I attended a "moving sale" yesterday locally.  It turned out to be a gentlemen I had worked with in my teens.  He had 50+ years of "collection" in his back yard.  I spent nearly the whole day digging.

One of my finds was this "Lowell Wrench Co" marked ratchet wrench.  It has a 7/8" square drive.  It is 17" in length.  It is marked "No. 3" and Patents "1,177,764" and "2,003,346".  The later patent, covering improvements to the end of the handle, being filed in 1934.  I would have figured the wrench much older than this.

I did find a previous thread with discussion on "BB" marked version of the Lowell ratchets.  I have not found any "BB" markings, although I note "No. 3" is represented in the advert. Rusty posted here:  http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=2827.msg16921#msg16921  - I do not believe this an accurate representation of the one I have because 1) the drive is square and not star shaped, and 2) the documented length does not match.

Does anyone have information to help me better understand the history of this tool?  I'd like to know if it had it own drive sockets, if the 7/8" square drive opening is standard for what is stated "3/4" drive" or if it's truly a 7/8" drive.............and any other history that may be afforded.  Many thanks!

Recently on our local Craigs List there was a one inch drive Lowell ratchet for sale. The seller was asking $75.00 for it. The seller claimed it had a cast iron handle. If I remembr correctly, it was a male drive ratchet. It was also about 4 feet long.

EvilDr235

 Heres a photo of a Lowell rat that looks a lot like yours. It appears on page 207 of Ken Copes 2nd edition. It is an advertisement of a 1912 edition of Machinery. Most of the ratchets shown are boiler ratchets and this is only one with knurled knob on end. Don't know that this helps but its all I got.

Thank you, Jim.  It helps - it's something.  I need to buy this book you reference if I can ever find one at a fair price I can afford.

Bus Haury ( a member here )has them- http://www.wrenchingnews.com/book-store/book-store-pg1.html

Thanks!  I had forgotten he is a book resource.