A little of my OCD is showing, I know, but....

[Northwoods]

I took a few minutes to clean and lube my two WF-21 3/8 PLVMB ratchets this afternoon and noticed that they are not exactly alike.
One has a flattened oval faceplate, and both plumb bobs point downward.
The other has a waistline near the screws, and only one plumb bob points downward; the one on the right points up.
Got to looking, and the one with the waistline is about 1/16" thinner.
I checked the Internet, and found that most WF-21's follow mine; most, but not all. Even found one with the identifying information stamped, rather than forged.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-PLOMB-3-8-DR-RATCHET-6-EXTENSION-VERY-NICE-COND-WF-21-5261-USA-/361369665640?nma=true&si=8xmY7%252FATYoMS1M9dd4Hg1DxaaFY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Anyone ever noticed this?

[Twertsy]

I took a few minutes to clean and lube my two WF-21 3/8 PLVMB ratchets this afternoon and noticed that they are not exactly alike.
One has a flattened oval faceplate, and both plumb bobs point downward.
The other has a waistline near the screws, and only one plumb bob points downward; the one on the right points up.
Got to looking, and the one with the waistline is about 1/16" thinner.
I checked the Internet, and found that most WF-21's follow mine; most, but not all. Even found one with the identifying information stamped, rather than forged.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-PLOMB-3-8-DR-RATCHET-6-EXTENSION-VERY-NICE-COND-WF-21-5261-USA-/361369665640?nma=true&si=8xmY7%252FATYoMS1M9dd4Hg1DxaaFY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Anyone ever noticed this?

Plomb had no less than 27 factories subcontracted for production of Plomb WF contract tools.  To me, that is the simplest and most obvious explanation for all the variations and nothing more.  Of course I could be wrong but that seems the most plausible explanation for all the random idiosyncrasies in the markings and variations in forgings.

[Plyerman]

Makes sense to me.