Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

twertsy · Sep 17, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

LesserSon said:
What years were Proto LA tools made? This is my first, a ¾ combination wrench with a good amount of finish wear, though the openings seem good enough.

48-56

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Provincial · Sep 17, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Carla said:
Some years ago, I'd come across a surprising number of 'name ground off', but obviously Plomb, tools at the old San Jose 'Pulga de Sanjo' flea market, which I offered up cheaply on ebay, when ebay was new. Every one of those tools had some grinding/polishing flaw, unsightly when inspected closely. (I've no idea as to whether those were condemned before heat-treat, or afterward, so I never actually tried using them)

I don't have any first-hand information, as, say, from a retired Plomb/Proto employee, to be sure, but I'd think that the greatest likelihood would be that those tools were sold as 'factory seconds'. Whether the Plomb works might have had a 'factory seconds' store at the plant, or they sold them by the hundredweight to some salvage dealer, or whether the plant workers got to take them home, is an 'unknown', to me, at least.

At one time, the San Jose flea was 'deluged' with 'name ground off' Thorsen tools, which a Thorsen employee was buying up cheaply as 'factory seconds' and selling at the flea, and selling fairly cheaply.....and 'in volume' at the flea. Quite a few of the regular flea market sellers bought up quantities of those tools, and had them at their stands, for years afterward.

cheers

Carla

Carla,

Thanks for the very authorative response. It makes a lot of sense. Now I don't feel bad about passing on the socket!

r_olson_06 · Sep 17, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Not alot this weekend but some rare ones for me. A Vogel ratchet with neff industries. Had to pay a little for it but also found another drive plug for it.
Second is a plomb LA doe long 15/16 and 1-1/16. A first on an LA wrench for me after hundreds of normal plomb wrenches.

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Cf mtn · Sep 17, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

hi all, seen a g-sale sign on the way home and decided to ck it out. surprised to find a couple of interesting items. it was later in the day so wasn't expecting much. picked up a non-running mantis w/wheels and this plomb box and proto puller.

Rileysan · Sep 22, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I actually passed over this wrench sitting in a small plastic tote full of wrenches - I saw the stamping "Victor RT-20" and never gave it a second thought.

However, as I was digging through the wrenches, it flipped over and revealed the Plomb/Proto name. (Paid $1)

Now for the $64,000 question - what is it for?

Brian

r_olson_06 · Sep 22, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Rileysan said:
I actually passed over this wrench sitting in a small plastic tote full of wrenches - I saw the stamping "Victor RT-20" and never gave it a second thought.

However, as I was digging through the wrenches, it flipped over and revealed the Plomb/Proto name.

Now for the $64,000 question - what is it for?

Brian

Victor is a torch company so I would guess it is for that.

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Rileysan · Sep 22, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Cf mtn said:
hi all, seen a g-sale sign on the way home and decided to ck it out. surprised to find a couple of interesting items. it was later in the day so wasn't expecting much. picked up a non-running mantis w/wheels and this plomb box and proto puller.

Very nice find! What did you pay for it?

Brian

Rileysan · Sep 22, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

r_olson_06 said:
Victor is a torch company so I would guess it is for that.

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Dammit - why didn't I think of that? Thanks!

Brian

twertsy · Sep 22, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Rileysan said:
I actually passed over this wrench sitting in a small plastic tote full of wrenches - I saw the stamping "Victor RT-20" and never gave it a second thought.

However, as I was digging through the wrenches, it flipped over and revealed the Plomb/Proto name. (Paid $1)

Now for the $64,000 question - what is it for?

Brian

I'm sure you found this this morning but............

http://toolarchives.com/node/1650

twertsy · Sep 23, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here's an interesting example. Appears chrome plated.....or nickel? See the slight peel above the period. Awful early tool for that.

Pretty funny his name was Bob.......so this is a unique plombob[emoji1]

The "original" stamp is a new one too.

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Rileysan · Sep 23, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

twertsy said:
Here's an interesting example. Appears chrome plated.....or nickel? See the slight peel above the period. Awful early tool for that.

Pretty funny his name was Bob.......so this is a unique plombob[emoji1]

The "original" stamp is a new one too.

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Now that is interesting. Do you have any idea of the era? Did Alphonse Plomb stamp all his tools like that (A. Plomb)? Great find!

Brian

twertsy · Sep 23, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Rileysan said:
Now that is interesting. Do you have any idea of the era? Did Alphonse Plomb stamp all his tools like that (A. Plomb)? Great find!

Brian

Not much is known about Plomb in its first 10 years, nor what he was doing before Plomb Tool Works, or what he really did after Pendleton bought him out. Speculation is that he started making tools under the A Plomb label, and tools for California Tool Co. However, we have no proof, just speculation. I search for new info at least once a week to no avail. I actually found where Plomb was bought out in 1909 but I can't substantiate it outside of one lone blurb.

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txbruno · Sep 23, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Couple of items I picked up today, less than a buck each...if anyone needs these PM me, I am open to passing these along.

Tools 9-23-2016

btrnuthatch · Sep 23, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I think this one can be included? Handle was cut short. Found it in a pile of other tools being sold. Was part of a "quantity" deal; I figure <$5. Didn't know it was part of the family until I looked it up later.

btrnuthatch · Sep 23, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

And this was in an SK Wayne 1/4" drive socket set (I'll look for a suitable thread to post the set).

btrnuthatch · Sep 23, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I picked this up a few weeks ago, $1. First one I've had in hand.

btrnuthatch · Sep 23, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I see Proto stuff is allowed. I picked this up because . . . just because. Don't need it if someone out there cares. It's dirty as you can see and the latch is a little loose. Needs some TLC.

CRTDI · Sep 24, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

My only Plvmb set. I reeeeally do like these the little red boxes....

3baygarage · Sep 24, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

^ Very Nice!

Here is a strange bird 1/4 drive.

Look how the head is. It must have been made in a hurry.

View media item 63928

View media item 63929

View media item 63930

View media item 63931

View media item 63932

View media item 63933

View media item 63934

chopper1 · Sep 24, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Looks like a poor hasty home repair to me.

3baygarage · Sep 24, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

chopper1 said:
Looks like a poor hasty home repair to me.

Chop, sorry I was referring to the rim of the ratchet head, where it was hammer forged funny. As far as the large selector it may be original, for use with gloves. Hard to tell as there's nothing to compare it to. It appears brazed on.

twertsy · Sep 24, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

chopper1 said:
Looks like a poor hasty home repair to me.

Ask Don(D42jeep) or username already in use.........dollars to doughnuts that is WWII military application judging by that number stamp

btrnuthatch said:
I see Proto stuff is allowed. I picked this up because . . . just because. Don't need it if someone out there cares. It's dirty as you can see and the latch is a little loose. Needs some TLC.

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r_olson_06 · Sep 24, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

3baygarage said:
^ Very Nice!

Here is a strange bird 1/4 drive.

Look how the head is. It must have been made in a hurry.

[GALLERY=media, 63928][/GALLERY]

[GALLERY=media, 63929][/GALLERY]

[GALLERY=media, 63930][/GALLERY]

[GALLERY=media, 63931][/GALLERY]

[GALLERY=media, 63932][/GALLERY]

[GALLERY=media, 63933][/GALLERY]

[GALLERY=media, 63934][/GALLERY]

I bet it is made for people who have to wear large gloves such as a linesman or someone who works with chemical gloves.

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Provincial · Sep 24, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

My vote is for a field-modified reversing handle after major abuse of the ratchet head. It looks like the head got caught in large machinery and the reversing handle would have been destroyed. Someone needed the ratchet "right now" and "fixed" it. I doubt that the face plates in the head are original, too.

WWII military issue for sure.

3baygarage · Sep 24, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I need a 1/4 drive gear for it. The ball is missing. It would have to be from this style ratchet I think (oval head), 24 tooth I believe. Not from a pebble or knurled handle.

twertsy said:
Ask Don(D42jeep) or username already in use.........dollars to doughnuts that is WWII military application judging by that number stamp

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I think it is military as well by the type of part #.

r_olson_06 said:
I bet it is made for people who have to wear large gloves such as a linesman or someone who works with chemical gloves.

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That seems most likely. I would love to know why the slim style handle,unlike any others I've seen.

Provincial said:
My vote is for a field-modified reversing handle after major abuse of the ratchet head. It looks like the head got caught in large machinery and the reversing handle would have been destroyed. Someone needed the ratchet "right now" and "fixed" it. I doubt that the face plates in the head are original, too.

WWII military issue for sure.

I thought maybe it could have been made that way if the die was off center or damaged. The lever is odd, could have been added after the fact. Who knows until another turns up.

ratfink500xl · Sep 25, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

The first step is admitting that you have a problem...

Garage&Beer · Sep 25, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

ratfink500xl said:
The first step is admitting that you have a problem...

Evidently you have no problem, finding it anyhow....that stuff is non-existent in my neck of the woods.

hoinox11 · Sep 25, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

ratfink500xl said:
The first step is admitting that you have a problem...

I think I'd give the left one for one of those bottom cabs lol... definitely good job on finding those, it's like a needle in the worlds largest haystack

montanafordman · Sep 25, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

ratfink500xl said:
The first step is admitting that you have a problem...

whoa! Mind=Blown. nice toolmobiles! you wouldn't happen to have any spare divider clips would you? :lol:

Heck I'd just take a whole one too. Suddenly my toolmobile feels lonely...

Nice collection!

r_olson_06 · Sep 25, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Garage&Beer said:
Evidently you have no problem, finding it anyhow....that stuff is non-existent in my neck of the woods.

+1 no tool mobiles here at all.

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Provincial · Sep 25, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I was looking through the stuff I bought a couple of weeks ago, and noticed that a Plomb 7/8" deep socket is marked: Plomb U.S.N. NAF-1110-16 7/8

This is the right size and depth of socket to change spark plugs on aircraft engines, so I would guess it was for Navy aircraft maintenance.

Sorry about the photo. My camera isn't good at close-ups.

Jammer1329 · Sep 27, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Pretty happy with my latest finds. Got the Plomb box along with a 1950s craftsman bottom box for $80. Unfortunately I'm sure I'll never find the missing drawer for a 75 year old box.

Saw the Proto LA box in an estate sale ad and was lucky enough to snag it for $35. It is in amazing shape.

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Provincial · Sep 27, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

The drawers on a box that old could be pretty simple to make if they don't have special slides. The most difficult part would be forming the handles, but someone like MP&C (his thread is in the "Fabrication and Techniques" Forum here) could form them easily.

I have an old SK box that has no slides, the drawer just sits on a shelf. Is that how your Plomb was made?

Jammer1329 · Sep 27, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Provincial said:
The drawers on a box that old could be pretty simple to make if they don't have special slides. The most difficult part would be forming the handles, but someone like MP&C (his thread is in the "Fabrication and Techniques" Forum here) could form them easily.

I have an old SK box that has no slides, the drawer just sits on a shelf. Is that how your Plomb was made?

Thanks, making a whole new drawer is a good idea. I may try that, especially if I can find someone to form the handles.

This box has friction slides similar to those I've seen on other older boxes. In fact there is one left from the missing drawer. I also may attach a piece of metal to extend up the face of the lower drawer making it look like a deeper drawer..we'll see.

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Smokeshow69 · Sep 28, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

ratfink500xl said:
The first step is admitting that you have a problem...

Well this picture would explain why I can't find any tool mobiles in the North West :evil:

Nice collection and I am super jealous :rocker:

Impala64 · Sep 28, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Picked these up this weekend Plomb 1150 1155. Good shape besides some yellow tape I have to get off.

Ratchet. · Oct 2, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Posted some pics of these before but here is my modest collection, Plomb stuff is super hard to find here* so most i have bought from the US via ebay etc

My latest purchases are the 4912, 4916 an 4920 crows feet, and the interesting UJ, interesting as its marked as PWA1405, presumably its a Pratt and Whitney tool as have a few other tools marked with PWA and they are all contract production (the crowsfoot marked PWA1471 is an imposter :lol_hitti

its actually a Bonney made Pratt and Whitney special tool)

also got a few wf21 ratchets, note the differences in them, the bare steel one was the first one i found, and has both arrows pointing down, the others which are cadmium plated have them pointing Up and down these are also NOS unused, have a few more of them too (if anyone is interested in one drop me a DM)

*WF series stuff does turn up on occasion however, no doubt made it over here with the USAAF

d42jeep · Oct 2, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

twertsy said:
Ask Don(D42jeep) or username already in use.........dollars to doughnuts that is WWII military application judging by that number stamp

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Sorry, Twertsy,
I don't recognize that number or the modification. It is cool though!
Here is kind of an unusual item I picked up yesterday. According to Twertsy's 1942 catalog, it is a 3/8" drive spring loaded screwdriver designed to tighten or loosen early Chevy's pan screws.
-Don

jvlyons99205 · Oct 8, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Finally got around to gathering up some of my small collection of Plomb tools. I still have a 1/2" breaker bar and small socket box, but can't find them amongst the mess in my shop. I should start reading the organization thread after this.

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Oregon rock crusher · Oct 8, 2016

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

hoinox11 said:
So my tool guy has this thing I was going to buy from him. I've come to realize that I don't need it and it's just too much to spend on a "just because it's cool" item, so I had to tell him I wasn't going to buy it. He said he's not planning on advertising it, so I figured I'd see if anyone here is interested since you guys would actually appreciate such a thing. I think he just wants it to go to someone who will give it a good home and not resell it.

The item I speak of is a 9989 plomb box that's damn near mint with the paint & decals in tact that is absolutely packed full of only plomb tools. There's 3 or 4 wood handled screwdrivers, a pebble era 3/4 drive breaker with 10 or so sockets, a hoard of DOE & combo wrenches from 5/16 to 1-1/8, 1 or 2 half moons, a los angeles push through 1/2 drive ratchet (with the plug), and way too many sockets spanning 1/4 to 1/2 drive (I think I counted 65+). There's more that I'm not remembering I'm sure. He said he'd do $550 for all of it and he wasn't about to budge on the price, but I think for what all is there it's a damn good deal (yes there is that much in that box). The attached picture is not it, but its the exact same condition with the decal & such. PM me if you're interested.

Sorry Hoinox 11, I know you had designs on this box and tools but after passing by it several times this year my will power gave out today. Now I need to sort through it and add what I already had to see if I can fill in a few gaps in the set. There are a couple 9/32 drive ratchets and some sockets that fit them in the lot along with a few specialty tools. Mostly sockets and wrenches though. Quite a bit marked LA. Definitely some duplicates. Ed.

Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

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