I really appreciate these videos. At first I thought you were a reviewer of junk tools but I realize you are a collector, a historian, and a quiet professional. Thank you sir.
Bought my 147 piece Craftsman tool set 44 years ago and it came with the quick release fine tooth ratchets in all 3 drives. Even has built in finger knurling to spin socket by hand. Could tell these were super high quality, and used the 3/8" the most over the years, getting a little loose but still does the job. I have many other ratchets but my hands are attracted to my Craftsman.
great idea for the future top ratchet videos. cant wait to see them all..as many as you can come up with the better,,,enjoy the history lesson that goes alone with them very much also,, great job..
From your other videos, I know you're not a huge SK fan, but if you ever find an old SK 1/4 in ratchet and restore it with fresh lightweight grease or oil, you'd love the feel of it. I've never seen that Williams Super Ratchet in 1/4 in drive. I've used some old Williams Super Ratchets that were 3/8 and 1/2 in , and I thought they were very well made. Back when you could take any destroyed Crafstman hand tool into a Sears and get a new one off the shelf, I had some Craftsman sockets and at least one or 2 ratchets that I'd be a bit rough with sometimes, and they were totally usable even if I thought the ergonomics weren't as good as some of the other ratchets I've owned.
I have most of these, except the Williams, between my and my dad's stuff. I have a different Monkey Wards Power Kraft that is a dead ringer for my USA Thorsen roundhead, absolutely identical, even to the point I think it was ground by the same guy. I would add that you might really like the Vlchek 1800+. My every day user is the Easco Craftsman, but the Vlchek is tighter and more positive. The body is symmetrical so you can reassemble it in either direction to mitigate wear and I think you would appreciate some of the subtle differences with say the typical SK-type round head.
I have that exact Williams Superratchet. Mine is exactly the same as yours, including the pin on the selector and the model number. I would like to take it apart and lube it up. Mine is in a little better shape compared with yours and it's got plenty of life left in it. Any tips regarding getting the threaded plate off?
The teardrop Craftsman ratchets are fine, but the RHFT is night and day better. Theres a reason they were the longest production ratchet for sears. BTW, KAL was making tools longer than you realized. At some point they started branding the tools PROAMERICA and were around till recently enough that you can easily find NOS wrenches available for sale. Ny favorite vintage would probably be the WRIGHT 2400 because it shares the same internals as the 2426 I own and love, I don't actually have a 2400 but they do still make them.
I own a vintage Wright tools 2400 and also a Bluegrass 2400 which is the same ratchet very nice they have the smallest head of any 1/4 drive I’ve ever seen
@@marcshankin5991 Yes the 2400 series has a very small head size, absolutely one of the 3 smallest headed American made ratchets ever made ( not counting bit ratchets ) The Thorsen 77M is about the same size with the cover on and a bit smaller with it removed. The smallest headed American made 1/4 ratchet and possibly smallest head 1/4 ratchet ever made from the ground up to drive sockets ( some tiny stuff today is essentially a modified bit ratchet design) Is the extremely rare Blackhawk 24991 out of the even more rare Nuggies set from the 40's. Extremely cool set, came in a bakelite case and designed for a mechanic to keep in their pocket. Basically a standard 1/4 set with ratchet sockets universal spinner handle flex handle extension and t bar, but also included 6 scaled down DOE wrenches. Surprisingly they didn't just use ignition wrenches either.
My favorite 1/4in ratchet is the one that never gets used from my grandfather, 1940’s Snap-On military issue, along with the breaker bar to match.
I really appreciate these videos. At first I thought you were a reviewer of junk tools but I realize you are a collector, a historian, and a quiet professional. Thank you sir.
Bought my 147 piece Craftsman tool set 44 years ago and it came with the quick release fine tooth ratchets in all 3 drives. Even has built in finger knurling to spin socket by hand. Could tell these were super high quality, and used the 3/8" the most over the years, getting a little loose but still does the job. I have many other ratchets but my hands are attracted to my Craftsman.
The pin on the selector switch on the Williams is original, mine has the same thing.
Another fabulous review …. I thoroughly enjoy your reviews 👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻
Ha Catus!!!!! feeling your oats tonight i see!!!! very amused with yourself!!! i always enjoy your shows ole boy. Thank you!!!
Glad you like them!
Nice video Catus I always enjoy your tool reviews my favorite 1/4 rat is a Blackhawk flex head from the 1960s (kilness patent) made by New Britain
Your missing my favorite 1/4 dr rachet....the fuzzy 1 with the stripes lol
Love my vintage SK 1/4”
great idea for the future top ratchet videos. cant wait to see them all..as many as you can come up with the better,,,enjoy the history lesson that goes alone with them very much also,, great job..
From your other videos, I know you're not a huge SK fan, but if you ever find an old SK 1/4 in ratchet and restore it with fresh lightweight grease or oil, you'd love the feel of it. I've never seen that Williams Super Ratchet in 1/4 in drive. I've used some old Williams Super Ratchets that were 3/8 and 1/2 in , and I thought they were very well made.
Back when you could take any destroyed Crafstman hand tool into a Sears and get a new one off the shelf, I had some Craftsman sockets and at least one or 2 ratchets that I'd be a bit rough with sometimes, and they were totally usable even if I thought the ergonomics weren't as good as some of the other ratchets I've owned.
I have most of these, except the Williams, between my and my dad's stuff. I have a different Monkey Wards Power Kraft that is a dead ringer for my USA Thorsen roundhead, absolutely identical, even to the point I think it was ground by the same guy. I would add that you might really like the Vlchek 1800+. My every day user is the Easco Craftsman, but the Vlchek is tighter and more positive. The body is symmetrical so you can reassemble it in either direction to mitigate wear and I think you would appreciate some of the subtle differences with say the typical SK-type round head.
I have that exact Williams Superratchet. Mine is exactly the same as yours, including the pin on the selector and the model number. I would like to take it apart and lube it up. Mine is in a little better shape compared with yours and it's got plenty of life left in it. Any tips regarding getting the threaded plate off?
I use 1/4" drive 20:1 over other drive sizes. I have quite a large collection. Some of my favorites will surprise, others not so much.
The teardrop Craftsman ratchets are fine, but the RHFT is night and day better.
Theres a reason they were the longest production ratchet for sears.
BTW, KAL was making tools longer than you realized.
At some point they started branding the tools PROAMERICA and were around till recently enough that you can easily find NOS wrenches available for sale.
Ny favorite vintage would probably be the WRIGHT 2400 because it shares the same internals as the 2426 I own and love, I don't actually have a 2400 but they do still make them.
I own a vintage Wright tools 2400 and also a Bluegrass 2400 which is the same ratchet very nice they have the smallest head of any 1/4 drive I’ve ever seen
@@marcshankin5991
Yes the 2400 series has a very small head size, absolutely one of the 3 smallest headed American made ratchets ever made ( not counting bit ratchets )
The Thorsen 77M is about the same size with the cover on and a bit smaller with it removed.
The smallest headed American made 1/4 ratchet and possibly smallest head 1/4 ratchet ever made from the ground up to drive sockets ( some tiny stuff today is essentially a modified bit ratchet design)
Is the extremely rare Blackhawk 24991 out of the even more rare Nuggies set from the 40's.
Extremely cool set, came in a bakelite case and designed for a mechanic to keep in their pocket.
Basically a standard 1/4 set with ratchet sockets universal spinner handle flex handle extension and t bar, but also included 6 scaled down DOE wrenches.
Surprisingly they didn't just use ignition wrenches either.
@@TylerSnyder305 , good lord i failed that class.
👍👍 up my friend. ;)
No Plumb or Porto?
That Power Kraft looks very similar to an SK ratchet design.
It does look a bit similar to the Facom here Tuff 1 design for sure.
I’m pretty sure that model powerkraft ratchet was made by indestro , nothing in common with an sk internally, completely different mechanism
@@marcshankin9327 It was indeed made by Indestro for Montgomery Ward's "Powr Kraft" hand tool line.
Pin is original on the Williams.
😆👍