How does this 3/8 drive socket work?

[amecks]

What is the reason this socket is male drive?  Is there a set of these with female drive tools?  It appears to be a Williams and probably not an "antique" although (I'm totally guessing) may be from the 50's -60's or even WWII era.  Size  7/8" 12 pt.
Maybe it's like the 9/32" drive tools - made to discourage you from taking them home in your lunchbox?
Does anyone collect these?,  because I'm not looking for any more.

[JohnD]

Somewhere in my horde is a 1/2" ratchet, with just a square hole through head kind of like a ratchet box end wrench. It would work with sockets like that. No reverse, flip it over to change direction. The ratchets would be cheap to make but the socket design seems like a waste of material and more work to make.

[Papaw]

Alloy Artifacts shows a 3/8 drive ratchet that would use a socket like that. Williams F50 .

http://alloy-artifacts.org/williams-supercompany-p4.html#williams-38dr

[amecks]

I don't know why I didn't think of that type ratchet.  Just didn't put two and two together.  I suppose an advantage would be that you would have less height since you don't need the 3/8 x 3/8 square extension piece and the female portion of the socket.  Early version of a close quarters set?
Thanks
Al