Strange early socket wrench

[Wrenchmensch]

This little wooden handled early ratchet showed up today. The handle is 8 inches long, and the uncompressed ratchet section is 7 3/4 inches high. The socket is 13/16 inches square.  Pushing down on the wooden handle engages the drive teeth with the socket teeth. When the handle is released the teeth disengage.  It looks too fine to have been a barnyard wrench. Maybe it was a millwright's wrench, one used to drive square-headed screws. Alternatively, maybe it was a wagon maker's wrench. 

I have never seen a wrench like this before. Has anyone else?

[johnsironsanctuary]

Nifty tool! It looks like it would be right at home anywhere there were bolted flanges.  If you had previously used open ends to tighten 24 bolts on several flanges. This thing was a lifesaver, especially if the flanges were horizontal and you could use your weight to engage the ratchet. Steamfitters were ideal customers for this.

[john k]

Very interesting tool.   Odd it has been taken care of for many decades.   The owner valued it long after it was a necessity maybe?  Boiler maker and millwright sound correct to me.  Wagons, maybe, plenty of square nuts on them.  Especially around the fifth wheel on the front axle.   Private collection, flea market?   

[Plyerman]

I'm thinking carriage maker. Lots of square nuts used in them too, and the builders and tools used would have been a little more upscale than wagons.

[mikeswrenches]

Here is a very early Snap-on(1920's) very similar to what you have except that it went on 1/2 in. drive tools.




Mike

[krusty the clown]

Here is a very early Snap-on(1920's) very similar to what you have except that it went on 1/2 in. drive tools.




Mike

and snap on held a patent on that.......they obviously copied (imagine that) an un patented tool. most of the snap on story is BS in my opinion.

[rusty]

I think I remember seeing the original tool in a patent, tho I can't find it at the moment...

The fact that an earlier thing isn't patented doesn't let you take out a patent on it, if it exists, your idea isn't novel and can't be patented. Presumably, SnapOn claimed something about theirs that was different from what had been done before....

[HeelSpur]

Those put the KA in kool.

[lauver]

wrenchmensch,

I'm pretty sure I saw your tool somewhere on AA.  I don't remember which tool manufacturer.  You may just have to sift thru the entire AA site to find it. 

Happy hunting... and by the way, there are far worse places to spend your day.

[amertrac]

WOW What a find and in that good shape. Put that sucker under glass on your living room wall .bob w.

[Wrenchmensch]

WOW What a find and in that good shape. Put that sucker under glass on your living room wall .

Bob W.:

I agree with you. This one of the prettiest wrenches I have ever seen.

Bob W. (also)

[scottg]

About as good as it gets!
  yours Scott