Craftsman Tools - USA History: Long Lever & Butterfly Selector Ratchets (2nd Gen. RP)

[@abandonedsc4261]

As always Excellent presentation! The speed ratchet blew me away. I've never seen such a unique ratchet. Props for the person donating that. it's in great shape! Again thanks for your time and I'm sure $ involved in bringing us these videos!

[@GearWolf]

+AbandonedSC I am VERY lucky to have received that particular piece as a donation, since it is probably >95% close to its original mint condition. I've seen several of these before, but never one in this good of condition before. While I have received a handful of donations, it seems that those who have contributed have been kind enough to offer a few excellent specimens.

[@daddydaughterrepairs9091]

I actually worked at the Springfield Massachusetts plant that made them! It closed in mid 05

[@danielanderson8502]

I’ve been binging these vids of yours of the Craftsman history. Really really cool!!!!

[@zombienoob410]

In the early 80’s one of my grandpas friends moved, so he was given some tools and most of them have sat since then. I inherited all of his tools a few years ago, today I was going through the shed and looked in a tool box I haven’t been checked out yet. Wouldn’t you know it a 1/2 butterfly, it was in pretty sad shape and hardly moved. Got it all cleaned up and it lives on in my tools.

[@teresaallen3045]

I like old style craftsman socket wrenches yes they great

[@GearWolf]

Some were pretty great weren't they? ^_^

[@melindaortiz9741]

Just bought a 1/2 butterfly ratchet on eBay across the country in 2 day arrived. Love technology

[@GearWolf]

Cool! These certainly fit the look of the late 1950s don't they? Everything had a fin or wing. These were no exception. ^_^

[@j_snap_f-71]

I'm one of the lucky fortunate few to have scored the very early 4483 + 4478 and 4498 repair kits they produced with the factory brand spanking new V SHIFTER included, black oxide or molybdenum coated perhaps, original style gear and "bat pawl" and the chrome plated retaining plate. Needless to say I WILL NEVER PART with them, they're truly rare commodities...paid too much for them.

[@j_snap_f-71]

Yea, those elusive 4444 1/2" Butterfly torque wrench's are extraordinarily rare to say the least!! Someday I hope to own one.

[@GearWolf]

Howdy! I have spare immaculate one with the original box, should you be interested! It won't be "cheap", but you likely won't find one like this anywhere else. ^_^

[@Marker1989]

@@GearWolf I know this is 2 years old, but I'm interested

[@GearWolf]

Whew, it has been a while since I have been on here! I think the video is nearly 10 years old, ha-ha! ^_^ @@Marker1989

[@GearWolf]

@@Marker1989 Thankfully, information of this kind does not have a shelf life! ^_^

[@Marker1989]

​@@GearWolf I was referring to the 4444 torque wrench, but I finally found one. That said, I'm very thankful for this timeless information, I have enjoyed these videos!

[@kirbyskilldustbunnys]

@GearWolf Do you know if all of the butterfly selector ratchets had oil ports?

[@GearWolf]

There were intended to have them. If yours does not, it was a factory error.

[@anthonymascolo5519]

Awesome video! Thanks for making it.

[@altonriggs2352]

I never heard the quality of Craftsman tools back in the day, most tools then we're made to last and repair. The lifetime replacement opportunity was the big selling point then.

[@johngibson3594]

Great video the speeder ratchet is cool I saw on out of all the tool vids I have watched now 2

[@GearWolf]

+John Gibson If any ratchet is an example of a bygone era, it certainly would be the 3/8" speeder.

[@hodges-hg6ck]

Any suggestions on rebuild kits for the 3/8 V?

[@GearWolf]

I would recommend finding a less condition donor ratchet on eBay. Unfortunately, that is your most cost effective bet.

[@60retired]

Excellent job with your research and presentation on these vintage ratchets. Why do you suppose the 15” breaker bar Butterfly lever ratchet has a rounded design to the Craftsman name raised panel on the handle like with the long lever ratchets? All the other Butterfly lever ratchets are squared off.

[@GearWolf]

This is an AWESOME question! I'm actually going to reveal that very aspect in the "reboot" of the series I've been working on! I should start releasing them soon!

[@kirbyskilldustbunnys]

Does anyone know if there are any diferences between the 1/2" hourglass selector torque wrench and the 1/2 butterfly selector torque wrench? Also if there are no diferences between the two, would I be able to take a 1/2" hourglass selector torque wrench and install a standard 1/2" butterfly selectorswitch on the torque wrench?

[@GearWolf]

Believe it or not, there are some important differences between the few variants. If the objective is to be historically accurate, the answer is no. If the objective is to get your tool back to doing its job, the answer is do whatever you need to do! ^_^

[@TylerSnyder305]

Hey man I know you've posted this video years ago, but I figure knowledge doesn't expire right ? I frequent the GG over the GJ so I can't ask there if you're even still a member so I came to this video. Do you perhaps know if the Permanex plastic ratchet cases were in use early enough to have come with a flying V ratchet ? I know the logo was in use at this time. I've bought a 3/8 flying V ratchet set from eBay that's coming in a black plastic " Permanex " crown logo case and I would like to find out if the ratchet belongs in this set. Everything is =V= code so the tools definitely match, but I've mostly seen these with an RHFT ratchet.

[@GearWolf]

Hi Tyler! I believe I just found you on GG as "hickory N Steel"! Am I correct? The answer is likely: no. I checked through my physical Sears catalogs and didn't see a direct mention of the Permanex cases until 1969; however, believe I saw a set or two that "might" have used that specific case in 1968. Don't quote me on that though hahaha! The last run of the "Flying V" ratchets was in early 1966, which, at least from the Sears Catalog, show small ratchet and socket sets being offered with the steel case / plastic insert. That was a great question! Thank you for asking it! ^_^

[@TylerSnyder305]

@@GearWolf Yep, that's me. Thanks for the info. I got the set in yesterday, and as it turns out 3 of the sockets are single line V with the barn roof A. I don't mind the set being a bit mismatched since it's all Craftsman and was used just enough to show it but certainly not used very heavily.

[@funkervogt47]

I have one of these. How do you disassemble them?

[@GearWolf]

I haven't done an "official" tear down on these only a discussion about the internals. I will be getting to that for the "reboot" of this series. If you follow the "Quick Release" tear down video I put up, it is the same philosophy. Watch that one and you should be good to go.

[@briankelley1335]

I keep going over your videos (which I enjoy very much), and have yet to find a tear-down on the long lever (high profile) ratchet. Neither can I find your thread on lost ratchet history.There are other tear-downs that I have had great difficulty finding, even though you has promised that they would be forthcoming. I trust that they will be included in the reboot, which I'm still waiting to find. Please keep me appraised as to where and when this information can be found.

[@GearWolf]

Hello, Brian! I will try to tackle each of your questions separately. The tear down of the "Long Lever" (will be called High Profile in the new series) was never filmed. This was a part of the 20% of the original series that was canceled. The forum posts you are looking for can be found by doing a search online via Google: Craftsman's Lost Ratchet History. You will notice the post has been marked "Void" by me, as well as many other threads/posts I put up. This was done to avoid confusion for when the "reboot" is made. Unfortunately, some information was incorrect, thus I removed it. The status of the new series is still strong. All of the other incremental pieces are still being worked on directly or indirectly. As of late, the real crux of the situation has had to do with our interstate move AND the fact that I (alone) will be moving again to another state. Due to my wife's condition, I have done what I can to set her up as well as possible prior to leaving for a doctorate program. It has been a difficult journey so far. I'm planning on bringing about 1/2 of our AV gear and computers to continue working on the project. Since a bulk of the footage has already been done, except the "fun stuff", I can focus on assembling it and doing the voice work as time allows in the future. My biggest opponent is "everything else" in life. Yet, I'm still true to all of these commitments even if it means sleeping a few hours a day, hahaha! ^_^

[@briankelley1335]

@@GearWolf I know you are a busy man and I don't mean to complicate things. I was just curious if there was another source for the information. Hope all is well with your wife and daughter and good luck with your move. Keep in touch. Regards, Brian

[@GearWolf]

@@briankelley1335 Oh, it is absolutely no problem my friend! I'll certainly be in touch! ^_^

[@dyer2cycle]

...I believe that "EWB" Long breaker bar ratchet is a VERY early one, as if you notice, the body is much more like the Long Lever ratchets than it is like the other Butterfly lever ratchets...note the rounded ends on the panels, and the "short" v-shaped raised area directly below the lever(like the long lever ratchets), as opposed to the "longer" raised area on the other Butterfly ratchets...which leads me to think that the very early Butterfly ratchets may have used the same "bodies" as the Long lever ratchets...BTW, I just picked up one of those Butterfly spinner-handle ratchets at an estate sale for $10.00..didn't need it but thought it was cool and unique..couldn't believe what they are selling for online until I was checking on info on it on the internet...

[@GearWolf]

This is a good observation. I will clarify things like this in the upcoming "reboot" video! Yes, the spinners have really gone up in the last 2 years. It is crazy!

[@dyer2cycle]

@@GearWolf ..Will be looking for the "reboot" video..just hit the "Subscribe"!..I wonder if the manufacturer of these ratchets(Moore Drop Forge) offered the spinner ratchet in the Easco name or Napa Tools?...the spinner probably pre-dated Easco or their production for Napa tools, though...I do remember Napa branded pear head ratchets that looked like a dead ringer for the QR Craftsmans except the handle was a little different..also, their wrenches were basically identical to the Craftsman raised panel, except they had a "teardrop" panel instead, like the Easco-branded ones, and the USA made Master Mechanic ones...a "History of Napa Tools" would be an interesting topic, also :)....

[@GearWolf]

@@dyer2cycle Don't quote me on this, but I believe that this specific spinner design was a Moore Drop Forge exclusive. It may be possible that it was exclusive to the Craftsman brand, but I am uncertain of this.

[@Crustychevrolet]

Wish somebody would do this for snap on

[@pico67ss]

What are the ratchet model numbers

[@GearWolf]

These did not have dedicated product/model numbers. Sears used the same/similar codes for individual ratchets for quite a while in their catalogues. For instance, product ID 4455 (a made up number) within tools may indicate a "Box Head" 1/2" ratchet just as it may indicate a "Butterfly" of the same size 10 years later.

[@toddf4738]

Is it physically possible to put a long lever from a Gen 3 onto a Gen 2, V lever ratchet body. I've seen a few long lever, non-quick release ratchets on eBay and I'm thinking I'm looking at a Gen 2, long lever but upon closer inspection, based on your video, I think it's a V lever type with a Gen 3 rebuild kit stuffed into it. The lever itself is thicker and lower profile. The snap ring area under the lever is much wider and the raised panel has squarer corners. Am I looking at a Frankenstein?

[@toddf4738]

Disregard. I just looked at your "Intermediate Gen 2 Gen # Hybrid" video. That's what I'm looking at, Thanks

[@GearWolf]

No, it is absolutely impossible.

[@GearWolf]

Yes, you are correct. What you are looking at is likely the "Intermediate". I am currently working on a reboot for this video series. Given the confusion of particulars between the "Hi-Profile Selector" (Long Lever), Butterfly (Flying V), and the "Intermediates" (my dubbing), I'm going to have to make separate videos for each individual style of ratchet. Please be aware, each of the aforementioned ratchets have very difference selector area machining. LL and Flying V selector machining has most to do with access to the clip that retains the selector itself; whereas the "Intermediate" selector area machining has more to do with the selector actually functioning than the retaining clip. Yes, you can swap selectors on LL and Flying V ratchets. You CANNOT swap a "Intermediate" or Quick Release selector, and have it function, in the LL or Flying V due to the lack of clearance for the selector to move.

[@betmon5986]

Gw wud u b willing to sell me the long handled 1/2 inch fixed ratchet and the flex head ratchets

[@GearWolf]

I would encourage you to check out my eBay page. Anything that is for sale is on there. Eventually, everything will be for sale at some point. Thanks for the question!

[@johnfarrow5702]

On speeder I have blue and black