On September 28, 1965, Peter Roberts was awarded a patent for inventing the “quick release” function that became extremely popular on ratchets. Well, eventually he sold the patent rights to Sears for ten thousand dollars. As the story goes, Sears supposedly told Mr. Roberts that the idea wasn’t worth much and there was no significant market for a ratchet with a quick release. At some point later on, Mr. Roberts discovered that Sears knew the idea was nothing short of a grand slam home run from the start. I’ve read that Sears sold several million ratchets the first year the quick release function was introduced to the ratchet using public! Accordingly, profits were also in the millions of dollars…… for Sears that is. As expected, Mr. Roberts sued, arguing that he had been the victim of fraud. The legal battle went on for decades. Eventually, the two sides settled and Mr. Roberts became the millionaire he deserved to be.
If one were to review the 1967 Sears catalog, he/she would find that it’s the first time a “quick release” ratchet was offered for sale in print. When I ultimately decided to attempt a Type Study, I knew I’d have to collect examples all the way back to the beginning of Craftsman Teardrop Ratchets, and somewhere in there, try to determine which ratchet was the first to feature the quick release. One might think, “Well, it’s the one with the quick release patent info on the handle.” That’s what I thought too. As a matter of fact, I thought that for a couple years. When we get to the next post featuring the Type 5, you’ll see how easy it would be to settle on that assumption. The quick release patent number is right there on the handle, plain as day. As I got closer to completing this Type Study (for the second time), I was sure I had identified the correct Type as the first “QR” model. I learned that was not true.
A few years ago, I was checking eBay like I do EVERY day looking at Sears/Craftsman Teardrop Ratchets. I came across a ratchet that looked a little worn in the tiny photo, but could see enough to determine that it was an older example. I could see that there was a stamp on the handle and figured it was the “patent number” version I already had in my collection, and had incorrectly determined was the first to feature the QR. I clicked on the listing anyway. When the photos popped up, I’ll admit that I was VERY surprised. What I expected to see was Mr. Roberts’s patent number stamped on the handle. What I saw was “PATENT PENDING.” I must have studied those photos for ten minutes. I finally concluded it was the real deal and what I now believe is the first version of a Craftsman Teardrop Ratchet with the QR function. My guess is that Sears started offering these ratchets shortly after they negotiated a deal with Mr. Roberts, and soon thereafter, started producing ratchets with the patent number stamped on the handle (Type 5). For that reason, it was my opinion that the Type 4 depicted below was most likely offered for a year at most, but more likely for only some portion of 1967.
Okay, based entirely on the catalogs, one would think that the first QR ratchets were offered in 1967. Interestingly, I contradicted myself, because I wrote that “Sears started offering these ratchets shortly after they negotiated a deal with Mr. Roberts…” Well, that couldn’t have been much later than September 28, 1965! For whatever reason, the catalogs don’t list QR ratchets until 1967 (the start date that I initially adopted.) That doesn’t make sense. I laugh now when I look back and recall DadsTools asking me if Sears worked out a deal with Roberts in 1965, would they have waited two years to start making and selling QR ratchets? That’s a big “NO!”
I’m sure you’ve noticed there’s only one ratchet depicted in the photos below. Well, to date, I’ve only seen a Type 4 ratchet twice, and both times they were ½” examples. I’ve never seen a 3/8” or a ¼” version of the Type 4. I’m not sure they even exist. Based on my observations, this one ratchet is probably the most rare when compared to any other ratchet in the Type Study. If anyone has a 3/8” or ¼” example, LET ME KNOW!!!!!
In terms of appearance, the Type 4 is similar to the Type 3, but for the obvious QR button on the back of the ratchet’s head. The main feature to notice is the socket post. When the QR button is depressed, a spring-loaded pin protrudes through the socket post allowing a small ball bearing to drop into a depression on the pin, inside the socket post. When the ball bearing drops into the pin depression, it releases tension on the socket wall, allowing the socket to be easily removed from the socket post. It’s a nice simple idea that works, and was ultimately worth millions of dollars. Going forward, keep taking notice of the socket post and the protruding pin. On later examples, the protruding pin feature will be eliminated in favor of an internal mechanism.
Throughout the course of this type study, I’ve solicited input from anyone who believes I made a mistake or misstated the facts. While some have given me suggestions without much evidence to back it up, a few others have provided hard facts. Those proposed edits with little or no supporting evidence haven’t been incorporated into the type study while those coming with undeniable facts have been and will always be included. This is one of those moments and a turning point in the overall accuracy of this Type Study. If you’re a fan of this forum, then you’ve probably seen DadsTools Round Head Fine Tooth (RHFT) Type Study. I’ve already alluded to it, but now want to stress its importance to both the history of the Craftsman RHFT ratchets AND the history of Craftsman Teardrop ratchets. The RHFT Study is a great piece of work and about as good as you’ll ever find on the topic. If you’re interested in Craftsman ratchets, then you must check out that type study! DadsTools goes into some very detailed discussions about patent dates, court records, etc., that in my view, conclusively nail down some dates of manufacture/availability regarding not only RHFT examples, but also some in this Study. In particular, his information sheds some light on what is probably the most elusive of Craftsman Teardrop ratchet types.....the Type 4. If you really want to get into the weeds on this, contact DadsTools. He’s enthusiastic about his information, more than willing to share it, and provides great detail in what I would describe are interesting and engaging reads. Okay, so let’s get into it.....
As I had mentioned above, back in the day, Peter Roberts, came up with the Quick Release mechanism found on so many Craftsman ratchets. He submitted the idea for patent approval during April, 1964. The idea was highly successful and Sears took advantage of it. So, on or about June 15, 1965, Roberts sold the patent rights to Sears for $10,000. Like I said initially, Sears lead Roberts to believe the idea was a dud at best. Well, it turned out to be a “multimillion dollar dud.” Roberts eventually realized he had been grossly under paid for the patent rights, and he sued. This is where DadsTools started digging for more information. Based on his findings, within days of signing a deal with Roberts, Sears kicked off mass production of QR ratchets. Remember, this is in June of 1965, and not 1967 as indicated in the 1967 Sears tool catalog. The reported number of units produced was as many as 44,000 per week. As such, it would only make sense that those first ratchets would be stamped with, “PATENT PENDING.” The official patent was awarded on September 28, 1965. So, based on this information (which I summarized from a much larger body of proof as provided by Dadstools) the dates of manufacture/availability of the Type 4 ratchets reflect these facts. Essentially those Teardrop ratchets with the patent pending stamps were likely only produced for a few months between mid June and late September of 1965. Although it was my thinking that they were only made for a few months in 1967 (based on the Sears catalog), I’m now much more inclined to believe they were being made and sold as early as 1965. Probably not too long after the QR patent was awarded, Sears started stamping the patent number on the ratchet handles (the Type 5 in this study). That would mean the Type 5 was also in production much earlier than 1967. I’d say more like late September/early October, 1965.
Here’s something to consider. Based on the shear number of units being produced per week (44,000) with the patent pending stamp, it would seem likely that Sears would go all in and produce the new QR ratchets in all three sizes, that being 1/2”, 3/8”, and 1/4”. DadsTools advocates this line of thinking. It makes sense, but to date, I have zero physical evidence of the existence of a 1/4” Type 4 ratchet. In an effort to get to the bottom of this, I reached out to vintage Craftsman tool collector/seller, “needmorewrenches” specifically asking him if had a recollection of the Type 4 TD ratchets with the “PATENT PENDING” stamp on the handle. I also sent him photos of my Type 4, 1/2” drive just to be sure we were both taking about the same thing. In response, he said that he does remember seeing the PATENT PENDING stamp on the 1/2” drive AND the 3/8” drive. He did not recall ever seeing a Type 4, 1/4” example. If anyone would at least be familiar with the Type 4 ratchets, it would be needmorewrenches, and because he as seen a 3/8” Type 4, then it does exist, rare though it may be. That’s not to say the ¼” drive doesn’t exist. The number of units produced would suggest that they do and one would think Sears would make all three sizes, and not just the 1/2”, and 3/8” drives. The same goes for the Type 5. While I’ve seen more than a couple Type 5, 1/2” and 3/8” drives, as well as Type 5, 3/8” flex heads, I haven’t seen a single 1/4” example. So, I guess the hunt continues. It would be great to conclusively put this to rest with the confirmation of at least one example of each. If they exist, they’re extremely rare. It could be awhile before any turn up. Anyway, as a result of the information provided by DadsTools and needsmorewrenches, the Type 4 nomenclature is as follows:
Type 4: June, 1965 - September 28, 1965, PATENT PENDING, TD, OH, LL, QR, PA, =V=, Non#
(represents ½” drive size, 3/8” drive size, and most likely the 1/4” drive size)
Jim C.
