unusual....Lineman's ratchet

[Brophy]

Hey Fellas....found this nifty ratchet at a garage sale on the weekend and thought I'd share a pic.  According to the Gray Tools website it's a 5297 linemans ratchet. That's a regular old 1/2" Gray rat above it. 

The hole must be for a lanyard, but why the flat handle? Ease of use while wearing heavy gloves?

I've seen a lot of Gray tools but I've never seen one of these.



...Rob

[Mel Larsen]

My guess would be that it originally had some sort of rubber covering over the handle.  When your working on a pole and the line that is "Hot" there is usually enough induction electricity present to draw 1 or 2 inch arc with any metal you come in contact with. 
Mel

[Brophy]

Good thought, but Gray still sells them as you see this one, with no insulation.


From Gray's website....

[lbgradwell]

1967!

I don't know why the handle is flat; other companies don't seem to have flat handles...

[Mel Larsen]

One more possibility would be that it could be used via a "Hot Stick" thus the hole in the handle.
Mel

[OilyRascal]

Don't we have a member that was a linesman?

[Papaw]

amertrac seems to have some lineman knowledge.

[Mel Larsen]

I worked for a powerline construction company for a few years in the early 70's, but most of it was new construction, very little hot work.  I never saw a ratchet like this one, but there are a lot of things I never saw:o)
Mel

[john k]

Seems like a lot of linesmans tools have holes.   Probably to tie them up, so if dropped, the guys down below can breathe easier. 

[OilyRascal]

Seems like a lot of linesmans tools have holes.   Probably to tie them up, so if dropped, the guys down below can breathe easier.

I know for fact it is at least one major US oil refinery's policy is to require all tools going above 6' to be secured to a lanyard on the body (or the bucket being raised).

[scottg]

[
I know for fact it is at least one major US oil refinery's policy is to require all tools going above 6' to be secured to a lanyard on the body (or the bucket being raised).

I can agree with this!
  I used to adjust the towns TV antennae. So up on the highest mountain, in the crane bucket, right up to its maximum height limit. Lean over and .......................crap, dropped the ratchet.
Crane has to slowly lower all the way back to the ground, where I step out for 3 seconds, pick it up, and ride all the way back up.
    A guy just doesn't want to do that much!  A shoestring tied to the wrist stops all that.

But why this one has a flat handle?? It almost has to be made to attach to a pole or something.
    yours Scott
 

[Brophy]

I know for fact it is at least one major US oil refinery's policy is to require all tools going above 6' to be secured to a lanyard on the body (or the bucket being raised).

Same in the entertainment industry....we're the last to get rules, so if we have to , everyone has to.

I sent a note to Gray Tools and I'll post whatever they reply.

...Rob

[amertrac]

I worked for a power company for 33years and spent some time in the line dept also in stores dept and I have never seen a ratchet like that used on a pole or tower, maybe ground work but I doubt OSHA would ever allow that ratchet on a line truck . I have a small collection of hot stick tools but i don't recall any end connection like that on a hot stick . Do you realize what the swing would be in a 10 ft pole to make it ratchet. HOWEVER CANADA MAY BE DIFFERENT IF THAT WAS WHERE IT WAS MADE. I am not saying that this is not a linemans tool .I say I never have seen or heard of one.
bob w.

[lbgradwell]

HOWEVER CANADA MAY BE DIFFERENT IF THAT WAS WHERE IT WAS MADE.

We're weird up here.

[Brophy]

[We're weird up here.

Yup.