Need good sources for Proto reference information

[Tynee]

Good afternoon. I've been lurking for a while, and have used this site as a reference source for several years now. I appreciate the depth and breadth of knowledge of the history of tools that is available here. I've developed a bit of a Snap-On habit lately, and this has been one of the places that has fueled that.

I was in a local pawn shop, trying to see if I could sneak out with any kind of SO deals, and ran across what I believe to be an older Proto box. Inside were several Proto 3/4" drive sockets and a ratchet, along with some junk/misc tools.

My question: Is there a good source for reference info on older Proto like there is for SO? Collectingsnapon.com is my go-to for vintage SO stuff, I'm looking for something similar for Proto.

 

[notlob]

Best site is probably Alloy Artifacts:

http://alloy-artifacts.org/proto-empire.html

 

[twertsy]

Everything you wanted to know about Plomb / Proto history, including tool marking changeover dates, etc.

http://toolarchives.com/Plomb-Company-timeline?items_per_page=100

 

[Tynee]

Thanks guys. Now I know what I'll be up way too late tonight reading...

This Proto and a '66 Snap-On KRA58B followed me home last night.


Any help dating this box? Based on the logo, I'm thinking 60's/70's, but certainly IR era?

 

[twertsy]

Thanks guys. Now I know what I'll be up way too late tonight reading...

This Proto and a '66 Snap-On KRA58B followed me home last night.


Any help dating this box? Based on the logo, I'm thinking 60's/70's, but certainly IR era?

The "Registered Trademark" symbol on the Proto logo means it is "at least" IR era or later.

 

[Garage Junky]

There should be a stamp in the upper till that'll give you date info. You might have to inspect closely due to paint/dirt. I've got that same box! Nice score!

 

[Tynee]

Finally got it clean enough to find the date stamp. Dated 06 of '78. Working on getting it cleaned up. Started by cleaning out all of the Proto tools that came with it. It had most of a set of ratcheting wrenches, a couple of small combination wrenches, five 1"+ comb wrenches, six 3/4" drive sockets 1-1/8"+, and a 3/4" drive ratchet.

Also found the key, extracted the broken key from the lock, and got the lock lubed up and working like a champ again.

I'm curious about the ratchet and it's age. I'm on my phone, so I can't post a pic. It has the "Proto Professional" stamped into the dust cover on the drive side of the ratchet I can't see a dare code like the ones that have the brand stamped into the shaft of the handle. Any help here?

Actually, come to think of it, I can't find a date code on any of the tools, come to think of it.

 

[Tynee]

Tool archives shows that 1976 was the first year for the date codes, if I'm reading the date code chart right. It also shows that 1971 was the first year for the "Proto Professional" stamping. Does that mean I've got a bunch of early 70's stuff here?

 

[Tynee]

Got back to my pics. Anybody tell me if I'm on the right track dating these?

 

[Tynee]

Finally got it as cleaned up as I'm going to. The lid could use a re-paint, but I think I'm going to leave it.
Before:

After a bunch of Simple Green, Steel Wool, and Elbow Grease. I saw the cork drawer liner in somebody else's thread, and thought it looked great. Also pulled all the drawers and slides, cleaned and lubed them. Most of the tools are Proto, and will go with the box when I sell if I can.:

Let me know how it looks, and what I could have done better or differently. This is my first clean-up of one of these. I'd love some feedback.

 

[Tynee]

Ok, anybody tell me why one picture worked, and the other 4 didn't? I didn't do anything differently. Worked like a champ on another vBulletin forum I posted on.

 

[Tynee]

For reference purposes (somebody else may be trying to sell one like this down the road), I sold this box last weekend for $230. The following tools were included in the sale:

Combination Wrenches:
-1210 - 5/16"
-1212-E - 3/8"
-1226 - 13/16"
-1232 - 1"
-1234 - 1-1/16"
-1236 - 1-1/8"
-1240 - 1-1/4"

1/4" Drive:
-4706 - 3/16" 6-Point
-4707 - 7/32" 6-Point
4708 - 1/4" 6-Point
-4709 - 9/32" 6-point
-4710-S - 5/16" 12-Point
-4711 - 11/32" 6-Point
-4712 - 3/8" 6-Point
-4712-S - 38/" 12-Point
-4716 - 1/2" 12-Point
-4769 - Driver Handle
-4770 - Universal Joint/Swivel
-4785 - T-Bar
-4796 - Metal Carry Box with new cork liner

3/8" Drive:
-5251 - Hand Spinner
-5270 - Universal Joint/Swivel
-5280 - Speed Handle
5096 - 3/8" Socket Tray with new cork liner

3/4" Drive:
-5649 - Pear Head Ratchet
-5536 - 1-1/8" Socket
-5542 - 1-5/16" Socket
-5546 - 1-7/16" Socket
-5548 - 1-1/2" Socket
-5552 - 1-5/8" Socket
-5556 - 1-3/4" Socket

Ratcheting Wrenches*:
-1191 - 1/5" x 5/16"
-1193 - 1/" x 9/16"
-1194 - 5/8" x 11/16"
-1195 - 3/4" x 7/8"
*Have the sleeve to make this Set # 2409, but wrench # 1192 is missing

 

[ganymede]

Got back to my pics. Anybody tell me if I'm on the right track dating these?

Nice big rat. Definitely at least 70's but I think they continued to use that logo for a while after Stanley acquired them. Maybe to the mid 80's ?