Tool Talk

Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: Wrenchmensch on December 10, 2011, 04:20:13 PM

Title: Collecting sockets for Greene,Tweed Favorite Ratchet Wrench No. 1
Post by: Wrenchmensch on December 10, 2011, 04:20:13 PM
I have started collecting sockets for my Greene, Tweed Favorite Ratchet Wrench No. 1.   So far, I have a 3/4 C and 5/8 hex double socket, with an  A 12 square and a 1/2 hex double socket in the wrench.  These wrenches were sized according to a scale no longer in use. The openings are much larger than the embossed figures would suggest.  Besides being a wrench that is relatively worthless to knowledgeable collectors, each socket weighs over a pound. There appear to be few, if any, boxed sets of Greene, Tweed ratchets and 1 lb. sockets out there. As a result, this collection effort promises to be slow going. 



Title: Re: Collecting sockets for Greene,Tweed Favorite Ratchet Wrench No. 1
Post by: eddie hudson on December 10, 2011, 04:50:19 PM
A group of 6 or 7 sold on ebay 3 or 4 months ago. I have no idea what sizes they were or how much they brought.
Title: Re: Collecting sockets for Greene,Tweed Favorite Ratchet Wrench No. 1
Post by: rusty on December 10, 2011, 05:56:20 PM

There seem to be 4 sized ratchets, I wonder if the sockets interchange?

http://books.google.com/books?id=5KTmAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA32&dq=greene+tweed+%26+co+ratchet&hl=en&ei=e_DjTpPsEcnq0gGp6u37BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CEYQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false
Title: Re: Collecting sockets for Greene,Tweed Favorite Ratchet Wrench No. 1
Post by: Wrenchmensch on December 10, 2011, 10:56:00 PM
Rusty:

It took me some years last time just to come up with all four ratchets. I sold these ratchets and the sockets that were in them to the Company when I retired from Greene, Tweed. As I recall, the diameter of the ratchet increased with each higher-numbered ratchet.

I am taking a different tack this time, focusing on finding all the the sockets for the No. 1 wrench.
Title: Re: Collecting sockets for Greene,Tweed Favorite Ratchet Wrench No. 1
Post by: lauver on December 18, 2011, 07:13:08 PM
Gang,

I've never heard of Greene Tweed or seen a ratchet of socket like these posted.  Were these tools designed/intended for a particular trade?  If so, which trade(s)?
Title: Re: Collecting sockets for Greene,Tweed Favorite Ratchet Wrench No. 1
Post by: rusty on December 18, 2011, 08:28:28 PM

My link didn't work very well :(
Anyhow, here is a better pic for the bored:

Set with Ratchet 0 included 3/8,7/16,1/2,5/8,3/4 for square nuts, with a second (optional?)set for hex.
plus an 8" extension and 7" drill head
Also the ratchet came Japanned or nickel plated.
The article says there are 4 sizes, 1,2,2-1/2, and 3 , but shows a 'Set with wrench #0"...hmm
#1 is 15" long, the rest are 28" long
Title: Re: Collecting sockets for Greene,Tweed Favorite Ratchet Wrench No. 1
Post by: rusty on December 18, 2011, 08:47:45 PM

Greene Tweed (John Ashton Greene , Henry A. Tweed) is one of those companies that just sort of stayed obscure, perhaps because they were making all the non glamerous day to day stuff, gaskets, packing , seals, oil pumps, lubricators. All the things you need to keep things working. They seem to have made tools almost as an afterthought, the ratchet seems to be an exception, it is fairly well advertised, but they also made mundane things like awls for leather belt lacing, belt lacing machines etc etc...
Title: Re: Collecting sockets for Greene,Tweed Favorite Ratchet Wrench No. 1
Post by: Wrenchmensch on December 18, 2011, 10:22:48 PM
Rusty:

Greene, Tweed still exists.  Today it makes hi-tech seals for things like aircraft landing gear and plasma chambers.  This now-international Company has markets in Aerospace, Defense, Semiconductor, and Solar industries, to name several.

The ratchet and sockets shown in the photograph look to be fairly conventional.  The sockets for the Number 1 handle are usually found as a combined socket and handle.  The reason is that a set screw holds the massive socket in the handle.

Bob