Oldtuleguy
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Seems like they they did not put alot of markings on those. Nothing but the size on these, and only ratchet and long speeder branded.
Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools
- Thread starter matthew
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Seems like they they did not put alot of markings on those. Nothing but the size on these, and only ratchet and long speeder branded.
four.cycle
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^ I have that green-box set too. Nothing on the sockets other than sizes. Earlier stuff had the stars on each side of the part number.
Unless I'm mistaken, THAT green box set was marketed through one of their private label accounts, and I'm inclined to think SEARS more than Montgomery Ward or Western Auto. At the moment I can't recall WHY, but it made sense when I first got the set and was trying to figure it out. (I think the language on the decal inside the lid was the give away.)
Unless I'm mistaken, THAT green box set was marketed through one of their private label accounts, and I'm inclined to think SEARS more than Montgomery Ward or Western Auto. At the moment I can't recall WHY, but it made sense when I first got the set and was trying to figure it out. (I think the language on the decal inside the lid was the give away.)
Oldtuleguy
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Yes, decal is not brand specific
four.cycle
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yes. and I can't put a fix on it right now in my head.
they had a Sears account at one point and labeled the sets "Duro Bilt", but obviously that's not it.
The Indestro branded sets of that era would have been labeled as such, presumably.
they had a Sears account at one point and labeled the sets "Duro Bilt", but obviously that's not it.
The Indestro branded sets of that era would have been labeled as such, presumably.
elidas
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d42jeep
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Is there a connection to Alloy Artifacts’s “late pre-Craftsman socket sets” example? The label is similar.
four.cycle
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^ kinda-sorta the right shape, but much larger in size. the decal in the "green box set" above (and the one I have) is only maybe an inch in diameter. the decal in the Sears set in the AA photo looks to be much larger.
sorry I cannot recall how and why I made that connection to Sears on that one.... there WAS a reason but I cannot remember why now!
sorry I cannot recall how and why I made that connection to Sears on that one.... there WAS a reason but I cannot remember why now!
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Oldtuleguy
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It's some kind of marketing varation
Kirk T
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d42jeep
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I hope that your sockets didn’t resemble the finish on some of these Chromium Vanadium 1/4” sockets before you started your restoration efforts. The dull silver colored sockets are Cad plated and the flying particles are extremely poisonous.
-Don
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dkroth
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Did Wizard ever sell metric sockets?
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RedVise
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Yes, I've found just one single metric socket marked Wizard. I'll try and post a picture later. I assume they put a complete set out at some point.
Oldtuleguy
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Not a clue. But that's pretty cool!
Yes, I've found just one single metric socket marked Wizard. I'll try and post a picture later. I assume they put a complete set out at some point.
Looks like I mis-remembered what I had. I've got a 17mm Indestro-Super and a 15MM Duro Chrome. Here's a pic next to a 1/2" Wizard socket. All 3/8" drive.
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dkroth
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Looks like I mis-remembered what I had. I've got a 17mm Indestro-Super and a 15MM Duro Chrome. Here's a pic next to a 1/2" Wizard socket. All 3/8" drive.
Thanks for checking.
I have and Indestro-Super metric set but would REALLY like a metric Wizard set...
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Private Lugnutz
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Some of you may remember this reefer set from a January Whatzit (and not-so-covert sales ad) thread.
At the time, it was a little dirtier and a little messier with a bunch of extra things in it, including swaging punches, and some sockets not made by Duro, and I helped identify it and its era of production. Well, it's mine now. I couldn’t resist the tools, the green hammerloid enameled finish on the box, or the decal!
Bonney was selling a No. 4518-RS (45** series 18-piece Refrigerator Service) for a few decades. But, as you can see in this 1939 catalog excerpt, it had a typical 30’s era "Tools of Quality" decal under the lid.
When the war was over, Duro did a full scale makeover on all their marketing, adopting a new slogan, “Doggone Good Tools!”
By 1951, the new marketing theme was splashed all over their catalog, the slogan appeared on the bottom of every page...
...and they were still making and selling the same 18-piece refrigeration service set. They even re-used the same figure, replacing the decal with the “Doggone Good Tools” logo.
I was completely oblivious to all of this and the entire "Doggone Good Tools" era until this set showed up. It would be easy to blame it on my fixation with WWII and earlier, but I would've remember seeing this logo desite that, and I can't find another example of it on a tool or tool-set on GJ or elsewhere. However long it lasted, it seems to be fairly rare, or at least it doesn't seem to have been collected as much as other eras.
At the time, it was a little dirtier and a little messier with a bunch of extra things in it, including swaging punches, and some sockets not made by Duro, and I helped identify it and its era of production. Well, it's mine now. I couldn’t resist the tools, the green hammerloid enameled finish on the box, or the decal!
Bonney was selling a No. 4518-RS (45** series 18-piece Refrigerator Service) for a few decades. But, as you can see in this 1939 catalog excerpt, it had a typical 30’s era "Tools of Quality" decal under the lid.
When the war was over, Duro did a full scale makeover on all their marketing, adopting a new slogan, “Doggone Good Tools!”
By 1951, the new marketing theme was splashed all over their catalog, the slogan appeared on the bottom of every page...
...and they were still making and selling the same 18-piece refrigeration service set. They even re-used the same figure, replacing the decal with the “Doggone Good Tools” logo.
I was completely oblivious to all of this and the entire "Doggone Good Tools" era until this set showed up. It would be easy to blame it on my fixation with WWII and earlier, but I would've remember seeing this logo desite that, and I can't find another example of it on a tool or tool-set on GJ or elsewhere. However long it lasted, it seems to be fairly rare, or at least it doesn't seem to have been collected as much as other eras.
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Private Lugnutz
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Fortunately, the 1951 catalog included model numbers in the contents list (excerpt posted in post above), so it was easy to determine what I had and what I was missing.
Here is a blow-up of the figure.
And here is the set laid out like the figure, piece by piece.
This is a near-complete No. 4518-RS set. It’s a neat set with a mix of eleven (11) 1/4-inch drive sockets (45xx series 8-point, 4-point, and special purpose packing gland sockets, and an oval socket for Kerotest and Imperial packing gland nuts) and three (3) 44xx series 3/8-inch drive 12-point sockets.
The only handle in the set to turn them is a No. 4490 reversible refrigerator service ratchet. It’s a female ratchet with a 1/4” drive opening (also used for 1/4” valve stems). The set comes with a 1/4-inch male drive plug (for the 1/4-inch drive sockets) and a 1/4- to 3/8-inch male drive adaptor (for those three 3/8-inch drive sockets). I have never seen a reefer rat with so many square openings (for valve stems) near the end of the handle. Bonney and Walden have one, maybe two at most. This ratchet including a 3/16”, a 1/4”, and a 5/16”, inside the fixed socket (12-point 1/2” service opening for hex nuts on compressors, etc.) on the very end.
This is a ratchet they bragged about in the very front of the catalog in 1951.
Here is a blow-up of the figure.
And here is the set laid out like the figure, piece by piece.
This is a near-complete No. 4518-RS set. It’s a neat set with a mix of eleven (11) 1/4-inch drive sockets (45xx series 8-point, 4-point, and special purpose packing gland sockets, and an oval socket for Kerotest and Imperial packing gland nuts) and three (3) 44xx series 3/8-inch drive 12-point sockets.
The only handle in the set to turn them is a No. 4490 reversible refrigerator service ratchet. It’s a female ratchet with a 1/4” drive opening (also used for 1/4” valve stems). The set comes with a 1/4-inch male drive plug (for the 1/4-inch drive sockets) and a 1/4- to 3/8-inch male drive adaptor (for those three 3/8-inch drive sockets). I have never seen a reefer rat with so many square openings (for valve stems) near the end of the handle. Bonney and Walden have one, maybe two at most. This ratchet including a 3/16”, a 1/4”, and a 5/16”, inside the fixed socket (12-point 1/2” service opening for hex nuts on compressors, etc.) on the very end.
This is a ratchet they bragged about in the very front of the catalog in 1951.
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Private Lugnutz
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All of the sockets are branded and are also marked with model numbers that correspond exactly to the 1951 set parts list except for the 4418 9/16" 3/8-inch drive socket. It has a 12-point 9/16" service opening. It has the unmistakable Duro-Chrome knurling. It is chrome-plated. It is identical in every way to all the other sockets in the set. It just got missed in the roll-stamping pass on the line.
The only pieces not marked are the drive plug and the adaptor drive plug.
The only piece I am missing is the 6” extension, model number 4533. If anyone has one or runs into one, please let me know!
The only pieces not marked are the drive plug and the adaptor drive plug.
The only piece I am missing is the 6” extension, model number 4533. If anyone has one or runs into one, please let me know!
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d42jeep
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Nice looking set, Lugz.
The extension shouldn't be too hard to find. At least you're not missing the 1/4" to 3/8" drive plug. Those don't show up very often.
The extension shouldn't be too hard to find. At least you're not missing the 1/4" to 3/8" drive plug. Those don't show up very often.
Some of you may remember this reefer set from a January Whatzit (and not-so-covert sales ad) thread.
At the time, it was a little dirtier and a little messier with a bunch of extra things in it, including swaging punches, and some sockets not made by Duro, and I helped identify it and its era of production. Well, it's mine now. I couldn’t resist the tools, the green hammerloid enameled finish on the box, or the decal!
Say what?.....tell me it ain't so. Can't be adding chrome to your collection...
Awesome set...Private Lugnutz
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Thanks, Don. I don't know about eBay, probably more than I want to spend, but if you turn one up at an estate sale, etc, I'm in. 
First question I asked, Unaiu!
HAHA! CRTDI. I know! What's the world coming to?!
First question I asked, Unaiu!
HAHA! CRTDI. I know! What's the world coming to?!
I'll check my hoard. I probably have an Indestro; don't see very much Duro around here.
B17E1943
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That's a beautiful set, Lugz!
Private Lugnutz
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Thanks, B17E1943 and notlob.
I just re-checked my stash. As (no or bad) luck would have it, I have a Duro-Chrome 6" extension, but it's a 4433, 3/8-inch drive. And it's natural steel finish. That and the longer Duro-Chrome 4434 extension it is pictured with, also 3/8-inch drive, are available for trade.
I just re-checked my stash. As (no or bad) luck would have it, I have a Duro-Chrome 6" extension, but it's a 4433, 3/8-inch drive. And it's natural steel finish. That and the longer Duro-Chrome 4434 extension it is pictured with, also 3/8-inch drive, are available for trade.
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jamesly
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REALLY nice sets you guys have. Love the "Doggone Good" Slogan/Brand too
RagTopTA
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I look through my stuff tonight! I have some extra 1/4 drv extensions in a drawer! thats a really cool set!
DD T/A
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Are those units in any way related to these Herbrands? Like did one company make them for the other or something?
They look really similar...
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7210266&postcount=44
Private Lugnutz
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Anything is always possible, but in this case, both of these two were the kind of mfgr who were making things for others, not the other way around, and I think that this style of extension, with a pronounced collar or stop before the drive stud, was pretty common among several mfgrs. Others may have a different opinion.
RagTopTA
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sorry Lugz only found an SK and some newer proto and such.
The only Duro extension I have is a 4434. Interesting that it's quite different from the 4434 in your pics; the stamping is around the female end, which also has holes for a tommy bar like the other 3/8 extension in your pics.
d42jeep
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I found this empty Duro/DI set box on eBay and grabbed it because the label was so intact. It arrived last night all the way from Alameda, CA (about 15 minutes away). I immediately cleaned it up and added the tools from another box with a damaged label to make a complete set.
-Don
-Don
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Oldtuleguy
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Nice box! Hard to find with a nice label.
Oldtuleguy
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Private Lugnutz
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I would totally buy that if I saw it at a flea. As you know, I too am a sucker for different/OOAK. Love everything about it, Otg. What is that golden hue coming off the rat at certain angles?
Oldtuleguy
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I think old clear coat
Oldtuleguy
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Here is a link to their history
https://www.mybrightonandhove.org.u...strial-estate/hollingbury_industrial_estate-8
https://www.mybrightonandhove.org.u...strial-estate/hollingbury_industrial_estate-8
3baygarage
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Now that’s a sweet buy. I’ve seen Leytool wrenches before, but not those drive tools. My question is when does the museum open up?