Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
- Thread starter GRX
- Start date
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
I decided to do something nice for the wife this weekend and took her out for an overnight getaway to Astoria on the Oregon coast.....I'm pretty sure I mentioned to her that there was a swap meet going on up there this weekend? Anyway after touring the town on Friday afternoon we got up early this morning and after a hotel breakfast we headed out to the swap.
I found a pebble 5/8 right away in a two for a dollar pile and picked up a few other items. On the last row I spotted this rusty box that used to be a toolmobile under a vendor desk. it was mostly covered with other **** and while I was checking it out the vendor told me his neighbor had given it to him and he would be happy to get $20.
Of course I said sure.... As we were heading down the row I picked out a few other tools and while I was "negotiating" with the vendor my wife walked up with a $4 bag of Plomb she had pulled off of the other side of his table. It had been buried in a pile of bagged up random sockets. She definitely earned her keep on this trip.
Not sure yet but after a bit of bodywork I may make a mid box out of what's left of the toolmobile? Ed.
I found a pebble 5/8 right away in a two for a dollar pile and picked up a few other items. On the last row I spotted this rusty box that used to be a toolmobile under a vendor desk. it was mostly covered with other **** and while I was checking it out the vendor told me his neighbor had given it to him and he would be happy to get $20.
Of course I said sure.... As we were heading down the row I picked out a few other tools and while I was "negotiating" with the vendor my wife walked up with a $4 bag of Plomb she had pulled off of the other side of his table. It had been buried in a pile of bagged up random sockets. She definitely earned her keep on this trip.
Not sure yet but after a bit of bodywork I may make a mid box out of what's left of the toolmobile? Ed.Attachments
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
The feeler gauge is a real nice find, Ed. I have been fortunate enough to snag a couple, but they're two of the late 40's jobbies with the misleading 'PLOMB' marking. Yours is earlier. I'm interested in knowing the P/N on it if there is one.
Nice "Name-Nurl"TM battery pliers, too.
Nice "Name-Nurl"TM battery pliers, too.
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Well, no wonder I've never run into one in the wild. You have them all!
Thanks. Good to know. The later models - a few different variants, with different blades, were numbered. Prior discussion here...
www.garagejournal.com
Thanks. Good to know. The later models - a few different variants, with different blades, were numbered. Prior discussion here...
Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Pick up the lot out of classifieds from kpl70sx just got it today Added them into my box so this is the update on my collection
www.garagejournal.com
bmwrd0
Well-known member
Nice pick on the Plomb mid chest, and I have met your wife, she is definitely a keeper.
Last time I was in Astoria I couldn't quite make it to the flea market, seems a good one I will need to check out. Tomorrow I am heading down to Medford for the southern Oregon flea, see what I can find.
Last time I was in Astoria I couldn't quite make it to the flea market, seems a good one I will need to check out. Tomorrow I am heading down to Medford for the southern Oregon flea, see what I can find.
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
Good luck down in Medford. I never have made it down for that one....saving up now for the PIR holiday for the rest of the this month.
d42jeep
Well-known member
I saw this sad looking 3/8” drive pebble ratchet on eBay. For some reason the bidding wasn’t very lively and it arrived yesterday. 
It looks better now and is even assembled correctly. It works perfectly.
It’s odd how the screw heads look different in the picture but don’t in person.
-Don
It looks better now and is even assembled correctly. It works perfectly.
It’s odd how the screw heads look different in the picture but don’t in person.
-Don
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Nice find on the name knurls! And I'm looking forward to / saving for the biggest swap of the year as well! Always manage to find some good stuff there. That tool mobile is a cool find. I would feel bad about cutting a tool mobile but if someone else cut it then it's game one. I've often thought about making a mid chest and I can't wait to see what you come up with.
d42jeep
Well-known member
These two Plomb finds from yesterday came out of the evaporust today. The plain steel 21/32” one was hit pretty hard by the rust worm but the 1/2” 8 point socket came out fine. 
-Don
-Don
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Hey did you guys see that box of ignition files that was on eBay?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Considering its current condition that's a good choice. if you found a second like that, then a custom with all drawers would also be cool.
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
That's actually something I've been considering Outlaw. I wouldn't cut up a decent toolmobile but I do have a two drawer Pressteel. Adding it's two drawers under the three Plomb would give 5 with the logo drawer centered. A five drawer roller would be kind of nice.
As a mid drawer riser anything more than two drawers gets kind of high. I could use the top two drawers as a riser having the Plomb stamped logo only on the sides. That would leave the extra bottom with the logo out front as a single riser drawer. A lot of possibilities. For as beat up as it is this box is still structurally sound and the drawers roll really well.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Provincial
Well-known member
Just past Eagle Cliff, where my grandfather managed a salmon cannery.
d42jeep
Well-known member
I found this small box at an estate sale yesterday and it looked to me like a late war Plomb 1/4” drive box. 
I managed to remove the tape and the red spray bomb on the exterior.
Next I compared it to some Plomb sets.
Temporarily added some appropriate Plomb tools.
Just needs paint.
-Don
I managed to remove the tape and the red spray bomb on the exterior.
Next I compared it to some Plomb sets.
Temporarily added some appropriate Plomb tools.
Just needs paint.
-Don
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Picked up this nary seen box of Plomb ignition files from the 'bay the other day. I'm not sure how long it had been listed for but as soon as I saw it I couldn't hit the buy it now button quick enough. When was the last time you ever saw one of these plomb branded pocket clip files or better yet, the box? These are the 5" pocket clip version. As you can see these are not very big. A 7/16 is slightly longer than the box and a 3/8 fits inside just right. Box is in good shape and the leftover files inside are not used. Box is a bit interesting because it's green, unlike the other Plomb/proto boxes I either posses or have seen in the more common tan paper fiber color. I'm curious as to who was the manufacturer of these?? Lutz or Atkinson or ??
(Comments edited for further clarification)
(Comments edited for further clarification)
Last edited:
d42jeep
Well-known member
I have a lot of ignition files but none with the cool pocket clip. No idea who made those. I want one.
-Don
-Don
Last edited:
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Thanks. I should have been more specific in my comments. When I said- when was the last time you had seen one- I meant this particular styleI have a lot of ignition files but none with the cool pocket clip. No idea who made those. I want one.
-Don
Outlawmws
Well-known member
For me: Never...
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Never. I was going to say they'd be easy enough to make out of any vintage ignition file, by simply putting a nice bend in the handle, but the handles on those are almost as long as a standard points file with the bend, which makes sense, so they look to be almost twice as long before being bent.
Not only never, but not even in a catalog! Which is even more puzzling and makes the acquisition even more thrilling. I just went through all the catalogs. I can't find them. Not with the feeler gauges, which is where I expected. Or with the "electrical" wrenches. Or anywhere else. Unless I missed them.
Extremely curious, I did find this patent, which sure seems like it would have to be it, right?
EDIT: No assignments, by the way. So whatever mfgr was making them either licensed the design or bought him out.
Last edited:
RTM
Well-known member
I think I have one in my roll of resharpened ignition files, will try to look this weekend. Not sure the brand.
Like the Territory of Hawaii on the patent. @Lugz
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
I was immediately drawn to the folded over handle. It makes them so much easier to hold. Plus I could see them being handy to clip into your pocket as shown. Since points maintenance and tuning was a frequently occurring adjustment on old vehicles, I could see techs wanting to have them close at hand, hence the pocket clipNever. I was going to say they'd be easy enough to make out of any vintage ignition file, by simply putting a nice bend in the handle, but the handles on those are almost as long as a standard points file with the bend, which makes sense, so they look to be almost twice as long before being bent.
Not only never, but not even in a catalog! Which is even more puzzling and makes the acquisition even more thrilling. I just went through all the catalogs. I can't find them. Not with the feeler gauges, which is where I expected. Or with the "electrical" wrenches. Or anywhere else. Unless I missed them.
Extremely curious, I did find this patent, which sure seems like it would have to be it, right?
EDIT: No assignments, by the way. So whatever mfgr was making them either licensed the design or bought him out.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
For sure. Points files regularly came in one of the pockets of all kinds of little roll-ups, usually with mini-pliers and a set of ignition/electrical wrenches with a configuration of various angles (15 x 60, 15 x 75, etc). And sometimes a points file would be a fold-out with feeler gages and a brush in a pocket tool. Like many of us, I have examples of all those posted on other threads. But I have never seen them with pocket-clip handles. Very cool.
But it's just so bizarre that the first time we seen one, it's Plomb! Just goes to show, you think you've seen it all - until you haven't!
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Agreed, it’s an odd duck and may be a mystery for the ages. That’s why as soon as I saw the auction listing, my spider senses started tingling and I hopped on it!For sure. Points files regularly came in one of the pockets of all kinds of little roll-ups, usually with mini-pliers and a set of ignition/electrical wrenches with a configuration of various angles (15 x 60, 15 x 75, etc). And sometimes a points file would be a fold-out with feeler gages and a brush in a pocket tool. Like many of us, I have examples of all those posted on other threads. But I have never seen them with pocket-clip handles. Very cool.
But it's just so bizarre that the first time we seen one, it's Plomb! Just goes to show, you think you've seen it all - until you haven't!
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ When those were manufactured, those "techs" were also adjusting the "points" in voltage regulators, not just distributors.
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
I totally forgot about that.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ three contact points on old Ford or Delco generator regulators, so lots of uses for point files.
(why do I still remember the part numbers on those damn things?)
(why do I still remember the part numbers on those damn things?)
Last edited:
Provincial
Well-known member
Not to mention magnetos, electric switch gear, telephone switch keys, and telegraph keys.
d42jeep
Well-known member
I found this small box at an estate sale yesterday and it looked to me like a late war Plomb 1/4” drive box.
I managed to remove the tape and the red spray bomb on the exterior.
Next I compared it to some Plomb sets.
Temporarily added some appropriate Plomb tools.
Just needs paint.
-Don
The new box got some paint today.
-DonSmokeshow69
Well-known member
Boy I forgot about all the non automotive applications that required something like this file.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
It is, and it was the key to me resolving the mystery. I was looking at the decal on the lid thinking that none of those machinists' type files were exactly common, either. I know there're a few flat files and half round files on the thread, but not too many - and that's when an old conversation with good ol' Roy Olson hit me.
The 1940 catalog is the only one they show up in. And there's your TPC files, left side, half way down the page, ticking off the applications Jock mentioned.
Mintgrun
Well-known member
Mintgrun
Well-known member
Found on page 28 of this catalog (on the Internet Archive site). (I don't know the date).
I didn't realize they were the oldest file maker in the country.
Nucut Files, Vixen Files, Heller Swiss Files Manufactured by Heller Brothers Co. : Heller Brothers Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
66 p., illus., 12.4 cm, trade catalog
archive.org
I didn't realize they were the oldest file maker in the country.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Haha! Well done, Tom.
That date may have a bit of a legendary quality to it, although it's not something they made up out of thin air. They incorporated as Heller & Brothers in 1865, then Heller Brothers Company in 1899, and those '1836' claims appeared in trade mag ads and such from both outfits pointing back to their grandfather's farrier's shop. That was all in Newark, NJ. Like Nicholson, they went on an acquisition spree, which included Rex File Co. in Newcomerstown, Ohio, in 1917, which operated as Heller Brothers of Ohio. Eventually, and I am not sure when, all manufacturing operations were consolidated there.
Incidentally, this gives me an opportunity for a cool and worthy story. The best single site for researching vintage files, in my opinion, is the American Made Files blogspot. I discovered it years ago, as a G503'er, before I even came to GJ, researching GMTK files. I'd say it's the corollary to Yesteryears Tools for Axes, or, like a little mini-AA focused exclusively only files, but it's even better than both, because it FREELY includes pdfs for entire catalogs. Not kind of like, but just like the Trowel and Masonry Tool Collector blogspot. I discovered that one after I became a member here at GJ researching a very old Germantown Tool Works hammer I had found.
Guess who the proprietor of both sites is?
Same dude who runs the treasured Internet Archive International Tool Catalog Library. Which I had no idea until many years later.
Not to embarrass him, but one of the most significant yet unassuming GJers in our midst: @Mark Stansbury
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Dang, that’s a quick id and find. Thanks mitgrunI'm going to guess HELLER made them.
