king dick

[lauver]

benjy-- Thanks for posting the socket photo. That is what I needed to see.

LG-- Does benjy's big socket look familier?  That's like mine...  the part numbers are in the '47 catalog but the cosmetics of the illustrations do not match the sockets; two knurled rings vs one knurled ring. 

Everything I know about sockets (except the truth) tells me the two ring sockets are older than '47.  I'll bet they are 1930's.

[benjy]

if its any help,,my sockets have no part numbers on them,that is except the shiny replacement which is no way very old.the ratchet does have RD-APP-817766...i guess confusion reigns..

[Wrenchmensch]

Neat set. I traveled in my work and tried to locate the local flea market(s) for weekend wrench hunting. In UK, my midlands host called them "boot sales", in France, they were "marche au puce", in Germany, they were "flaumarkt".  Has the term "flea market" now supplanted the term "boot* sale" in UK?

*"boot" in UK English meant a car's trunk.

[lbgradwell]

Has the term "flea market" now supplanted the term "boot* sale" in UK?

Nope!

[benjy]

in the UK a flea market and a boot sale are entirely different things..a flea is usually dealers selling junk and antiques of all types,and try to charge dealer prices.,,a boot sale is ordinary folk selling off their unwanted items,its the place i find most of my bargains.

[rusty]

RD-APP-817766

Annoyingly, there seems tio be no way to look up Application numbers for Registered Designs, only the actual Issue numbers : (

[bird]

in the UK a flea market and a boot sale are entirely different things..a flea is usually dealers selling junk and antiques of all types,and try to charge dealer prices.,,a boot sale is ordinary folk selling off their unwanted items,its the place i find most of my bargains.

So, next time over in your "neck of the woods... or country..."   I should be looking for the "boot sales" ? I don't plan on being over there anytime soon..... as I'm sure you've read, I'm pretty "grounded" in Nelson county.  But, it's always good to find out the right terms... in case I get a wild idea to go over to England.
Thanks for the info.... I hope all is well with you,
cheers, bird

[Wrenchmensch]

Benjy:

"Boot sale" vs. "flea": that's a nice distinction, and a useful one. The boot sale I attended several times was in Nottinghamshire.  I always found interesting wrenches there. One nickel-plated half-inch ratchet I found is shown below. It's 9 3/4" long. The legend embossed on the handle reads, "Sheffield CRO-VAN England".

I have not researched this wrench, but I suspect it is an early 20th c. wrench and may have come with a set of sockets. Does anyone know anything more about the provenance of this ratchet?

[lbgradwell]

I have not researched this wrench, but I suspect it is an early 20th c. wrench and may have com with a set of sockets. Does anyone know anything more about the provenance of this ratchet?

I can all-but-guarantee you it was made by Gordon.

And is probably more recent than you think...

[benjy]

yup almost certainly a gordon,,i may have one somewhere..in bad order,i will take a look.

[benjy]

found it,,