ratchet and right angle drive

[outofrshell]

These came from an estate sale in Oregon and we have had no luck researching them to see what they were used for. They are both marked AC (as in maybe AC spark plugs). The ratchet changes direction by sliding the 3/8" drive thru the head, the right angle drive is turned by putting the ratchet on the end of the handle. Dave

[rusty]

>AC (as in maybe AC spark plugs).

There were AC delco tools for a while...

What does it say under AC ? Looks like Pat and a number?

[Bill Houghton]

Don't know, but way cool.

[bonneyman]

Are they 1/4" or 3/8" drive?

I made a double flex ratchet like the one for reaching into restricted areas. And the angle ratchet is for tight access too -  I think you can rotate the socket knuckle by twisting the handle grip.

I'm thinking the AC might refer to AC Delco. Maybe working on a buried distributor?

[Aunt Phil]

I've seen 2 of the right angle drives in 60 years, one is mine.  The other slipped away from me when the owner died and his fool wife passed his tools along to a "nice young man" who was following in her husband's footsteps.

The one you have is from the 70s, a second production, similar to mine. 
They were NOT designed for high torque use, so use it accordingly.  It's a tool that can save you hours in some miserable situations.

[john k]

By the late 60s, some cars with the larger v8 engines were getting near impossible to access the spark plugs.   Ordinary flex head ratchets were barely up to the job.  I think these were made in answer to this need.  It is only 40 years back, but memory is a bit foggy on that.   The tool truck companies also made some rather exotic multi flex ratchets for adjusting the front suspension bolts, these were usually bulkier and in half inch drive.

[Bill Houghton]

The other slipped away from me when the owner died and his fool wife passed his tools along to a "nice young man" who was following in her husband's footsteps.

Well, but consider: that nice young man may turn into a tool nut and a good mechanic.  We need to raise the young ones up right, and early exposure to good tools is part of that.

[Aunt Phil]

Bill I happen to know EXACTLY what that "Nice young man" turned into.
He screwed the widow out of shop rent for years.
He collapsed a business her husband spent 20 years building.
He sold everything short of the concrete block walls and light fixtures and evaporated to find another sucker.

After all that, the fool widow still claimed he was a nice young man.

[Bill Houghton]

Bill I happen to know EXACTLY what that "Nice young man" turned into...

Sad.  I can understand your anger.  I've never been sure what's going on in the minds of people like that, but it's hard to be around.