Plomb / Proto Date Code Stampings

twertsy · Feb 4, 2015

So we know I've been attempting to fill my Proto display board, and many questions (not just me) have come up as to how the date coding worked. I'd like to, as best I can, fill that board with era appropriate pieces. To that end, I've been communicating with the Sr. Brand Manager at Proto and he's been more than gracious in digging up what information he can. So, I thought I'd post this "nugget" he sent me last evening showing all date codes from 1976-2023 for Proto and MAC. If anyone has any info on what/if date codes were used prior to 1976 it'd be awesome if you could post them!! I'll volunteer to organize the information and post it for reference in the future.

twertsy · Feb 4, 2015

Nobody? So far today I've researched and have date code identifiers for the above, and 1918 to 1948. Missing info for "tweener years" 1949-1975.

zeet · Feb 10, 2015

What a cool document, twertsy...Thanks for posting that. Here's a link to the only other source of info on the subject I'm aware of - and I'm sure you must already have it - but on the off-chance that you don't, here it is; http://plombtools.com/year-markings-2/

woody 73 · Feb 10, 2015

Interesting thanks for the Mac codes.

drivesitfar · Feb 10, 2015

Woody: don't you have the dating codes for the earlier Proto and Plvmb over on your thread in the vintage tool section?

Twertsy: great looking charts and hope we can find the earlier ones because i use the ones that are older.

woody 73 · Feb 10, 2015

drivesitfar I added it just now over in the vintage section under Mac. I do believe I have most of the date codes for proto. The only problem I have is checking between the two sections because 99.99% of vintage is in this section.

Smokeshow69 · Feb 10, 2015

Twertsy-good call on posting the date code chart to the forums! Keep us posted with other things proto sends you!

930dreamer · Feb 14, 2015

Have you seen this marking?

Plombob · Feb 15, 2015

That's great info, Twertsy! I'll have to check some of my Protos for codes. For the Plomb dates, go to my site: http://plombtools.com/year-markings-2/

Plombob · Feb 15, 2015

930dreamer said:
Have you seen this marking?

Never. Could it be an owner's mark?

twertsy · Feb 15, 2015

930dreamer said:
Have you seen this marking?

Nope, I've never seen that one either. I do have some greek symbols that are not in the date code list Proto sent me like pi and many others, but I've never seen yours. I really doubt that's an owners mark, it's WAY too clean and it's the Greek symbol Gamma. Plus, the socket style is in line with late 80's / early 90's style sockets so it makes sense. I just don't know what the ones that aren't on the proto date code chart mean? I'm guessing they are '90-'91 month codes though.

930dreamer · Feb 15, 2015

This is the first Proto socket I've seen with a letter on it.

RubiconJK · Mar 27, 2019

Adding a link to my recent post on the Proto thread regarding a socket I found with a pi symbol mark. Thanks Todd for posting this and pointing me here.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7795261&postcount=107

schmidtbrian92@gmail. · Sep 18, 2023

can anyone help me witth this socket? notice one arrow up one down.......and what era are the proto wrenches with the arrow heads i have complete set

4-12-2 · Dec 17, 2024

twertsy said:
So we know I've been attempting to fill my Proto display board, and many questions (not just me) have come up as to how the date coding worked. I'd like to, as best I can, fill that board with era appropriate pieces. To that end, I've been communicating with the Sr. Brand Manager at Proto and he's been more than gracious in digging up what information he can. So, I thought I'd post this "nugget" he sent me last evening showing all date codes from 1976-2023 for Proto and MAC. If anyone has any info on what/if date codes were used prior to 1976 it'd be awesome if you could post them!! I'll volunteer to organize the information and post it for reference in the future.

Twetsy, I know this is an old thread but I just discovered it this morning. In your great code form, under the Figure 6 "3 letter date code", makes reference to "source" codes and in relation to the source codes advises to (Refer to Page 2, Table 1). Is there a way I can access the referenced section?

Thanks in advance for any help.

John

twertsy · Dec 17, 2024

My apologies, I do not have the second page.

4-12-2 · Dec 17, 2024

twertsy said:
My apologies, I do not have the second page.

Thanks for getting back so quickly! I'm still trying to figure out whether there is a "quality" difference between, say, a Proto 712 adjustable wrench and a 712 Professional. I would think the professional would be of higher-grade steel or something but so far I haven't seen much of anything to support such expectations.

Thanks again, twertsy.

John

Etchase · Dec 18, 2024

I believe they just started using professional around ‘74 in the case of adjustable wrenches with no change in product. Seems to have just been a marketing change.

4-12-2 · Dec 18, 2024

Thanks, Etchase. I'd feared this, at least in the sense of the adjustable wrenches I've been looking at. I couldn't discern a single change and had hoped perhaps there might be a higher-grade steel which doesn't show so easily behind finishes.

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