Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[Private Lugnutz]

Lastly I am not sure why they just didn't create different part numbers for these non standard size combinations.

I'd guess because the 30XX part numbers for DOE wrenches with the standard end openings combinations were sequential, Roy? They would have had to use a suffix or something like that. And because they were special order (not in high demand), I doubt they felt compelled to mess with their entire logistics system (not just tool and die, but marketing, merchandising, literature, etc).
EDIT: On second thought, it looks like they saved some numbers in sequence explicitly to accommodate these kinds of 'tweeners - but didn't take advantage of it?! That is odd.

 

[GemState10ER]

I already posted this in a different thread…I still need to clean and somewhat organize everything. Fresh caught locally…

 

[r_olson_06]

I'd guess because the 30XX part numbers for DOE wrenches with the standard end openings combinations were sequential, Roy? They would have had to use a suffix or something like that. And because they were special order (not in high demand), I doubt they felt compelled to mess with their entire logistics system (not just tool and die, but marketing, merchandising, literature, etc).
EDIT: On second thought, it looks like they saved some numbers in sequence explicitly to accommodate these kinds of 'tweeners - but didn't take advantage of it?! That is odd.

Agree. I am sure the logic they used to align part numbers with sizes. Combination wrenches and sockets were pretty easy to figure out.

 

[Fred Knox]

A recent find is this early Plomb Tool Mfg. Co 1/4” x 5/16” (side ground down). No model number.

 

[r_olson_06]

A recent find is this early Plomb Tool Mfg. Co 1/4” x 5/16” (side ground down). No model number.

That is an early garage wrench nice find. Is it truly 1/4" AF for is it a larger opening? I can find a catalog reference for you.

 

[Fred Knox]

Yes, it has 1/4” x 5/16” openings. Thanks Roy.

 

[r_olson_06]

Yes, it has 1/4” x 5/16” openings. Thanks Roy.

It appears to be a G45. Don't mind the red Xs. Hit me up if you want to trade/sell it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^ What catalog is that excerpt from, @r_olson_06 ? I don't recognize it. Earliest PDF in public domain is No. 6 (1926).

 

[r_olson_06]

^ What catalog are those excerpts from, @r_olson_06 ? I don't recognize it. Earliest PDF in public domain is No. 6 (1926).

It is a non numbered catalog. Not sure the age but it has to be post 1923 as it has tools for 23 Buicks. Wayne one of the OG collectors posted an except from it on FB. I believe it is the earliest known catalog.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Someone should implore him to scan it and upload the PDF to IA/ITCL for its community information purposes.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this large pebble combo on eBay at a reasonable price, probably due to condition. What wasn’t rusty was painted dark blue.
After I removed the paint the whole wrench was pretty rusty.
I used a wire wheel and both the 220 and 400 3M rotory wheels for quite some time. I finally figured that it was about as good as it was going to get.
I slathered it with fluid film and set it aside to join the other pebbles.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

I found this large pebble combo on eBay at a reasonable price, probably due to condition. What wasn’t rusty was painted dark blue.
After I removed the paint the whole wrench was pretty rusty.
I used a wire wheel and both the 220 and 400 3M rotory wheels for quite some time. I finally figured that it was about as good as it was going to get.
I slathered it with fluid film and set it aside to join the other pebbles.
-Don

Solid restore!

 

[Shelbylex]

Nice save, Don!!!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, guys.
I have a question that I’ve been wondering about for a while. Why do some 1/4” drive boxes have two long storage areas while most have a separate area for the sockets? Here is an example of the more common box.
Here is the layout of the one I’m wondering about.
Both styles have the same markings on the lid.

-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I always chocked it up to vagaries of suppliers, Don. I am not sure if the empirical number of types or styles that have been collected matches their literature, but if you page through Plomb catalogs from 1936 to 1947, there are at least five (5) different types and styles of 4795 boxes depicted, and some of the catalogs in the 40's show two or three different styles or types on different pages. I don't think the box with the two short rows of socket compartments is shown in a catalog until 1944 or so. I'd have to go back and re-look at my notes.

 

[d42jeep]

I have a prewar example in the tower of Plomb with the Chinese red paint with the two rows populated with prewar tools but most of the two row examples were originally green. It could just be different suppliers, as you say.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

As the polar vortex bears down I had 2 puller set additions that were shipped within 200 miles of here. A smaller 2 arm puller with 1 LA jaw set and metal case.
2nd a 1935 large 2 jaw puller. A very nice addition!

 

[r_olson_06]

Does anyone have an extra 5530 (15/16" x 3/4") 5 band socket they are willing to sell or trade off? Looking to fill a hole in a set.

 

[a/fxcomet]

Not sure if anyone has seen this Plvmb video from the 40s:

 

[Tapeguns]

Not sure if anyone has seen this Plvmb video from the 40s:

Awesome.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

A good film for explaining basic tool usage including what not to do. It was interesting to see that the two small drawers on the 9990 tool chest appear to have already gone missing....early casualties?

 

[Outlawmws]

A good film for explaining basic tool usage including what not to do. It was interesting to see that the two small drawers on the 9990 tool chest appear to have already gone missing....early casualties?

Smaller drawers like that, especially with no slides, often become "tool totes" to take the tools to the job. So could be just temporally out.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Possibly so Outlaw. I kept waiting for one of the small drawers to make an appearance, but when the mechanic pulled his hex keys from the wooden box instead of one of them, I figured they were just gone. That was right before he promptly ground that key into oblivion showing what not to do.

At the end of the film when the mechanic folded up the box after picking up his tools, still without the drawers, I figured they may be gone for good. I just thought it amusing seeing how many 9990's are currently found also missing those small slide drawers. I do like watching vintage films like this one. A much different time.

 

[r_olson_06]

A few more additions.
A 5249 female Pebble ratchet with 3/8" x 1/2" plug.
A 1/2" x 3/4" reducer
A WF-116 1-3/4" Water Pump Wrench!

 

[RubiconJK]

A few more additions.
A 5249 female Pebble ratchet with 3/8" x 1/2" plug.
A 1/2" x 3/4" reducer
A WF-116 1-3/4" Water Pump Wrench!

Congrats Roy especially on that WF-116!

 

[r_olson_06]

Thanks! It is good getting back into Plomb collecting. I am happy you completed the 1/2" drive shallows. I am still missing a bunch.

Congrats Roy especially on that WF-116!

 

[RubiconJK]

Thanks! It is good getting back into Plomb collecting. I am happy you completed the 1/2" drive shallows. I am still missing a bunch.

Thanks bud. I'm not on the trail as much as years past, but as soon as the weather improves a little I'm hoping to start hitting the flea markets and estate sales again.

 

[r_olson_06]

Thanks bud. I'm not on the trail as much as years past, but as soon as the weather improves a little I'm hoping to start hitting the flea markets and estate sales again.

I wish you luck. Post up what you find!

 

[3baygarage]

Nice ratchet. I think I have that one but no plug. Is the plug stamped at all?

 

[r_olson_06]

Nice ratchet. I think I have that one but no plug. Is the plug stamped at all?

No stamping and I don't think it's Plomb. All my Plomb plugs have been stamped. Look very similar to the craftsman step down plugs that came in the BE and circle H eras.

 

[audiopizza]

I found this yesterday:

I was about to leave my third stop empty handed and saw an old Plvmb tool box. not a dream box, but after looking it over and asking for the price; I offered $15 and it was accepted. He even cleaned out most of the **** inside.

I have another the same size, (Approx 24 X 12-3/4, X 11) and from two, I should be able to get one good one together with parts left over. My old one is missing the cantilever tray...

Old one is OD green this one seems to be red originally.

NICE!

 

[z28lsc]

Recent Score.

 

[r_olson_06]

Recent Score.

Nice LA set!

 

[d42jeep]

Very nice. All the tools look to have date codes from the 30s. I believe that they used that same box through WW2 for 3/8” drive sets.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

Very nice. All the tools look to have date codes from the 30s. I believe that they used that same box through WW2.
-Don

I think the box is a 3/8" drive one but crazy seeing an LA set now a days. Most of the time you have to piece a set together with singles.

 

[d42jeep]

Yeah. Those tools probably would have come in a box like this.
-Don

 

[z28lsc]

Nice LA set!

Thank you.

 

[z28lsc]

Yeah. Those tools probably would have come in a box like this. -Don

Yes I think that's the box they're supposed to come in. Luckly I have one. All the sockets are marked 30's from Jan-March.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Recent Score.

Sweet.

All the sockets are marked 30's from Jan-March.

I wasn't aware that anyone had worked out a month scheme for the letters that accompany the 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 found on PLVMB "LA" era tools.

What are the year codes? I'm not asking for a piece-by-piece inventory, just curious about the groupings and range.

 

[r_olson_06]

Sweet.

I wasn't aware that anyone had worked out a month scheme for the letters that accompany the 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 found on PLVMB "LA" era tools.

What are the year codes? I'm not asking for a piece-by-piece inventory, just curious about the range.

I think they had numerical year followed by quarter in a A-D format. While I am not sure this was proven.