Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[drivesitfar]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Provi: thanks for the link and information. good stuff and has other links in the link to keep me (us) reading for days.

 

[chopper1]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Chopper: it looks a bit crowded in that box so maybe you might consider shipping the duplicates to me.

one of these days i'll find one of those boxes that isn't $150-$300 in the wild.

Don't know how I missed this.
Sorry Driver, I don't believe there are any duplicates in there.

 

[nucklebuster]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here's the collection as it sits today. 5295 3/8 socket set box has original cardboard box with it. Gentleman bought it, put it away for 50 years, and I got it from his son. Pant flecking in places but an amazing find in my estimation, NOS! My favorite is Big Bertha though, with her 2 extensions and a 2 15/16" socket. The largest 1" extension is stamped "War Finish" which I think is pretty amazing; during the height of WWII that huge chunk of steel was a necessary part of the effort to bring down Hitler and Tojo. My 1/4" ratchet is also a War Finish model.

Out of curiousity (twertsy maybe can comment), has anyone been able to figure out the MFD XXXX USA vs MADE IN XXXX USA. I assume the "MADE IN" is older... happy hunting all!

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Yes, "Made in" is older. You can get fairly close, and even dead on dating Plomb and Proto from the '20's to 1957, and 1976 to present. The 20 or so years between '57 and '76 are tougher to date, although we're working on that too. You can find the date codes for '76-present here.

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Hey Chop, as far as I'm concerned, those boxes like the one you posted are near impossible to date. Every one I've seen, even those known to have been purchased new in the '40s are all stamped Plomb (round O) Los Angeles. I don't know why but they didn't appear to change the box stamp (except the paper on the inside of the lid) like they did the tools.

 

[chopper1]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Hey Chop, as far as I'm concerned, those boxes like the one you posted are near impossible to date. Every one I've seen, even those known to have been purchased new in the '40s are all stamped Plomb (round O) Los Angeles. I don't know why but they didn't appear to change the box stamp (except the paper on the inside of the lid) like they did the tools.

My guess would be that they had a lot of lids stamped and figured they would use them up rather than scrap them

 

[chopper1]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Same goes for the 1/2" drive set box. Maybe?

 

[chopper1]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Chopper: it looks a bit crowded in that box so maybe you might consider shipping the duplicates to me.

one of these days i'll find one of those boxes that isn't $150-$300 in the wild.

If I recall I paid about $15 for my box but it needed a little work.

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Same goes for the 1/2" drive set box. Maybe?

Yup, all mine are round O, never seen a triangle O 1/2" drive box or Tool Box. "Might" have seen the triangle O on 1/4" drive boxes but I'd have to check on that one.

 

[r_olson_06]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Yup, all mine are round O, never seen a triangle O 1/2" drive box or Tool Box. "Might" have seen the triangle O on 1/4" drive boxes but I'd have to check on that one.

I know my 1/4 plomb box has the triangles. It is a red hammered style paint.

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[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I know my 1/4 plomb box has the triangles. It is a red hammered style paint.

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Thanks for confirming. I'm not at the shop but I thought I remembered some of my 1/4" boxes had the triangle O.

 

[Rileysan]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

My meager Plomb collection.

Of note is a WF (Wright Field?) DBE wrench next to the same wrench without the WF, a "War Finish" combo wrench, a 1/2 drive 8-pt socket, and a 3/4 drive impact.

Brian

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

My meager Plomb collection.

Of note is a WF (Wright Field?) DBE wrench next to the same wrench without the WF, a "War Finish" combo wrench, a 1/2 drive 8-pt socket, and a 3/4 drive impact.

Brian

The ones that say "War Finish" on the head are pretty hard to come by. I'd be interested if you ever want to part with it. Yes, WF is Wright Field, often confused with "War Finish." War Finish was commercial market tools whereas WF were military contract.

 

[Carla]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

This is a wall hanger in the garage. I thought it was a cool tool, I'd just never seen on like it. It's stamped "1AM(1 1/2) PLOMB 2624" and appears to be copper(?). Anyone know anything about it? I've also got some random 3/4" drive sockets and an adjustable wrench at work.

I've a couple of the copper-plated Plomb box wrenches myself, they're not particularly rare. (altho finding enough of them in 'pristine' original condition to make up a 'full set' display would likely be 'collectors' unobtanium' these days, to be sure.)

The coppered wrenches were listed in some older Plomb catalogues, advertised as 'non-sparking'. The Navy bought some very large number of them, presumably for use on fuel pumps and piping systems. Its been quite a few years ago, the now, but I remember seeing tubs of wrenches from decommisioned ships at the Navy surplus sales, with quite a few of the coppered ones in the mix.

The copper plating was not very thick, so some would be found on which the plating had been worn to expose the underlying steel. I'd not be surprised should some advanced Plomb collector put together a set of the 'American Standard' marked heavy pattern box wrenches and send them out for copper-plating, just for display, as there are not very many wrenches in such a set.

cheers

Carla

 

[r_olson_06]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I think sometimes with Nickel plated items will show a copper color once the Nickel plating wears off. This is usually seen in early took but I have not heard plomb using this.

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[r_olson_06]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

So I have started to put my plomb items on a peg board to more easily see what I am missing and to have them all in 1 spot vs drawer after drawer in the tool box. I have stared with pebble combos but now realize I am going to need alot more peg board hooks.


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[pistolpete1313]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I don't think I've seen one of these yet, tools were meant to be used and brass hammers just don't last that long. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I did grind down the face where it had mushroomed quite a bit. It's lived a good life, any idea what the backside had on it?

 

[d42jeep]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here are pictures of some war finish sockets I used to own.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I don't think I've seen one of these yet, tools were meant to be used and brass hammers just don't last that long. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I did grind down the face where it had mushroomed quite a bit. It's lived a good life, any idea what the backside had on it?

Quite sure those were stamped the same on both sides. I believe that is quite rare.

 

[stage20]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

wow. nice find on the hammer

 

[d42jeep]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here is mine but I can't make out what it says either. The other side is totally obliterated.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

All: We are attempting to decipher the infamous "2 letter codes" on Plomb tools. It'd be a huge help if you have any examples, you'd consider uploading them to help out the effort. Here's a link to the study thus far.

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Fellow Plombers, would you mind checking your collections for Plomb Made in U.S.A. marked tools with date codes stamps beginning with 2, 3, or 4? I don't believe they exist.

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Ok, nevermind. I had enough examples to solve it myself. 2 letter codes deciphered. http://toolarchives.com/plomb-2-letter-study

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[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Any thoughts on this ratchet? We're thinking it is a Bog/Cragin produced ratchet during WWII. Link

 

[Rileysan]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Plomb 1061 DBE (1 1/4 x 1 1/?) - This thing is a monster!

 

[Rileysan]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Plomb 15/16 box-end spud wrench. I know nothing about it, but my gut tells me it's rare. Is it rare?

Brian

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Plomb 15/16 box-end spud wrench. I know nothing about it, but my gut tells me it's rare. Is it rare?

Brian

I think someone used that as a tent stake.......and forgot to "pull up stakes." Anything on reverse like "U.S.A.?"

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[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I updated the announcement on 2-letter code dating to include what I've found thus far moving on into the Proto LA era. You can read it on the front page at toolarchives.com

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Fellow Plombers, would you mind checking your collections for Plomb Made in U.S.A. marked tools with date codes stamps beginning with 2, 3, or 4? I don't believe they exist.

In addition to the above, I'd really be interested in seeing an example of any tool containing a 2-letter code ending in A, D, or E. We've made the assertion that IF a 2-letter coded tool ends in an A, the first letter will always be L. I'd love to be proven wrong!

 

[btrnuthatch]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here are three 1/2" drive sockets I have and two 1/4" drive pieces. Four "A" and a "D"

Oops. Two "letter" not "number letter" code. My bad.

 

[MShaw]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here's my total supply. A 3/8" drive 3/4" flex socket stamped Plomb Made in USA and a 3/8" Proto stamped Proto MFD in USA

 

[DuroChrome]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I am an active member of an automotive board and we have an ongoing vintage tool thread. A member of the board sent me this christmas present after seeing my small tool collection. It is the nicest one I have!

 

[drivesitfar]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

DC: it looks like a smaller 3/8 ratchet or do tell what size it is?

ALL: Zeet posted a nice picture of some Plvmb wrenches sitting on the lap of a Pin Up girl we all might like. here's another Plvmb ad Private Lugnutz put on that thread that might be the same gal. here's a picture of the gal without the wrenches on her knees without any tools for comparison. BCZ also found a few pictures that might be the same gal Paula Doretti.

no wonder I (we) like Plvmb tools.

 

[DuroChrome]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

It is indeed a 3/8" drive! It has the small cast lettering on the handle, my other plomb ratchets have the larger cast lettering. It has almost all the plating still present and the action is very smooth.

 

[r_olson_06]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

It is indeed a 3/8" drive! It has the small cast lettering on the handle, my other plomb ratchets have the larger cast lettering. It has almost all the plating still present and the action is very smooth.

Isn't that a later generation plomb? I was under the impression that the more round handles were 1940-50 and the related handles were earlier.

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[DuroChrome]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I don't know. I'll have to find out.

Edit: I saw this on AA, it looks like it was made between 1945-48.

 

[twertsy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

The date information on Alloy Artifacts (1945-1948) covers the full production of "pebble texture" Plomb ratchets. These were made in two distinct styles. The earlier version has squared edges to the handles and says "Made In U.S.A.". The later version has rounded edges to the handles and says "MFD. U.S.A." It is difficult to pinpoint the exact day when the change from Made In to MFD occurred, but I would say that the MFD pieces date to 1947-1948.

Here is a link to what we've come up with in terms of dating during and after the war. It's based on hundreds of examples. Rebuttals welcome!

 

[DuroChrome]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I see what you mean...the handles are quite different!

 

[DuroChrome]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

The Made in USA side. It is definitely more square. I didn't realize one was older than the other.