1/2 No 6 Ratchet Adaptor
On the left side is a rare early ratchet adaptor
The right shows a more common 1923 - 1929 No 6
Easily the most interesting and innovative piece of obsolete technology is the No. 6 Ratchet adapter . This is a speed device that allows any handle to be made into a ratchet handle. The handle and socket are not engaged, held apart by a spring, and will slip until the handle is pressed down. When collapsed, the teeth engage and torque can be applied in either direction. It is clever, rare and a very short lived device. Two are shown. I think 3 exist. The missing one seems to have the big teeth found on the left and the smaller body on the right. The ratchet on the left is stamped Snap-on with the small (early 1920s) underlined logo. It is also stamped “Pat Pend”. The right is common I have a 10 of the ones on the right and they all have the same markings, with not variations, no date stamps on any of them. In Catalog A it is unclear, but it appears the missing ratchet (small body, big teeth) may be shown.
These are sometimes called Cogs, Barrel adaptors, and cog Ratchets.
Number |
Description |
Date Range |
No 6 |
Ratchet adapter (Cog) |
Pre 1923-1929 |
1/2 67 variants
Left - 1934 flat ball detent
946 ball detent crimp style.
The No 6 Ratchet morphed into this. It exists in ¼ inch, 3/8 inch ¾ inch and ½ inch. The 3/8 and ½ inch (and maybe others) are still available new today. This is a 67A data stamped 1947
Number |
Description |
Date Range |
No 67 |
Ratchet adapter |
1941-1945 |
67-A |
Ratchet adapter |
1946 |
67-B |
Ratchet adapter |
1948-1955 |
67-C |
Ratchet adapter |
1958-1970 |
1/2 Ratchet Progression
1st is a very early No 7
2nd through 4th are progressively newer
The No 7 Ratchet was the main ratchet sold by Snap on. There are (at least) 4 versions and maybe many more. The first ratchet is the same pulled apart here. It reads “Snap-on Milwaukee USA. The end of the handle has an unreinforced hole. The next 3 all have a different, thicker casting with a reinforced hole (Obviously later). The 2nd from the top has a different Logo
1/2 Ratchet Continued
A friend of mine saw the write up above and offered these photos
After seeing the No 7 Ratchet progression above, a friend (the Johnsons) offered these photos. Shown here are 3 variations of the No 7 that are much more clear. The thumb switch is clearly different. The bottom is marked "Milwaukee" and the above "Kenosha". All 3 have press fit covers, not showing the 2 screws used today. A great set of examples
1/2 Ratchet Internals
Notice the 2 pawls
The “Improved design involves 2 pawls. It has 15 teeth. It so happens, mine has bad rivets and we can take a peek without destroying a 90 year old tool.
1/2 Ratchet Holes
1st is a very early No 7 with different casting around the hole
These are all No 7 Ratchets, the first one has a hole that is not 100% in the thicker casting, the next 3 all are. I speculate the earliest ratchets have this unreinforced hole and later ratchets reinforced the hole
1/2 Ratchet Logos
Notice the differences in the Snap on styles
The same 4 ratchets in the same order. Notice the logos. The first logo has a large S with “feet” at the ends of the S. I think this is early. The last ratchet is labeled No. 7 - I speculate this is the newest of the 4. The 2 in the middle have no real indication of which is earlier. There are differences. The “S” has “feet” on the 2nd, the 3rd has spears. But the last ratchet also has “feet”. The 1st and the 2nd is not marked “Patented applied for” and the 3rd and 4th do.
Number |
Description |
Date Range |
No 7 |
Flat Ratchet (15 tooth) |
1925–1929 |
No 7A |
Socket Receiving Plug |
1927 |
1/2 No 71 Ratchet Progression
No 71 ratchet pulled apart
Shown here is a No 71 data stamped 1934. It is pulled apart so you can see the pawl or cam. What you can not see is a spring and a ball bearing in a hole under the pawl that gives the “click” when the ratchet is switched from ON to OFF and visa versa. The switch is very narrow and commonly called a needle ratchet. This is basically the layout of a modern ratchet. (20 tooth)
1/2 Ratchet Description
Catalog description of a new invention
Here is the write up for the new ratchet
Number |
Description |
Date Range |
No. 71 |
Flat Ratchet (Narrow switch) (20 tooth) |
1932-1933 |
| No. 71-A | Flat Reversible Ratchet Exists, but not listed |
1934 |
No. 71-A2 |
Flat Reversible Ratchet |
1935- 1937 |
1/2 No 71N Ratchet
Here is a WWII date stamped “E” ratchet
Here is a WWII date stamped “E” ratchet
No 71 N is basically a design that exists today
1/2 No. 71M Odd Ball
Notice the differences in the Snap on styles
Above is a ratchet that is a little rough. It is a No 71M and is date stamped 1942. The catalog listing does not appear until 1950. It then appears to be more like the 71N and not this. Here the square and the switch are on the same side. The ratchet is designed like this. I do not know the reason for this
Number |
Description |
Date Range |
71-N |
Flat Ratchet (20 tooth) |
1936-1946 |
71NA |
Flat Master Ratchet (20 tooth) |
1948 |
71-M |
Flat Ratchet (20 tooth) |
1950-1965 |
1/2 Pear Head 71 Ratchets
No 71-15 ratchet with a 1940 date stamp
This is a No. 71-15 date stamped 1940. The square has been changed out. This is a classic designed pear shaped head.
Number |
Description |
Date |
71-10 |
A ratchet handle 9 13/16 inches long (25 tooth) |
1937-1946 |
71-15 |
A ratchet handle 15 inches long (25 tooth) |
1937-1946 |
71NA |
Master Ratchet |
1948 |
71-B |
Ratchet (25 tooth) |
1950 |
1/2 710 series Ratchets
This is a GS710 is industrial finish. It is the modern post 1948 handle design.
Number |
Description |
Date |
SR-710 |
Master ratchet (I have a 25 tooth but 20 tooth is listed) |
1948 |
SR-715 |
Master ratchet (20 tooth) |
1948 |
L-710 |
Master Supreme Ratchet |
1950-1965 |
L-715 |
Master Supreme Ratchet |
1950-1965 |
S-711 |
Flex ratchet |
1965 |
SL-710 |
Master Supreme Ratchet |
1967-1975 |
S-71 |
Master ratchet (25 tooth) |
1967-1978 |
S-710 |
Master ratchet |
1967-1978 |
S-711A |
Flex ratchet |
1967-1978 |
S-715 |
Master ratchet |
1967-1978 |
SF-710 |
Compact ratchet |
1967-1978 |
SL-715 |
Master Supreme Ratchet |
1967-1978 |
SF-710A |
Compact ratchet |
1970-1978 |
LSF-710 |
Screwdriver handle ratchet |
1975 – 1978 |
S-713 |
Quick Release 32 tooth ratchet |
1978 |
S-716 |
Scaffold Ratchet |
1978 |
1/2 LR-42 and LR-84 Ratchets
Here is a Catalog Drawing LR42 from 1953
This is a Catalog drawing of the LR42 from 1953. With the SR-84 these are the high end, fine tooth ratchets. They were expensive and uncommon
Number |
Description |
Date range |
LR-42 |
Master Deluxe Ratchet |
1953-1955 |
SR-84 |
Deluxe Master Ratchet |
1948 |
1/2 LR-42 and LR-84 Internals
Photo courtesy of Ken and Roseanna Johnson
This wrench is the first fine tooth ratchet. It was listed only in 1948 and has an 84 bites. The description is a little hard to understand, but here is the inside of the ratchet. it has 42 teeth
1/2 Odd Ball
Is it Snap on? Don't know (25 tooth)
There is no catalog listing I can find. There is no date stamp, no records I can find. This ratchet is rare, but they can be found. It is an odd ball. The gear has 25 teeth. The general construction is crude and it does not follow any Snap on pattern.