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Proto ratchet repair kits

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fishtanke

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I was showing these kits off over at Woodnet, my usual haunt, and some guys there thought you would enjoy seeing these kits I picked up a couple of weeks ago. I've never seen anything like them, anybody know what the vintage on these would be?

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kythri

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NIIIIIIIIICE!

I don't suppose there's a 3/4" drive faceplate and selector in there you want to part with? :D
 
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fishtanke

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I'm glad you guys like them. :)

I picked these up at a New Hampshire flea market. I don't know where he got them, but they certainly were kept in a decent environment. I knew that they had to be something special, when you can't find any others on the web it's something out of the ordinary.

I just did a little research on Plomb tools. I would have guessed that these were produced sometime between the wars. It looks like I was dead on, 1927-1933 was when they used the round O in Plomb.

I'll end up selling these before I'm done, they really should be in somebody's collection. I'm a hunter, I enjoy the thrill of the hunt, but I can't keep everything.

If anybody could use the repair instructions, I'd be happy to scan them and make them available for you.
 
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Conductor562

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fishtanke said:
I'm glad you guys like them. :)

I picked these up at a New Hampshire flea market. I don't know where he got them, but they certainly were kept in a decent environment. I knew that they had to be something special, when you can't find any others on the web it's something out of the ordinary.

I just did a little research on Plomb tools. I would have guessed that these were produced sometime between the wars. It looks like I was dead on, 1927-1933 was when they used the round O in Plomb.

I'll end up selling these before I'm done, they really should be in somebody's collection. I'm a hunter, I enjoy the thrill of the hunt, but I can't keep everything.

If anybody could use the repair instructions, I'd be happy to scan them and make them available for you.
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If you think about it and decide to list it on eBay, let us know on this thread. I'd like the chance to bid and see what kind of crazy money this thing brings :)
 
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justanengineer

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fishtanke said:
I just did a little research on Plomb tools. I would have guessed that these were produced sometime between the wars. It looks like I was dead on, 1927-1933 was when they used the round O in Plomb.
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No disrespect intended, but I dont believe thats original Plomb but rather an assembled collection. The repair instructions IIRC are out of an old catalog (50s?). Notice the "-over-" at the bottom of the page followed by a blank space beneath it rather than a full, appropriately sized single sheet as would have been done originally. Also, the font of the logo on the box itself simply doesnt look quite right to my eye and is missing the "arrowheads." Taken a step further, you said yourself the years Plomb used the round O logo, but they didnt start making Proto brand anything for another 15 years after that. This may have been an old dealer built kit, but without proof it could also be modern hobbyist built.
 
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Man of Many Vices

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I, personally, would appreciate very much a scanned copy. I can also use some repair parts, if available, for the 3/8 ratchet, particularly a "dual duty" 3/8 and 1/2-inch ratchet head built into a single tool.
 
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fishtanke

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justanengineer said:
No disrespect intended, but I dont believe thats original Plomb but rather an assembled collection. The repair instructions IIRC are out of an old catalog (50s?). Notice the "-over-" at the bottom of the page followed by a blank space beneath it rather than a full, appropriately sized single sheet as would have been done originally. Also, the font of the logo on the box itself simply doesnt look quite right to my eye and is missing the "arrowheads." Taken a step further, you said yourself the years Plomb used the round O logo, but they didnt start making Proto brand anything for another 15 years after that. This may have been an old dealer built kit, but without proof it could also be modern hobbyist built.
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The instructions are double sided and on card stock. The writing on the lids is embossed, something most woodworking guys would not be capable off. I know practically nothing about these kits, I could be completely wrong about the timeline. I really, really can't believe that it's a modern fantasy piece though. Nobody would go through the work it would take to mock this up. If anybody has got any info about these, please post it. I'll work on some scans tonight.

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Conductor562

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Well, I got instantly turned on and overlooked the PROTO verbiage on the instructions, but looking at it again, the instructions say PROTO rather than PLOMB suggesting this kit would have to be post WWII. The box does say PLOMB so if this thing were really a 100% factory item it would almost have to fall between 1948 and 1950 I would think. That being said, it could be that the instructions were added later. Pear head ratchets aren't exactly complex in their design and anyone with a kit of this type would certainly not need instructions. I would find it unusual that PLOMB would issue such a kit in a wooden box as opposed to metal. This could be easily explained by the wartime material shortage, but again, the fact that the kit bares both the PROTO and PLOMB names suggest it was at least late 1948. The embossed lettering lends some credence to the item as it is beyond the capabilities of most. I think the "dealer built" hypothesis is probable. Irregardless of it true origins, this is still a very cool item and collectors will still be very interested in it. I know I am.
 
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Conductor562

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PLOMB didn't acquire J.P. Danielson until 1947. The instructions also list the Jamestown, NY factory meaning it would have to be after that. By early 1950 they quit using the PLOMB name altogether. If it's 100% real it's between 1948 and March 1950.
 
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rusty65

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Also some one had a plomb tool board that had proto stuck over the plomb so it's possible it had plomb before and when they switched to the proto name the place also changed the instructions?
 
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Conductor562

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rusty65 said:
Also some one had a plomb tool board that had proto stuck over the plomb so it's possible it had plomb before and when they switched to the proto name the place also changed the instructions?
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The instructions pictured above have Plomb verbiage on the left side and Proto on the right, therefore the same 1948-50 window applies to them I would think. It's one thing to change advertising boards, it's another to go around swapping instructions in repair kits. I say at the very least the instructions were added later. I could see this being something that came out of a service center or something.
 
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fishtanke

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FrankLee said:
WOW!!!

What do the tips of those punches look like? Do they secure detents?

What is stamped into the cover plates; Plomb or Proto?
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Here's some pics of the tools, the largest punch does have the Plomb name on it. The cover plates mostly have no printing, three of them say Proto.

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fishtanke

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Conductor562 said:
The instructions pictured above have Plomb verbiage on the left side and Proto on the right, therefore the same 1948-50 window applies to them I would think. It's one thing to change advertising boards, it's another to go around swapping instructions in repair kits. I say at the very least the instructions were added later. I could see this being something that came out of a service center or something.
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Thanks greatly for the help in trying to figure out what's going on with these kits.

I now have scans of the instructions if anybody wants them. Just let me know and I'll email them to you.
 
O

Outlawmws

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I think this was boxes from the earlier period mixed with instructions adn at lest some parts from a later period. "Los Angeles" markings are definitely earlier than "USA" markings, and since this was a repair kit, they would periodically restock the box, Hence some things inside marked Proto.

I'd guess this may have been "wright field" stuff (Or someplace also not on warranty) also, as since they were not under warranty, it would make sense for them to keep repair kits on hand.

ps: you STILL ****!
 
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fishtanke

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Maine
As requested, I'm giving you guys a heads up on these kits. I just put hem up for auction on ebay. I wish you good luck.

I hope to be doing some more posting on your forum. I haven't been posting, but I have been doing a lot of lurking. :)
 
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RatchetMan

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That is crazy but not hard to believe as Ebay often yields some high prices. I've sold some things on there which have gone for so much I wanted to email the high bidder prior to the auction ending to make sure they knew what they were doing simply to avoid confusion later on.

When antiquated parts kits for old ratchets are pulling this kind of money, nobody is going to convince me the economy isn't pretty darn good.
 
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