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Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Private Lugnutz

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Not to detract from Tin Medic's honey hole haul, but this post actually pertains to him, too! :)

He and I have been pardners in a little WWII tools venture for awhile and I just received some dividends from him in the form of some PENENS pieces I needed for a PENENS Master Mechanic Set I am building, including a 1/4-inch drive P-10 ratchet, a 1/2-inch drive 1675 speeder, and a pair of PENENS 3050 needles-nose side-cutting pliers. I just updated my 'PENENS WANTED' ad, linked here, and also at the end of my signature block. In the process, I took some new photos of the set (43 pieces and counting!) with its newest pieces in place. I thought I'd share them here, since it's Plomb Empire related, and we don't have a dedicated PENENS thread.

I am throwing in a figure of the red hip roof box with removeable tote tray from the 1950 Fleet Quality Tools catalog - because I am in desperate need of it!
 

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drivesitfar

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LUG: I wasn't aware Pennens had a named toolbox so is that one theirs with their name on it? i've got several toolboxes like that where Craftsman has their name on it and the handles seemed a bit nicer on the Heritage ones, but I think Crowntop logo might have been on a few.
 

Private Lugnutz

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I don't know if it has the PENENS name on it or not, Drives. A name is not legible in the figure. That is exactly how the box appears in an array of boxes on the last page of the 1950 PENENS Fleet Quality Tools catalog. It looks exactly like and has the exact same dimensions as the 9970 hip roof box in the 1949 Plomb-Proto catalog. See my WANTED AD for dimensions. (I could be wrong, but I don't believe Plomb had a hip roof style box before then, and they are not a very collectible item here.)
 

RubiconJK

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Plomb USN NAF set, complete minus one 3/8 6-pt socket, 1108-7. I overpaid but, who cares, I've never seen one before.
Congrats Tin Medic. I haven't been "in the game" much for the last few months, but did see that set when it went up on Ebay. We've been in the process of moving to South Texas and looking forward to searching out some new flea markets and honey holes.
 

Oldtuleguy

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I have a challenger by Penens toolbox. Some yoyo painted it gray. Parts of inside are still green. They got a bit of grey paint on the decal, which I suppose I am lucky was spared at all.
 

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r_olson_06

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Not to detract from Tin Medic's honey hole haul, but this post actually pertains to him, too! :)

He and I have been pardners in a little WWII tools venture for awhile and I just received some dividends from him in the form of some PENENS pieces I needed for a PENENS Master Mechanic Set I am building, including a 1/4-inch drive P-10 ratchet, a 1/2-inch drive 1675 speeder, and a pair of PENENS 3050 needles-nose side-cutting pliers. I just updated my 'PENENS WANTED' ad, linked here, and also at the end of my signature block. In the process, I took some new photos of the set (43 pieces and counting!) with its newest pieces in place. I thought I'd share them here, since it's Plomb Empire related, and we don't have a dedicated PENENS thread.

I am throwing in a figure of the red hip roof box with removeable tote tray from the 1950 Fleet Quality Tools catalog - because I am in desperate need of it!
That looks very very similar to an early fleet box I picked up yesterday. The box has no logo on the outside but had a stick on decal on the inside of the lid.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3055, 3060, 3061, 3062, 3070
 

d42jeep

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To be honest, it was a relief to send you my few Penens items. Now I can leave any I find behind without it bothering me. I would never have completed a set!
-Don
 

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Oldtuleguy

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Not to detract from Tin Medic's honey hole haul, but this post actually pertains to him, too! :)

He and I have been pardners in a little WWII tools venture for awhile and I just received some dividends from him in the form of some PENENS pieces I needed for a PENENS Master Mechanic Set I am building, including a 1/4-inch drive P-10 ratchet, a 1/2-inch drive 1675 speeder, and a pair of PENENS 3050 needles-nose side-cutting pliers. I just updated my 'PENENS WANTED' ad, linked here, and also at the end of my signature block. In the process, I took some new photos of the set (43 pieces and counting!) with its newest pieces in place. I thought I'd share them here, since it's Plomb Empire related, and we don't have a dedicated PENENS thread.

I am throwing in a figure of the red hip roof box with removeable tote tray from the 1950 Fleet Quality Tools catalog - because I am in desperate need of it!

Looks like this set in the 51 challenger catalog
 

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Oldtuleguy

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Here is the Fleet version on ebay
 

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Private Lugnutz

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Forgot to mention it is a 3/8" but had metric which is very rare in these parts.
Not really similar (flat and attache style vs hip roof with tote tray!), but it is red! :) And I love the decal. I would take one with that decal in a heartbeat. We all know they played fast and loose with PENENS and Fleet markings. All of my tools are actually marked PENENS, and not Fleet, but I would put them in the correct box marked Fleet in a Chinese red Plomb Empire heartbeat.

Looks like this set in the 51 challenger catalog
It does! I agree. I am going for something bigger and more Master Mechanics-ish by adding the DOEs, adjustable crescent type wrenches, and pliers, but I think they would fit.

Here is the Fleet version on ebay
Wow. Spot on, Otg. Thanks for the tip! I don't shop on eBay, but I have been known to take advantage of it when I'm at wit's end on a last piece I just can't seem to find in the wild. The box to complete my set would be a good example. And that price is actually not that bad for the whole set and shipping. But it's too high to just get the box.

If anyone runs into the box out there, please let me know. Whether it says Fleet or PENENS.
 

r_olson_06

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Not really similar (flat and attache style vs hip roof with tote tray!), but it is red! :) And I love the decal. I would take one with that decal in a heartbeat. We all know they played fast and loose with PENENS and Fleet markings. All of my tools are actually marked PENENS, and not Fleet, but I would put them in the correct box marked Fleet in a Chinese red Plomb Empire heartbeat.


It does! I agree. I am going for something bigger and more Master Mechanics-ish by adding the DOEs, adjustable crescent type wrenches, and pliers, but I think they would fit.


Wow. Spot on, Otg. Thanks for the tip! I don't shop on eBay, but I have been known to take advantage of it when I'm at wit's end on a last piece I just can't seem to find in the wild. The box to complete my set would be a good example. And that price is actually not that bad for the whole set and shipping. But it's too high to just get the box.

If anyone runs into the box out there, please let me know. Whether it says Fleet or PENENS.
Sorry lugs thought you were talking about the 1/4 socket box.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3055, 3060, 3061, 3062, 3070
 

Private Lugnutz

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Sorry lugs thought you were talking about the 1/4 socket box.
No worries, Roy. I should've been clearer. All the PENENS tools in the pics I posted are mine, including the 1/4-inch drive sockets tools in the red box. I picked up the 1/4-inch drive set, some of the 1/2-inch drive tools, and some of the DOEs at a flea market a few years ago. They were part of a huge service station close-out lot. I looked everywhere for the hip roof box but it must've been discarded a long time ago by the previous owner. I've been picking up the rest of the pieces in the wild here and there. The box, needless to say, would really top the effort off.

This is the bane of the onesy-twosy approach to collecting, of course. I am in the exact same situation with 40's/early 50's vintage Williams, Herbrand, and Cornwell, with close to 50 pieces of each mfgr in sockets, wrenches, and other tools that would be considered a Master Mechanics type set. But NO BOX to put them in. The only sets of mixed tools I have in matching boxes are Bonney and DUNLAP, and the DUNLAP has languished because of the Oakland/Tahoe DUNLAP Borg Effect. (Note - I am not counting socket sets. I have plenty of them in all drive sizes in matching mfgr's boxes.) For master sets, I am fond of carry boxes, not stackers (rollers, mids, tops), but I would probably spring for a mid or top box in any of those mfgrs if I ever found one in the wild. For now, the tools are all sitting around in whatever I have on hand - military boxes, a RR box, and a Lyon tote.

EDIT: Sorry. Off-topic.
 
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drivesitfar

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ALL: regarding Rich's post of NEW OLD STOCK PLOMB (PLVMB) tools the company EDCO TOOLS is the seller and doesn't have a perfect rating so if you want a few new old stock tools just thought I'd let you know. I'm not exactly sure about all of AMAZON'S sellers so i usually check the ratings as a back up which might be good advice for all of you to do too.

LUG: you're like a dog on a fox hunt when you get in mind something that you want so best of luck on your searches.
 
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farmall57

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An older gentleman whom I heiped out at times with projects had these wrenches in his box. I had admired them several times, one time I was there he had them wired together and said for me to take them home. He died not too long after that, I am honored to have them.
 

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rustyzman

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An older gentleman whom I heiped out at times with projects had these wrenches in his box. I had admired them several times, one time I was there he had them wired together and said for me to take them home. He died not too long after that, I am honored to have them.

That is a great story and a nice set. Always like the tools that come from the old timers looking to pass something on. One day we all will too hopefully!
 

DD T/A

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An older gentleman whom I heiped out at times with projects had these wrenches in his box. I had admired them several times, one time I was there he had them wired together and said for me to take them home. He died not too long after that, I am honored to have them.

Absolutely awesome story, If I get one kid to do the same thing when I go--just take one little part of my tools and keep them and use them, I'll be a happy wrench monkey. :thumbup:
 

Oldtuleguy

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Picked up a plomb battery terminal puller, did not even know they made one...
 

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notlob

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I don't believe I've seen this posted before. Plomb-produced WWII training video.

It's very cool to see examples of Plomb tools I own being used; especially the torque wrench shown below.

attachment.php
 

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r_olson_06

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Completed my flare nut wrench. Kinda drives me nuts about how some are left and some are right.

Also have this grind off 3061 with the restamp. I have never seen one like this.

Lastly knocked another DOE off the the list with 25/32 and 19/32.

Only 5 left and all DOEs. So if you have any you are willing to part with PM me.IMG_20181024_183020920.jpgIMG_20181024_182805356_HDR.jpegIMG_20181024_182825875_HDR.jpegIMG_20181024_183013905.jpeg

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3055, 3060, 3061, 3062, 3070
 

Private Lugnutz

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Completed my flare nut wrench. Kinda drives me nuts about how some are left and some are right.
I have the same OCD-like issue with wrench sets from several other Mfgrs. Didn't they realize when they stamped the shanks all willy-nilly with respect to the orientation of the jaws that it would ruin our displays 70+ years later? :lol:

r_olson_06 said:
Also have this grind off 3061 with the restamp. I have never seen one like this.
THAT is a cool wrench - and it defies the employee sales explanation.
 

r_olson_06

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I have the same OCD-like issue with wrench sets from several other Mfgrs. Didn't they realize when they stamped the shanks all willy-nilly with respect to the orientation of the jaws that it would ruin our displays 70+ years later? [emoji38]


THAT is a cool wrench - and it defies the employee sales explanation.
It is weird because the Plomb has to be forged in so it wouldn't be a willy nilly stamping. Maybe they switched for some odd reason.

I have a few dual marked wrenches with the Plomb ground off but proto still present.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3055, 3060, 3061, 3062, 3070
 

leg17

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It is weird because the Plomb has to be forged in so it wouldn't be a willy nilly stamping. Maybe they switched for some odd reason.

Possibly the forging was completely round and the cut-out a second operation. Somehow the fixturing did not consider the artwork.
 

Private Lugnutz

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Good point, Roy. In that case, yeah, a different run, different die with the jaw flipped the other way, months later or a year later etc. Or a two step forge. We've talked about that with the pebbles. Edit: as leg explains.
 
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r_olson_06

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That does make alot of sense. I think there is more to it than haphazard result I have. The ones that face up seem to have a dull plating maybe cad. Must have been a change for different time periods.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3055, 3060, 3061, 3062, 3070
 

Ole Slewfoot

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I think the line wrenches, like the big ratchets and probably some other low volume tools remained pebbled after some had switched to the new style.
 

davethorik

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As I mentioned earlier, I took a small gamble on a "Plumb" pebble 4749 from a Cali pawn shop on ebay. Pics looked ok but they were crappy, small, low-res. I had a good feeling, so I dropped $18. I'd say the gamble paid off, time capsule yeah!! :rocker::rocker::rocker:

This thing was lightly used no more than a handful of times! There is a greenish-white oxidization on the screws and selector. Selector is very tough to move, but ratchets beautifully in both directions.

What a gem of a ratchet.
 

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tym

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As I mentioned earlier, I took a small gamble on a "Plumb" pebble 4749 from a Cali pawn shop on ebay. Pics looked ok but they were crappy, small, low-res. I had a good feeling, so I dropped $18. I'd say the gamble paid off, time capsule yeah!! :rocker::rocker::rocker:

This thing was lightly used no more than a handful of times! There is a greenish-white oxidization on the screws and selector. Selector is very tough to move, but ratchets beautifully in both directions.

What a gem of a ratchet.
Neat score! Looks like it left the factory yesterday.
 

RagTopTA

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Not to detract from Tin Medic's honey hole haul, but this post actually pertains to him, too! :)

He and I have been pardners in a little WWII tools venture for awhile and I just received some dividends from him in the form of some PENENS pieces I needed for a PENENS Master Mechanic Set I am building, including a 1/4-inch drive P-10 ratchet, a 1/2-inch drive 1675 speeder, and a pair of PENENS 3050 needles-nose side-cutting pliers. I just updated my 'PENENS WANTED' ad, linked here, and also at the end of my signature block. In the process, I took some new photos of the set (43 pieces and counting!) with its newest pieces in place. I thought I'd share them here, since it's Plomb Empire related, and we don't have a dedicated PENENS thread.

I am throwing in a figure of the red hip roof box with removeable tote tray from the 1950 Fleet Quality Tools catalog - because I am in desperate need of it!

I have the Proto flying lady version of that toolbox. It has the exact same measurements even. I got it for $5! I use it got all my Proto LA and dual marked tools!
 

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