Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[Private Lugnutz]

As I first reported in the 2018 Garage Sale thread, I picked up an auto-kit style Indestro Wrench Set No. 900-4C at the flea market today. As far as I have been able to determine, it dates to the late 1940's or early 1950's. There is a No. 900-4C set specified exactly like mine on page 50 of the 1949 Indestro catalog. The figure is not showing a clip, only a screw and a wingnut, but all these sets, including the No. 900-4C are shown with clips on page 47 of the 1958 Indestro catalog. Even though these combination wrenches have individual model numbers in the catalog, they are not marked with those numbers. They are branded, marked with the sizes, 'DROP FORGED SELECT STEEL', and the COO on the flip side. These wrenches are not plated. They appear to have some kind of zinc wash on them.

 

[toolmutt]

Can I post these here? They're branded "Western" but are undeniably a Duro product. And are undeniably impossible to find. My set.

Edit: I think the photos work now.

 

[toolmutt]

Another pic.

 

[toolmutt]

Closeup.

 

[matthew]

These wrenches are not plated. They appear to have some kind of zinc wash on them.

Some of the war era stuff had cadmium plating, rather than zinc. I'm not all that familiar with it or how it would look after decades, but I wouldn't wire brush those, just in case, as cadmium dust isn't healthy. Maybe others can comment better.

 

[matthew]

Can I post these here? They're branded "Western" but are undeniably a Duro product. And are undeniably impossible to find. My set.

Edit: I think the photos work now.

Neat stuff!

The Wizard branded stuff shows up on Ebay somewhat regularly, but I don't think I've seen Western branded items ever.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

On Friday my daughter wanted to borrow a socket. She didn’t know what size but I thought I’ll just show her where they were and let her take care of it herself. There was a flea market fund raiser at one of the local churches at the lake. She managed to find a nice little socket set for $2. They just happened to be an Indestro S 85035 set. First Indestro tools in our family as I believe at this point. But never actually paid attention to brands before coming to GJ. We always had Craftsman, Stanley, Crescent, Gray, Channel and of course SK Wayne. We will be looking for more Indestro in the future.

 

[toolmutt]

Neat stuff!

The Wizard branded stuff shows up on Ebay somewhat regularly, but I don't think I've seen Western branded items ever.

Yes, they are unicorn rare. The folks at Alloy Artifacts had not heard of the brand. I got them in my dad's stuff when he passed away more than ten years ago. In that time, KnurledNut (a member here) and one eBay find have filled in some gaps. Just need a long extension to be able to say, "done!"

 

[3baygarage]

Nice stuff guys.

Toolmutt, I’ve seen the brand before but very few. Do you know what the ratchet looks like? Something tells me I’ve seen them online before and it was an open gear Indestro style like Pontiac’s above.

 

[bonneyman]

On Friday my daughter wanted to borrow a socket. She didn’t know what size but I thought I’ll just show her where they were and let her take care of it herself. There was a flea market fund raiser at one of the local churches at the lake. She managed to find a nice little socket set for $2. They just happened to be an Indestro S 85035 set. First Indestro tools in our family as I believe at this point. But never actually paid attention to brands before coming to GJ. We always had Craftsman, Stanley, Crescent, Gray, Channel and of course SK Wayne. We will be looking for more Indestro in the future.

Your daughter got that set of tools for $2? Wow!

Open gear ratchet, too. That's gotta be the score of the week!

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Bonneyman
Thanks I’ll let her know she will get a giggle out of that. Would you know how old the set is and what it sold for in the day. My wife said great about the buy of the week, and that it was $2 CDN!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Some of the war era stuff had cadmium plating, rather than zinc. I'm not all that familiar with it or how it would look after decades, but I wouldn't wire brush those, just in case, as cadmium dust isn't healthy.

Hi matthew. As a WWII collector I am very familiar with all the wartime finishes, including cadmium, but thanks for the warning anyway. While most vintage tool collectors tend to associate cadmium exclusively with WWII, it was actually in use by Vlchek, Blackhawk, and others in the early to mid 1930's, well before the war started, as an economy line rust-proofing alternative to nickel- or chrome-plating. Having said that, I am confident that the finish on the late 1940's/early 1950's Indestro 900-4C set I showed above is some kind of zinc or other phosphate wash, not cad.

They're branded "Western" but are undeniably a Duro product.

For sure. The knurling on the sockets and the shape of the head and also the flattened handle with the panel on the flex head/"breaker" are dead giveaways. What era though? I kinda wanta say late 1930's, but they were using that flattened paneled branded handle on the late 1950's production, too.

I understand your point on rarity (I've never seen it in the wild...), but just to be sure we're all on the same wavelength, "Western" has got to be a shortened form of the "Western Auto" brand that accompanied other tool lines they made for Western Auto Stores, no?

Do you know what the ratchet looks like? Something tells me I’ve seen them online before and it was an open gear Indestro style like Pontiac’s above.

The ratchets with the flattened paneled handles came in open gear and regular. I've seen the WARDS's sets with the pear head and that style handle. Since the "Western" flexhead/"breaker" has the same style handle, but with "Western" forged-in, I wonder if the ratchet might have also been the same. ?

 

[Mgdoug3]

A few months back I picked up several Indestro sockets in 3/8 and 1/2 drive. I bought them to use and picked them because of the groove on the bottom of the socket. Makes taking sockets off a lot easier with a non quick release ratchet.

 

[toolmutt]

Nice stuff guys.

Toolmutt, I’ve seen the brand before but very few. Do you know what the ratchet looks like? Something tells me I’ve seen them online before and it was an open gear Indestro style like Pontiac’s above.

For sure. The knurling on the sockets and the shape of the head and also the flattened handle with the panel on the flex head/"breaker" are dead giveaways. What era though? I kinda wanta say late 1930's, but they were using that flattened paneled branded handle on the late 1950's production, too.

I understand your point on rarity (I've never seen it in the wild...), but just to be sure we're all on the same wavelength, "Western" has got to be a shortened form of the "Western Auto" brand that accompanied other tool lines they made for Western Auto Stores, no?


The ratchets with the flattened paneled handles came in open gear and regular. I've seen the WARDS's sets with the pear head and that style handle. Since the "Western" flexhead/"breaker" has the same style handle, but with "Western" forged-in, I wonder if the ratchet might have also been the same. ?

I have seen only one ratchet. It had the flattened panel handle and was, indeed, an open gear model. However, my dad used a DuroChrome 689 long handle ratchet with these so, for sentimental reasons, I'm keeping it as the "set" piece. It's still butter smooth. I'll try to get a photo on here.

I have little doubt that they came from Western Auto. As a kid, I remember many trips with dad to the store in town. An alternative theory, however, could be an in-house brand of some heavy equipment dealer. My dad worked the materials end of road construction. He routinely dealt with dealers of rock crushing machinery and very large dirt/rock moving equipment.

As far as era, Alloy Artifacts leads me to believe the ratchet is from the 60's. Don't know about the sockets. AA had never heard of the brand.

 

[matthew]

Hi matthew. As a WWII collector I am very familiar with all the wartime finishes, including cadmium, but thanks for the warning anyway. While most vintage tool collectors tend to associate cadmium exclusively with WWII, it was actually in use by Vlchek, Blackhawk, and others in the early to mid 1930's, well before the war started, as an economy line rust-proofing alternative to nickel- or chrome-plating. Having said that, I am confident that the finish on the late 1940's/early 1950's Indestro 900-4C set I showed above is some kind of zinc or other phosphate wash, not cad.

Ah, that is well.

Maybe i'm paranoid, but cad plated tools are pretty obscure now, I suspect it's better to see a few repeats so new folks learn it if they're looking for this stuff...


I am curious - have you ever used "spray galv" - it's a powdered zinc product that you apply from an aerosol can. Any chance someone retouched those wrenches with that some years ago?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I doubt it. Vintage tools with original black oxide, zinc oxide, phosphate and cadmium finishes are common enough in my neck of the woods.

 

[matthew]

I doubt it. Vintage tools with original black oxide, zinc oxide, phosphate and cadmium finishes are common enough in my neck of the woods.

Just curious - is the zinc sort of look on those wrenches similar to anything else you've come across? I recall seeing various forms of chrome platings, variations on black oxides, and some painted finishes, but can't say I've seen anything around here that looks quite powerdery but shiny the way that at least the photos appear for me.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Speaking of Indestro open gear ratchets, I just picked up this Select 6470 at the Friday Early Bird. Not the greatest example. Some box rot stains and a slight bend in the shank near the handle, more noticeable when it's on its side.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I picked up an Indestro Super adjustable 8" wrench today for a $1. Also got a JH Williams the same size for the same price. I already them in the toolbox but can get pictures later if anyone is interested.

EDIT: interested in seeing it. Not as in interested to buy.

 

[bonneyman]

Bonneyman
Thanks I’ll let her know she will get a giggle out of that. Would you know how old the set is and what it sold for in the day. My wife said great about the buy of the week, and that it was $2 CDN!

Nah, I wouldn't know era and price. Though that label with "Chicago" on it makes me think 1970 at the latest. But that's really just a SWAG.

 

[Glen Vassallo]

Hey Private Lugnutz. I have one of those wrenches!!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I had a nice "SAVED!" day at my Sunday Flea Market today! Namely, that little slightly roached blue box you see in this group haul shot.

View media item 85389
When I first opened up the box and saw the three (3) Indestro 800 series ignition wrenches, I immediately thought it was probably missing at least four (4) and possibly as many as six (6) wrenches, based on the typical "E" and G" series Duro-Indestro lines (13/64" to 1/2"), and the 800 series orphan wrenches I have collected over the years in onesy-twosies. I wasn't too excited yet, because the rest of the box was messy with odds and ends and filthy and I wasn’t thinking “This is a set!” yet.

When I noticed that the feeler gage was Super Quality (an Indestro brand), I started to get a little excited.

No telling what the melted, desiccated screwdriver was, but I was glad the off-gassing didn't do too much third order effects damage to the tools or the box. I admit at this point, I was thinking, “Holy ****, this might be a set!”

When I noticed that the filthy red, white (cream), and blue cardboard liner on the bottom of the box was Indestro, I got officially “This is a set!” excited!

I took a chance and cleaned the liner delicately with a rag soaked in Kaboom. The actual size outlines on the cardboard liner/decal helped me figure out that this set is missing a file (it goes at the very top in the layout) and only one (1) wrench. With the help of some of my orphan Indestro 800 series wrenches, I figured out that the missing wrench was an 895 - 9/32 (15*) x 5/16 (60*). Although the one I have in the box as a filler for now is an 895 it is a different style 895, probably later, with different markings.)

The liner label reads, "5 BLADE THICKNESS GAGE" on the left, "CHICAGO U.S.A." framing the slanting "INDESTRO MFG CORP" logo bottom center, and “DROP FORGED STEEL WRENCHES” far right.

CONTENTS:

892: 15/64” (15*) x 13/64” (60*)
894: 1/4” (15*) x 7/32” (60*)
895: 9/32” (15*) x 5/16” (60*) (MISSING])
897: 11/32” (15*) x 3/8” (60*)
No. 168 Thickness Gage, 12-15-18-20-25
Ignition File (TBD model No.)(MISSING)

See BEFORE CLEAN-UP pics below...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

AFTER CLEAN-UP pics below...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

More pics....

My orphan Indestro 800 series and the donor 895 placeholder in the box with their cousins. The No. 168 thickness gage. And some inside pics in different light.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The 6th piece might be a screwdriver instead of a file. That outline is really hard to see, and there was a desiccated screwdriver in the box.

 

[Outlawmws]

That could go either way for an ignition set.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Here's a question for all you Indestro / Duro guys. I don't pick these up very often so I'm not very familiar with them but a box I bought had a set marked only Chromium Vanadium which seems to be Indestro. The set had 17 sockets from 7/16 up to 1-1/4 with all the 32nd size sockets included up to 1" but a few skips from there up. Mostly curious about the marking as there is no star on these sockets like the AA site shows, just part numbers from 12xx (7/16) up to 1240 (1-1/4). The drive tools don't have numbers. Curious about age and verifying the maker. Thanks. A couple pics. Ed.

 

[3baygarage]

Definitely Duro made. I’d be guessing on the years, 30’s or 40’s. Check out their article on AA under contract production.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Thank you 3bay. Looking more at the Duro info n AA and there they were. This style knurling (low on the socket) would seem to put these in the late 30's. Very cool. Ed.

 

[tin medic]

Greg, it is a file that is missing, I have a complete set.


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[Bockscar]

Greg, it is a file that is missing, I have a complete set.


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What.....no picture

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[Private Lugnutz]

Greg, it is a file that is missing, I have a complete set.

Thanks. My eyes were crossing looking at the outline! I have a couple orphan ignition files to choose from as a placeholder until I can hopefully run into an Indestro. Is it marked?
Does it have a typical little handle area? Post pics of your whole set and also a close up of the file.

 

[oak_park]

NOS.

 

[RagTopTA]

Got this Indestro super 1/2 and 1/4 sets at an Estate sale this weekend. The Long extension is marked different. Also found an older duro socket set with a bunch of sockets and an extension but no ratchet drive tool.

 

[bonneyman]

NOS.

Wow!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As first mentioned on the 2018 Garage Sale thread, I lucked into an oldtimer's toolbox today at my Thursday early bird flea market, and I pulled out a lot of vintage tools, among them some old Duro Metal Products pieces.

The No. 678D reversible ratchet is revered among WWII collectors, and fairly common, although I don't seem to run into them that often. The leopard-speckled look on this one is the cadmium plating remains.

The No. 615 Ford Connecting Rod wrench (21/32" service opening), harkening back to the shank and non-detachable socket era, is from the late 1920's into the 1930's.

The DOE ISN 723 wrench (3/8 x 7/16) that looks like a typical 30's/40's "Select Steel" line wrench is actually a Western Auto WESTLINE brand.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's a cat excerpt for that Ford wrench...

 

[tin medic]

Greg, here is my Duro set. The file is a Heller.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Gramps! (Is it my imagination, or does it smell like diapers in here all of sudden? )

Very interesting. Same sets, but different. Mine is Indestro, yours is Duro. Mine is blue, yours is green. Mine has red, white, and blue backing, yours has manila. Mine doesn't have those cool little staple clips holding the wrenches in place, yours does. I think mine looks older. Not because of the condition, but the older logo on mine, as opposed to plain text lettering on yours. Are the wrenches 800 series? Have you found the set in any of your catalogs? I looked in the 1948, 1955, and 1959 Indestro. No luck.

Funny, I have a Heller file, and I picked up another one today. I also have a no-namer and a Bonney. I may stick one of the Hellers in as a placeholder, but I am going to continue to look for an Indestro to complete mine.

 

[tin medic]

The wrenches are the 800 series. I think these were salesman samples and not available for purchase, hence the staples.

Going to start taking him to estate sales and flea markets.




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