Plomb WF-8 Comparison and Autopsy

[J.A.F.E.]

I just got these plomb WF-8' 9/32. What is interesting, besides the basic design which I a like quite a lot, is they are not identical. Even though they share the same part # only the pawls, springs and gears are the same. The bodies are machined differently and the top and bottom plates are not interchangeable between the two.
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/mcpfstevo/100_1201.jpg

The plumb bobs next to the name are different - the one at the top has the right bob facing up rather than down as is usual. The lettering is different as are the design of the bobs.
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/mcpfstevo/100_1205.jpg

The plates are different the ratchet on the right was the top one in the other two photos.
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/mcpfstevo/100_1207.jpg


The shapes of the plates reveal a difference in machining. I think the ratchet on the right is the newer of the two. This also shows the two pawl setup.
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/mcpfstevo/100_1208.jpg

The pawls and springs on the left belong to the ratchet on the left. The springs, pawls and gears work interchangeably between the two ratchets. The pawls also have a blind hole to retain the spring, a feature not seen on the WF-21 3/8 drive I have. The round disc on the top is an obsolete form of currency some of the older members may recall.
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/mcpfstevo/100_1212.jpg

Here's a shot of the empty bodies. When I got these the one on the right was did not work well. It was soaked for a while in acetone/atf as it didn't want to come apart and it was pretty choked with crud. It was cleaned and reassembled for these pix. After reassembly they are working just fine. The body cavity on both has a racetrack shape for some reason the plate machining on the right was figure 8 while the one on the left retains the racetrack shape - the change probably resulted in some savings on machine work.
http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq235/mcpfstevo/100_1213.jpg

[Tool Pants]

There is just the body on ebay for anyone interested. It looks like the one on the left, except the bobs are not pointing in the same direction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=160280998816

I have seen pictures of Plomb tools that sometimes do not have both bobs pointing down, I think on alloy artifacts or the Plomb collectors site. Do the Plomb collectors know why?

Then there using an O that looks like a V. Plomb even did that when they changed to Proto.

I think Plomb was a quirky company in the old days. Getting sued by Plumb after coming out with a hammer. Using the Plomb and Proto name at the same time.

[J.A.F.E.]

I seem to recall that the bobs were an indicator of time frame, but that is not to be taken as factual. I was hoping one of the experts could shed some light on this.

[wrenchr]

I'm no plombert but those are neat!!!!!

[Uncle Buck]

I would not give $10 for a Plomb 1/2" with no guts, just not worth it to me.

[MOPARHOUND!]

IMO, the "hour glass" face plates are stronger than the "oval" face plates.

The good Plomb ratchet line used the "hour glass" face plates, and have been used for 60 years to present day in Proto's main brand.

The Plomb made Craftsman have the "oval" face plates, and other Plomb made contracted ratchets have the "oval" face plates also. There is a Proto WF in the collection that has the "oval" face plates as well.

IIRC, Plomb didn't have much logic or consistency in the direction or shape of the Plomb "bobs" on their ratchet designs.

[philw]

Nice comparison!!

According to the Alloy Artifacts site there doesn't seem to be a date or a reason why some of the arrows point in different directions.
In general, tools marked Los Angeles are pre 1939, tools marked MFD USA are 39-45 and the made in USA are later then 45. There is overlap in between, they didn't change things over exactly on the start of a year.

Quirky is a good word to use when describing Plomb.

[snapmom]

Many so tools are like that too. The theory is, two production lines, one old one new, they ran both at the same time, untill to old one was converted. This sort of makes sense.

[bchee]

I'm no plombert but those are neat!!!!!

same here. Nice side-by-side comparison

[Garage_Mahal]

I have seen pictures of Plomb tools that sometimes do not have both bobs pointing down, I think on alloy artifacts or the Plomb collectors site. Do the Plomb collectors know why?
I suspect it's a cheap Chinese knock-off . . .:lol_hitti