Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[Alfajuj]

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

Here's a scan from the Plomb 18A catalog from 1940, I think.
It shows the pin handle. It should look like a sliding tee bar with a groove in the middle.
Yours in the photo looks like something somebody improvised. Maybe from an old vise handle?

 

[madison069]

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

Thanks for clearing that up some! I was little unsure due to that knob on one end cause all of the other breaker bar that has the pin did not have the knob so to speak. Looking at that scan it appears it might have been a improvised item.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

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

I found the picture of the Proto/Plomb wrenches that spent a few hours in the evaporust cleaner.

They had moderate to light rust but it just about wiped away after a long soak

WOW! I'm super jealous of your plomb finds. Beautiful tools

 

[Alfajuj]

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

Thanks for clearing that up some! I was little unsure due to that knob on one end cause all of the other breaker bar that has the pin did not have the knob so to speak. Looking at that scan it appears it might have been a improvised item.

Actually, after checking an even earlier catalog, now I'm almost sure that your pin handle is indeed original Plomb.

The following scan is frm the 15A catalog, which is from the 30's and it shows a pin handle just like yours!
Sorry to lead you in the wrong direction before.

 

[madison069]

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

Thanks!! I'll look at it again to see if I see saw marks or something but it does seem to look like that older catalog style. I left them in the box as I figured it would still be nice to use it as a pin with the breaker bar.

 

[whitemamba]

~ Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

I got this set for $10 at garage sale all these sockets and a breaker bar, there are 2 different brands, I have found a little info on the Bog, but not this "Ray" any info on it would be great.

I put them in evaporust for about 3 days then sprayed them with evaporust rust block.

 

[dj_110]

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

Here is a Plomb Ratchet 5449 that I got from my dad in the 80's as part of a mismatched tool set to have of my own. I was just posting in another thread and one of the gents over there said to post it in this thread. I plan to attempt a clean up on it soon, the pictures are dark and make it look in worse shape than it is.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[[email protected]]

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

Here is a picture of my restored 1947 Wilton Bullet Vise Model 9400.
I recently restored a couple Wiltons. the second one is a 1945 Model 930 bullet, the last one is a 1942 930 bullett with brass hardware.

 

[mikebaker1129]

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

This is a wall hanger in the garage. I thought it was a cool tool, I'd just never seen on like it. It's stamped "1AM(1 1/2) PLOMB 2624" and appears to be copper(?). Anyone know anything about it? I've also got some random 3/4" drive sockets and an adjustable wrench at work.

Copper and Berylium tools are made for use in Chemical plants and refineries , due to there non sparking qualities. They are very expensive.
We have a few of these in our shop from a few years back when we worked on a Liquified Natural gas fueling station.

 

[drivesitfar]

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

Marion: not sure why you posted those nice looking Wilton vises on a Plvmb tool thread so maybe a mistake since you are a new member? by the way welcome to the Forum and i hope you stick around to teach us what you know and maybe learn a thing or two.

take a gander at some of the cool tools Plvmb made while you are looking at this thread and maybe post those nice Wiltons over on the vise thread and give us a little story about them. did you restore them yourself?

now if you do own a few Plvmb tools please post those pictures or i'm guessing you soon will have a few if you stick around GJ long enough.

 

[dj_110]

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

Here are a couple pictures of before and after clean up by doing a Vinegar soak!

Before:




After:

 

[Provincial]

Warning! Disturbing Images

I picked up this Pebble Plomb combo with some P&C wrenches at a flea market. I got a good enough deal that it was "free."

Someone must have wanted a line wrench.

 

[RMRCattleCo.]

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

A Plvmb Prvtv 3018, a 1226 makes an appearance as well

 

[littletoes]

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

Anyone post any pics of a Plvmb slugging wrench?? I've a couple in my work truck I need to get pics of for you guys.

 

[threepiece]

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

OK now I am confused. Some of you are calling these tools Plomb, some are calling them Plvmb, for more than thirty years I have called my tools Plumb because that's what is on them.

I confesgated this fiberglass handle hammer from my dad thirty years ago.

 

[threepiece]

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

Better picture of the embossed lettering.

 

[littletoes]

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

I think it was the "hammer" that started all the trouble!

There were two companies, Plvmb and plumb. The second sued the first (they only made hammers!), and the first became PROTO....not the whole story, but 'nuff!

 

[drivesitfar]

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

LT and Three: i think that Plvmb was sued by Plomb or somebody correct me if i'm wrong. Plvmb lost the lawsuit and became Proto. Plomb did make hammers and hatchets and plvmb decided to add those to their awesome hand tool line and then the lawsuit started or shortly after that is what i remember.

 

[Alfajuj]

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

It's Plomb.
Sometimes people write it as Plvmb because that's what some of their stylized logos look like.

Plumb is a completely different company. They're the SOB's that won the copyright lawsuit and forced Plomb to change their name to "Proto"

It was really Plomb's own fault for not registering their trademark from the start.

Plomb loved to taunt Plumb and used "plumb bob" symbols in their brand logo for that reason. They also used an inverted triangle in their logo font to make the "O" look even more like a "U".

Plomb was a huge company and Plumb wasn't. It was like David and Goliath. And we all know how that story ended...

 

[montanafordman]

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

Thought I'd show some more of my Plomb Schtuff... Recently I got a Plomb tool board from my Grandfathers garage, actually it was a lawsuit era proto board that had a proto sticker slapped over the Plomb logo and I got brave and took the proto sticker off revealing a pristine painted Plomb logo underneath. Some of the wrenches I inherited and I've been picking up the missing ones wherever and whenever I can. The board had come from my great grandfathers hardware store which burned down in the late 50's and you can see some heat blistering and charring on the board if you look close.

A fitting location over my Plomb Toolmobile

Some Plomb Pebble DOE wrenches in the top drawer. One of them was my grandfathers,(The 7/8 and 13/16) size so why not make a set? In fact I found a lot of 13/16 and 7/8 wrenches on the farm so his machinery must have had a lot of fasteners in that size, OR nothing was that size and everything else was lost or broken! Also my other grandfathers green and white SK screwdrivers, and some of my Bonney Ford Model A brake wrenches and Snap-On torque adapters.

Some deep well Proto LA sockets that were my grandfathers, I've filled in many of these as I only had a few to start with. The 15/16 is Plomb and the rest are Proto LA, except one or two are marked Proto with no trademark putting them mid 50's to mid 60's era. I just picked up the tray recently on EBay because I thought it looked cool and had no tray or rail for my sockets. It just so happens to hang nicely on the rail edge of the toolmobile. When I bought the socket rail box I intended to restore the box (except the logo tag) but now I'm not so sure. Maybe I'll leave it with the "patina." I still need to find an early Proto or Plomb 1-1/16 and 1-1/8 socket to complete the set.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

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

Wow!

 

[Smokeshow69]

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

Thought I'd show some more of my Plomb Schtuff... Recently I got a Plomb tool board from my Grandfathers garage, actually it was a lawsuit era proto board that had a proto sticker slapped over the Plomb logo and I got brave and took the proto sticker off revealing a pristine painted Plomb logo underneath. Some of the wrenches I inherited and I've been picking up the missing ones wherever and whenever I can. The board had come from my great grandfathers hardware store which burned down in the late 50's and you can see some heat blistering and charring on the board if you look close.

A fitting location over my Plomb Toolmobile

Some Plomb Pebble DOE wrenches in the top drawer. One of them was my grandfathers,(The 7/8 and 13/16) size so why not make a set? In fact I found a lot of 13/16 and 7/8 wrenches on the farm so his machinery must have had a lot of fasteners in that size, OR nothing was that size and everything else was lost or broken! Also my other grandfathers green and white SK screwdrivers, and some of my Bonney Ford Model A brake wrenches and Snap-On torque adapters.

Some deep well Proto LA sockets that were my grandfathers, I've filled in many of these as I only had a few to start with. The 15/16 is Plomb and the rest are Proto LA, except one or two are marked Proto with no trademark putting them mid 50's to mid 60's era. I just picked up the tray recently on EBay because I thought it looked cool and had no tray or rail for my sockets. It just so happens to hang nicely on the rail edge of the toolmobile. When I bought the socket rail box I intended to restore the box (except the logo tag) but now I'm not so sure. Maybe I'll leave it with the "patina." I still need to find an early Proto or Plomb 1-1/16 and 1-1/8 socket to complete the set.

This wrench board makes me all hot and bothered Nice find on a great piece. Plus it is nice that it has some family ties to it!

 

[Smokeshow69]

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

I will have to post up all my recent plvmb/proto l.a. acquisitions when I get them all together for a picture but I did get this hack saw in a trade recently. I have never seen one like it since I have been looking for plvmb these 3 past years. I will not use it but I am curious if you guys have ever seen one like this?? I searched the internet and found some low clearance hack saws but nothing like this. It has part#344 on it and it is odd because the blade is mounted with pins. It appears you would have to use a punch or drift to punch out the pins to swap blades. The blade is labeled watkins... Let me know if you guys have seen this design before!



Watkins label on the blade near the handle

 

[drivesitfar]

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

ALL: i'll be posting up a few of my Plvmb finds so starting slow and as i pull them out i'll post more. i'm not sure what this tool is called or used for or if it's broken. i'm pretty sure it's for a car and you guys probably all know so please educate me. thanks

also a 1/2 inch end wrench

 

[Smokeshow69]

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

ALL: i'll be posting up a few of my Plvmb finds so starting slow and as i pull them out i'll post more. i'm not sure what this tool is called or used for or if it's broken. i'm pretty sure it's for a car and you guys probably all know so please educate me. thanks

also a 1/2 inch end wrench

It is a flare nut wrench and someone modified it by heating it up. Normally that wrench is straight and does not have that elbow in it. It is used for hydraulic lines or spots where a normal box end or open end wrench or won't give you enough leverage. It is used in industrial or automotive applications. Sweet find even if it is modified! I see you are close by so you probably should send it to me for proper inspection

 

[zeet]

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

ALL: i'll be posting up a few of my Plvmb finds so starting slow and as i pull them out i'll post more. i'm not sure what this tool is called or used for or if it's broken. i'm pretty sure it's for a car and you guys probably all know so please educate me. thanks

Nope, it's not broken... It's called a "Flare Nut Wrench" and it's used for flare nuts on tubing (fuel lines, refrigeration, etc..) I had a full set of Plomb pebbles at one time but "punted" them because they tended to flex open when in use... Ironically, the best ones I've ever used - and what I replaced the pebbles with -are the "A. Plomb" from Calif. Tool. The heads are massive for their size. It took awhile but I finally found all the sizes I need of those 3/8" through 5/8".

 

[zeet]

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

Right you are Smokeshow - I didn't notice that bend!

 

[GRX]

Wow! I leave GJ for a year and a half and you posted all kinds of great Plomb/Proto stuff.

Thanks for sharing

 

[chopper1]

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

Picked this group up last weekend at the flea market from one dealer. Included is a 1/2 dr Prvtv - Plvmb Tvvl transition ratchet

 

[jpilgrim]

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

Here's my Plomb catalogs:
http://www.bartlettstreet.com/toolcatalogs/

 

[jpilgrim]

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

And a prototype flex head wrench

 

[1oldtimer]

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

I don't have much as I don't collect only one brand. I get any old USA made brand for under $5 each (I'm cheap too ). I just got the breaker bar and one wrench. I have a few of the wrenches that say "War Finish" on them.

 

[Smokeshow69]

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

And a prototype flex head wrench

Any more info on this item?? I have never seen one of these (hence the proto type ) I think this is a pretty rare item. Looks pretty handy too! Where did you get this?

 

[ganymede]

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

Local mom n pop hardware closed a couple of years ago.
There was a surprising amount of Los Angeles era Proto stuff and even a couple of Plomb still there. Some on the pegboard and some in the basement. They let me dig around down there during the final days. So I got a few socket boxes that were empty or almost so. Saw whole boxes of larger size sockets and wrenches. Some chisels too. All LA era Proto.
Very depressing.

 

[M-EGT]

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

A few pics to show. A bunch of wrenches I found at the pawn shop, a small offset wrench, and my favorite socket 31/32

 

[ganymede]

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

That is absolutely amazing!! You just never see new old stock like this (or at least I never do)!!!

Indeed. I wanted to take full advantage of the opportunity but didn't have sufficient funds.

 

[Smokeshow69]

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

Local mom n pop hardware closed a couple of years ago.
There was a surprising amount of Los Angeles era Proto stuff and even a couple of Plomb still there. Some on the pegboard and some in the basement. They let me dig around down there during the final days. So I got a few socket boxes that were empty or almost so. Saw whole boxes of larger size sockets and wrenches. Some chisels too. All LA era Proto.
Very depressing.

Pretty sure this one is the home run of this thread at least in terms of condition Can't think of much that would be better than finding some new old stock (nos). Those boxes are awesome as well!

 

[ganymede]

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

Pretty sure this one is the home run of this thread at least in terms of condition Can't think of much that would be better than finding some new old stock (nos). Those boxes are awesome as well!

Thanks. You're making me think I should set them aside now. I'd just thrown them in a box with my other wrenches ready to use. (Except for the big flare wrench. I don't think I'll ever use that one) .They've been getting knocked around.

 

[ganymede]

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

Would it be inappropriate to ask if you remember how much $ they were asking for some of these wrenches and sockets when you bought them? I'm just really curious since I've never run across new old stock Plomb items like this.

Not at all.
Everything topside was on an old Proto pegboard that had the logo cut off.
It was mixed with some Sk (90's) and some Master Mechanic.
I had been going for about a year before they closed and Proto stuff was priced what it would be if it were current mfg stuff. That reminds me I got a 1/4" drive speeder and some sockets I didn't post.
Anyway when they announced that they were closing they put everything on sale and lowered the price as they got closer to closing date.
I think the wrenches I posted were 5 or 6 bucks each (?) and I got a fat 1/2" drive 7/8" 8pt socket for the same price.

 

[cm_osu]

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

My plomb collection is pretty small. I threw in a proto obstruction wrench.