Yankee Mechanic's Inc. Clydesdale

[contender]

After a very long trip via USPS,, the winch arrived today. The package showed heavy damage,, but the winch was there. It is NOT a Ruger marked one.

[johncdougan]

Hello Guys,

I authored an article that appeared in an RCA JOURNAL a few years back. Below is the narrative from that article. I can't locate the actual JOURNAL, probably 2021-2022. The posts before this one have plenty of good photos, so I did not add them to this.

Yankee Mechanics manufactured three models of wire rope hand winch hoists. The model A had a lift rating of ¾ ton, the model B has a lift rating of 1 ½ ton and the model B-3 rated at 1 ½ - 3 tons. Suggested list prices were $133.25, $153.75 and $169.25 respectively. The heavy-duty steel carrying case was an additional $20.50.

Yankee mechanics was established in New Hampshire in the 1960s. Sturm, Ruger & Co. acquired the company in the early 1970s and changed the name from the Yankee Winch Hoist to the Clydesdale Winch Hoist. And, the corporate address was changed to Southport, CT and designated as a subsidiary of Sturm, Ruger & Co. The Clydesdale logo trademark application was filed in 1971 and registration was dated 5/29/73.

The late Stephen Vogel who was married to Bill Ruger’s daughter Molly was assigned to head up the winch hoist division when he first came to work at Sturm, Ruger & Co. in 1971-72. Vogel managed to get the company organized and negotiated a hefty purchase order from the military, it was later cancelled, sales were slow. A few years later W.F Lett Manufacturing in Concord, NH acquired Yankee Mechanics.

There were at least two distinct product catalogues, both have four pages. The narrative is not the same. The Yankee Winch Hoist name was supplanted by the Clydesdale Winch Hoist name. The manufacturer remained Yankee Mechanics.

Regards, John

[Bpoleio]

I have one. No box, with original employee receipt from my grandfather. Email or text cyaaa419@gmail.com or 203-994-4090 for details. It's also on FB marketplace.

[contender]

The one I got from Todd Walthers was NOT marked as a Ruger one like I was led to believe.

There are differences in the marking plates.

I tried contacting Todd several times w/o him ever replying to discuss this issue.

[T.A. Workman]

Contender,
I finally got around to cleaning up my Ruger Yankee Hoist that I bought in February.
I think you will enjoy the paper work also. Note the name of the employee I know FT44 will.
I guess you could say mine "letters as a Second"
Terry

[flattop44]

Outstanding, great paperwork. We both now have something special that he once owned.
FT44

[JAYDAWG]

Terry,
Awesome find!
Good for you.

Jay