Interesting Proto Wrenches

[Lump]

Wow. Here I am...poor ol' Lump. With none of those more-desirable stamp-on-neck and thicker-near-head line wrenches. Sigh.

Every time I think I've finally found something pretty cool, I find that I have the lesser desirable "garden-variety" version. Oh well. At least my common 3/4" Proto USA-marked line wrench is in really nice shape.

Just kiddin', guys. Only my 5/8" Proto line wrench is marked "Los Angeles". The other three are "USA". But, I was still pretty happy to find them. And they are the only Proto line wrenches I have at the moment.

 

[Bolster]

bolster you're killin me here. i am not an expert.

My Pappy tole me oncet, he said: "Son, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."

I tole him I had no idear what that meant. He said, "Son, what it mean is: I may be dum, but I knows more than you!"

Which is to say, SK: You is the expert, as far as I is concerned.

Y'all listen up to SK, he knows more'n he's lettin' on.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Here is kind of a neat story about one of these wrenches. One of my fellow Marines was in the air wing as a CH-46 mechanic and apparently one time they got a replacement chopper pulled out of the bone yard. Well they got to going over it and when they pulled up some of the decking to look at some hydraulic lines he found this proto wrench. It is marked VA-45 which was a Navy attack squadron. I don't know how this wrench made it into the bottom of this CH-46 and then sat there for probably 40+ years but it is kind of a neat story.

 

[YellowLakeWelding]

Here is kind of a neat story about one of these wrenches. One of my fellow Marines was in the air wing as a CH-46 mechanic and apparently one time they got a replacement chopper pulled out of the bone yard. Well they got to going over it and when they pulled up some of the decking to look at some hydraulic lines he found this proto wrench. It is marked VA-45 which was a Navy attack squadron. I don't know how this wrench made it into the bottom of this CH-46 and then sat there for probably 40+ years but it is kind of a neat story.

That is pretty sweet, looks like it flew a few missions judging from the way it's worn.

 

[Even 11]

I have four Proto line wrenches, found one at a time last summer. GJ member "Even 11" asked me for them first, so I will give him first right of refusal. But if he passes, these will be available next week.

While a couple of those fill holes, we may be talking soon yellow lake, i have a few doubles that may be up for sale soon. They are semi collectable, I find them pretty regularly local, but this board has helped/hurt quite a bit.

I need to see what ones I have and need, I lost the list when the computer went kablooey.

-Dane

 

[YellowLakeWelding]

Even~ Sounds good to me, this is what I need:

Proto Pebble Line Flare Wrenches:
#3714-7/16"
#3720-5/8"
#3722-11/16"
#3724-3/4"
#3726-13/16"
#3728-7/8"
#3730-15/16"
#3732-1"
#3734-1~1/16"
#3736-1~1/8"
#3744-1~1/4"
and any larger.

 

[Even 11]

Look here when you want to spend some cash.

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/oneofakind/3756-PROTO.html

-Dane

 

[YellowLakeWelding]

Holy ****! I just sent my friend the link to have him order that for me, I hope he get my message soon enough. I don't have a credit card...never trusted them.

 

[sk farmer]

My Pappy tole me oncet, he said: "Son, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."

I tole him I had no idear what that meant. He said, "Son, what it mean is: I may be dum, but I knows more than you!"

Which is to say, SK: You is the expert, as far as I is concerned.

Y'all listen up to SK, he knows more'n he's lettin' on.

i will graciously accept your compliment but i still claim that old bolster knows a thing or two himself about that vintage pebble gold. he may even have a few secrets of his own.

 

[472scout]

I've seen a few from time to time. How well do they resist spreading out on tight fasteners?

 

[sk farmer]

they work fine. probably not as well as a six point and of course they do not have modern technology like on newer wrenches (non slip corners, pick your trade name) i have used mine on occasion , but really, how many of us our working on lines that large on a daily basis. we put these sets togrether for a couple reasons. the cool factor, the collector bug, the love of vintage tools and for the challenge. nissan crawler does use his but he is an aircraft mechanic and sees that type of fitting on a regular basis but even then i am sure they are not the only tool in his arsenal becaue these have no offset and are just straight handled.

 

[Bolster]

Inspiration:

 

[Lump]

Nice, Bolster. But say....that 3/4" wrench of yours doesn't look so bad from this angle...?

 

[Even 11]

Holy ****! I just sent my friend the link to have him order that for me, I hope he get my message soon enough. I don't have a credit card...never trusted them.

LOL... Welcome to the addiction Yellow! Good on you for no credit card too, I trust them, its myself I don't trust!

-Dane

 

[Even 11]

they work fine. probably not as well as a six point and of course they do not have modern technology like on newer wrenches (non slip corners, pick your trade name) i have used mine on occasion , but really, how many of us our working on lines that large on a daily basis. we put these sets togrether for a couple reasons. the cool factor, the collector bug, the love of vintage tools and for the challenge.

Well said SK, I think you sure sound like an expert on the subject!

-Dane

 

[YellowLakeWelding]

I talked to my friend, he ordered two of those wrenches for me so I should see them by this weekend and I'll post some pictures.

 

[472scout]

they work fine. probably not as well as a six point and of course they do not have modern technology like on newer wrenches (non slip corners, pick your trade name) i have used mine on occasion , but really, how many of us our working on lines that large on a daily basis. we put these sets togrether for a couple reasons. the cool factor, the collector bug, the love of vintage tools and for the challenge. nissan crawler does use his but he is an aircraft mechanic and sees that type of fitting on a regular basis but even then i am sure they are not the only tool in his arsenal becaue these have no offset and are just straight handled.

I can relate to the cool factor/collector thing, but if they can't handle old corroded extremely tight fasteners I can't justify the expense to just have them sitting my tool box collecting dust.

 

[bmwpower]

they work fine. probably not as well as a six point and of course they do not have modern technology like on newer wrenches (non slip corners, pick your trade name) i have used mine on occasion , but really, how many of us our working on lines that large on a daily basis. we put these sets togrether for a couple reasons. the cool factor, the collector bug, the love of vintage tools and for the challenge. nissan crawler does use his but he is an aircraft mechanic and sees that type of fitting on a regular basis but even then i am sure they are not the only tool in his arsenal becaue these have no offset and are just straight handled.

Plumbing? I've yet to use mine.

 

[Lump]

I can relate to the cool factor/collector thing, but if they can't handle old corroded extremely tight fasteners I can't justify the expense to just have them sitting my tool box collecting dust.

You make a good point, Scout. We're all different that way. Some of us are full-time technicians, and our tools must earn their keep in our tool boxes. For people like that, tools are...well..."tools".

Others of us like tools for themselves, and enjoy having them whether or not we will use them often...or at all, sometimes.

For me, I still love tinkering with my Hupmobile and big block Chevelle. But I have little use in metric tools, normally, 'cause I have no intention of working on my boring modern daily drivers. But several of my closest friends wrench every day for a living. To most of them, tools are not "cool" at all....just a way to make a living. Indeed, some of those guys will often give me "old" obsolete SAE tools, that they no longer want.

Maybe that is what makes Garage Journal so cool. We all like different tools for different reasons, in different ways. But yet we can all connect here and enjoy each others' different perspectives. I like GJ for that reason.

 

[Busted Bolts]

do you find the 12pt better than the common 6pt thats out there today?

 

[sk farmer]

do you find the 12pt better than the common 6pt thats out there today?

there is no way to compare. is 6 point better for removing tough fasteners sure. is it better when you can't make a full 1/6 turn or can't get it on the fastener period. why do we have different length ratchets? why do we have differant drive sizes? why do we have different handle types? why do wrenches come in long, short, extra-long or standrd lengths with 15 degree, deep offset or 0 degree ends. they are just another tool in the box and when you need them they are the best tool for the job.

 

[YellowLakeWelding]

The UPS man brought me a package...look what was inside. Proto 1-3/4" Los Angeles in pretty good shape to boot.