Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[Speedracer 64]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I got my first Plomb's over the weekend. Will post pics later. Trying to decide what to do with them. Should I try to get the rust off of them to a like new state or leave them like they are? I've heard to use Evapo Rust on them. Just want to see what everybody else does and not risk damaging them.

 

[Shortbed350]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

OMG Zeet that is an incredible collection you have. How long have you been collecting and where'd you acquire everything yard sales, swap meets, ebay??

 

[Speedracer 64]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I got my first Plomb's over the weekend. Will post pics later. Trying to decide what to do with them. Should I try to get the rust off of them to a like new state or leave them like they are? I've heard to use Evapo Rust on them. Just want to see what everybody else does and not risk damaging them.

Anybody help me out with this?

 

[Red_Bull]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

heres my first plomb ratchet...started with this

and after a 24 hr bath in evapo rust and a couple scrubs with a wire brush i got this

 

[GRX]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Anybody help me out with this?

Some pics might help. If not too awfully rusty I'd be inclined to leave them as is.

 

[fflintstone]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here are some of mine, (not all) I am thinking about trying to build a full set of DOE and DBE and may try to trade the combos.

I just passed (today) on a 1” open end that had been torch cut in half to a SOE

 

[rusty65]

1/4 and 3/8 ratchets I've picked up about a year ago. The 1/4 is in really good shape and the 3/8 is in average. The 3/8 has what looks like a lock on drive stud to me but doesn't lock sockets on but makes it tough to put sockets on and off.

 

[Gort the giant robot]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

It looks like the detent ball has been used so much it has worn a flat spot on it. You can put a Proto rebuild in it.

Gort.

 

[Speedracer 64]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here is my first Plomb's. What do I need to do about cleaning them or leave them alone?

 

[Duct Tape Man]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Very good cleanup, they don't QUITE look new, but they now DO look lightly used!

Have some old Plomb stuff laying around, will have to take a pic of my collection so far....

 

[zeet]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Hey Shortbed350,
Didn't see your post until today...
I started putting this set together back in the late '70s... Couldn't afford new Proto's so I started picking them up Plombs one piece at a time at swap meets and yard sales. Then, once Ebay came around I managed to find a few that I'd been missing but recently the price has kinda gone through the roof so I concentrate on straight swaps now...

 

[GRX]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Looks great FrankLee. I have that same box which was handed down from my Dad. Though not near as good shape as yours. And that is a nice socket set you got for $3

 

[crewchief888]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

wow, some really nice stuff in this thread, glad i found it

$30 flea mkt find last weekend

havent cleaned it up yet, some surface rust from the tools that were in it, one spot weld on a drawer divider broken. no dents at all.


what was the original color, like a greenish wrinkle?

one GJ member seemed to think it's from the 30's ?



i think i figured out whats it's purpose will be, but up in the air between leaving it "as is", or a complete strip and semi custom repaint...

 

[chopper1]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

FrankLee What brand and color paint did you use to restore the #9989 Master Tool Chest? It looks great.

 

[chopper1]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Thanks for the info FL. That paint looks to be the closest to the original Plomb I've seen.

 

[Plombob]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

That's a nice start! There are several options to clean those... white vinegar, Evaporust, molasses, muriatic acid, electrolises. There are lots of threads on cleaning rust.


Here's my find of the day... a complete Plomb 4700A set with a few duplicate sockets and a very nice Williams ratchet included. I did not try to talk him down. LOL!

You got a Williams M-51 for $3, not to mention the Plombs? That rates a "you ****"!

 

[Red_Bull]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

got these a while back...anyone know the years
a couple sliding t-handles


1/4" ext

 

[Plombob]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

got these a while back...anyone know the years
a couple sliding t-handles


1/4" ext

The WF tools are WWII vintage. Can't read thè markings on the third one. Got to plombtools.com and find the year markings page.

 

[chopper1]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

It's also likely that the WF-5 and WF-9 are 9/32" drive.

Not Likely. They are 9/32"

Here's a list of WF- part numbers

WF Number Identification
WF-1 Unknown
WF-3 Unknown
WF-2 1/2" to 3/8" Socket Adapter
WF-4 2" extension 9/32 Drive
WF-5 6" extension 9/32 Drive
WF-6 9/32 Extension/Nut driver
WF-7 9/32 Breaker Bar
WF-8 9/32 Ratchet plus a very few 1/4" ratchets marked WF-8-S
WF-9 9/32 Sliding T Bar
WF-10 through 15 9/32 sockets 3/16 & 1/4 (6 Pt)- 5/16,11/32,3/8 & 7/16 (12 pt)
WF-16 3/8 Drive 3" Extension
WF-17 3/8 Drive 5" Extension
WF-18 3/8 Drive 7" extension
WF-19 3/8 Drive 12" Extension
WF-20 3/8 Drive Flex Breaker Bar /Extension
WF-21 3/8 Drive Ratchet- WF-21-S has wooden knob at end of handle
WF-22 3/8 Drive sliding T-Bar
WF-23 3/8 Drive Speed Wrench
WF-24 3/8 Drive Universal Adapter
WF-25 through WF-33 3/8 Drive Socket 1/4" through 3/4" by 1/16ths
WF-34 1/2 Drive 5" extension
WF-35 1/2 Drive 9" extension
WF-36 1/2" Drive 20" extension
WF-37 1/2 Drive Breaker Bar
WF-38 1/2" Drive Ratchet - WF-38-T Short,female fitting in handle
WF-39 1/2 Drive Sliding T-Bar
WF-40 1/2" Drive Speed Wrench
WF-41 1/2" Drive Universal adapter
WF-42 through WF-56 1/2 Drive 12 Pt Sockets 3/8" through 1 1/4" by 1/16ths
WF-57 3/4" Drive 8" Extension
WF-58 3/4" Drive 15" Extension
WF-59 3/4" Drive Breaker Bar
WF-60 Unknown
WF-61 through 71 3/4" Drive 12 Pt Sockets 1 5/16" through 2" by 1/16ths
WF-72 through WF-78 3/8 Drive Universal Sockets 3/8" through 3/4" by 1/16ths
WF-79 Box 3/8x5/16
WF-80 Box 7/16x3/8
WF-81 Box 9/16x1/2
WF-82 Box 11/16x5/8
WF-83 Box 7/8x3/4
WF-84 Box 13/16x7/8
WF-85 Box 1x15/16
WF-86 Box 1 1/8x1 1/16
WF-87 Box 1 5/16x1 1/4
WF-88 Box 1 3/8x1 1/4
WF-89 Box 1 1/2x1 7/16
WF-90 Ignition wrench 1/4 x3/16 Open
WF-91 Unknown
WF-92 Open Wrench 7/16x1/2
WF-93 Open Wrench 9/16x5/8
WF-94 Open Wrench 11/16x25/32
WF-95 Open Wrench 7/8x15/16
WF-96 Unknown
WF-97 Open Ignition Wrench 15/64 both ends
WF-98 Open Ignition Wrench 1/4" both ends
WF-99 Open Ignition Wrench 5/16 both ends.
WF-100 Open ignition Wrench 11/32 both ends
WF-101 Open Ignition Wrench 3/8 both ends
WF-102 Open Ignition Wrench 7/16 both ends
WF-103 Open Ignition Wrench 1/2 both ends
WF-104 to WF-106 Unknown
WF-107 1 1/16 line wrench
WF-108 1 1/8 line wrench
WF-109 Unknown
WF-111 1 5/16 line wrench
WF-112 1 3/8 line wrench
WF-113 1 7/16 line wrench
WF-114 1 1/2 line wrench
WF-115 1 5/8 line wrench
WF-116 1 3/4 line wrench
WF-117 to WF-119 Unknown
WF-120 through 126 3/8" Drive 12 Pt Deep Sockets 3/8" through 3/4" by 1/16th
WF-127 through 137 1/2" Drive 12 Pt Deep sockets 1/2 through 1 1/8 by 1/16ths

 

[rshadd]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here's the only Plomb that I could find in my toolbox. It must have belonged to my grand father.

 

[Plombob]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here's the only Plomb that I could find in my toolbox. It must have belonged to my grand father.

That is a beautiful wrench!

 

[bigcaddy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I picked up a rather unusual piece of Plomb today. Its a very early A.Plomb with some rather strange markings and the usage is anybodys guess.


Its been ground on a little but still looks decent for its age.

 

[Provincial]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I picked up a rather unusual piece of Plomb today. Its a very early A.Plomb with some rather strange markings and the usage is anybodys guess.


Its been ground on a little but still looks decent for its age.

It is a torque adapter to reach where you can't get a socket past an obstruction. The marking "L=" is so you can calculate the correction you have to use on you torque wrench reading to get the proper torque.

"A. Plomb" would be the Alphonse Plomb that founded Plomb Tools and left around 1917 to go on his own. For a short history go the the Alloy Artifacts web site and look up the California Tool Company.

Interesting tool, probably aircraft related.

 

[bigcaddy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

It is a torque adapter to reach where you can't get a socket past an obstruction. The marking "L=" is so you can calculate the correction you have to use on you torque wrench reading to get the proper torque.

"A. Plomb" would be the Alphonse Plomb that founded Plomb Tools and left around 1917 to go on his own. For a short history go the the Alloy Artifacts web site and look up the California Tool Company.

Interesting tool, probably aircraft related.

I knew about the Alphonse part and i have quite a few of his punches and brake tools with A.Plomb on them but the application is what had me in the dark on this little guy.

I had a slight suspicion that it might of been aircraft since Plomb did a lot of contracts with aerospace companies and thats where the really unusual tools come from with them.


Thanks Provincial

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I found this complete set of 1/2 drive on CL speeder is not pictured.


My favorite wrench set DBE PLVMB Los Angeles. Took awhile to put these together.

 

[zkling]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

My favorite wrench set DBE PLVMB Los Angeles. Took awhile to put these together.

Those wrenches look really nice. So simple, yet elegant. Nice stuff

 

[bigcaddy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I found this complete set of 1/2 drive on CL speeder is not pictured.


My favorite wrench set DBE PLVMB Los Angeles. Took awhile to put these together.

You got those out of San Diego!!!! I was just looking for that ad to see if they were still for sale. You got a smoking deal on them and they are in excellent shape. You ****

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Yes, San Diego CL They are in good condition

 

[Provincial]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I have posted this before, and got no answers. It is a Plomb 3/4 hex wrench that has markings from the pre-1933 era. It may have been cut off and some of the markings lost. I got it in an assortment of garage sale items that had some 1930's era sockets.

Can anyone identify it?

 

[Alfajuj]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I found this complete set of 1/2 drive on CL speeder is not pictured.


My favorite wrench set DBE PLVMB Los Angeles. Took awhile to put these together.

What method did you use to clean them up?
They look great!

 

[bigcaddy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

He didn't have too!! They were already spotless. The one thing i've noticed about Plomb tools with a chrome finish, or anything thing that was made in the past 60 years or so, is the chrome is near bulletproof.

I don't think i've seen one plomb tool with flaking chrome

 

[Alfajuj]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

He didn't have too!! They were already spotless. The one thing i've noticed about Plomb tools with a chrome finish, or anything thing that was made in the past 60 years or so, is the chrome is near bulletproof.

I don't think i've seen one plomb tool with flaking chrome

Yeah, but a lot of the old stuff wasn't chrome plated (especially the sockets). A lot of the Plomb stuff I've seen is without chrome. I don't know if the stuff was originally industrial finish or just plain steel? Then there's the cadmium plated WF stuff.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

What method did you use to clean them up?
They look great!

The 1/2 drive and pebble stuff is as found. My PLVMB Los Angeles wrenches with
A sander with medium emery cloth to fine emery cloth to 220 wet sand 400 wet sand 600 wet sand you can keep going till they polish out to a chrome like finish. The PLVMB Los Angeles is not plated. I took out an owners mark on one by sanding, filing and sanding. You would never know it was there. You can see remnants of an initial on the top wrench left side. The owner initialed it TWICE Looking for PLVMB Los Angeles Tools

 

[brokeguy]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

i have other plomb tools.. but this is by far my favorite!

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[Plombob]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I have posted this before, and got no answers. It is a Plomb 3/4 hex wrench that has markings from the pre-1933 era. It may have been cut off and some of the markings lost. I got it in an assortment of garage sale items that had some 1930's era sockets.

Can anyone identify it?

Looks like it's a B12. This is catalog 8A from 1929
View media item 32646

 

[Provincial]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Thanks, Plombob!!

It was killing me not knowing what/when about this wrench.

 

[Plombob]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Thanks, Plombob!!

It was killing me not knowing what/when about this wrench.

My pleasure! Next time if I don't answer, PM me. I probably didn't see your question.

 

[Flatland Dave]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Here's something different! It's an ebay auction. Not mine, but post-worthy.


Yea, that is cool.

 

[refried]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I found a 1948 Plomb / Proto catalog in my garage while looking for something else. I. think it's the only year they used the same O in the Proto name as they did in the Plomb name

It came with my Toolmobile tool cabinet (with the Piston rack) when my friend bought it new.

 

[Alfajuj]

Re: ~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

Wow!!!

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