Learn me on some tools I found. Proto, Indestro, etc.

[codydoss82]

I buy a lot of misc. tool lots from local sales posts and since I work in construction, I sometimes just find them laying around and abandoned in the back of old rusted out shipping containers.

Well here are some of my latest finds/purchases and I'd like to learn about them if possible. I've been learning a lot thanks to this forum, but there is still so much that I don't know amor understand (dates/manufacture plants/etc.)

Proto Los Angeles 1226 13/16" Combo



Indestro 1" & 15/16" Open End Combo



Indestro Super 1033C Open End Combo. Can't see the size, whether it's because of putting or because it didn't come labeled from the Manufacturer. I'm not sure.



Craftsman =V= 3/4" Combo. I know a little about them, but this is the first I've seen in person so I'd like to know more.





Here's one that I think I've seen on the forum, but I don't know anything about.

Looks like "HM" on the front and "RK" with an A behind that. 19mm & 17mm Open End Combo





As you can see in the background, I found a few more along with these. I'll save those for later, because I'd really like to focus on these for now.

For the record, I'm not a collector of old wrenches so some might be up for grabs or something. I just like to learn about the history, and the ways things used to be, as well as the thrill of hunting for old stuff that normal people toss out (I'm sure we can all relate). I do collect Mac hard handled items though in case y'all might know someone [emoji1]

Thank you guys very much in advance.

 

[930dreamer]

Re: Learn me on some tools I found.

I think the HM metric is Honda Motorcycles?

 

[codydoss82]

Learn me on some tools I found.

I think the HM metric is Honda Motorcycles?

Wow I'd imagine it being pretty old if it was actually for Honda Motors or Honda Motorcycles. I got it in a box from a widow of an old pipeline welder.

Edit.
Quick Google search for "vintage Honda Motor Combo Wrench" and my wrench popped up. Thanks for the help! Now to do some digging on that manufacturer as I'm pretty interested.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Proto l.a. was made right after plvmb was forced to change their name in a lawsuit in 1948... They where known as Plvmb Los Angeles so it was logical for them to change their name to Proto l.a...These wrenches were made from 1949-1956???

 

[codydoss82]

I've read that in a few places lately. That's why I got so excited when I saw it haha. I saw a bunch of different info on alloy artifacts stating different stamping and all of that. That's what confuses the hell out of me.. thanks for clearing up the 1949-56 thing for me!

 

[Stuart in MN]

Re: Learn me on some tools I found.

Wow I'd imagine it being pretty old if it was actually for Honda Motors or Honda Motorcycles. I got it in a box from a widow of an old pipeline welder.

Edit.
Quick Google search for "vintage Honda Motor Combo Wrench" and my wrench popped up. Thanks for the help! Now to do some digging on that manufacturer as I'm pretty interested.

Those wrenches were part of the tool kits commonly provided with bikes in the 1960s and 1970s. The kits were pretty complete back then, with an assortment of wrenches, pliers, a screwdriver, etc. but I imagine these days the tool kits have been pared down to just a couple tools. That said, they're fairly common since Honda built a zillion bikes.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Indestro Super 1033C Open End Combo. Can't see the size, whether it's because of putting or because it didn't come labeled from the Manufacturer. I'm not sure.

"Super" is a line Indestro starting making in 1945. The "1033C" is a model number, but typical for the overwhelming majority of Mfgr's in that era, it cleverly incorporates the Industry Standard Number, which is the "33C" part of the model number. A 33C wrench has milled openings of 15/16" and 1". You may see 3033C wrenches and 7033C wrenches, etc. In fact, the Indestro Select Steel "033C" you picked up is another example, and one that also includes markings indicating the milled openings sizes. All 33C wrenches have the same size milled openings, but the model series number (e.g., 1xxx, 3xxx, 7xxx, etc) usually indicates the type of wrench (e.g., obstruction, tappet, etc) or sometimes a composition difference.

 

[woody 73]

Cody Hi,

If you want to learn everything about the tools you are finding then start by looking over the following link:

http://alloy-artifacts.org/index.html

PS: Honda collectors would like your wrench very much.

 

[codydoss82]

"Super" is a line Indestro starting making in 1945. The "1033C" is a model number, but typical for the overwhelming majority of Mfgr's in that era, it cleverly incorporates the Industry Standard Number, which is the "33C" part of the model number. A 33C wrench has milled openings of 15/16" and 1". You may see 3033C wrenches and 7033C wrenches, etc. In fact, the Indestro Select Steel "033C" you picked up is another example, and one that also includes markings indicating the milled openings sizes. All 33C wrenches have the same size milled openings, but the model series number (e.g., 1xxx, 3xxx, 7xxx, etc) usually indicates the type of wrench (e.g., obstruction, tappet, etc) or sometimes a composition difference.

Thank you for that. That's awesome info. Once I get home from work, I'll examine them some more. Thanks again.

 

[codydoss82]

Cody Hi,



If you want to learn everything about the tools you are finding then start by looking over the following link:



http://alloy-artifacts.org/index.html



PS: Honda collectors would like your wrench very much.

I've spent a lot of time on AA, but sometimes the info gets overlapped and confusing. I'm still studying it though.

P.S: Find me a Honda Collector. I'd love to help out.

 

[gungatim]

HM is Honda, from 60's tool kits for various bikes. not worth much by itself. many of the kits had feeler gage, sparkplug tool, special valve adjusting tools, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. I collect them but that one is pretty rough. the 3-wheelers even came with a Honda marked black plastic tire pressure guage which is semi-rare. Kawi's had decent tool kits as well but I haven't pieced together a full set of them yet.

that C'man is pretty well gone, if it were me, I'd just trade it in on a new china one. at least that way you've got a user...

 

[codydoss82]

HM is Honda, from 60's tool kits for various bikes. not worth much by itself. many of the kits had feeler gage, sparkplug tool, special valve adjusting tools, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. I collect them but that one is pretty rough. the 3-wheelers even came with a Honda marked black plastic tire pressure guage which is semi-rare. Kawi's had decent tool kits as well but I haven't pieced together a full set of them yet.



that C'man is pretty well gone, if it were me, I'd just trade it in on a new china one. at least that way you've got a user...

I'm in the middle of building an 85 125m at the moment. Good to see a Honda guy hanging around here. I never knew anything about the old school Honda tools though. I will probably keep this thing just for the cool factor.

As for the CMan, I'd hate to turn it in and them do whatever they do with old tools.. maybe one day I'll figure something out that'll involve using the wrench. Whether it be on a shelf or some welding "art" lol.

Thanks for yalls help so far.

 

[gungatim]

here's some rare ones to keep the lookout for:

 

[gungatim]

for art, maybe make a tool box drawer pull out of that wrench. I agree, prolly better in that use just to respect it's heritage, LOL...

 

[codydoss82]

for art, maybe make a tool box drawer pull out of that wrench. I agree, prolly better in that use just to respect it's heritage, LOL...

Thank you for that picture. To be completely honest, I have some old wrenches I haven't gotten to inspecting yet, and a couple of the ones in the picture look very similar. I'll look today after work.

Can't promise anything, but now I'm thinking I may have one or two of those.

We shall see

 

[codydoss82]

No luck on the Honda Motors stuff. But I did find what seems to be for a Suzuki.

 

[Gmonkee]

When those bike wrenches value a few bucks apiece I am sitting on the motherlode of Yammy and Kawasaki in my local markets. Meanwhile it's been hard to get more than a buck for them.

I have a heap of my own now too but find them too specialized for general use.

 

[codydoss82]

When those bike wrenches value a few bucks apiece I am sitting on the motherlode of Yammy and Kawasaki in my local markets. Meanwhile it's been hard to get more than a buck for them.

I have a heap of my own now too but find them too specialized for general use.

I'm not too good at getting rid of things that I find to be interesting. Everything I think is cool that I'll never use just ends up in one of my spare toolboxes. My girlfriend calls it "early onset hoarding". So much negativity.

 

[four.cycle]

"Super" is a line Indestro starting making in 1945. The "1033C" is a model number, but typical for the overwhelming majority of Mfgr's in that era, it cleverly incorporates the Industry Standard Number, which is the "33C" part of the model number. A 33C wrench has milled openings of 15/16" and 1". You may see 3033C wrenches and 7033C wrenches, etc. In fact, the Indestro Select Steel "033C" you picked up is another example, and one that also includes markings indicating the milled openings sizes. All 33C wrenches have the same size milled openings, but the model series number (e.g., 1xxx, 3xxx, 7xxx, etc) usually indicates the type of wrench (e.g., obstruction, tappet, etc) or sometimes a composition difference.

^ Actually, Indestro was using the "Super" moniker in their 1935 catalog (although it would appear they didn't actually stamp "Super" on the tools themselves until later.) You can download the 1935 Indestro catalog in *.pdf format at ToolArchives.com.

Your "033C" Indestro is an early iteration of their "Select" series, distinguishable from the "Super" by the depressed panel on the shank with what Alloy-Artifacts.org refers to as "dart-shaped" ends.
Although they show a different part number for that particular size (01033C), see page 7 of the 1935 Indestro catalog (which shows both of those wrenches on the same page.) Also see pages 48-49 of the 1948 Indestro Catalog HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=344222

Once upon a time, your 1033C looked something like this:

 

[gungatim]

the Suzuki is cool, I've got just one. if you're on the lookout for more, here's

some pics of various Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki wrenches:

 

[codydoss82]

the Suzuki is cool, I've got just one. if you're on the lookout for more, here's



some pics of various Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki wrenches:

That's awesome. Thanks so much for that.

I was definitely not planning on ever obsessing over the JDM tools... now I keep thinking of where I can possibly find them locally. You **** [emoji23]

 

[codydoss82]

^ Actually, Indestro was using the "Super" moniker in their 1935 catalog (although it would appear they didn't actually stamp "Super" on the tools themselves until later.) You can download the 1935 Indestro catalog in *.pdf format at ToolArchives.com.



Your "033C" Indestro is an early iteration of their "Select" series, distinguishable from the "Super" by the depressed panel on the shank with what Alloy-Artifacts.org refers to as "dart-shaped" ends.

Although they show a different part number for that particular size (01033C), see page 7 of the 1935 Indestro catalog (which shows both of those wrenches on the same page.) Also see pages 48-49 of the 1948 Indestro Catalog HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=344222



Once upon a time, your 1033C looked something like this:

Thanks!!! That's golden information! Thanks for sharing that knowledge as well as posting the link to the other thread.

 

[gungatim]

that's how it starts, LOL...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Actually, Indestro was using the "Super" moniker in their 1935 catalog (although it would appear they didn't actually stamp "Super" on the tools themselves until later.)

I was talking about the marking as a production feature, four. In the WWII community, "Super" is generally considered to be post-war. If you can definitively pin the "later" (than 1935) stamping to 1941-1945, more than a few Duro-Indestro junkies would be thrilled.

 

[four.cycle]

^ On that point: it appears that the word "Super" appears only in the 1935 catalog, not on the tools themselves (as I mentioned above.)
Clearly by the time the 1948 catalog was published, they were actually stamping the word "Super" on the tools themselves. (see page 35 of the 1948 catalog.)
I'm at a disadvantage there, because I don't have any catalogs for those years in between, other than a few snips from the 1938 Jensen-Byrd Hardware catalog, which (like the 1935 Indestro catalog) show the term "Super Quality" being used, but the illustrations (which are hand-drawn line drawings) don't show anything that would indicate the tools themselves were stamped that way.
It seems a bit odd to me that they'd use the term for marketing purposes, but not get around to actually stamping it on the tool for about 15 years.