Let's see your Herbrand!

[Private Lugnutz]

Strangely, I found that same set again today at the flea market...

That's bizarre.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found this No. 194 "VAN-CHROME" Drain Plug Wrench at the flea market this morning. Cleaned up pretty well.

 

[MR.X]

I found this No. 194 "VAN-CHROME" Drain Plug Wrench at the flea market this morning. Cleaned up pretty well.

Do you think Herbrand made these for other companies?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Possibly. Or the other way around. They also had one of those square multi drain plug jobbies in their catalogs, for square drain plugs, with all the weird squarish lincoln log shaped ends. And everyone seemed to have those, too.

 

[MR.X]

I think I have another brand besides this, though it may be Herbrand also, and I'm pretty sure I've seen a Wright marked one of these too. I don't think P&C made it.

 

[leg17]

Funny, I picked up one yesterday as well. Herbrand.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ha. Yeah, they sure look identical. I have one of those ubiquitous double ended antler jobbies for the square plugs somewhere here made by an obscure third party, and I postulated at the time I found it that they were making them for everyone, because they are identical to the mjor mfgrs' versions. Maybe they were making these, too.

What do you guys think of the heft? It's a little thin, no? I mean, they're only opening drain plugs, so that's not unusual. But I was surprised to see the "VAN-CHROME" marking on the Herbrand. I suppose it's possible for them to be alloy steel (and in Herbrand's case, Chromium Vanadium) and there's just not a lot of mass to them.

 

[MR.X]

Ha. Yeah, they sure look identical. I have one of those ubiquitous double ended antler jobbies for the square plugs somewhere here made by an obscure third party, and I postulated at the time I found it that they were making them for everyone, because they are identical to the mjor mfgrs' versions. Maybe they were making these, too.

What do you guys think of the heft? It's a little thin, no? I mean, they're only opening drain plugs, so that's not unusual. But I was surprised to see the "VAN-CHROME" marking on the Herbrand. I suppose it's possible for them to be alloy steel (and in Herbrand's case, Chromium Vanadium) and there's just not a lot of mass to them.

Ahhh yes, the double ended antler jobby for female drain plugs...I think the flexible carbon scraper might fall into that same category.
Some may not know that old 30's and early 40's Thorsen / Ned Boyd / General Tool of Portland catalogs are great for these kinds of tools as only the first few pages would be Thorsen and then straight to a big Herbrand section and then every conceivable type of tool you might need in a garage from dozens of different companies.
I don't know about the "heft", but any wrench without an offset (to steal a line from 'Highlander') is in league with Lucifer.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...I think the flexible carbon scraper might fall into that same category...

If you mean the kind with a number of bent spring steel pins held together and adjusted for flexibility with a sliding clamp, I agree. It's a wartime GMTK tool, I have a manual that cites Blue-Point as a spec, and I have actually compared a Blue-Point, Wilde, Decker and United Machine & Tool version just because they are all so identical-looking, and because I doubt Snap-on was making them in-house. I have never held a Plomb. But I suspect a nondescript shop or two somewhere in Pennsylvania or Ohio or somewhere like that was probably turning them all out.

 

[MR.X]

If you mean the kind with a number of bent spring steel pins held together and adjusted for flexibility with a sliding clamp, I agree. It's a wartime GMTK tool, I have a manual that cites Blue-Point as a spec, and I have actually compared a Blue-Point, Wilde, Decker and United Machine & Tool version just because they are all so identical-looking, and because I doubt Snap-on was making them in-house. I have never held a Plomb. But I suspect a nondescript shop or two somewhere in Pennsylvania or Ohio or somewhere like that was probably turning them all out.

I apologize for the thread hijack but...The Plomb and Thorsen are identical, I THINK Vim made them or at least that style we're used to seeing first as the flexible carbon scraper co. out of Pasadena. BTW, as far as the female drain plug tools I can't say I know the original source but usually when I see those they are Ken-tool, the tire tool guys, interestingly they had a early connection with the guy running Cornwell back in the day.

 

[Tylermorris]

Picked up a box with some herbrand sockets in the lot

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up these No. 186 Horse-Shoe Lock Ring Pliers at the flea market today. They're marked with the model number on both sides. And they have a fancy grip, hinted at in the catalogs. Unfortunately, a PO ground the offset tips down at the end of the jaws. Otherwise, these are a spittin' image for the catalog figures. Traces of cadmium plating.

I remember that Unaiu found a pair awhile ago, linked here. Curiously, they are not the same shape or construction as the pliers I just found. That sent me to the catalogs. These pliers appear on page 130 of the 1937, page 61 of the 1942, and page 61 of the 1948. In each case the figure is the same as mine. I am wondering when they made the style Unaiu has.

 

[DD T/A]

Knurled/forged handle patterns are probably one of my favorite tool traits when hunting out in the wild. Love the creativity and uniqueness they built into these old tools.

 

[Provincial]

I found this Herbrand 1051X lug wrench at a garage sale Friday.

 

[HeelSpur]

Found a 4 incher.

DSCF2403 by wvwheaties, on Flickr

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Utica OEM.

 

[r_olson_06]

Agreed. Looks like the early Plomb versions.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Leviton]

Got these 34-6 Heavy Duty Combination Pliers yesterday for $1.

Jaws are in great shape.

 

[twertsy]

I apologize for the thread hijack but...The Plomb and Thorsen are identical, I THINK Vim made them or at least that style we're used to seeing first as the flexible carbon scraper co. out of Pasadena. BTW, as far as the female drain plug tools I can't say I know the original source but usually when I see those they are Ken-tool, the tire tool guys, interestingly they had a early connection with the guy running Cornwell back in the day.

Frank Kemmerline? Do tell...........

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found another VAN-CHROME No. 194 female drain plug wrench (see #163 upthread for the first) at the early bird this morning. I happen to know someone who goes estate sale-ing with his wife. He looks for the stuff he likes and his favorite brands, and she looks for the kind of stuff she likes, but also likes to find the occasional tools, especially her brand, as the joke initially started. I think I will send the second one as a gift for her.

 

[Mustang Bob]

In 1964 I purchased a Herbrand Snap Gap points setting tool, that I still use to this day....adjusted 1000’s of points during my line mechanic days... love that kit. I still own two 65 Mustangs, one with dual points, and this tool has been a god send... I would post a photo of the kit but as this is my first post I can seem to find a way to upload a photo.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

You have to have like 10 post or something before you can do pics. I am familiar with the snap gap, very good tool.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here are some Web pics

 

[Username already in use]

Picked up a couple of Herbrand combos over the weekend. I really like this style.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here are some Web pics

That one, for 1946 to 1959 cars, is slightly older than mine. Mine is for 1946 to 1961. I look forward to seeing MustangBob's eventually. Since he bought it in '64, it will be interesting to see the lid.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You see that asterisk footnote about Delco window distributors? By 1966 they had added a special tool for those and the model number was No. 2167. Same five sleeves for conventional distributors.

 

[r_olson_06]

A bullet speeder J-17

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[hosspapa]

Happy to have come across this nice set of Herbrand 3/4" drive sockets and ratchet.

Socket Markings:
Herbrand Fremont, O USA Script Logo
VAN CHROME
H-***
Size
Single band of simple parallel knurling

Ratchet Markings:
HERBRAND (all caps - not script)
MADE IN U.S.A.
VAN-CHROME

No H-10 (to right of above text)

Herbrand H-136 1 1/8" 12pt 3/4" Drive Socket
Herbrand H-140 1 1/4" 12pt 3/4" Drive Socket
Herbrand H-142 1 5/16" 12pt 3/4" Drive Socket
Herbrand H-144 1 3/8" 12pt 3/4" Drive Socket
Herbrand H-146 1 7/16" 12pt 3/4" Drive Socket
Herbrand H-148 1 1/2" 12pt 3/4" Drive Socket
Herbrand H-152 1 5/8" 12pt 3/4" Drive Socket
Herbrand H-10 3/4" Ratchet

 

[Ecosta777]

I don't collect ant Herbrand, but I spotted this today at the Brimfield flea market in MA. Thought everyone would enjoy seeing it. Pretty cool, to bad it wasn't complete.
Eric

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Very cool

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Maybe they supplied them to herbrand. Either way a handy set.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked this up at the flea market this morning. With only the forge mark, I am not convinced this very early wrench was for in-house sales, but clearly made by Herbrand. The offset open end is ~1-1/4" (nominally) and the female drain plug stud is 1/2".

 

[leg17]

Found this Diamond-H Herbrand DOE with integral blade.
I assume a contract item to some machinery supplier.
Maybe for making adjustments and for lock-nuts in the textile industry or something.
Anyone have any information?

post #96

I had ONE which made it a curiosity.
Now it looks like I have a collection.
Anyone have any information about these with the integral blade??

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like a handy little built in screw driver or drag link tool. Here are some 3/8 drive vanchromes.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Spark plug wrench. Says so right on it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Todd,

I found this WWI Sturgis & Burns bacon can yesterday and I have to say I half expected and was sorely disappointed to open it up and not find any 1920's first generation male drive tang Herbrand socketry and drive tools inside!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Darn. I guess I have been looking in old bacon tins for nothing! Got this box, not sure what came in it but my deep sockets fit in there pretty good.

 

[Odd Job]

My lone Herbrand wrench.

 

[twertsy]

Todd,



I found this WWI Sturgis & Burns bacon can yesterday and I have to say I half expected and was sorely disappointed to open it up and not find any 1920's first generation male drive tang Herbrand socketry and drive tools inside!



[emoji38]_hitti

Lol.......mine was certainly lucky.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A ratcheting sparkplug socket