Is this Proto dolly real?

[afazz]

I bought a Proto body dolly on ebay, there were no other bidders and I wasn't sure Proto even made dollies. At $10 I don't really care if it's Proto or not, the hardness is right and I will sand it into a useable piece.

It's forged, but only the bottom is actually finished.

It looks like these letters were hand stamped, there is an upside down "L" right before the P.

Has anyone seen a Proto track dolly to compare? Did they even make one?

 

[Hammer1963]

It is real. Proto was neck and neck with Snap-on during the mid 60's thru the early 70's for quality forged Body tools. My Dad has a complete set of Proto Body hammers, spoons and Dollies. After checking with him, these were purchased in 1971. I have a couple of Proto spoons and hammers myself along with this Dolly. Great tools. You got a bargain !

 

[930dreamer]

Looks good to me.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

It looks like these letters were hand stamped, there is an upside down "L" right before the P.

I've owned a lot of Proto tools over the years and seen even more, but I've never seen any with "Proto" hand stamped on them.

You know, there's another aspect to this that you might be over looking.

The "PROTO" stamped on this might beast not be in reference to the company Proto.

It might be an abbreviation for Prototype. The "L" might be the 12th variation. This could have been part of product development for no telling who. Something to think about.

I never really got into body tools, does it favor the dolly of any particular manufacturer?

WoD

 

[Wrenches of Death]

I have a couple of Proto spoons and hammers myself along with this Dolly. Great tools. You got a bargain !

And the name on yours is also hand stamped?

WoD

 

[ZRX61]

I would think that if it were a Proto they would have finished the other faces instead of leaving them looking like ***.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

I would think that if it were a Proto they would have finished the other faces instead of leaving them looking like ***.

Agreed. Typically the workmanship and finish of Proto tools were first class for the day. Even if it was some limited run "custom" tool, I can't imagine them not using a stamp alignment guide when they marked it.

I just find it hard to believe that this is an actual product by Proto.

WoD

 

[Hammer1963]

Most all Rail dollies are made in this fashion. Only the striking surfaces would be finished ground. Remember, we are talking a forging with irregular surfaces. The spoons I have are marked with raised lettering. The dollies are stamped and the hammers are stamped into the sides while the tool is still hot.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

The dollies are stamped and the hammers are stamped into the sides while the tool is still hot.

I don't know about having the make and model being stamped while they're hot, but defiantly before they are heat treated.

So are you saying that yours also have Proto hand stamped with crooked letters on them like the one that original poster has?

WoD

 

[Hammer1963]

My rail dolly yes. My spoons no. The "Proto" on them is raised One them. One of the things I have noticed about the spoons is that you can tell the lettering is an insert in the die and that there is an abundant area for longer wording. That makes me believe that these were multi-labeled units for various brands.
The hammers are actually stamped while the tool is still in its forging state.

Having worked in Tool & Die for 15 years, the above mentioned procedures are typical. The hand stamping, No with the exception of tools that are very limited production or modified. My guess is that the surface with the "Proto" hand stamped on it, was never meant to be ground and was an "Ol ****" we over looked this. just an idea, but with now seeing 3 like this, it must be what they did. BTW, as best as I can remember, my Rail Dollie's "Proto" stamping is much neater than the one in the photo, but it too is hand stamped

 

[Wrenches of Death]

just an idea, but with now seeing 3 like this, it must be what they did. BTW, as best as I can remember, my Rail Dollie's "Proto" stamping is much neater than the one in the photo, but it too is hand stamped

Thanks for the quick response. I think you're probably going to be right. Three of them would seem to indicate that it was a production item.

The unfinished appearance and the hand stamped name immediately made me think prototype. Well, it's not the first time I made a wrong guess and probably won't be the last!

But, we learned something new today!

thanks again,
WoD

 

[Hammer1963]

I will try and remember to take a pic of the Dolly at work this week.

There are weird things out there in the tool world. I have a few Blue Point Body hammers that have the "Blue Point" logo stamped in the head, that have old script "Snap-on" handles. These are original condition tools that were purchased in the early 60's and have not had the handles replaced.

I have done an extreme amount of research on Snap-on/Blue point forged body tools (weird obsession, I know) and have yet to determine when the vast majority of the forgings became Snap-on labeled tools only. I know it's in the early-mid 60's, but no definite date. My guess is that when the Blue Point stock was depleted, the Snap-on was phased in. That could have taken several years I suppose, explaining the mixed logo tools. Who knows.

 

[ZRX61]

Most all Rail dollies are made in this fashion. Only the striking surfaces would be finished ground.

& on every other Rail Dolly I've ever seen, the face shown in the 2nd pic was finished, not left looking like it does in the pic.

 

[afazz]

Interesting discussion, I would love to see some pics of genuine Proto track dollies to compare. Thanks for the info so far!