Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[d42jeep]

This ratchet with some patina arrived from an eBay seller yesterday. Now I just need an 8 point 1/4” socket, a hex 3/8”, a hex 1/4” and a hex 7/32”.
-Don

 

[RTM]

This ratchet with some patina arrived from an eBay seller yesterday. Now I just need an 8 point 1/4” socket, a hex 3/8”, a hex 1/4” and a hex 7/32”.

Can you post a pic of what an appropriate socket should look like? I have:

4708-S

Made in USA

4712	Made in USA

But no pix handy, so gotta go poke in the box in the garage tonight.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are the sockets in a similar set. Preferably plain steel and not chrome plated. Thanks for checking!
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

Welp, the eagle has landed. It’s in pretty good shape. Shows some scuffs on the chrome from , gasp, actually being used but overall is in good shape. No owner marks! 3061 for less than $40 to my door. I’m very happy with it. Now I have to clean it up and get it in with its other friends

 

[AK4570]

Some Plvmb goodness from a recent haul still in need of cleanup and an Evaporust bath.

Plvmb 4766 1/4 Hinge Handle
Plvmb 9624 Flat driver
Plvmb Needle nose pliers
Plvmb 5018 9/16 deep
Plvmb 704 4" adjustable (dual-marked)
Plvmb 1136 DBE 11/16 - 7/8 (pebble)
Plvmb 3021 3/8 - 7/16 DOE
Plvmb 3430 9/16 - 5/8 Tappet (this makes 4... anyone want to trade for a 3026?)
Plvmb LA 1125 7/16 - 1/2 DBE

 

[d42jeep]

These arrived from an eBay seller.
I found this at a yard sale yesterday. Unfortunately, it’s a duplicate for me. I’ll clean it up and keep whichever one is nicer
-Don

 

[mritchie77]

These arrived from an eBay seller.
I found this at a yard sale yesterday. Unfortunately, it’s a duplicate for me. I’ll clean it up and keep whichever one is nicer
-Don

Don, my 1150 is significantly worse than the rest of my set (most of the chrome is gone). Whenever you decide on which one to keep, I'd be interested in your duplicate (if you want to get rid of).

 

[d42jeep]

Sounds good. The new one is currently bathing in evaporust. The insides of the box ends had a bit of rust.
-Don

 

[mritchie77]

Sounds good. The new one is currently bathing in evaporust. The insides of the box ends had a bit of rust.
-Don

Shoot,
mine looks like it was buried at Area 51 for 50 years.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I got this 9990 all put back together after some welding repairs and putting a new/aged sticker on it. The original sticker was even more crooked . It’s got a been there done that look but is actually pretty solid. More in-depth info is on lugz barn find tool box thread

 

[Old Radar]

Smoke--It looks great and I love the drawers! One question, though--just above the sticker in the first and last pic is half of a hinge. Looking at the other photos, it seems to be attached to the lid, but it doesn't seem to have a purpose. What gives?

Edit: The only thing I can come up with is that it may have had a hasp that folded down over the sticker to engage with the staple to lock the lid.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Smoke--It looks great and I love the drawers! One question, though--just above the sticker in the first and last pic is half of a hinge. Looking at the other photos, it seems to be attached to the lid, but it doesn't seem to have a purpose. What gives?

Edit: The only thing I can come up with is that it may have had a hasp that folded down over the sticker to engage with the staple to lock the lid.

It’s missing the top hinged portion of the hasp. It’s very common for these to have that hasp missing. In my opinion the hinges used on these boxes were undersized, including the hasps.

 

[mritchie77]

Thanks to a hot tip from @d42jeep I was able to pick this late production "MFD IN USA" Plomb 4749 for my veteran's set. $5 for comparison. These things are really small. Chrome is in good shape too! I cannot remember the last time I saw one of these late production ones for sale individually online. Usually the earlier "MADE IN USA" version are for sale.

 

[mritchie77]

I have fallen in a bit of a rabbit hole with the Plomb research that I am working on (and not ready to post yet!) but I did find this during my research that I thought y'all would like.

This was taken in 1948 in Bangkok, Thailand and is a Plomb Sign dual-marked in English and Thai. This photo is part of the Robert Pendleton collection hosted by the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee). Plomb had a business headquarters in Bangkok at this time.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a good one. More info, and translations, courtesy @MR.X, from a few years back...

It's Bangkok, pretty sure the West side of the river. The sign in Thai script says Plomb on the top and then (khreuuang meuu) "tool hand" - (chang gohn) "mechanic" below. (it does not say "streamlined") I saved this on my computer a long time ago but if you google plomb thailand there'll be an image you can follow to something about a S.E Asia photo collection taken by Robert Pendleton ( Morris's brother it turns out). Something like that.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up the civilian 1/4-inch drive midget ratchet yesterday and the little spud wrench today. The ratchet is frozen, stud and switch. Someone already butchered one of the screws. I pulled the other one to open up some access to the guts and it's soaking. Hoping it's just gunked up. I will probably really blow it out tomorrow and see if it turns.

 

[d42jeep]

If the screw proves impossible to remove, I’ve had some luck using a drill bit the same size as the screw threads and drilling until the head of the screw falls off. Then the ratchet will come apart leaving enough of the screw to be removed with visegrips. Of course, you will then need a correct donor screw. I had to drill out both screws on this really rusty Snap-on ratchet.

 

[d42jeep]

My one Plomb find yesterday was this chrome plated ignition wrench.
This screwdriver I found on Friday is a bit of a mystery. There are no markings that I could find and I couldn’t find a screwdriver thIs exact size in any Plomb catalog. Maybe P&C?
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah, I'm hoping to avoid extreme measures, Don. Still hoping it's just really hard gunk. I've done this once before. I have it soaking with a feeler gauge blade prying the removed screw side up. Then I slip the end of a keyboard cleaner straw in there and blow it out with pressurized air. Then a WD40 straw. If I can get it unstuck that way, I can leave that rounded one alone. If it won't turn after all that, then it's probably something broken and I will drill it out.

 

[Smokeshow69]

If the screw proves impossible to remove, I’ve had some luck using a drill bit the same size as the screw threads and drilling until the head of the screw falls off. Then the ratchet will come apart leaving enough of the screw to be removed with visegrips. Of course, you will then need a correct donor screw. I had to drill out both screws on this really rusty Snap-on ratchet.

I’ve had to do this a few times over the years! It doesn’t take long since the screws are so small. You can source the correct thread pitch usually online if you don’t want to put in a rebuild kit.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Super excited to announce my method worked!

I got a little impatient with just soaking and straw spritzing and ended up putting the drive stud in a little vise and carefully applied pressure on the handle with my fingers, and once I had a little movement, I knew I had it licked. Just kept working the switch and the drive stud back and forth until it would spin freely and catch on the back stroke. Then I spritzed the hell out of it interchangeably with air and WD40. Now it's as good as new. It's amazing how well built these are.

One thing I noticed in comparison to my other 4749 (a 1941 "1A" model) is that they are not identical. The "WAR FINISH" rat (a 1943 "JC", subscribing to the letter-letter theory, and if not, unquestionably later) is visibly and measurably (1/16") thinner in the handle, and it has some minor differences in the face plate (noticeably rounder, shorter "legs") and where the head meets the handle (a stylistic curve). See marked-up pic. Apologies if this has already been mentioned. There are a few of the "WAR FINISH" examples out there. Off the top of my head I know that @Catfishdan, @RubiconJK, and @d42jeep have them and those guys may have mentioned it already.

 

[Outlawmws]

Well done Lugz!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Super excited to announce my method worked!

I got a little impatient with just soaking and straw spritzing and ended up putting the drive stud in a little vise and carefully applied pressure on the handle with my fingers, and once I had a little movement, I knew I had it licked. Just kept working the switch and the drive stud back and forth until it would spin freely and catch on the back stroke. Then I spritzed the hell out of it interchangeably with air and WD40. Now it's as good as new. It's amazing how well built these are.

One thing I noticed in comparison to my other 4749 (a 1941 "1A" model) is that they are not identical. The "WAR FINISH" rat (a 1943 "JC", subscribing to the letter-letter theory, and if not, unquestionably later) is visibly and measurably (1/16") thinner in the handle, and it has some minor differences in the face plate (noticeably rounder, shorter "legs") and where the head meets the handle (a stylistic curve). See marked-up pic. Apologies if this has already been mentioned. There are a few of the "WAR FINISH" examples out there. Off the top of my head I know that @Catfishdan, @RubiconJK, and @d42jeep have them and those guys may have mentioned it already.

Nice work! Sometimes you just have to be patient but persistent and looks like it paid off. That ratchet/ pawl design is incredibly basic but very tough. There is a reason why it is still being produced today!

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Super excited to announce my method worked!

I got a little impatient with just soaking and straw spritzing and ended up putting the drive stud in a little vise and carefully applied pressure on the handle with my fingers, and once I had a little movement, I knew I had it licked. Just kept working the switch and the drive stud back and forth until it would spin freely and catch on the back stroke. Then I spritzed the hell out of it interchangeably with air and WD40. Now it's as good as new. It's amazing how well built these are.

One thing I noticed in comparison to my other 4749 (a 1941 "1A" model) is that they are not identical. The "WAR FINISH" rat (a 1943 "JC", subscribing to the letter-letter theory, and if not, unquestionably later) is visibly and measurably (1/16") thinner in the handle, and it has some minor differences in the face plate (noticeably rounder, shorter "legs") and where the head meets the handle (a stylistic curve). See marked-up pic. Apologies if this has already been mentioned. There are a few of the "WAR FINISH" examples out there. Off the top of my head I know that @Catfishdan, @RubiconJK, and @d42jeep have them and those guys may have mentioned it already.

Man do I like those for some reason. I will be watching for those. You ****.

 

[d42jeep]

If you think about the variety of 1/4” drive ratchets that Plomb produced from around 1940 until the dual marked versions, it is mind boggling. Here is a 1941 marked ratchet with a removable plug. I also have a 1941 marked ratchet with a fixed drive, as does Lugz. Here are pictures showing some different designs and variations.
-Don

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I am not sure if I'm allowed to ask this here, but I would trade this for about anything Blue Grass Belknap?

Despite the day I logged on the site I never heard of Plumb tools. But now that I replaced the screw and reversed the switch, "and please don't tell me its facing the wrong way" Am I a pro yet on tools? lol.

 

[mritchie77]

After some horse trading with @Smokeshow69 , I ended up with one of his signs. Real beauty! Now I have to rethink my garage decorations so I can hang it up somewhere. In the meantime, it looks good hanging out with my veteran's set!

 

[Smokeshow69]

After some horse trading with @Smokeshow69 , I ended up with one of his signs. Real beauty! Now I have to rethink my garage decorations so I can hang it up somewhere. In the meantime, it looks good hanging out with my veteran's set!

Glad you like it! You got the last one of the assembly line so enjoy it. It looks right at home there

 

[d42jeep]

You and Smokeshow could recreate this picture! In color!
-Don

 

[Old Radar]

^^^ Except where are they going to get those over-the-belly-button pants??

 

[RTM]

^^^ Except where are they going to get those over-the-belly-button pants??

I thought they were going to have to draw straws, one for the pants, the other for the cap.


I too got one of Smoke's signs, but have not tried to display it yet, no where clean enough to take a pic right now.

 

[Smokeshow69]

You and Smokeshow could recreate this picture! In color!
-Don

This would be super funny! But I don’t have a square corner 9990. Who is going to send me one?

 

[d42jeep]

I wish that I had one to send you!
My unusual 1941 1/4” drive ratchet arrived today. It’s my first with the removable plug. I added it to a red box set with mostly 1941 marked tools.
-Don

 

[JohnDeere]

Need a 3/4 one of these sockets?

These arrived from an eBay seller.
I found this at a yard sale yesterday. Unfortunately, it’s a duplicate for me. I’ll clean it up and keep whichever one is nicer
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Need a 3/4 one of these sockets?

I need a wartime 1/2” drive one that isn’t chrome plated. I’m good on ones that are chrome plated. Thanks for the offer.
Here is the set needing the wartime 3/4” socket.
Here are the chrome plated deep sockets.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

I wish that I had one to send you!
My unusual 1941 1/4” drive ratchet arrived today. It’s my first with the removable plug. I added it to a red box set with mostly 1941 marked tools.
-Don

I had my eye on that one, glad to see you got it. It’s something different. Now that drive plug would have made me upset, it sure wasn’t disclosed. The seller would be hearing from me!

 

[d42jeep]

I actually contacted the seller before I bid to make sure that the retaining balls on the plug were still functional. One of the pictures in the listing made the one that held the socket on look marginal but he sent additional pictures and I could see that it was okay. It seems like they went away from the removable plug during 1941. I have two 1941 ratchets with fixed drives. I may move that ratchet into my master set since it shows that style in the mid ‘40 catalog.
-Don

 

[Snaparxon]

Found these hidden in a bunch of scrap at a sale today . Surprised the hook tip is still good.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I found a member that was selling these tools. Got this I&V marked wf38 and this 1/4 drive t handle. The handle is dated fb. Both show some wear but I’ll get ‘em cleaned up and ready for use again.

 

[MR.X]

Finally dropped by Oregon rock crusher's stunning workshop with Provincial and Rileysan...I was by far the least knowledgeable person present but did have a chance to compare our alligator wrenches. Couldn't have been made more than a year or two apart in the mid 20's but you can see the obvious differences.