"I've seen a similar machine on a farm that was connected to a sewage plant. It was used for spreading the fertilizer from the sewage plant."

"This seems to be similar in principle to the old GM Goodwrench "swiveldrive" ratchet. I've had a "swiveldrive" for many years, but I never use it as I don't find it better than a swivel-head or offset-head ratchet, or a wobble socket, for those hard-to-reach bolts. I would have thought there'd be even less need for a swivel drive on a thumbwheel ratchet."

"These things are indeed a clever idea, and are amazing to watch. They aren't a recent invention, though, as they've been around for several decades."