Old Snap-On catalog

[pwd72s]

Found a Snap on Catalog I had in a pile here. Date on the accompanying price list was 2001.

One thing I found interesting was the tooth count on their ratchets was 36, only a 10 degrees arc swing. Many ratchets being sold today, even the cheap harbor freight stuff, brag in advertising about 72 to 90 tooth counts with tiny little arc swings.

This made me chuckle a bit...since my old USA made "Craftsperson" ratchets are 36 tooth. Yet, I can't really recall a time where a smaller arc swing would have made the difference of doing or not doing a project. They all still function well, so I'm not about to toss them and buy higher tooth count ratchets.

Golly gee, How did those guys wrenching at the turn of the century accomplish anything with such archaic ratchet technology?

[gregpark]

The old Snap On calenders were more enjoyable. VA VA voom!

[herr_oberst]

I reach for a HF 3/8 ratchet before I'll use any of my Craftsman's. The quality of that junk from Sears got so bad - yeah, they were guaranteed for life, but the replacement was a little worse and a little worse until the ones I have now are thisclose to getting pitched across the driveway and into the gutter out of frustration when I forget and try to use them.

I wouldn't know about SnapOn quality. Too rich for my blood.

I do have an old SnapOn from the (50's 60's?) that's worn out and never gets used. Don't know where I got it. Yard sale?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I reach for a HF 3/8 ratchet before I'll use any of my Craftsman's. The quality of that junk from Sears got so bad - yeah, they were guaranteed for life, but the replacement was a little worse and a little worse until the ones I have now are thisclose to getting pitched across the driveway and into the gutter out of frustration when I forget and try to use them.

I wouldn't know about SnapOn quality. Too rich for my blood.

I do have an old SnapOn from the (50's 60's?) that's worn out and never gets used. Don't know where I got it. Yard sale?

You mean the made in China "Craftsperson" stuff sold now? If so, I have to agree. My USA made "Craftsperson" oldies? I took 'em apart, used brake cleaner to get rid of the old crusty lube and dirt. Lubed them with "superlube" grease, same stuff Snap-on uses on ratchets today. I'd say they work better now than when they were new..

(edit) However, wouldn't buy a new Craftsman ratchet today. If one of mine should break, it'll get tossed. Why? Because the repair kits made today are made in China, don't work well. Probably would replace with Gearwrench, Carlyle (NAPA), or Tekton...

[maxnine11]

In older (better?) times there was a lot more room to work in engine compartments, etc. Nowadays there is barely enough room left in the engine bay for light!
A short 80 tooth ratchet is sometimes the only way to get a click or two per swing.

[A930Rocket]

You can never have enough ratchets. Different styles, lengths, etc. to get the job done.

[herr_oberst]

^^^ Agreed. When I'm working on the car these days, I'll dedicate a socket to a ratchet (up to a point), that way I reach for the whole tool rather than fumble around changing sockets. One of the perks of being a tool hoarder.

[pwd72s]

^ Hmmm, maybe you need to add rotoheads in 3 drive sizes?

[A930Rocket]

I don’t have those, but I have Facom 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets where you twist the handle and it rotates the socket. Obviously, you can’t do a huge torque on them, but they do work well. They are the black handle ratchets. 😂

Today I ordered a set of locking flex head ratchets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. There are many times the flex head ratchet flops around. The locking flex head will make a difference.

[QUOTE=pwd72s;11962160]^ Hmmm, maybe you need to add rotoheads in 3 drive sizes?
/QUOTE]

[pwd72s]

Then, there's one like this in my ratchet drawer...belonged to my dad. I took it apart, cleaned & oiled...still works. Glad I found the video letting me know it's age. Nope, I don't use it...but is pretty valuable to me. (edit) My dad was born in 1908.)

[RANDY P]

Those old Craftsman ratchets are best used for assembling swingsets and crap from IKEA. Short, require a lot of room to work just makes more complex jobs a bear. They rarely, if ever get used anymore.

These days I'm either on my Snap on 72 tooth or a 120XP Gearwrenches.

rjp

[RANDY P]

I got this. 3/8" with 18" handle

https://www.acmetools.com/gearwrench-120xp-extra-long-handle-ratchet-3-8-in-drive-81269/099575812699.html

[pwd72s]

Taiwan made tools...several brands of them seem to have replaced the USA Craftsman line as good quality for the weekend warrior at an affordable price.

Tool addiction is not such a terrible disease...

My set (1/4, 3/8, 1/2) Tekton rotoheads are 72 tooth. Yeah, I can see the advantage of more teeth. One negative...not able to open them up for service. Guess that makes them disposables one they fail.

[MaxVon]

I found this 1/2 drive Snap-On ratchet in my grandfather's basement back in the 1980's.
He was a maintenance worker at the Studebaker factory in Hamilton Ontario Canada back in the early 1960's. It gives me great pleasure to use it still.

[pwd72s]

Max...how cool is that? I'm thinking you also have a conversation with your grandfather with every use.
(edit) Did a quick search...here's a teardown of another one. Going by what this guy said, I think you Grandad's ratchet was made in 1963. Maybe 1953?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3twM7EnhSng&t=9s&ab_channel=SnapRingChronicles

[MaxVon]

So true Paul. My dad had no mechanical ability and we figured out it somehow skips a generation.
I'm glad to have the tools and knowledge to help me maintain my vehicles over the years even though I'm aging out a little bit every day.
I do think of my grandad and what a hardcore wrench he was. Drove his 1958 Mercury Montcalm until his death in 1979.

[A930Rocket]

This snap on ratchet is at least 60 years old and belonged to my grandfather. He worked at the Charleston Naval Yard as a machinist, during the second world war and through the 60s.

[MaxVon]

Whoever thought there would be such interest in old tools by some old tools?
Present company included......

[herr_oberst]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/date-code-on-snap-on-mv71-and-fv71.38000/

[pwd72s]

Haven't found a good one to print out yet, but there are charts online showing snap-on date codes...