It's not a Ratchet when it's a REECHET. 

I found this on the top of a bunch of tools at the local flea mkt. yesterday.  Seller wanted to sell the whole box of mostly junk but finally agreed to sell this separately.  I originally thought it was just a strange ratchet that I had never seen before.  It wasn't until I got home that I realized that it wasn't really a ratchet.

What I would call it is a long 90° extension.  As you can see from the last photo, there is a female 3/8 square drive in the end.  Turning the end of the handle either by hand or with a ratchet in the drive, causes the male end to rotate.

The patent description also says you can use it as a regular ratchet by holding the drive end so it can't rotate.  I put the male end in my vise to see how it would work and found that it sorta does, but your fastener better not be very tight.  While the knurling helps you hold it, it also is hard on the hand when it begins to turn.

The patent no. is 2594669 and can be seen at Google patents by accessing the link below.

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pdfs/US2594669.pdf

Mike

nice find.

it is in DATAMP.

in DATAMP, just enter the patent number and it will pop up.

unknown mfg.

maybe Stan can put in the picture of the one that you bought on Datamp.

Frank

Nice find

Never saw such thing.

It's the first one I've seen too.  I can't think they were very common.  Aside from being used as a light duty hammer, this one shows no signs of use.

Probably bought by a guy who thought it was neat, and had to have one and then left it in his toolbox...down in the very bottom.

Mike

There is one on the Wrenching News Fall Auction (Lot 601-2)

http://wrenchingnews.com/2014-fall-auction/catalog.html

0601. Lot of two: Ratchet Wrenches
(1.) NONE BETTER - B50 / MADE IN USA - PAT PEND. - - 7" 3/8" drive ratcheting socket handle. The 3/8" drive plug can pivot 90 degrees. None Better was a New Britain Machine Co. (of New Britain, Conn.) brand. Patented May 31. 1955 by Roy C. Hopgood or Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Good++.  PAT.

(2.) REECHET R375 - PAT. 2594669 - - 10" 3/8" drive ratchet extension that is operated by turning the handle. Patented April 29, 1952 by Calvert D. Marshall of Georgetown, Kent. Good with some corrosion and dings.  PAT.
PiCs Lots 592 thru 601

So would a ratchet not be a ratchet if it's a reechet?   *he ducks just in case*

This one is similar. No markings on it at all. Must be a knock off of the Reechet.

Kxxr, I have one of those. Came from walmart, I think, and it gets used a lot for running down long bolts with the spinner.

Did a quick "google advanced book search" & came up with Reechet Tool Corp, Cleveland 15, Ohio (ads from late 1954 thru 1957 ) -- will update the DATAMP entry accordingly ;-)

Kxxr, With the REECHET ratchet, there is no shifter.  Turning the handle at the end either CW or CCW, causes the 3/8 drive to change direction.

Stan, you're welcome to use the pictures if you want.

Mike

Cool tool!

Nov 2014 issue of The Family Handyman P 100 is a new version called The Fastdriver 300  @
parts-express.com

I know I'm dredging up an old thread but I did a search and this was the only one that showed up on the site. I found this Reechet R-500-G today. This is a 1/2" version of the one that started this thread. Has the group determined that these are rare? I know rare doesn't always equal value but I must admit it's pretty unusual.

No idea as to value, but it is a pretty nifty tool.

That being said, I'm trying to recall if there's ever been a time I actually could have used one....Hmmmm.

Think of it as an obstruction ratchet. The obstruction, itself, would more or less hold it in place while an actual ratchet does the job.