Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[d42jeep]

I think that evaporust will make those look much better. It certainly improved mine. Especially the chrome plated one on the top. Here is a progression set of photos of the cleanup.
-Don
Here are the plain finish ones cleaned up.

 

[Smokeshow69]

This box is cool as heck! BmwRD0 gave it to me when we did some swapping. I’m over the moon about it! It’s a Proto la box but it has a plomb sticker on it so it’s not too long after the lawsuit I believe? It contained 7/8 hex impact sockets. I have acquired a few yellow Proto boxes over the past few years but this is the first for me with a plomb logo/sticker . It’s already inside my house in a display cabinet

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think you might owe bmw one! Nice stuff!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cool box.

Reminder - they did NOT change the name of the company from Plomb to Proto in 1949, and changing the name of the company was never an objective of any Plumb lawsuit. They were forced to stop using their name as a brand or trademark on tools and packaging, hence the Proto branding and TM campaign. It was the Plomb Tool Company, makers of Proto tools, until 1957, when they changed the name of the company to Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc. By then, Proto had successfully surpassed the Plomb name recognition, and Morris could lose it with little to no impact. The board agreed.

I would date that to 1949 or 1950 though. All the markings match all the literature (cats, ads, etc) from that timeframe.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I think you might owe bmw one! Nice stuff!

He got something really cool in the exchange as well. I think we are both pleased with how it turned out

Cool box.

Reminder - they did NOT change the name of the company from Plomb to Proto in 1949, and changing the name of the company was never an objective of any Plumb lawsuit. They were forced to stop using their name as a brand or trademark on tools and packaging, hence the Proto branding and TM campaign. It was the Plomb Tool Company, makers of Proto tools, until 1957, when they changed the name of the company to Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc. By then, Proto had successfully surpassed the Plomb name recognition, and Morris could lose it with little to no impact. The board agreed.

I would date that to 1949 or 1950 though. All the markings match all the literature (cats, ads, etc) from that timeframe.

I totally agree on your dating the box to late ‘40’s as well! I was aware they retained the name into the 50’s but this is the first box like this I have seen

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes it was proto tools by the plomb tool company

 

[Private Lugnutz]

this is the first box like this I have seen

I recall seeing both logos on the same packaging but I don't remember where or what. Maybe it was that box!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I recall seeing both logos on the same packaging but I don't remember where or what. Maybe it was that box!

I think Beemer found this box about 1 month ago and posted it in the GS thread so maybe that's where you saw it? He didn't take as many shots as I did but thats probably where you remember it from. RagtopTA has an ratchet rebuild kit cardboard box with the dual mark sticker stuck over the plomb logo but that hasn't been posted in a while.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Probably both. Either way, cool box.

 

[930dreamer]

Spotted this on FB MP, 1" drive?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yes it was proto tools by the plomb tool company

That was a common phrasing on ads and other literature in late 1948 and especially in 1949, especially when the two names were together. But not the only phrasing. This sticker on Smoke's box, for example, uses "from" as the essential preposition. The full sticker reads "Proto Tools from Plomb Tool Company." In 1949 and 1950 they started separating the names (in ads, and in the catalog) and eventually the preposition became less important.

What does the other (green lettering) sticker say, Smoke? Looks like another company name ("Goodbury"?). Possibly a third party, like the name of a hardware store. I think I see the word "Industrial" so maybe not retail, but supplies for contractors etc. Does anyone recognize it? PNW business perhaps?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's some pics from transition catalog

 

[Smokeshow69]

here is the best shot of the label I could get. There is virtually nothing left of the vendor label and I can’t make out much on it? But after a quick google,turns out lugz called it! Woodbury Industrial - a “plombing” supply store (see what I did there?)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I got you covered.

It's not a "G" in front of the visible "OODBURY," it's a "W"!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I got you covered.

It's not a "G" in front of the visible "OODBURY," it's a "W"!

View attachment 1944004

Yep, you are correct… I guess I need to go study my alphabet for letter recognition .My prior post is now amended.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Now the box is even cooler. Proto from Plomb with an oldtime local Portland hardware wholesaler!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Now the box is ever cooler. Proto from Plomb with an oldtime local hardware wholesaler!

I 100% agree. I didn’t know I was getting this box until I lifted the lid on one of these bad boys and it was sitting right there . I’m definitely excited about it to say the least. I’ll post more photos in the correct thread once cleaned up

 

[Private Lugnutz]

(Sincere apologies to any of my Portland area pals who may have seen a speculative remark-for-laughs line about the Woodbury building that I have since deleted. As a resident of NJ, which often gets reduced to prominent cliche features, I should know better.)

 

[Provincial]

I have a Woodbury catalog from 1951. It was all Proto then.

 

[Outlawmws]

Spotted this on FB MP, 1" drive?

If that ratchet is 5849 (vs 5649) it's 1" however they made drive lugs for both 1" and 3/4...

 

[Smokeshow69]

Ok this gets weird. I just got the cardboard box with the woodbury&co sticker on it yesterday. Then today, I was visited by a friend and he brought these 2 catalogs and this big boy 1252 dual mark wrench! How cool is this? This is the biggest dual mark currently in my collection.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Dual mark board just got a little heavier now with the 1252 on the bottom

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Your on a roll!

 

[RTM]

Ok this gets weird. I just got the cardboard box with the woodbury&co sticker on it yesterday. Then today, I was visited by a friend and he brought these 2 catalogs and this big boy 1252 dual mark wrench! How cool is this? This is the biggest dual mark currently in my collection.

I love those big distributor catalogs, I just added a similar 1925 to my library. Great general perusing.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I love those big distributor catalogs, I just added a similar 1925 to my library. Great general perusing.

I'm a weirdo like you. I peruse tool catalogs like others may read a magazine. These have some really cool things in them. My wife also really likes the graphics on these so they may end up inside and displayed in a prominent place.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I love how Proto and Plomb made such relatively small shank big wrenches, as did P&C. Williams, Snap-on, and others were twice the width. You can tell who had the most confidence in their product!

 

[MR.X]

5649 mod

 

[Smokeshow69]

5649 mod

What machine is that on? Pretty cool!

 

[MR.X]

What machine is that on? Pretty cool!

Hey Smoke, pretty sure that was the carriage of WW2 era 90MM M2 gun.

 

[d42jeep]

This #3 Phillips arrived in my PO Box today. It may or may not end up in my Plomb based GMTK. I like the wood handled examples as well.
-Don

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Don’t those handles have a tendency to break?

 

[d42jeep]

Sometimes they deteriorate but not nearly as often as early Duro-Chrome or Snap-on, in my experience.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

Sometimes they deteriorate but not nearly as often as early Duro-Chrome or Snap-on, in my experience.
-Don

I was going to also add that in my experience, Plomb doesn’t disintegrate nearly as often as old long c craftsman does either. I have never come across a Plomb screwdriver that has deteriorated but I have seen a few of the craftsman ones in crumble’s

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

After following this thread I am proud of my first plumb tool. Breaker bar and I will use it as a cheater. I really like the looks of the past.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They are pretty good. I have yet to break one.

 

[Outlawmws]

I've been using one for breaking lug nuts and head bolts loose forever. (first one was my dads...)

 

[genog]

Hey, I found a little 1/4" breaker bar and a few other Plomb things....
Mine is probably too small to break lug nuts

 

[d42jeep]

Those 1/4” drive pebble breakers are quite rare. I’ve never seen one in person. This one belongs to gpw_42.
-Don

 

[genog]

Those 1/4” drive pebble breakers are quite rare. I’ve never seen one in person.

You haven't????
Man, I am trying to wrap my head around that.

I thought you had every vintage hand tool ever made!
.....multiples of them
I have seen the pics!

 

[genog]

This chisel was so crusty when I first got it, I could't see that it was dual marked