Stanley ratcheting tap wrench

[jimwrench]

 These can't be super rare. I've been buying and collecting tools for 25 years and I don't recall seeing one of these 251A wrenchs before. Have a feeling this came with their acquisition of North Bros and the designs of Zachary T Furbish This one doesn't say North Bros so I assume it was made after Stanley bought North bros. Looks like a useful tool if you are doing a lot of hand tapping. The Stanley bit gauge was in the same lot and is worth more than the tap wrench and was the object of my bid. The $ 1.15 price gives its age away.

[bill300d]

I've seen ratcheting tap handles before but not a Stanley. It should be useful in tight spots or chasing a hole or nut.

[mikeswrenches]

They may not be rare, but they aren't real common either. They came in two versions; one that is about the same length as a regular tap wrench, and one that is about twice as long.

I'm pretty sure that both were in the North Bros. catalog.

In my experience, the tap wrench is much less common, I see the bit stops so much that I don't buy them unless they are in almost new condition.

Mike

[lptools]

Hello, i thought that I had one of those around here. This one is marked Stanley Yankee No. 251A Made In U.S.A. Regards, Lou

[Bill Houghton]

I have an example of the longer model, a 1251A that's 13" long.  It looks like the prototype was made by sawing the chuck of a 251A and splicing in a 3/8" rod to make up the length; North Bros. then made a prettier version for production.  For some reason, I'm having trouble bringing up the scanned North Bros. catalogs that can be found here and there on the interweb; but if I recall correctly, the 1251A was marketed for automotive mechanics particularly.

Picked up, missing its cross handle, at a junk shop for a not scary price, because it was too cool to leave there.  I have no idea if I'll ever find a use for it - but if I need to tap a hole in a deep awkward spot, I'm ready!

[mikeswrenches]

Bill,  It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have.

Besides, you saved a good old tool, always a good thing.

Mike

[Bill Houghton]

Bill,  It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have.

Well, in theory.  There's also being able to find it when you need it.  Or remember that you have it.

[amecks]

Ha!
I think it must be convenient when working in a tight spot.  Normally in open ares you would turn the handle 1/2 or 1 turn and then back up to clear the chips.  Continuous ratcheting would cause the chips to back up and get you stuck.  But in a close area it could make it easier to turn that initial 1/2 to 1 turn.
I'd buy one at the right price.
Al

[amecks]

Yes and what is the usage of a Bit Gage?

[lptools]

Hello, Amecks. You would clamp it on to a brace bit at the depth of the hole you wanted to drill. In theory the bit would stop drilling any deeper at that point. Regards, Lou

[turnnut]

Al, it would be like if you set the stop nut on a drill press.

[bonneyman]

I've got a tool like that around here somewhere. I think mine is German.

Still prefer the control of an old stand-by tap driver though.

[Bill Houghton]

Bit gauge: it doesn't so much stop the drilling as tell you you've hit depth by rubbing on the wood.  This design can, I'm told, wind up marking the wood; Stanley made another one with a spring similar to those springy doorstops that's said to be better.  But you buy what you find.

[turnnut]

 I didn't mean it to sound like it stopped like on a drill press, just the same use.

 when using it with a bit brace, it is easier to see when you are getting close to where you wanted to stop.

 used when you did not want to go through the wood, on drill to a certain depth.