Firestone 3/8 drive

[JohnDeere]

I got these firestone 3/8 drive sockets. I was wondering if these were the New Britain or Plomb ones. I have from 3/8-3/4 aside from 9/16. What kind of set would this be in? What all is in it? I also have a 3/8 universal (not pictured).

 

[four.cycle]

generally speaking, basic 3/8" drive SAE socket sets contain 3/8" - 3/4", and a drive accessory or two (ratchet and extension.)

catalog information is pretty scant. this 1948 catalog page shows a pretty fancy set for the amazing low price of only $13.95! they don't specify as to whether Plomb or New Britain made it.

 

[joel_400]

My wife has the ratchet and breaker bar for those in her collection! Very cool pieces!
Joel

 

[Zrxrunner]

I think from the pic of the catalog, these would be plomb made judging mainly by the ratchet head and handle design. Looks proto/plomb esque to me

 

[d42jeep]

Here is an informative thread. It shows my Plomb made set that ended up being completed by Oldtuleguy. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/who-manufactured-firestone-ratchets.408158/#post-7563926
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is said set. The deep sockets and short breaker were made by herbrand, the rest plomb

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here is an informative thread.

Which can be found in the A-Z Index of existing thread topics in the sticky at the top of the forum, I will add. Adding posts to existing topics helps reduce the total number of threads and keeps discussions on same topics together instead of splintered across multiple *new* threads on the same topic, which in turn makes it easier for all of us to find information later.

 

[matthew]

catalog information is pretty scant. this 1948 catalog page shows a pretty fancy set for the amazing low price of only $13.95!

7 sockets, u-joint, ratchet, breaker bar, extensions, box…

Quick google of inflation calculator - converted to 2023 money that is $174.14 (!)

 

[four.cycle]

^ sounds about right, don't you think?

80-pack Twinings tea bags = $5.79
dozen AA large eggs = $3.49
loaf of bread = $6.99

shall I go on?

 

[joel_400]

7 sockets, u-joint, ratchet, breaker bar, extensions, box…

Quick google of inflation calculator - converted to 2023 money that is $174.14 (!)

But if you're buying it from Facebook marketplace it's $250..."Cuz I know
what I got!"
Haha
Joel

 

[matthew]

^ sounds about right, don't you think?

80-pack Twinings tea bags = $5.79
dozen AA large eggs = $3.49
loaf of bread = $6.99

I didn’t add a comment because I was genuinely interested how people would react. But you’re always interesting, fourcycle - “about right” was the one reaction I didn’t expect

Putting aside the current high inflation that hopefully eases soon, the last 30 years have had low inflation and kind of crazy cheap consumer goods. That’s not entirely bad, and not entirely good.

And crikey, is bread $7 in your area? I hope that’s a delicious loaf for that…

 

[four.cycle]

It's okay... not nearly as good as the stuff my ex-wife makes, but I wanted a grilled cheese sandwich so I decided to splurge. (I try to not eat a lot of bread.) Hell of a lot better than the **** they peddle up at Safeway (other than their "rustic baguette that they just raised from $1.99 to $2.99.)

Putting aside the current high inflation that hopefully eases soon, the last 30 years have had low inflation and kind of crazy cheap consumer goods. That’s not entirely bad, and not entirely good.

I needed a couple quarts of oil. I went up to O'Reilly's. Quart of 10W-30 - house brand - the cheap stuff - $5.99.
I walked up to the counter and set it down and started laughing. They gave me kind of a puzzled look. Then I told them:
"In 1977, we had to raise the price on our Pennzoil 10W-40 to 39 cents a quart. People came in and called us names. Said bad things about our mothers. Told us we were robbers."

When I was a kid, there were two kinds of candy bars: Almond Joy and Mounds were a DIME, everything else was a nickel.

Bought a candy bar at the check-out aisle lately?

I just shrug my shoulders, try to laugh, and pay the man. What can you do? I wonder sometimes if "inflation" is really something to do with economics, or if perhaps it's just a consequence of old age.

But you’re always interesting, fourcycle

Glad to be of service, sir!