Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[MisterEd]

Duro-Chrome 4422 3/8 Drive 11/16 V

 

[d42jeep]

I now have two of these wartime non GMTK correct Duro 2015 DBE wrenches. I’m not sure how that happened.
-Don

 

[Cruzan80]

Anyone know if the 3-prong and 4-prong ratchets are interchangeable? Same number (3275, 1/2" Dr). Which one was first (guessing 3-prong)? Just picked up a 4-prong, absolutely frozen from grease (had to hit the back of the head while wiggling, just to remove the head). Passed on a hip-roof box with a fairly bad label, because the company usually wants stupid money for stuff, even if it had almost a full 1/2 drive set in it.

 

[Old Radar]

Have you tried soaking the head in de-greaser? Usually works wonders.

 

[Cruzan80]

Did get it open, will try cleaning with degreaser. Got it for cheap, as it just free-wheeled in both directions. The pawls were packed with grease, so no surprise.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Anybody need an early pressed steel ratchet for a kit or set?

 

[matthew]

Individual units are sometimes better in Imperial. But as a system it is horrible. Not just because of the strange conversion factors, but also context specific units (brewers barrels, oil barrels, imperial gallon, US gallon, short ton, long ton, etc).

Standards are a bit different than measurement systems. An M8x1.25 thread is what it is, but whether there are 2 or 3 or 5 pitches available is another question. Unified was pretty well adhered to, but as someone who has needed 7/16” bolts and had a really hard time finding them even in hardware stores that only carry inch bolts, it’s more of an engineering question of whether there is a good enough design reason to not stick to a more common part or not.

I think automotive managed the change because of its life cycle - new model years do get redesigned, even if only a little at a time. John Deere was a leader in metric, too, no doubt because of its German operations. I’ve even see a little metric in construction, which is the slowest industry to change.

It seemed to me that Duro/Indestro was ahead of the curve on metric - I’ve noticed more of it than contemporary Husky, SK, etc. I do find it interesting that they don’t ever seem to have made Whitworth stuff (?) which would have seemed to fit automotive / specialty in the way metric did when they started.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple of Select Steel auto kit wrenches I found on Saturday at a yard sale.
They came out of the evaporust a little while ago.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Good sizes to find - in my experience the small ones tend to be MIA more than the larger sizes for partial sets.

 

[four.cycle]

@Etchase - the internals on the 3275 should be the same from about 1952 - 1980. When they went to the 3275A they put a 60-tooth mechanism in it. Prior to that they were all 52-tooth units - earlier versions had the four-point selector, later had the 3-point.
The 3275A has the 6-point selector knob on the back.

 

[Cruzan80]

@four.cycle, that was me asking about the 3275. Thanks for the info, hadn't seen many of the 4-prong selectors. Hoping to bring it back to life (excessive grease). Were the 4-prongs the only ones who had the number on the head? The 3-prong I have has it on the handle.

 

[four.cycle]

^ The 4-point selector knob was the early version - about ... 1952 into the early 1960s... then they went to the three-point selector knob.
I think your observation is correct about the location of the part number:
early had the number stamped around the perimeter of the head, right?
later has the number stamped on the shank of the handle. reverse side will be stamped "oil only" if I'm not mistaken.
BK

 

[682bear]

3/8 drive Indestro set, acquired with the purchase of a loaded toolbox...





Some of the sockets are obviously unused...

-Bear

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

Just reading back a couple of pages about “metrification”. My first car was a ‘78 Pontiac Grand Prix with a 301 cu. inch Pontiac, and Dad cussed GM anytime he helped me work on it. To change the alternator you needed both SAE and MM tools. The engine was old and still SAE so the mounting bolts were SAE but the electrical terminals on the back of the alternator were metric. Dad farmed up until ‘79 and owned garbage trucks. Late 60s early 70s IH and AC farm equipment was all SAE as was 70s and 80s IH trucks as well as 70s Heil, and Leach garbage beds. Dad always didn’t own a 3/8” socket set until the late 70s when Ford cars started going metric and then he bought a KMart Pro metric set in 3/8” drive.

 

[matthew]

Curious if anyone has an answer on this -

I have noticed Indestro socket sets often have a decal on the spark plug socket saying what it was for. I’ve seen that on some other brands, too. Were plug sockets not considered ‘basics’ at the time? Did people tend to just use standard deep sockets a lot (access on old engines probably allowed for that, but I’ve never thought of them as a specialty item).

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They were not designed for use other than sparkplugs, thus the sticker

 

[Outlawmws]

They were not designed for use other than sparkplugs, thus the sticker

This^^ I've seen a lot of those split from abuse, - possibly even impact - thin wall = easily broken.

IIR Sparkplugs are torqued to 10 ft lbs?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They were designed more for access than torque. Probably 10 or 15 ft lbs.

 

[Beerhippie]

This^^ I've seen a lot of those split from abuse, - possibly even impact - thin wall = easily broken.

IIR Sparkplugs are torqued to 10 ft lbs?

Old instructions were to screw them until they hit the crush washer, then 1/2 turn further.

 

[Outlawmws]

Old instructions were to screw them until they hit the crush washer, then 1/2 turn further.

Yep but not all plugs used a crush washer some had a tapered seat.

 

[four.cycle]

^ what OTG said: they generally have a thinner wall and are therefore not really suitable for regular tasks.

ON THAT NOTE, however:
It is worth noting that virtually none of Indestro's 3/8" drive socket sets included a 13/16" shallow socket - if you look at the sets (that include socket sizes over 3/4") they skip over that size but give you a 13/16" Spark Plug socket. That's always caused me to wonder if they intended for the end user to use the spark plug socket when necessary?

 

[d42jeep]

Many spark plug sockets have a warning to only use for installing or removing spark plugs. From left to right, Craftsman, Proto and Champion.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ exactly. I have/had several imported SP sockets and they all have a sticker on them with some language to the effect of "thin wall spark plug only".

 

[d42jeep]

@Outlawmws -

Indestro didn't offer any metric tools until their 1959 catalog No. 22

1959 Indestro catalog No 22 pp 85

The 1961 catalog No. 22A offers pretty much the same paltry selection.

Not until the 1971 catalog No. 55 did Indestro offer a broader assortment of metric tools, and it was limited to 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive shallow sockets, metric open-end wrenches from 6 mm - 26 mm, and metric combination wrenches from 7 mm to 22 mm.
In the 1971 catalog they added a 47036 1/2" drive 36mm 12-point socket. It fit the flywheel nut on a Volkswagen.

Several years went by before we saw the 46007HD - 46019HD (hex deep) 6-point deep-wells in metric sizes, and they were all on backorder forever. I believe I have 12, 13, 15, and 17mm deep-wells from that era. (The other sizes I acquired after I joined here in 2015.)

Part of what made the 3/8" drive stuff more "rare" was Indestro's failure to market the boards properly. IF they had sent men out into the field to up-sell their accounts and get the boards updated, there might be more metric Indestro in the second-hand market.

When they published the 1982 catalog No. 60, they offered 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive metric sockets. The catalog shows 1/4" drive metric deep-wells, but I have never seen any in real life.


1982 catalog No. 60 pp 24

They added some metric hex bits to the line-up. (Again, a product I've never seen in real life - only in the catalog.)

They added 3/8" and 1/2" drive metric impact sockets, but as with the above, I've never seen any in real life.

They also added 3/8" square drive metric universal joint sockets, and again, as above, I have never seen any in real life.

There were a lot of items published in the catalog that were never shipped. When the fill rate on orders dropped below 35%, my brother-in-law dropped the line and switched it over to Thorsen.

A metric Duro Chrome 3/8” drive 19mm metric socket found at a sale recently.
An Indestro 12mm metric socket found at a sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Another partial 1/4” drive set found at a recent local sale is this one that has no manufacturer shown. I assume it was made by Indestro possibly for Wards but I’m not sure. I probably have enough similar sockets in the Bay Area to complete the set.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

@d42jeep -
looks kinda-sorta like....

Montgomery Ward's "Riverside" 1/4" drive SAE socket wrench set
1/4, 9/32, 5/16, 11/32, 7/16 12 points
1/4, 5/16, 3/8 8 points
6 inch flex handle stamped "CHROMIUM VANADIUM"
no markings on sockets other than size stamp.
NOTE end-hinged box
missing the 3/8" 12 point out of this set, which is why it isn't listed on ebay yet.
I set it aside because I know there are ALL KINDS of these sockets - orphans - out there in the living room in the five boxes of Indestro.

(maybe I should get a cleaner shot of that decal and send it to Jim's Engine Decals? )

 

[four.cycle]

^ I sent you some photos of the logo, Fred. Wish they were clearer shots - I even got my tripod out!

@d42jeep - When I got to THAT set as I was sorting everything out, I experienced that "AHA!" moment and realized that all those "no-name" sockets and breakers are probably Wards Riverside stuff.
They didn't sell a "generic" socket to Western Auto, did they? Western Auto's stuff was all "Wizard" or "Westcraft" or "Westline" or "ChromeXQuality" or ....
And Wards had "Wardmaster" "Wards Master Quality" "Speedmaster" and "PowrKraft" (after "Eclipse" and "Lakeside" were phased out.)

So.... what other possibilities does that leave for those generic, obviously-Indestro-manufactured, no-name sockets and breakers?

From simple process of elimination, it seems (at this point) that "Riverside" might be it.

 

[d42jeep]

It seems likely to me. The box is what threw me. It opens conventionally, unlike my Wards set.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ the largest 12-point there is the 7/16", correct?
no 1/2" socket in that set, is there?
the 6-inch extension is/is not marked?
the little cross bar has no markings, correct?

I'm pretty sure I have at least one extension like that mixed in with the Indestro stuff, and for sure a BUNCH of those "no name" sockets.
As with yours, they are all in rear-hinged boxes (not end-hinged, like the Riverside box.)

 

[d42jeep]

I believe that the largest 12 point socket is 7/16” Here are the markings on the flex handle in my new partial set.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

NO 2850 ?

first time I've ever seen that. that's gotta be an oldie.
2850 is definitely Indestro number. Duro's was 4550 on that same unit.
I have several that are marked only with "CHROMIUM VANADIUM" - one of the reasons I started that "CROMIUM VANADIUM" thread a couple years ago.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

It seems likely to me. The box is what threw me. It opens conventionally, unlike my Wards set.
-Don

That’s a sharp box

 

[Outlawmws]

It opens conventionally, unlike my Wards set.

I have a box that opens like that but it's a Stevens Waldon...

 

[ararat]

NOS Duro Indestro metric double open ends. I've been watching these for a long time and I clicked on the item and it was the last one available. I got the stubby wrench set earlier from the same guy.

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 17 piece 1/4" drive SAE Socket Wrench Set w/Original Box

this set includes:

4506 3/16" 6 pt shallow socket
4507 7/32" 6 pt shallow socket
4508 1/4" 6 pt shallow socket
4509 9/32 6 pt shallow socket
4510 5/16" 6 pt shallow socket
4511 11/32" 12 pt shallow socket
4512 3/8" 12 pt shallow socket
4514 7/16" 12 pt shallow socket

4508S 1/4" 8 pt shallow socket
4512S 3/8" 8 pt shallow socket

4550 6 inch Flex Handle (Breaker Bar)
4533 6 inch Extension
4535 Sliding "T" Handle
4487 Pressed-Flange Ratchet (patent 1902878)
---- 5/32" x 4 inch cross bar (no detents)
---- 1/4" square x 4 inch driver shaft with good detent. (assume original Tennite handle disintegrated.)

---- Steel Box

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 11 piece 1/2" Hex Drive SAE Socket Wrench Set w/Original Box

this set includes:

7/16" 6 pt shallow socket
1/2" 6 pt shallow socket
9/16" 6 pt shallow socket
5/8" 6 pt shallow socket
11/16" 6 pt shallow socket
3/4" 6 pt shallow socket
25/32" 6 pt shallow socket
7/8" 6 pt shallow socket

---- Screwdriver Adapter
673 Duro Chrome Ratchet
---- Indestro 1/2" Hex "Ell" Handle

---- Steel Box

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 17 piece 1/4" drive SAE Socket Wrench Set

this set includes:

4506 3/16" 6 pt shallow socket
4507 7/32" 6 pt shallow socket
4508 1/4" 6 pt shallow socket
4509 9/32 6 pt shallow socket
4510 5/16" 6 pt shallow socket
4511 11/32" 6 pt shallow socket
4512 3/8" 6 pt shallow socket
4514 7/16" 6 pt shallow socket

4508S 1/4" 8 pt shallow socket
4510S 5/16" 8 pt shallow socket
4512S 3/8" 8 pt shallow socket

481 1/4" F x 3/8" M adapter
4536 Universal Joint
4533 6 inch Extension
4550 6 inch Flex Handle (Breaker Bar)
4582 Pear-Head Reversible Ratchet

 

[JMP]

Recently picked up this set of wrenches. They look almost new. The one of the left has the war time stamp which is a first in my collection.

 

[JMP]

 

[Cruzan80]

It is the missing 10mm (kit)!!!