Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
- Thread starter GRX
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Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Well, I guess that would explain why I haven't been able to find one.
The 1/4" 1208 appears in the 1949 Proto® catalog, but there are many gaps in my Plomb catalog collection between the 1930s and 1948. I haven't been able to beat out any of the deep-pocket ePay bidders for war-time and post-war Plomb catalogs to know if a 1/4" 1208 was offered before 1949.
I've seen loose 5452 drive plugs, but not recently. I was lucky in that both of my ratchets that use the plug actually had the plug in them.
Good question. It's definitely marked 5451, but I can't see any difference between it and a 5449. My guess is that there might have been some overlap when they introduced the pear-head 5449 and they changed the old style to a 5451, but that's just a guess with no catalog sighting to confirm it. The 5451 number was later used by Proto® for the ratchet spinner.
While we're talking about slightly unusual ratchet numbers, here's a slightly unusual 5249 ratchet that's been my favorite 3/8" drive Proto® since the '60s. It's a Proto® Los Angeles and was my dad's, but that isn't what made it my favorite:
Double non-removable male plug. Looks like an OEM part, not a user mod. Very handy to stick two sockets on it when you're working on a ladder or hanging from rigging with only one hand free and happen to need two sizes. I don't recall ever seeing it in a catalog and have only seen one other like it. Does anyone else have one, or has anyone seen one?
Well, I guess that would explain why I haven't been able to find one.
The 1/4" 1208 appears in the 1949 Proto® catalog, but there are many gaps in my Plomb catalog collection between the 1930s and 1948. I haven't been able to beat out any of the deep-pocket ePay bidders for war-time and post-war Plomb catalogs to know if a 1/4" 1208 was offered before 1949.
I've seen loose 5452 drive plugs, but not recently. I was lucky in that both of my ratchets that use the plug actually had the plug in them.
Good question. It's definitely marked 5451, but I can't see any difference between it and a 5449. My guess is that there might have been some overlap when they introduced the pear-head 5449 and they changed the old style to a 5451, but that's just a guess with no catalog sighting to confirm it. The 5451 number was later used by Proto® for the ratchet spinner.
While we're talking about slightly unusual ratchet numbers, here's a slightly unusual 5249 ratchet that's been my favorite 3/8" drive Proto® since the '60s. It's a Proto® Los Angeles and was my dad's, but that isn't what made it my favorite:
Double non-removable male plug. Looks like an OEM part, not a user mod. Very handy to stick two sockets on it when you're working on a ladder or hanging from rigging with only one hand free and happen to need two sizes. I don't recall ever seeing it in a catalog and have only seen one other like it. Does anyone else have one, or has anyone seen one?
Gort the giant robot
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Two different size sockets when working on something. Now I understand the reason for two drive studs of the same size. I recently got a 3/4 inch drive Plomb 5649 pebble finish ratchet with a P&C drive plug. My other 5649 ratchet has a no name drive plug. Another 5649 that I sold had a no name drive plug also.
Gort.
Two different size sockets when working on something. Now I understand the reason for two drive studs of the same size. I recently got a 3/4 inch drive Plomb 5649 pebble finish ratchet with a P&C drive plug. My other 5649 ratchet has a no name drive plug. Another 5649 that I sold had a no name drive plug also.
Gort.
zuk123
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Here are the first 2 Plomb sockets I've found. (Doesn't mean much, as I've only started looking since joining GJ)
And my first ever pebble wrench in 'as found' condition
any reason NOT to clean it up?
zuk
Here are the first 2 Plomb sockets I've found. (Doesn't mean much, as I've only started looking since joining GJ)
And my first ever pebble wrench in 'as found' condition
any reason NOT to clean it up?
zuk
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sumner52000
Well-known member
justin10054
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
I was daydreaming the other day about how Proto should make pebble-style wrenches again. I'd love to have a set of metric pebble wrenches, even if they said Proto instead of Plomb on them.
I was daydreaming the other day about how Proto should make pebble-style wrenches again. I'd love to have a set of metric pebble wrenches, even if they said Proto instead of Plomb on them.
Bruce Lancaster
Well-known member
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- Apr 3, 2006
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- 1,642
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Red boxes, green boxes...and the green may separate into greenish green versus olive drab/green.
Does anyone have a timeline on Plomb box colors??
Red boxes, green boxes...and the green may separate into greenish green versus olive drab/green.
Does anyone have a timeline on Plomb box colors??
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Green boxes came before red boxes.
I think red boxes are post-war only.
I've only seen the OD green used on certain box styles, not across the broad line. Not saying it wasn't used on all styles, just that I've seen far more "greenish green" Plomb boxes than OD green.
Green boxes came before red boxes.
I think red boxes are post-war only.
I've only seen the OD green used on certain box styles, not across the broad line. Not saying it wasn't used on all styles, just that I've seen far more "greenish green" Plomb boxes than OD green.
Bruce Lancaster
Well-known member
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- Apr 3, 2006
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- 1,642
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
I have found seemingly original sets of pebble 1/4 stuff in green and in red...pure guesswork, of course, but the group of surviving bits all looked like they came together in there. Pretty sure that red is postwar only, but suspect green made it too. Or maybe something else...red for public sale, green for industrial???
I have found seemingly original sets of pebble 1/4 stuff in green and in red...pure guesswork, of course, but the group of surviving bits all looked like they came together in there. Pretty sure that red is postwar only, but suspect green made it too. Or maybe something else...red for public sale, green for industrial???
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
In my observation they went from Red boxes to Green boxes and back to Red after WWII. Proto is another story the wierd copper red color was from the early 50's, which I'm glad didn't last. Have you ever seen a Green Toolmobile? The above applies to larger boxes the smaller socket set boxes could vary.
Ell
In my observation they went from Red boxes to Green boxes and back to Red after WWII. Proto is another story the wierd copper red color was from the early 50's, which I'm glad didn't last. Have you ever seen a Green Toolmobile? The above applies to larger boxes the smaller socket set boxes could vary.
Ell
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Strangely, this axiom holds EXACTLY true with Stevens-Walden. The OD Green S-W boxes are early war, and were stamped 41-W-2615 (FSN for 1/4-inch midget set) in a more permanent way (punched into the steel, etc). The kelly-er green (same color as commercial version) S-W boxes are considered late war and were stamped 41-W-2615 more field expediently with some kind of white stencil marker, apparently an indication that demand outstripped supply for the others. Don't know what if anything this means for Plomb boxes but I thought the coincidence too strong not to mention...
Strangely, this axiom holds EXACTLY true with Stevens-Walden. The OD Green S-W boxes are early war, and were stamped 41-W-2615 (FSN for 1/4-inch midget set) in a more permanent way (punched into the steel, etc). The kelly-er green (same color as commercial version) S-W boxes are considered late war and were stamped 41-W-2615 more field expediently with some kind of white stencil marker, apparently an indication that demand outstripped supply for the others. Don't know what if anything this means for Plomb boxes but I thought the coincidence too strong not to mention...
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
By the way if you look at WWII and before boxes they are embossed Plomb. Boxes near the end of the Plomb line (1947/1948) are not embossed with the ID being painted white or silver.
Ell
By the way if you look at WWII and before boxes they are embossed Plomb. Boxes near the end of the Plomb line (1947/1948) are not embossed with the ID being painted white or silver.
Ell
even if some fool had painted it lime green or orange or yellow or pink. Provincial
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
This wrench was in some stuff I picked up recently. It is 3/4" hex and doesn't look like it was forged with production tooling. It is stamped 3/4 and Plomb with stylized plumb bobs before and after the name. The plumb bobs are more slender and pointed than the later version, and the upper end has what looks like a + sign above the body of the bob. There is no other marking.
In with the stuff I found a couple of pressed steel sockets. Both are unmarked and fit a 13/16" spark plug perfectly. One has a full closed dome at the drive end and the outside surfaces are as-formed. The other is open at the drive end and has been lathe turned to where it is round. Both fit the wrench opening quite well, and the length of the drive on the socket matches the depth of the hex in the wrench.
I have never seen or heard of hex drive in the pressed steel sockets. All the ones I have seen have been square drive.
Does anyone have anything to add?
This wrench was in some stuff I picked up recently. It is 3/4" hex and doesn't look like it was forged with production tooling. It is stamped 3/4 and Plomb with stylized plumb bobs before and after the name. The plumb bobs are more slender and pointed than the later version, and the upper end has what looks like a + sign above the body of the bob. There is no other marking.
In with the stuff I found a couple of pressed steel sockets. Both are unmarked and fit a 13/16" spark plug perfectly. One has a full closed dome at the drive end and the outside surfaces are as-formed. The other is open at the drive end and has been lathe turned to where it is round. Both fit the wrench opening quite well, and the length of the drive on the socket matches the depth of the hex in the wrench.
I have never seen or heard of hex drive in the pressed steel sockets. All the ones I have seen have been square drive.
Does anyone have anything to add?
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MOPARHOUND!
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Plomb made a number of unusual tools during the war, especially for aircraft applications.
Some great Plomb tools pictured in this thread.
Love stormking's Plomb combination wrench tool board, and dieselmike's huge 1164 box wrench.
One day would like to make a set of Plomb tool boards to display the collection on.
For now, some of it is on run of the mill peg board.
(I tell the wife the Plomb addiction is bolster's fault.
Actually haven't actively collected Plomb in a couple of years it seems like.)
Found a pic of the roll cabs sent by the seller, have cleaned them up since:
Plomb made a number of unusual tools during the war, especially for aircraft applications.
Some great Plomb tools pictured in this thread.
Love stormking's Plomb combination wrench tool board, and dieselmike's huge 1164 box wrench.
One day would like to make a set of Plomb tool boards to display the collection on.
For now, some of it is on run of the mill peg board.
(I tell the wife the Plomb addiction is bolster's fault.
Actually haven't actively collected Plomb in a couple of years it seems like.)Found a pic of the roll cabs sent by the seller, have cleaned them up since:
Attachments
r_olson_06
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Here is a 3/4" drive set i picked up a couple weeks ago all complete just needs to be cleaned up. The ratchet is also dual labeled PRVTV and PLVMB TOOL CO.
Here is a 3/4" drive set i picked up a couple weeks ago all complete just needs to be cleaned up. The ratchet is also dual labeled PRVTV and PLVMB TOOL CO.
RedVise
Well-known member
MOPARHOUND!
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Great stuff! Thanks for posting. Keep 'em coming.
Great stuff! Thanks for posting. Keep 'em coming.
Nice. Same decal that is on my box (pictured in post #1)
MOPARHOUND!
Well-known member
r_olson_06
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
did anyone pick this one up?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/25109859802...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_1258wt_1165
did anyone pick this one up?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/25109859802...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_1258wt_1165
MOPARHOUND!
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Too good a thread to let die.
Plomb 1/2" drive box, near new condition except someone put a piece of cardboard in the socket well that must have gotten wet at some point:
Too good a thread to let die.
Plomb 1/2" drive box, near new condition except someone put a piece of cardboard in the socket well that must have gotten wet at some point:
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maddawg308
Banned
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Plvmb and Proto tools are so cool, and so well made. You guys sure are lucky to have as many as you do, I'm jealous.
Plvmb and Proto tools are so cool, and so well made. You guys sure are lucky to have as many as you do, I'm jealous.
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Based on his age as noted in the article, he got those tools in 1942.
He had 22 wives and somewhere between 37 and 45 sons (exact number unknown) when he died in 1953. I wonder how they divided up his tools...
I can just picture the king working on his own car with this set while knocking back a couple of cold ones.
Based on his age as noted in the article, he got those tools in 1942.
He had 22 wives and somewhere between 37 and 45 sons (exact number unknown) when he died in 1953. I wonder how they divided up his tools...
T56 Impala
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Pulling this thread back up. I haven't bought a tool in MONTHS and have money itching to be spent on something!!!
Sure wish I could find something on my missing list. Not one was found this whole summer. Sales around this area were missing tools. Not sure why.
Pulling this thread back up. I haven't bought a tool in MONTHS and have money itching to be spent on something!!!
Sure wish I could find something on my missing list. Not one was found this whole summer. Sales around this area were missing tools. Not sure why.
toollooter
Member
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- Aug 5, 2012
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- 7
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
40's Plomb Toolmobile original minus bumper guards around top and bottom, can't find optional Piston Rack on top.
40's Plomb Toolmobile original minus bumper guards around top and bottom, can't find optional Piston Rack on top.
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Nice box. Even though the catalog looks like trim, I have never seen bumpers top and bottom only paint stripes on the toolmobiles. Frank, I have a 3018 but agree with you they are very rare. I still need to find a 3070.
Nice box. Even though the catalog looks like trim, I have never seen bumpers top and bottom only paint stripes on the toolmobiles. Frank, I have a 3018 but agree with you they are very rare. I still need to find a 3070.
T56 Impala
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Can you post up a picture of the WF2? I have never seen one. Wanna part with it???????
Can you post up a picture of the WF2? I have never seen one. Wanna part with it???????
MOPARHOUND!
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Frank, wish I had an extra to help you out. I need to get my duplicate trade stuff gathered up, and trade lists.
Thought the top wrench was a long pattern, but guess they just changed the design:
Frank, wish I had an extra to help you out. I need to get my duplicate trade stuff gathered up, and trade lists.
Thought the top wrench was a long pattern, but guess they just changed the design:
Attachments
MOPARHOUND!
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Pebbles (and some Non-Pebbles) I'm looking for:
Box End Inventory Needs List....1100 Series
1133 19/32 x 11/16 (Think it exists?)
1163 1-7/16 x 1-5/8 (Have a Non-Pebble.)
1164 1-5/8 x 1-11/16 (Have a Non-Pebble.)
Combo Inventory Needs List...1200 Series
1236 1-1/8 (Need NON-Pebble, have Pebble.)
1248 1-½
1252 1-5/8
1256 1-¾
1264 2
(The 1248 through 1264 combo's show in the catalog, but I've never seen one. Do have the 1248 and 1252 as Partial Pebble Proto's in the collection.)
Open End Wrench Inventory Needs List…..3000 Series
3033 19/32 x 11/16 (If it exists.)
3061 1-7/16 x 1-¼
Pebbles (and some Non-Pebbles) I'm looking for:
Box End Inventory Needs List....1100 Series
1133 19/32 x 11/16 (Think it exists?)
1163 1-7/16 x 1-5/8 (Have a Non-Pebble.)
1164 1-5/8 x 1-11/16 (Have a Non-Pebble.)
Combo Inventory Needs List...1200 Series
1236 1-1/8 (Need NON-Pebble, have Pebble.)
1248 1-½
1252 1-5/8
1256 1-¾
1264 2
(The 1248 through 1264 combo's show in the catalog, but I've never seen one. Do have the 1248 and 1252 as Partial Pebble Proto's in the collection.)
Open End Wrench Inventory Needs List…..3000 Series
3033 19/32 x 11/16 (If it exists.)
3061 1-7/16 x 1-¼
justin10054
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Reorganizing my tool storage this morning, I figured I'd take some updated photos of my Plomb collection. I got a bunch of stuff when I was back home in LA in May.
Here's my 3018, the smallest Plomb I own, atop the biggest, my 3055.
3/8" drive tools in a Plomb box. a couple of the sockets on that Hansen tray are Snap-on. Some of the smaller Plomb sockets won't fit on the tray.
100HR tool box with a bunch of misc non-Plomb tools in it.
Misc Plomb, Proto, P&C tools I need to find room for.
Removable tray from the 100HR with combo wrenches, 1/4" drive tools, a puller, and a gasket scraper.
Plomb chest full of tools.
Reorganizing my tool storage this morning, I figured I'd take some updated photos of my Plomb collection. I got a bunch of stuff when I was back home in LA in May.
Here's my 3018, the smallest Plomb I own, atop the biggest, my 3055.
3/8" drive tools in a Plomb box. a couple of the sockets on that Hansen tray are Snap-on. Some of the smaller Plomb sockets won't fit on the tray.
100HR tool box with a bunch of misc non-Plomb tools in it.
Misc Plomb, Proto, P&C tools I need to find room for.
Removable tray from the 100HR with combo wrenches, 1/4" drive tools, a puller, and a gasket scraper.
Plomb chest full of tools.
bart1
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Well, now I've got a 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" drive. Also have a 3/8 drive Proto ratchet. Really like the old Plomb stuff, though.
Well, now I've got a 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" drive. Also have a 3/8 drive Proto ratchet. Really like the old Plomb stuff, though.
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
I just bought this set off Craigs list for 25 bucks. Saw it last week and sent an e-mail. Never heard back so figured it was sold. Cleaning out my junk e-mail folder and he had replied 6 days ago. I called and he still had it, Said first time he had dealt with craigs list and all that was on there were scammers. I went and looked it over, he had listed it for $30. I offered him $25. Said it was his dads who was a John Deere collector thus the color choice on the box. This set is in real good condition. The ratchet is so smooth and quiet, Feels like new.
Anyone have a guess to its age?
I just bought this set off Craigs list for 25 bucks. Saw it last week and sent an e-mail. Never heard back so figured it was sold. Cleaning out my junk e-mail folder and he had replied 6 days ago. I called and he still had it, Said first time he had dealt with craigs list and all that was on there were scammers. I went and looked it over, he had listed it for $30. I offered him $25. Said it was his dads who was a John Deere collector thus the color choice on the box. This set is in real good condition. The ratchet is so smooth and quiet, Feels like new.
Anyone have a guess to its age?
bigcaddy
Well-known member
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
The Plomb name was completely phased out by the mid 1950s so its right before that. If you check out Alloy Artifacts, you can get a more exact date.
The real early stuff had a letter/number code on the tools. Some other production periods marked tools differently. Thats the best way to get a ballpark date of your tools
The Plomb name was completely phased out by the mid 1950s so its right before that. If you check out Alloy Artifacts, you can get a more exact date.
The real early stuff had a letter/number code on the tools. Some other production periods marked tools differently. Thats the best way to get a ballpark date of your tools
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Tools marked Plomb date prior to 1948.
Tools marked with both Plomb and Proto were made in 1948.
Tools marked Proto were made after 1948.
The pebble finish handles indicate your Plomb set was produced between 1945 and 1948.
Tools marked Plomb date prior to 1948.
Tools marked with both Plomb and Proto were made in 1948.
Tools marked Proto were made after 1948.
The pebble finish handles indicate your Plomb set was produced between 1945 and 1948.
chopper1
Member Emeritus
Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!
Here's my meager collection.
Here's my meager collection.