Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

martin666 · Oct 20, 2015

3/8" metric shallow set, my auto shop class in high school use exclusively Duro Chrome tools, so I've always had a little soft spot for them. Along with Thorsen tools, closest auto parts store to the house I grew up in sold only Thorsen, so even though the vast majority of my tools are truck brand I own these Duro's and a few sets of Thorsen just for old times sake

four.cycle · Oct 21, 2015

re: bonneyman - #648 Indestro battery terminal lifter.

hey, I think I've got one of those battery terminal spreaders too... and the little gizmo to clean the battery post...and a tiny puller to pull the battery terminal if the #648 doesn't work.

you guys sure keep all your stuff clean and shiny... mine are all just tossed into the toolbox... reason I got those new 1/4" drive deep-wells is because they're so beat up I have a hard time reading the little numbers on them....
I know the 3/8" deep is the one with the most scratches.

now all I need to do is figure out how to post photos....!

copy and paste the "BBcode" from flickr.com ???

B17E1943 · Oct 21, 2015

bonneyman said:
I've got a 648 battery clamp puller. Basically NOS.

It's very cool.

That 648 is certainly one of a few, George. VERY cool!

Never seen one. :thumbup:

Another want-to-find on the Indestro list.

bonneyman · Oct 21, 2015

Thanks for the kind responses, guys. I really have to chock this purchase up to luck and chance.
I was busy assembling my Blue Bird battery tools at the time, so battery stuff was on my mind when I came across the Indestro puller. I Probably would have passed on it at any other time, not knowing what it was.

four.cycle · Oct 21, 2015

went out and dumped one toolbox on the floor and found these. must have the #648 in another box or it got lost somewhere.
hopefully these photos will post:

indestro_129_battery_terminal_spreader_01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_129_battery_terminal_spreader_02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_130A_battery_terminal_puller_01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_130A_battery_terminal_puller_02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_CF71_spark_plug_gapper_01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_CF71_spark_plug_gapper_02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_CF71_spark_plug_gapper_03 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Bierisch · Oct 24, 2015

All I have is a 1" 1232 a 13/16" 2748 and a 13/16" 2748H

EDIT: Oh yeah! I also have this 11/16" Combi #776

four.cycle · Oct 27, 2015

I bought a pair of these in 1973 when I started working on carburetors. They were lost somewhere along the way, so I just picked up another pair.

indestro_2141_corbin_hose_clamp_pliers_01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_2141_corbin_hose_clamp_pliers_02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

They sure save fingernails and the tips on good needle-nose pliers!

Outlawmws · Oct 27, 2015

I just picked up a pair of those at an Estate sale on Sat! (Not near as nice a pair...)

ssdave · Oct 29, 2015

Picked up 3 indestro wrenches in a yard sale lot last weekend. Two were new old stock, still have the price tags on them.

Anybody missing these from their set? I collect Proto, not Indestro.

four.cycle · Oct 30, 2015

I believe I have an 1825 - the double-offset head open-end there - and I'm sure I have a 1723 - but I'm open to the proposition. I use those double-offsets all the time. (the 7/16" is a must for Tecumseh carburetors)
Not sure if I have any Proto pieces here, however. Might have a few oddball sockets. Have to take a look tomorrow when there's enough light out there for me to see. I will shoot you a P/M and let you know what I dig up.

10/30/15 02:26 PDT

four.cycle · Oct 31, 2015

Ater picking through a drawer this afternoon, I have determined that a few of my wrenches have been lost, misplaced, or "borrowed".

I called my cousin this afternoon, and learned that he inexplicably tossed out all the old catalogs I had archived when we closed our stores, among which was a 1972 Indestro Tool catalog. I found one today on "Ebay", which should make it a bit easier for me to figure out exactly what I'm missing.

Looks like I have a few more posts to go before I can post in the "classifieds".
In the meantime, I'm in the market for Indestro "Super". I will post a list of exactly what I'm after when I am able to post in the "classifieds" forum.

Indestro Super short-handle SAE combination wrenches by four.cycle, on Flickr

Indestro Super SAE open-end wrenches by four.cycle, on Flickr

Indestro Super metric open-end wrenches by four.cycle, on Flickr

Indestro Super metric combination wrenches by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_double-end_offset_box_wrenches by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_super_flare_nut_wrenches_01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_super_flare_nut_wrenches_02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_super_offset_open-end_wrenches_and_tappet_wrenches_01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

indestro_super_offset_open-end_wrenches_and_tappet_wrenches_02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

four.cycle · Nov 1, 2015

Indestro/Duro 8091A 1/4" drive inch pound torque wrench 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Indestro/Duro 8091A 1/4" drive inch pound torque wrench 02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

* denim satchel sewn by sweetheart. not an Indestro product.

Outlawmws · Nov 1, 2015

Interesting, I have a similar lb-in torque wrench, but mine has a finger ring pull:

I wonder which is older?

bonneyman · Nov 1, 2015

Love those DBE's and double flare wrenches, four cycle! :thumbup:

bagged89s10 · Nov 1, 2015

I have a duro drill press and recently picked up a duro socket set. The drill press is apart so I can finish restoration on it.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1446391884.543958.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1446391905.053856.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1446391964.100321.jpg

firworks · Nov 1, 2015

I'll need to go out to the box and do some collecting / photographing. I think I get more Indestro / Duro stuff than anything else at old farm / estate auctions here. Makes sense though being in Illinois.

four.cycle · Nov 1, 2015

Outlaw:
When we had Indestro in our stores and I was writing the purchase orders at the warehouse, the #8091 we stocked had the loop handle. That would have been 1971-early 80's.
We carried Indesro Super label.
Only "Select" we ever saw was in the socket sets and some of the first wrench sets (with the thumb-screw clamp) that we got in the initial stock order.
From what I understand, they began labeling stuff "Duro/Indestro" late in the game. My guess would be to reduce the duplications in the three different product lines they were producing (in addition to the private-brand stuff like "Wizard".)
So... my best guess would be that mine's a later-production piece than yours.

The 8091A part number puzzles me. I have a 1972 catalog coming from Ebay which should shed a bit of light on that.

---

firworks:
As noted in my post above, I am discovering that I'm missing quite a few pieces - lost or misplaced over the years. I can't yet post in the "classifieds", so let me toss this out: I'm in the market for Indestro "Super".
When I get the catalog and can sort through the mess that I have I'll be able to put together a "want list" of sorts.
I'm at a disadvantage geographically - per one of my last conversations with Wheaton (the Indestro factory rep when we were a WD), we were the only distributor of "Super" in the west. (My old man had a penchant for picking the most oddball lines to stock, for reasons I will never understand.)

Cheers!

WNYflyer · Nov 1, 2015

Probably about 70% or so of my Duro Chrome/ Indestro stuff.

firworks · Nov 1, 2015

four.cycle said:
Outlaw:
When we had Indestro in our stores and I was writing the purchase orders at the warehouse, the #8091 we stocked had the loop handle. That would have been 1971-early 80's.
We carried Indesro Super label.
Only "Select" we ever saw was in the socket sets and some of the first wrench sets (with the thumb-screw clamp) that we got in the initial stock order.
From what I understand, they began labeling stuff "Duro/Indestro" late in the game. My guess would be to reduce the duplications in the three different product lines they were producing (in addition to the private-brand stuff like "Wizard".)
So... my best guess would be that mine's a later-production piece than yours.

The 8091A part number puzzles me. I have a 1972 catalog coming from Ebay which should shed a bit of light on that.

---

firworks:
As noted in my post above, I am discovering that I'm missing quite a few pieces - lost or misplaced over the years. I can't yet post in the "classifieds", so let me toss this out: I'm in the market for Indestro "Super".
When I get the catalog and can sort through the mess that I have I'll be able to put together a "want list" of sorts.
I'm at a disadvantage geographically - per one of my last conversations with Wheaton (the Indestro factory rep when we were a WD), we were the only distributor of "Super" in the west. (My old man had a penchant for picking the most oddball lines to stock, for reasons I will never understand.)

Cheers!

You're nearly up to 50 posts already. It'll come quick. When you get your most wanted list posted up I'll check through my stuff and see what I have off it.

carcajou · Nov 1, 2015

I was in a gas station a few weeks ago that had a wall full of nos Duro Chrome Indestro wrenches and sockets etc. PM me if you want to contact them and i'll try and get a phone number for you. I'm not up on Duro Chrome but from the couple wrenches i have i'm guessing 80's/ early 90's stuff

Outlawmws · Nov 1, 2015

Yeah, I just noticed yours also had both lbs and grams, where mine is lbs only.

bagged89s10 · Nov 1, 2015

I almost forgot, I have this indestro socket set too. Picked it up at the same estate sale that I picked up the duro socket set.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1446430402.814810.jpg

firworks · Nov 1, 2015

bagged89s10 said:
I almost forgot, I have this indestro socket set too. Picked it up at the same estate sale that I picked up the duro socket set.

I have that exact same set. The ratchet itself is unfortunately pretty crappy.

four.cycle · Nov 2, 2015

Introduced in the late 1970s as a low-cost alternative to the traditional "Indestro Super", "Indestro Select", and "Indestro/Duro" brands, Indestro Tool produced several items under the "Xpert" brand, among them this model.

Indestro_Xpert_90904_6-inch_slip-joint_pliers_01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Indestro_Xpert_90904_6-inch_slip-joint_pliers_02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

B17E1943 · Nov 2, 2015

four.cycle said:
Introduced in the late 1970s as a low-cost alternative to the traditional "Indestro Super", "Indestro Select", and "Indestro/Duro" brands, Indestro Tool produced several items under the "Xpert" brand, among them this model.

Indestro_Xpert_90904_6-inch_slip-joint_pliers_01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Indestro_Xpert_90904_6-inch_slip-joint_pliers_02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Huh. I did not know that.

More stuff to look for. :eyecrazy:

bonneyman · Nov 2, 2015

I likewise didn't know that. Cool!

four.cycle · Nov 2, 2015

I didn't think any of you guys would. That's why I dug that out and posted it.
It was a really short line: 6 and 8-inch slip-joint pliers, a few screwdrivers - if my memory serves me correctly, the screwdrivers had clear plastic handles with royal blue stripes and cheap-*** chrome plating on the shafts - kind of like the old "Roscoe" screwdrivers we bought in big cardboard barrels and sold three for a buck.
I do remember that the pliers came in a cardboard bucket (like Kentucky Fried Chicken) - and the "bucket" was the standard carton.
The items were not shown in the "Indestro" main catalog, but were promoted on single-sheet flyers (pre-punched so they'd fit into the counter catalogs).
At that time (late 70's, early 80's), Indestro retail prices were relatively high, so they came out with the "Xpert" stuff to answer the call for low-end stuff, although they really weren't that much cheaper - maybe 20% or 30% lower than the premium "Indestro Super" product. As a consequence, they didn't sell worth a damn, because we had Wilmar cheap-*** pliers on the wall for $1.99 a pair.
The "Xpert" stuff was actually good quality, which should be evident from the photos. Same warranty as regular Indestro: lifetime warranty, no questions asked.

The 8" slip-joint pliers were either a 90902 or a 90903. It's been a long time since I had all the part numbers memorized in my head.

===

excerpt from a previous communication you may find of interest:

four.cycle said:
What I CAN tell you is that Indestro was a primary manufacturer – they made all their own stuff in Chicago. They were also manufacturing items for MANY other tool suppliers (particularly their pullers). (* see note below)

Premium quality product – I bought mine when I was 19 – in 1973 – and I have yet to break any of the items I got then. (I use mostly 1/4” and 3/8” drive).

The problem with Indestro/Duro Chrome was that they were trying to be too many things for too many people: private label for Western Auto (“Wizard” label), Duro-Chrome brand, Indestro “Super” brand, Indestro “Select” brand, and then later they tried to compete with the offshore market with yet ANOTHER line (which didn’t sell worth a damn against Wilmar or Globemaster, our two import tool lines at the time.) If they’d have stuck to the old-time religion and just gone with ONE brand, they’d probably still be in business. As it was, their fill rate dropped to below 30%, which just simply wasn’t acceptable. We switched to Thorsen (which was manufactured in USA) and then Thorsen went cheapo and started filling with Taiwan-made "TAT” (Thorsen Allied). When we did the change-over the Thorsen rep (Don Hall) made a deal with the factory and they bought ALL of our existing Indestro stock by the POUND.
And there was a hell of a lot of it: we had 6 retail stores at that time, all with full racks.

(* I may have my wires crossed on the pullers. May well have been that Indestro was buying some of their pullers from OTC. Don't know if the AA site can shed any light on that one or not. I do know from conversations with reps and talking with factory people at trade shows that many tool manufacturers outsourced from each other, i.e., Kastar was making feeler gauges for damn near everybody.)

B17E1943 · Nov 2, 2015

Interesting info, four.cycle - thanks for sharing.

four.cycle · Nov 3, 2015

my favorite Indestro warranty story:

four.cycle said:
well... good luck trying to break one.... Indestro wasn’t known for “thin wall” sockets (with a few exceptions on specialty items like the oil-pressure sending socket).

I used to stop at the warehouse and pick up all the daily orders on my way to the Yelm store when I was working up there on the counter. I usually didn’t get up there until about 10:30 or 11:00.

I arrived one morning and Jim, our opening man, had left an Indestro 1/2” drive 22” breaker bar back next to the coffee pot – he wanted to make sure I saw it when I got in.

It had a slight curve to it on the shaft – about a third of the way down from the business end of it – at about a 30-degree angle.

I picked it up and walked out to the counter with it and asked him “What’s the story on this?”

“Well, a couple hours ago a GREAT BIG guy from the Nisqually Tribe walked in and set that down on the counter and just kind of glared at me. He was about 6’6”.”

“So what’d you do?”

“I asked him ‘How long a piece of pipe did you have on it?’, and then continued “He said ‘Oh... about 6 feet’”

So what’d you do then?”

“I walked over and grabbed one off the rack and handed him a new one.”

“Okay. Let’s leave this next to the coffee pot and show Harold.”

A couple hours later Uncle Harold showed up, walked back to the coffee pot, and came out with the breaker bar in his hand.

“What’s the story on this?” he asked.

So Jim told him the story, and then asked what should he fill out on the warranty tag to return it.

“Warranty hell,” said Harold. “Hang that sonofabitch back on the rack.”

So we did.

About three months later a guy came in, wandered around a bit and then Harold and I watched him wander over toward the tool racks.

He pointed at the breaker bar with the bent shaft and said “I’ve been looking ALL OVER for one of those!”

Harold rang it up at full retail price.

True story.

four.cycle · Nov 3, 2015

and Dave, you are quite welcome.
nice to have finally found a place I can share some of this stuff rattling around in my head.

bk

altersaddle · Nov 3, 2015

Here's what I've got. A 1/4" socket set, with the very rare breaker bar cross handle but without the nice metal box. I have a Proto ratchet in this set, and it's one of my favorites.

The ratchet handle was in my Grandpa's stuff, the plug is long gone. It feels like it has about 14 teeth!

B17E1943 · Nov 3, 2015

Great stuff! :rocker:

Duro-Indestro/Duro-Chrome are one of my favorite tool brands.

I'm working on a D-I 1/2" drive socket set from WWII. I'm not quite sure what all it should include, but I think I'm getting pretty close.

I also have a WWII Duro-Chrome ignition set in the original leatherette roll, complete besides the apparently unobtainium small screwdriver.

Not to mention an Indestro carry box jam-packed with tools.

four.cycle · Nov 3, 2015

altersaddle, that is an extremely nice 1/4" set you've got there, and that #2850 is one of the nicer ones I've seen. (I just ordered one off Ebay yesterday but unfortunately I don't believe it's got as nice a finish on it.)

Outlawmws · Nov 3, 2015

Four cycle, I LOVE that bent Breaker Story! :lol:

Username already in use · Nov 3, 2015

B17E1943 said:
I also have a WWII Duro-Chrome ignition set in the original leatherette roll, complete besides the apparently unobtainium small screwdriver.

You mean this one… :evil:

B17E1943 · Nov 3, 2015

Username already in use said:
You mean this one…

Probably. So, what - you're taunting me?

four.cycle · Nov 4, 2015

hmmm.... that looks suspiciously like a #136 Indestro, except yours is yellow and the Indestro has a clear handle with white stripes.
my screwdrivers are really kind of a mess... you gotta have a whole mess of screwdrivers to work on carburetors.... I'll sort them out and get a photo posted later.

just got some of those itty-bitty ignition wrenches in the mail today. if I can find the rest of mine I'll get a photo posted of those too. the later ones are chrome plated.... nice and shiny, but lacking the character of those you've posted above.

four.cycle · Nov 4, 2015

had to put a new blade on this one today:

Indestro 9031 hacksaw 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Indestro 9031 hacksaw 02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Username already in use · Nov 4, 2015

B17E1943 said:
Probably. So, what - you're taunting me?

Yes, but not in a malicious way.... :beer:

I wanted to share a pic to give you some hope in knowing that there are still some out there to be found. :thumbup:

Most of these early plastic handle screwdrivers were prone to deteriorating, so while they do show up from time to time, as you already know, they are very scarce.
I would like to see some pics of your 1/2" drive D/I socket set. I have a similar set that I can share some pics of.

four.cycle said:
hmmm.... that looks suspiciously like a #136 Indestro, except yours is yellow and the Indestro has a clear handle with white stripes.

At least one version of the Indestro 136 screwdriver is identical.
Here's the one I have with an amber handle.

B17E1943 · Nov 4, 2015

Username already in use said:
Yes, but not in a malicious way.... I wanted to share a pic to give you some hope in knowing that there are still some out there to be found.
Most of these early plastic handle screwdrivers were prone to deteriorating, so while they do show up from time to time, as you already know, they are very scarce.
I would like to see some pics of your 1/2" drive D/I socket set. I have a similar set that I can share some pics of.

At least one version of the Indestro 136 screwdriver is identical.
Here's the one I have with an amber handle.

Yeah, some of that early plastic wasn't the best. I'll run across one sooner or later.

I don't have any pics of the 1/2" set; I'll try to get some up soon.

Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

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