Tool Talk

Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Topic started by: Wrenchmensch on December 01, 2012, 11:56:23 AM

Title: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: Wrenchmensch on December 01, 2012, 11:56:23 AM
I noticed the "RR" stamp on this 9 1/2-inch Milwaukee ratchet .  The 2 letters are arranged in the Rolls-Royce logo pattern.  This is a high quality, nickel plated ratchet from some time past. We had a Rolls-Royce service specialist who lived and worked in the Wilmington, Delaware area where I found this tool.  Was it part of a Rolls kit? Did the Rolls-Royce specialist mark the tool for one of his local customers?  Or, was it part of this specialist's tool kit?
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: jimwrench on December 01, 2012, 12:31:57 PM
 I have a similar although maybe older Milwaukee rat and it has (R) and (L) in raised letters in that area. Think they ground the raised letters down and stamped the double RR ?
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: Wrenchmensch on December 01, 2012, 01:30:37 PM
Jim:

I don't think so. The R(ight) and L(eft) markings on your wrench make sense. My wrench has no grind marks on either side (I've added a second photo).  It's still possible my wrench is older than yours.  I say this because of its nickel plating, the fact that the word "MILWAUKEE" barely fits in its placement on the wrench, and  the letter L is obviously larger than the other letters in Milwaukee. This wrench looks like a first product that has not been abused.
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on December 01, 2012, 04:26:28 PM
I can't imagine Rolls Royce sourcing something from the US, let alone Milwaukee.  I think that the stamp is Robert Rogers marking his tools distinctively.
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: Wrenchmensch on December 01, 2012, 05:35:02 PM
I don't know Bob Rogers. Richard Rogers and Roy Rogers, maybe!
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: rusty on December 01, 2012, 05:55:32 PM

My guess would be that they forgot to put the raised Right/Left markings originally, which would be very confusing as the ratchet looks the same both ways, and fixed it by stamping them on, but, on this one, accidently double stamped the R (leaving off the L)...

Just a theory....

Or perhaps it stands for 'Reject Ratchet' ;P
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: Wrenchmensch on December 01, 2012, 06:46:50 PM
Or, Rusty's Right. 

Anybody else care to weigh in?  All are truly welcome!!!!
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: rusty on December 01, 2012, 07:10:18 PM
NB: Your ratchet also doesn't say 'So. Milwaukee', which may be signifigant, as MTF moved several times.....

Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: v8garage on December 01, 2012, 10:34:53 PM
I can't imagine Rolls Royce sourcing something from the US, let alone Milwaukee.  I think that the stamp is Robert Rogers marking his tools distinctively.

Not so far fetched when you take into account that Rolls Royces were manufactured in the U.S. at one time.
V/8
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: pritch on December 01, 2012, 11:34:24 PM
I have one Rolls-Royce tool, and it's pretty clear:

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/moreoldtools028.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/gpritch/tools/moreoldtools029.jpg)

Just sayin'
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: anglesmith on December 02, 2012, 03:53:53 AM
A check of the Rolls Royce trade mark shows that the first (left) R is always higher! So I think both John's and Rusty's suggested names are closer to the truth?!
Graeme
Title: Re: Rolls-Royce insignia on Milwaukee True Fit Tool & Forge Co. ratchet
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on December 02, 2012, 08:08:38 AM
Yes, V8, they were made in USA for a bit of time. The factory was in Springfield Mass. in the middle of the greatest concentration of wrench manufacturers the world had ever seen. Milwaukee? I don't think so. I'm sticking with Ronald Rittenhouse's initials.