As i stated earlier i suspect its the age factoring in but i cant really say whether they changed the compound because i wasnt even alive in 63. You have to also remember this 63 ratchet hasnt seen much use and was bought as a NOS.

 

[a390st]

Those handles do get harder with age and crack if you are unlucky. The durability is also effected by temperature extremes, from what I have experienced. I had a few old Wright pieces at my old shop. We picked them up for nothing at sales and used them as shop tools. Those handles weren't bad, but they were a different animal than the newer soft grips that you see.

 

[Tool Pants]

I thought the model number was 3400, not 3500. But in looking at the pictures the clip holding the core in is different.