Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[rustyedge1]

I've a 3/8 drive 16" PLVMB 1396 P W A " Pratt Whitney " what I don't understand is the ratchet end with the hole and ball end and why they are made like that, Any ideas ?? See 1st photo.
Last night photo of the buck moon just for your viewing pleasure.

 

[d42jeep]

The ball is there to center the crossbar with the groove in the middle.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm South Jersey. I rarely venture north of I-195!!

We've got the state covered!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I've a 3/8 drive 16" PLVMB 1396 P W A " Pratt Whitney " what I don't understand is the ratchet end with the hole and ball end and why they are made like that, Any ideas ?? See 1st photo.
Last night photo of the buck moon just for your viewing pleasure.

Part of a special tool, I think I have the bonney version.

 

[Outlawmws]

We've got the state covered!

Said like it was difficult. Try that in CA or TX!

 

[d42jeep]

Part of a special tool, I think I have the bonney version.

Apparently they were made by both Plomb and Bonney according to my PWA tool list.
PWA-1396 Extension(??) [Plomb,Bonney,+?]
It isn’t unusual for Plomb breaker bars and extensions to have the centering balls for the crossbars.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Try that in CA or TX!

No thanks! Vintage tool hunting in an old industrial state with a population density of 1,263 people per square mile (vs. 251 people per square mile in California, and 105 people per square mile in Texas) is just one of the reasons I will never leave here!

It isn’t unusual for Plomb breaker bars and extensions to have the centering balls for the crossbars.

The friction ball seated in that recess will also stop the crossbar from slipping out of the hole, even if it's not centered, no? Mine do. In fact, most of the crossbars I have for hinge handles and extensions from other mfgrs don't have a groove.

 

[Provincial]

The PWA-1396 tool was used for more than an extension for socket wrenches. It was also used with a "socket" that fit over the rocker arm on the valve end. The extension was used as a handle to lever the valve open so the push rod could be removed or replaced. There was one of these bars and one of the "sockets" included in the tool kit supplied with the engine for normal field service. The PWA-1396 is more heavily built than a standard extension because it was used as a lever.

 

[d42jeep]

The friction ball seated in that recess will also stop the crossbar from slipping out of the hole, even if it's not centered, no? Mine do. In fact, most of the crossbars I have for hinge handles and extensions from other mfgrs don't have a groove.

For sure the friction ball will keep the crossbar from falling out. It seems to me that most of my sets of various brands that have the friction ball are the ones that have the grooved crossbars as OE, particularly in the 3/8“ & 1/2” drives. Not so much in the 1/4” drive sets.
-Don
Plomb sets
S-K sets

 

[Samuel Anton]

My 1/4" working kits from my bench. The kit on the left is SAE, all Plomb. The kit on the right is a metric "what if" set. All Plomb drive tools but Craftsman and Proto sockets.

 

[outofbounds]

In my travels (admittedly a much shorter road than many contributors here) I was unaware that Plomb was a supplier to the fine folks at Western Auto Stores until these 6 sockets (equal to Craftsman Circle U) turned up in a scramble deal I raked in wildly when the seller named their price. In this case I'll presume that the "N" next to the Westcraft is their mfr designation vs. Duro-Indestro likely supplying concurrent to Plomb?

 

[d42jeep]

Looking at those sockets, I would have thought that they might have been supplied by New Britain rather than Plomb. The N code might refer to NB. I could be wrong though.

Smokeshow’s Circle U sockets
New Britain sockets
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have some n code westcraft stuff, I thought new britain supplied.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

N is NB. D is Duro.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup. Looks like a match to this none better

 

[outofbounds]

Yup. Looks like a match to this none better

Is that ultimately to imply that Plomb made Circle U Craftsman drive tools whilst New Britain supplied the actual sockets?

 

[Smokeshow69]

Is that ultimately to imply that Plomb made Circle U Craftsman drive tools whilst New Britain supplied the actual sockets?

No, plomb made and supplied circle u tools. New Britain made similar looking sockets for Sears. He was just showing the 2 similar examples for discussion

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some dual marked adjustable, all 48 dates.

 

[Samuel Anton]

Another of my "Pebble" working kits from my bench. All drive tools and accessories are Plomb. 5249 ratchet was rebuilt with a "drop in" Proto repair kit. The SAE and Metric sockets are Proto and Craftsman.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Picked up this spare 1/4 pebble for $5 at the swap. Only plomb piece I found yesterday worth buying

 

[d42jeep]

A few Plomb pieces I’ve received over the last month or so but haven’t posted.
-Don
9/32” drive screwdriver bit #4844

Cad plated 3/8” drive 9/16” socket

Unmarked 1/4” drive ratchet
1/4” drive 4766 flex handle for a partial setSet in progress.

 

[MR.X]

By now everybody has seen Whitworth sized Plomb wrenches. Less common are the BA British Association thread standard size examples (3 in the middle) here. The top wrench is a no tool# ( notice the 13/32) Across Flats sized example from the UK, and at bottom is a standard 3018.... cause why not.

 

[Smokeshow69]

By now everybody has seen Whitworth sized Plomb wrenches. Less common are the BA British Association thread standard size examples (3 in the middle) here. The top wrench is a no tool# Across Flats sized example from the UK and at bottom is a standard 3018.... cause why not.

Dang, that’s some rare hens teeth right there

 

[MR.X]

NAF 1109-17
Part of this 3/8” drive set.
-Don
I only have the bottom two.

I never see anyone mention them but Owatonna filled 1109 &1110 NAF contracts too.

 

[Squez]

Since I broke my elbow I haven’t been able to get out picking so sitting at home bored out of my mind I purchased this lot


Update on my collection I need to weed out the duplicates and put them in the duplicate & modified or broken drawer to make more room




Still looking for the 15/16 13/16 1/4 pebble

 

[Outlawmws]

Since I broke my elbow

Say What??

 

[Squez]

 

[Squez]

Bone is stuck in my tricep or floating around it.. having a difficult time getting a orthopedic to look at it… make you wonder why you pay so much for health insurance…

 

[Outlawmws]

Ouch! A fall?

 

[Squez]

Step stood legs decided it was time to retire and I went elbow first into the concrete…

 

[Provincial]

I found some Plomb Sunday.


Plomb LA 2015 brake pliers
Plomb USA 3322 Ign. DOE 11/32
Plomb LA 6538 Ford Shock Absorber Fill Plug Wrench 7/16 8-pt. and 12-pt.
Plomb USA 512 crowfoot 3/8 "US"
Plomb USA 4738 1/4 dr. #2 Phillips bit

 

[Outlawmws]

Step stood legs decided it was time to retire

Wood? Metal? Plastic? Any signs it was ready to go?

 

[Squez]

Wood? Metal? Plastic? Any signs it was ready to go?

Metal and most likely…

 

[tamaraw]

What a cool thread!

Here's a little cleanup job I just did on a 5249. Polished everything and painted the pebble inlay for a bit of contrast. I also used a Proto rebuild kit to convert it from 3/8" to 1/2" drive (plus polished the top of the oxide gear to match). Hopefully that's not sacrilege, I do plan to put this one to use.

Last photo is the "original condition"from the ebay listing I bought it off of.

 

[Smokeshow69]

What a cool thread!

Here's a little cleanup job I just did on a 5249. Polished everything and painted the pebble inlay for a bit of contrast. I also used a Proto rebuild kit to convert it from 3/8" to 1/2" drive (plus polished the top of the oxide gear to match). Hopefully that's not sacrilege, I do plan to put this one to use.

Last photo is the "original condition"from the ebay listing I bought it off of.

That turned out really nice! What’s your process for polishing? What product and steps do you use?

 

[MisterEd]

UPDATE on Running Empirical Tally of ostensibly commercial (or at least non-WF marked) 9/32-drive tools:

4814 9/32 Square Drive 7/16 Socket

 

[tamaraw]

That turned out really nice! What’s your process for polishing? What product and steps do you use?

Thanks! Nothing particularly fancy, just a couple sessions when I got home after work.

First, I gently scrubbed it down with a really worn out scotch bright sponge and soapy water to get rid of most of the surface rust and gunk.

Then I spent a while hand polishing with Midas Touch and paper towels. That got it as shiny as possible without actually removing material or messing with the factory machining marks. I did end up hitting the area around the selector switch with a miniature wire wheel on a dremel because it was hard to access.

The inlay is Tamiya acrylic model paint (XF-69 NATO Black) that I brushed on. I then gently scraped the excess off of the high areas and sprayed it a few times with Mr. Hobby premium flat top coat. I scraped off the excess again and re-polished, so it ended up a little glossier than flat.

For the Proto square drive, I didn't really care about historical value, so I hand sanded it with some 600 grit to get rid of the machining marks, then 2500, then polish. The jump between grits was kind of lazy, but it makes a less than "perfect" surface, so I won't hate myself the first time it gets scratched in use. It's a little more reflective than the body in person and a slightly brighter color, coincidentally pretty close to my Nepros sockets.

 

[Squez]

Got to go out last night and get first picks found these

plomb 1/4 breaker bb-1 5436 we-52 1in wf-72 3/8 swivel 5218 5212x2 4712 3050

 

[Provincial]

I found some Plomb tools Friday.

Plomb USA 4011 puller crossarms (2, with screws)
Plomb USA 4015 jaw
Plomb USA 4016 jaws, 1 long, 1 short
Plomb USA 4018 jaws (2)


The WF-8 wrench on the bottom is the only Plomb. Just above it is a dual-marked 1232 combo. P&C at the top, with Proto through the middle of the stack.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I found some Plomb tools Friday.

Plomb USA 4011 puller crossarms (2, with screws)
Plomb USA 4015 jaw
Plomb USA 4016 jaws, 1 long, 1 short
Plomb USA 4018 jaws (2)


The WF-8 wrench on the bottom is the only Plomb. Just above it is a dual-marked 1232 combo. P&C at the top, with Proto through the middle of the stack.

Get these didn’t come from a sale in Dundee did they? Nice haul