Unmarked Plomb 3/8 crank handle ratchet.

[EVILDR235]

Went to my favorite flea market this morning. Picked up a unmarked Plomb 3/8 drive ratchet. At the end of the handle where you hold it is a round boss forged at the end that is drilled and tapped to hold a wooden knob. The bolt that holds the knob is threaded in and the end is rivited over to keep the bolt from coming loose.The knob lets you crank the ratchet to tighten or remove bolts faster. The ratchet itself is unmarked like many other Plomb ratchets i have seen and several that i own. This style of Plomb ratchet has two side plates. It is a factory tool, not something Bubba whipped up out in the garage. The knob is two inches wide and two inches tall.

EvilDr235

[Northwoods]

Cool as all get out!
But what makes you sure it isn't the work of a long-lost machinist with a wood lathe??

[EVILDR235]

The ratchet handle has a round boss forged on the end of the handle. I have appox 20 Plomb ratchets that use two side plates and have seen many more and never seen any with that boss on the end. It is forged with the handle, not something welded on. I think i will go out in the shop and make one for myself that i can use. I have plenty of round handle Proto ratchets.

EvilDr235

[Twertsy]

I have at leasr one as well.

[EVILDR235]

After some gentle cleaning, i can see the boss / thick washer in held on the handle by a shoulder on the bolt and still allows the knob to turn. The end of the bolt is then peened over so it can't come loose. I still think it is a factory job because it is so well done. I still plan to modify a modern Proto ratchet copying this design.

EvilDr235

[mikeswrenches]

Wasn't one of those on here a while ago.  I was thinking that it had a military connection. It might have been on GG.  Or maybe I just imagined it.

If it was military, wouldn't it have a WF no.?

Mike

[Aunt Phil]

Pretty much a normal 1940 - 1960 assembly line tool.

Air tools didn't become commonly used until the 70s in US industry.
Biggest design feature of that tool, the knob made it difficult to stick in your pocket and take home.

[J.A.F.E.]

It is factory I had one similar but the knob may have been smaller. It was part of a Telco cable cutter.

[EVILDR235]

J.A.F.E., was yours copper colored ? Mine was chrome at one time.

EvilDr235

[J.A.F.E.]

I think the copper color was just bad lighting and my lack of skill with a camera. It was unplated as far as I can recall.

[Twertsy]

Here's one of mine mounted on the cable cutter.

[EVILDR235]

I didn't see anything in the box of tools that looked like that i remember. I will see the guy again in two weeks and i will check his stuff to see if he has the rest of the cable cutter.

EvilDr235

[Twertsy]

I didn't see anything in the box of tools that looked like that i remember. I will see the guy again in two weeks and i will check his stuff to see if he has the rest of the cable cutter.

EvilDr235

I "think" that's technically a cable splicer.  Anyway, I also have one or two that aren't mounted on the splicer.  The one on my splicer is permanently attached (ie. not removable) so I doubt the "free" ones had the same purpose.  I have a "what's it" on my site of similar, although later design that we've yet to determine a purpose for here: http://toolarchives.com/node/602

[EVILDR235]

Interesting ratchets. I think one could build a very large collection of just Plomb / Proto  related ratchets. Just to name a few. Plomb, Proto, Penens, P&C, Firestone, M. Wards, Craftsman, Fleet, Challenger, Miller Falls, Hoppe, Tru Test and the unmarked ones.  All made by Plomb or Proto at one time. Urrea in Mexico started out as a spin off of Proto. I believe was called Protomex. i have several odd ratchet parts like a 3/8 drive Proto side plate that is roll marked on both sides. A 1/2 inch drive Proto side plate that came in a repair kit that is drilled, but not tapped. Then you have all the imported knockoffs. Armstrong had a ratchet that appears to have been made by Proto with a detent ball added to prevent accidental direction changes.

EvilDr235