The story of the law suit is true. I remember reading it in patents /
copyright class in the late 70's.
kg
-----Original Message-----
From: shop-talk-owner@autox.team.net
[mailto:shop-talk-owner@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Mike Frerichs
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 1999 12:28 AM
Cc: shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Tool for a loved one
I was told it was the reversing lever that was the subject of the lawsuit.
I
had a 3/8" Craftsman ratchet made before that time that had the lever
hanging
down that I liked so well. Something wore out inside of it while I was
working
as a mechanic about '84-'85, and when I took it back to Sears they were
happy
to replace it, but all their ratchets now had a dial on the back that could
be
used to turn the socket without moving the handle (occasionally useful) and
a
sort of three pointed star in the middle of the dial to reverse direction.
It
works, but I don't like it near as well as the lever.
A few years ago I wore out that ratchet also and took it back to Sears for
another replacement. To my delight, I found that they were back to the old
style using a lever for direction. The release button was back also, and
the
spinner dial was gone. Go figure.
Now if my 1/2" spinner dial type would just wear out so I could replace
it....
Looks like it ain't going to happen though. I put about 700 ft/lbs on it
the
other day (with a four foot piece of pipe) to break loose a wheel hub nut,
and
it didn't hurt it at all.
Just my version of the hearsay.
Mike Frerichs
"William M. Gilroy" wrote:
> This is from my memory and I was a child of the 70's. I think it was more
> like 15 or 20 years ago and the suit was for the feature on the ratchet
> wrenches where you pushed the button on the back of the ratchet head and
it
> unloaded the springs under the little balls that held the socket on the
> wrench. This allowed the socket to slide on and off real easily. This
> is from memory and not the gospel, and if I am wrong someone will correct
> me.
>
> Later,
>
> Bill Gilroy
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