Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[d42jeep]

Disclaimer! Not my pictures but these are what we are all looking for.
-Don

 

[DD T/A]

honza, that box is killer, amazing deal as far as I'm concerned.




Wow, I was always under the impression that Plomb didn't namestamp them, or is it kinda wishy-washy?

 

[honza.vosalik]

honza, that box is killer, amazing deal as far as I'm concerned.




Wow, I was always under the impression that Plomb didn't namestamp them, or is it kinda wishy-washy?

Take a look at page 30 of this catalog: http://bartlettstreet.com/toolcatalogs/Plomb18Acatalog.pdf

 

[MR.X]

Back on "Pin handles" again.......really?!

 

[MR.X]

Thoughts on this? Looks like 1940 contract tool and the owner punched the "V" into an "O" in the PLVMB. 18" long. The Hex opening visible looks like 1 1/2" the other side is 1 1/4". The sq's are 3/8 and 9/16.

 

[oldmantaylor]

Here are some shots of the Firestone 3/8- and 1/4-inch drive sets...

I'm so new to this I'm not really sure what's missing, if anything. (Speaking of which, is there a good on-line source? Lists? Catalogs? etc?) If not, I'll probably just search around and look at everyone else's sets to compare.

The 3/8-inch drive set appears to have all its sockets. Maybe missing one. There's plenty of room for additional extensions, swivels, etc, but again, I don't know if it came with anything else or not. It may have had a tommy bar for the cross-drilled hinge handle.

Ditto the tommy bar for the 1/4-inch drive set, which is probably missing a couple sockets. Almost certainly an 8-pointer, at least. But it doesn't look empty, by any means. There's room for a sliding tee, but maybe it didn't come with one.

This is all I've been able to find on the original Firestone sets.

 

[3baygarage]

“Finest Money Can Buy”. The handles sure are some of the most stylish of all brands. They were ‘t too big on short extensions.


Interesting wrench with the letter change Mr. X.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They were ‘t too big on short extensions.

Or medium extensions or sliding tees.

This is all I've been able to find on the original Firestone sets.

Thanks kindly, Jim. I ran a search and found your old post back in March 2017 with those same attachments.

I was happy to discover that I am missing far fewer pieces than I expected. Only one (1) 6-point socket from the 1/4-inch drive set and the 6-inch extension and universal joint from the 3/8-inch drive set. Well, those and the "crossbar" for the "Flex T handle" in both sets, of course. (These tools may have been made by Plomb, but the terminology was Firestone's.)

EDIT: Speaking of the cross bars, I noticed you have one in your midget set. Would you please post a photo of it?

While I have your attention, would you mind looking to see if your 1948 Firestone catalog includes a page or two on end wrenches and posting them if so? As you may have noticed, I picked up a few of those, too. Just wondering what the range is on the DOEs and combos.

While I'm on that subject, anyone have any thoughts on OEM for the end wrenches? EDIT: My post with a photo of them is linked here. I don't think they're Plomb. I know that seems strange. Two different suppliers. Two different contracts to negotiate, etc. Just think if the wrenches were pebble panels too? That would've been even more exciting for many. I could be wrong, but I don't think they share any characteristics with contemporary Plomb-proper or Plomb-J.P. Danielson plant end wrench production. The forged-in "CHROME ALLOY" marking on the shank kinda sort reminds me of Williams, but Williams used a hyphen in between. Billings maybe? I'll have to dust off the memory banks and put my thinking cap on for this one.

 

[Username already in use]

While I'm on that subject, anyone have any thoughts on OEM for the end wrenches? I don't think they're Plomb. I know that seems strange. Two different suppliers. Two different contracts to negotiate, etc. Just think if the wrenches were pebble panels too? That would've been even more exciting for many. I could be wrong, but I don't think they share any characteristics with contemporary Plomb-proper or Plomb-J.P. Danielson plant end wrench production. The forged-in "CHROME ALLOY" marking on the shank kinda sort reminds me of Williams, but Williams used a hyphen in between. Billings maybe? I'll have to dust off the memory banks and put my thinking cap on for this one.

Fairmount came to mind for me when I saw the CHROME ALLOY on the shank...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Oh yeah, that's another one. Seems unlikely (or out of the blue, if ya know what I mean...), but they did use it - and no hyphen!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Indeed Lugz, restoring things such as this is half the fun. I picked up a Herbrand chest that needs a refresh (badly) and am slowly figuring out how to replicate that color!



But as to Plomb, I posted this in the garage sale thread, but after bargaining, this is what $30 got me:

Dang, you ****! Very nice early box with the square corners ! Did this come from the Lebanon estate sale or another sale ?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Private Lugnutz]

FOR TRADING PURPOSES...

Firestone needs:
- 1/4-inch drive 7/16" 6-point
- 3/8-inch drive 6" Extension
- 3/8-inch drive universal joint

Firestone extras:
- 3/8-inch drive 3/8" 6-point
- 3/8-inch drive 7/16" 6-point x 2
- DOE wrench, 1729 (5/8" x 3/4") x 2
- Combo wrench, 1163 (9/16")

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some wrenches

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some 1/4 sets

 

[Oldtuleguy]

1/2" set (thanks to don and todd on this one)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

3/8 set. Has both style breakers and medium extension.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Some wrenches

Those are the same exact three DOE wrenches I have, Otg. What are the odds of that? I'm starting to wonder if that's what they were offering - an economical 3-wrench set from 3/8 to 3/4. Not at all unheard of.

As for the Combination wrenches - did you see that I have an extra 1163 (9/16")? And you have an 1161 (7/16") and 1162 (1/2") but no 1163?

First off, again, unless you and I just happen to be very coincidentally missing all kinds of smaller and bigger DOE and Combo wrenches, it sure looks like Firestone offered a 3-wrench Combo set as well, from 7/16" to 9/16".

Secondly, maybe we can do some horse tradin' to complete your Combo wrench set. See my Firestone "Needs" list just above your first post.

For reference rather than having to page back...

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I wonder why they are all stamped 221?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I asked that last page. Seems like it would be a set number.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

My combos and doe wrenches all have it

 

[Username already in use]

Oh yeah, that's another one. Seems unlikely (or out of the blue, if ya know what I mean...), but they did use it - and no hyphen!

Looks like Fairmount did hyphenate on the larger sizes. Here's a sampling for comparison.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Interesting, Unaiu.

My combos and doe wrenches all have it

Mine too.

 

[bmwrd0]

Smokeshadow, it came out of a place in Oregon City. I was surprised that it was still there, what with you and Rileysan in the neighborhood.

 

[r_olson_06]

A big source to somewhat finish an AD Double Box wrench set. This is complete as in the 1928 catalog but in the 1932 there is a few more to go. A big thanks to Don for a couple of key wrenches. Most are 1928 or 29 with just 2 being in the 30s.

Also another shout out to Don for a 1-7/8" 5 band and a deep 1-1/8" I have been looking for. With only half a dozen sockets missing in the 5 band, I am inching closer to a full set.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Private Lugnutz]

With only half a dozen sockets missing in the 5 band, I am inching closer to a full set.

 

[d42jeep]

Since I was born at a hospital in Oakland and worked on cars in the East Bay for a living in my younger days, Lugz sent me this very cool booklet. Thanks, Lugz! I’ll take good care of it.
-Don

 

[honza.vosalik]

So here's more pics from today's haul. The 9989 number is actually written with a pencil!

 

[oldmantaylor]

These are the only other mechanic tools in the 1948 Firestone Catalog. I'll have to dig out my midget set to get a picture of the cross bar.

 

[twertsy]

Since I was born at a hospital in Oakland and worked on cars in the East Bay for a living in my younger days, Lugz sent me this very cool booklet. Thanks, Lugz! I’ll take good care of it.
-Don

Awesome Don! And chartered on your birthday no less!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

These are the only other mechanic tools in the 1948 Firestone Catalog. I'll have to dig out my midget set to get a picture of the cross bar.

Thanks, Jim.

Couple quick thoughts...

(1) None of the other tools in the 1948 Firestone catalog resemble 1948 era Plomb production (e.g., the adjustables are Diamalloy; the screwdrivers are BHM, etc), implying that Firestone was very selective about its OEMs, and that this was more than just a simple exercise in marketing and re-branding for them. It would've been easier to just get everything from a single source.

(2) There are no Combo wrenches shown at all.

(3) The DOE wrenches in the 1948 catalog do not look like the DOE wrenches Otg and I have. Skinnier shanks, less parabolic heads.

(4) If the DOE and Combo wrenches that Otg and I have are contemporary to the socket wrench sets that we have, they may be earlier or later than 1948.

Since I was born at a hospital in Oakland and worked on cars in the East Bay for a living in my younger days...

...and because it's wartime!

Sentimentally, I suppose it should've stayed with the tappet wrenches, but it was just too perfect to not send to you.

 

[RubiconJK]

Since I was born at a hospital in Oakland and worked on cars in the East Bay for a living in my younger days, Lugz sent me this very cool booklet. Thanks, Lugz! I’ll take good care of it.
-Don

Very cool. I was guessing something related to GMTK.

 

[d42jeep]

It’s a perfect companion to my wartime Machinery’s Handbook
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

A very thoughtful gift and I'd say that book is in the right spot now.

 

[Project 2501]

Trying to get organized

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is that a super rare Plomb leaf rake?



Seriously, very nice looking display. That might be the darkest green toolbox I have ever seen. I like it. Did you take all the tools out and rub the box down with oil or something before you took the photos?

 

[Project 2501]

Is that a super rare Plomb leaf rake?



Seriously, very nice looking display. That might be the darkest green toolbox I have ever seen. I like it. Did you take all the tools out and rub the box down with oil or something before you took the photos?

Yes.. That is in fact the notorious plomb leaf rake that plumb sued them over. Everyone thinks it was a hammer for some reason.

But yes. I wiped the entire chest down with .... Wait for it...
Rifle wipes....

Yup.. The wipes you use to clean your firearms in the field after use..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I might have to try that. It looks great.

 

[MR.X]

Yes.. That is in fact the notorious plomb leaf rake that plumb sued them over. Everyone thinks it was a hammer for some reason.

Could you provide a source for the "leaf rake" bit?

and a better picture, we're big on pics around here.:tard:

 

[MR.X]

BTW, I know you're kidding but that does bring up the Plomb gardening tools issue. Has that been covered in this thread?

 

[r_olson_06]

BTW, I know you're kidding but that does bring up the Plomb gardening tools issue. Has that been covered in this thread?

Yes, Ragz showed one a few months back.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,