I'll buy an old junk ratchet & track down parts to rebuild it rather than buy a new one. It's a hobby of mine & it's very rewarding. Been doing it for a while now. I wish I had before pics of the 1932 Duro ratchet. I found it laying in the scrap pile at the inlaws ranch. God only knows how long it had been there. It was so rusted up I had to give it a electrolysis bath. It works like a charm. Goes to show you how well stuff was built back then.
![Thumbs up :thup:](./images/smilies/icon_thumright.gif)
Im a big fan of Plomb tools. If you're not familiar with this brand, Plomb became Proto in 1949. Real Plomb tools make Snap-On of the same vintage look like Dollar Store tools!!
Here are a few I've collected & rebuilt:
1946 Plomb 1/2" drive. This is my go-to ratchet for anything requiring 1/2" drive.
![Image](http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e340/bigmacdak/Christmas2011036-1.jpg)
1932 Duro 1/2" drive with provisions for both male and female drive. Only 18 teeth in this monster! CLICK-CLICK-CLICK
![Image](http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e340/bigmacdak/Christmas2011038.jpg)
Go-to ratchet for 3/8's stuff: 1960's era S/K
![Image](http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e340/bigmacdak/Christmas2011039.jpg)
Grandpaws Craftsman box. Plum full of vintage Craftsman, Plomb, Huskey, Duro, Snap-On, Proto, Indestro, S/K, JH Williams, New Britian & so many others:
![Image](http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e340/bigmacdak/chainsaw077-1.jpg)