Anyone got a 9/32 drive ratchet, sockets, etc...?

[masraum]

It seems that in the US they were mostly made by Snap On, and mostly made from the early 30s until 1942. Most were made for the military. I read somewhere that they were to keep folks from stealing them, but that doesn't make sense to me. It seems that they may have also been made by Plumb/Plomb and maybe King Dick.

I thought it was interesting that something else existed besides 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 (and some of the bigger stuff)

[RNajarian]

I have a couple 9/32 Plomb ratchets. One of them was ground down by the PO to accommodate 1/4 sockets.

Those WW2 era tools were great. I’ve also got several 1/2 inch drives stamped WP (Wright Patterson) also from that era. If those tools could talk . . .

[pwd72s]

Cool...I've read about them. Thanks for the pic. Have some old 40's ratchets, plomb & Craftsman, that were my dad's, but only 3/8 drive.

[wdfifteen]

I once had a torque wrench from Wright Patt. It was 8 feel long when assembled, with the square drive in the center. It was 1 1/2" or 2." I don't know what it was used for or why I ended up with it. It sat in my damp basement for years and ended up in the scrap heap.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by RNajarian

I have a couple 9/32 Plomb ratchets. One of them was ground down by the PO to accommodate 1/4 sockets.

Those WW2 era tools were great. I’ve also got several 1/2 inch drives stamped WP (Wright Patterson) also from that era. If those tools could talk . . .

That's funny.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I once had a torque wrench from Wright Patt. It was 8 feel long when assembled, with the square drive in the center. It was 1 1/2" or 2." I don't know what it was used for or why I ended up with it. It sat in my damp basement for years and ended up in the scrap heap.

Wow, crazy!

[A930Rocket]

I had heard decades ago, the military used a weird size, to prevent theft, as they were not compatible with standard sockets, etc. That said, I have a 1/2” drive Snap On ratchet from about 1942, that my grandfather used at the Charleston naval shipping yard.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I had heard decades ago, the military used a weird size, to prevent theft, as they were not compatible with standard sockets, etc. That said, I have a 1/2” drive Snap On ratchet from about 1942, that my grandfather used at the Charleston naval shipping yard.

There ya go...your Grandpa was one of those workers with a large lunch box.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

There ya go...your Grandpa was one of those workers with a large lunch box.

One story I heard is that the Navy yards gave up on stopping tool theft, and bought enough hammers and other tools to fill every home workshop so there was no need to steal any more.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I had heard decades ago, the military used a weird size, to prevent theft, as they were not compatible with standard sockets, etc. That said, I have a 1/2” drive Snap On ratchet from about 1942, that my grandfather used at the Charleston naval shipping yard.

That's what I read about them. As far as I've been able to tell, the military issue stuff that was non-standard size was only the small 1/4" vs 9/32". I've found plenty of military issue stuff online that is 3/8" and 1/2". I guess they were only worried about stuff small enough to fit a pocket.

[John Rogers]

Sorry I don't have those but I do have my Whitworth Spanners from when I owned a BSA A-10 in 1969/70 time frame. They lasted longer than my wife of the time!
John Rogers

[rockfan4]

Yes, I have a set plus extra odds and ends. Inherited from my father, who was a mechanic. I'm sure he picked them up at an auction, it seemed like we went to one just about every weekend. Unfortunately, I keep them in the same drawer as the 1/4 stuff, so it's always a chore to match things up. But this is the toolbox in the basement, and I rarely use stuff out of that box. There's also some 8 point sockets in the drawer. No idea where they're used.

And yes, the 9/32 size was on purpose to keep people from stealing them, but I guess if you get the whole set it doesn't matter much.

[pwd72s]

8 points mainly used for square head nut & bolts. Also works for "star" shaped, but dunno if they were used back then.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

8 points mainly used for square head nut & bolts. Also works for "star" shaped, but dunno if they were used back then.

8 points work for star shaped? What are you calling star shaped, torx? Those are 6 point. And then there's the triple square, but those are 12 point. I can't imagine an 8 point working well on either of those. WHat other star shaped are there?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

Yes, I have a set plus extra odds and ends. Inherited from my father, who was a mechanic. I'm sure he picked them up at an auction, it seemed like we went to one just about every weekend. Unfortunately, I keep them in the same drawer as the 1/4 stuff, so it's always a chore to match things up. But this is the toolbox in the basement, and I rarely use stuff out of that box. There's also some 8 point sockets in the drawer. No idea where they're used.

And yes, the 9/32 size was on purpose to keep people from stealing them, but I guess if you get the whole set it doesn't matter much.

Very cool.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by masraum

8 points work for star shaped? What are you calling star shaped, torx? Those are 6 point. And then there's the triple square, but those are 12 point. I can't imagine an 8 point working well on either of those. WHat other star shaped are there?

I have some old wood working tools owned by a grandpa....late 1800's, early 1900's, that have fasteners kind of star shaped...never tried it, but thought an 8 point might work on 'em. But you're right...mainly made for square head fasteners.

[JackDidley]

Never heard of a 9/32 drive ratchet before this thread. Today I saw one for sale on FB marketplace. Crazy.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I have some old wood working tools owned by a grandpa....late 1800's, early 1900's, that have fasteners kind of star shaped...never tried it, but thought an 8 point might work on 'em. But you're right...mainly made for square head fasteners.

Interesting. I've been perusing old woodworking tool groups for the past year or two and never seen anything like you describe. If you get a chance (don't go out of your way) I'd love to see pics of what you're talking about. THere was so much interesting stuff done back in the day!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

Never heard of a 9/32 drive ratchet before this thread. Today I saw one for sale on FB marketplace. Crazy.

Yep. I beat you hearing about them by a week or two.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by masraum

Interesting. I've been perusing old woodworking tool groups for the past year or two and never seen anything like you describe. If you get a chance (don't go out of your way) I'd love to see pics of what you're talking about. THere was so much interesting stuff done back in the day!

I'm a luddite...no digital camera other than an old point & shoot that the battery died on. Anyway, very ornate fitting, cast iron, painted balck, sort of pyramid shaped with 5 splines down the pyramid. Bolt head showing in the hole at it's top...located at the bottom of the handles of an old draw knife...

Have an old wooden chest with a batch of old woodworking tools in my storage shed. Probably will get tossed when I croak. Wish you were my neighbor, I'd give 'em to you. Hopefully, I'll bump into someone who likes that old stuff.

I've reached that getting rid of stuff stage of life. One of Cindy's rehab guys happened to be into Porsches. Has a Boxster...I gave him my PCA "Upfixin" book set a few weeks ago.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I'm a luddite...no digital camera other than an old point & shoot that the battery died on. Anyway, very ornate fitting, cast iron, painted balck, sort of pyramid shaped with 5 splines down the pyramid. Bolt head showing in the hole at it's top...located at the bottom of the handles of an old draw knife...

Have an old wooden chest with a batch of old woodworking tools in my storage shed. Probably will get tossed when I croak. Wish you were my neighbor, I'd give 'em to you. Hopefully, I'll bump into someone who likes that old stuff.

I've reached that getting rid of stuff stage of life. One of Cindy's rehab guys happened to be into Porsches. Has a Boxster...I gave him my PCA "Upfixin" book set a few weeks ago.

Interesting!

And what you're describing is in the purple rectangle? That sounds really neat and unusual. I've only ever seen washers or caps that have a tang peened over.



Or are you talking about the area in the red circle which is only on folding handle draw knives so less common.

It's too bad you don't know someone local that would take the tools. The only tools are very cool, and slowly disappearing because lots of folks don't appreciate them any more.