Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[dungeoncrawler]

Portland refers to P&C (acquired in 1941), Chicago refers to Cragin/Bog (acquired in 1940), and Jamestown refers to J.P. Danielson (acquired in 1946). But JPD (Jamestown) and Ontario came after the war. Rags was talking about the 40's. Plomb had nine (9) US Army Air Corps contracts, six (6) Navy contracts, two (2) US Army Ordnance Dept contracts, and two (2) Treasury Dept contracts. In those days, Treasury had the Federal Standard Stock Catalog and those tools could've went to any federal agency ordering tools by Federal Stock Number - this was the forerunner of todays GSA Schedule and NSN system. Almost all the contracts were overlapping from 1942 to 1945. Plomb wartime ads say they were using thirty-one (31) factories to fill those orders. Three (3) of those were undoubtedly L.A., the old Cragin/Bog plant in Chicago, and P&C (which also made WF- marked tools). It's the other twenty-eight (28) that Rags - and everyone else - wants to know who and where!

EDIT: See photo.

Thanks for posting that!

Sounds like the additional factories are sub-contracted smaller manufacturers that were working with Plomb while the Government contract lasted, to mutual benefit.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Agreed. I don't envision any of them had big Plomb signs out front.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was supposed to be in Ft Huachuca this week - flights bumped 4 then 8 then 24 hours due to extreme weather on Tuesday and Wednesday cancelled my trip. My good fortune, since I ran into this 5495 box (see Pic 1) with a near-complete set of 54XX tools inside (see Pic 2) at my Thursday earl bird.

The outside of the box is beyond preservation and will need to be completely stripped and re-painted. Not ever my preference, but in this case it's necessary. One of the hinges will need to replaced as well. (It's already been fixed once and that broke, too.)

After a quick inventory, it looks like the set inside falls somewhere between a 1943 26-pc Set No. 5400-OC and a late war/postwar 16-pc Set No. 5400-AB. I'll elaborate on my analysis after clean-up and additional pics.

 

[SilverDeck]

Picked this one up just recently. Interesting scarcer variety with the pre-war Blacksmith logo. This screwdriver is going to be riding on my keyring for a long time to come.

 

[Username already in use]

Picked this one up just recently. Interesting scarcer variety with the pre-war Blacksmith logo. This screwdriver is going to be riding on my keyring for a long time to come.

The logo on that driver looks familiar. I know I've seen that somewhere before...

LUGZ, I don't care what you paid for the Plomb 1/2" set.... you ****.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You don't want to know! It was the perfect situation. Seller was an old geezer and a classic junk man who had no idea what it was.

 

[d42jeep]

I was supposed to be in Ft Huachuca this week - flights bumped 4 then 8 then 24 hours due to extreme weather on Tuesday and Wednesday cancelled my trip. My good fortune, since I ran into this 5495 box (see Pic 1) with a near-complete set of 54XX tools inside (see Pic 2) at my Thursday earl bird.

The outside of the box is beyond preservation and will need to be completely stripped and re-painted. Not ever my preference, but in this case it's necessary. One of the hinges will need to replaced as well. (It's already been fixed once and that broke, too.)

After a quick inventory, it looks like the set inside falls somewhere between a 1943 26-pc Set No. 5400-OC and a late war/postwar 16-pc Set No. 5400-AB. I'll elaborate on my analysis after clean-up and additional pics.

Here is my 5400-OC with no extras and some catalog images. It’ll be interesting to see your new set after cleanup.
-Don

 

[oldmantaylor]

Picked this one up just recently. Interesting scarcer variety with the pre-war Blacksmith logo. This screwdriver is going to be riding on my keyring for a long time to come.

Great find! I've never seen one with that logo.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here is my 5400-OC with no extras and some catalog images. It’ll be interesting to see your new set after cleanup.

Photos 1 - 6 are BEFORE cleanup (they're taking a bath right now).

Note that all the pieces are polished natural steel (no plating). Note that all the handles, including the pebbled, are MADE IN U.S.A., not MFD. U.S.A. The twelve (12) sockets go from 5414 (7/16") to 5436 (1-1/8"), with no /32nds. (Whereas yours has the four (4) /32nds plus two (2) more sockets with service openings larger than 1-1/8" for a total of eighteen (18) sockets.) Note that the 5495 box has the same model number but a different configuration. There is a compartment as long as the socket tray, right next to the socket tray, but not meant for sockets. There is no longer any provision for the speeder on the lid.

Photo 7 is Set No. 5400-AB from Catalog No. 19-R FOURTH PRINTING, which is NET 11/1946. The pebbled hinge handle and ratchet had already been introduced in Catalog No. 19-R REPRINT, which I date to NET 2/1944 to NLT 10/1946. Note that it only has ten (10) sockets from 7/16" to 1", no 2-1/2" extension, and no pin handle (cross bar).

My conclusion is that my set is late war and transitional, probably missing the 5466 Pin Handle, the 5470 Universal Joint, and perhaps the 5463 10" Extension. Sometime between my set and 1946 it looks they dropped the Pin Handle and two (2) sockets over 1".

 

[Smokeshow69]

You don't want to know! It was the perfect situation. Seller was an old geezer and a classic junk man who had no idea what it was.

I have a feeling a “you ****” is in order!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[d42jeep]

Photos 1 - 6 are BEFORE cleanup (they're taking a bath right now).

Note that all the pieces are polished natural steel (no plating). Note that all the handles, including the pebbled, are MADE IN U.S.A., not MFD. U.S.A. The twelve (12) sockets go from 5414 (7/16") to 5436 (1-1/8"), with no /32nds. (Whereas yours has the four (4) /32nds plus two (2) more sockets with service openings larger than 1-1/8" for a total of eighteen (18) sockets.) Note that the 5495 box has the same model number but a different configuration. There is a compartment as long as the socket tray, right next to the socket tray, but not meant for sockets. There is no longer any provision for the speeder on the lid.

Photo 7 is Set No. 5400-AB from Catalog No. 19-R FOURTH PRINTING, which is NET 11/1946. The pebbled hinge handle and ratchet had already been introduced in Catalog No. 19-R REPRINT, which I date to NET 2/1944 to NLT 10/1946. Note that it only has ten (10) sockets from 7/16" to 1", no 2-1/2" extension, and no pin handle (cross bar).

My conclusion is that my set is late war and transitional, probably missing the 5466 Pin Handle, the 5470 Universal Joint, and perhaps the 5463 10" Extension. Sometime between my set and 1946 it looks they dropped the Pin Handle and two (2) sockets over 1".

I think that your conclusion is exactly right. It seems like the box was a little different for each set. I have a placeholder pin handle as they seem very difficult to find. Here are most of my sockets before cleaning, probably pretty much looked like yours.
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

Picked this one up just recently. Interesting scarcer variety with the pre-war Blacksmith logo. This screwdriver is going to be riding on my keyring for a long time to come.

Nice find. I've also not seen that logo on one of these.

I was supposed to be in Ft Huachuca this week - flights bumped 4 then 8 then 24 hours due to extreme weather on Tuesday and Wednesday cancelled my trip. My good fortune, since I ran into this 5495 box (see Pic 1) with a near-complete set of 54XX tools inside (see Pic 2) at my Thursday earl bird.

The outside of the box is beyond preservation and will need to be completely stripped and re-painted. Not ever my preference, but in this case it's necessary. One of the hinges will need to replaced as well. (It's already been fixed once and that broke, too.)

After a quick inventory, it looks like the set inside falls somewhere between a 1943 26-pc Set No. 5400-OC and a late war/postwar 16-pc Set No. 5400-AB. I'll elaborate on my analysis after clean-up and additional pics.

Very nice! If I every were to find a near complete set like that at one of my local (Oklahoma) sales I might not be able to contain myself and would wind up showing my cards and paying twice as much as I should!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I might not be able to contain myself and would wind up showing my cards and paying twice as much as I should!

Trust me, as soon as I saw it, I metaphorically tapped my pocket, thinking, 'there goes my wad for the whole weekend!' But then I looked at the seller dottering around dealing with another customer and I knew I had a chance for a score.

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read any further if you don't want to know what I paid!

When he started yammering about it being 'all the way from Los Angeles' I knew he didn't know what it was except an old tool set and that it was possibly going to be cheap. When he said, 'I was thinking $25,' I almost felt guilty pointing out the rust and the hinge and the "mix of brands" (two of the sockets were Bonney and you can see the 4-pc Barcalo combo wrench set) just to knock off another $10!

 

[Username already in use]

It's official.... you ****. Congratulations on that awesome score!

 

[RubiconJK]

Trust me, as soon as I saw it, I metaphorically tapped my pocket, thinking, 'there goes my wad for the whole weekend!' But then I looked at the seller dottering around dealing with another customer and I knew I had a chance for a score.

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read any further if you don't want to know what I paid!

When he started yammering about it being 'all the way from Los Angeles' I knew he didn't know what it was except an old tool set and that it was possibly going to be cheap. When he said, 'I was thinking $25,' I almost felt guilty pointing out the rust and the hinge and the "mix of brands" (two of the sockets were Bonney and you can see the 4-pc Barcalo combo wrench set) just to knock off another $10!

Lol!! Yep, it's official....I've never issued a "You ****" before, but you get my first in the most respectable tone possible, and congrats on the excellent composure with your price negotiation!!

 

[d42jeep]

Lol!! Yep, it's official....I've never issued a "You ****" before, but you get my first in the most respectable tone possible, and congrats on the excellent composure with your price negotiation!!

Yeah, he definitely ***** on that find!
I found these at an estate sale at Lake Topaz, NV this morning. All of the Proto are LA except the obstruction wrench. The plastic handle Plomb Phillips has a terminal case of chrome peel.
-Don

 

[tym]

Trust me, as soon as I saw it, I metaphorically tapped my pocket, thinking, 'there goes my wad for the whole weekend!' But then I looked at the seller dottering around dealing with another customer and I knew I had a chance for a score.

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read any further if you don't want to know what I paid!

When he started yammering about it being 'all the way from Los Angeles' I knew he didn't know what it was except an old tool set and that it was possibly going to be cheap. When he said, 'I was thinking $25,' I almost felt guilty pointing out the rust and the hinge and the "mix of brands" (two of the sockets were Bonney and you can see the 4-pc Barcalo combo wrench set) just to knock off another $10!

Jeebus! You should buy a lotto ticket with that luck!

Bravo on the find.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have completed the restoration on the Plomb 5400-AB set and box.

I could not find a suitable hinge, and impatiently went with one on hand with fewer hinge elements. I'm not trying to hide the fact this was a repair job, so I'm okay with it given the overall final appearance.

Pic 1 is the new hinge in place with JB Weld, before drying.

Pic 2 is the new hinge after filing and sanding the excess down.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm not keen on NOS, so a warning right up front that this won't please everyone's aesthetics. I like the aged, well-used, been-there done-that look, which is why I always prefer to preserve "as is," and, when that's not possible (just too far gone in rust), I like to completely strip it, repaint it, and then use painterly techniques and other effects to distress and age the piece into looking as if it was found in an authentically well-used but fairly well-preserved "barn find" state. Some of the WWII guys have seen my work before. It may be a little unnerving to others.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Good job on that clean up and repair Lugz... it looks right to me and that box still has almost all of it's paint left. Ed.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Ed. Just to clarify, though, that is all new paint. I stripped the box down to bare metal.

 

[d42jeep]

Looks a ton better than the rusty box you brought home! Great job. If you’re like me now you start finding extras to make it way too heavy to carry. Maybe add some scratches too.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

Looks good lugz I have a pre-pebble set I picked up a year ago that I still need to clean up, though I got it even cheaper than yours!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Maybe add some scratches too.

I did add a few on the inside where some of the pieces would rub. I guess I'll have to add some on the outside for it to be even more realistic!

though I got it even cheaper than yours!

Wow. $15 is a misdemeanor. Less than $15 is a FELONY!

 

[d42jeep]

I did add a few on the inside where some of the pieces would rub. I guess I'll have to add some on the outside for it to be even more realistic.

Here are four choices. I think it already looks pretty much like the 1/4” drive set on the lower left. Looks fine to me as is!
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah, I'm happy with it. It's really hard to get the green right. Impossible off the shelf. It has more yellow in it than the SK wartime green. I had to mix my own batch.

 

[RubiconJK]

I'm not keen on NOS, so a warning right up front that this won't please everyone's aesthetics. I like the aged, well-used, been-there done-that look, which is why I always prefer to preserve "as is," and, when that's not possible (just too far gone in rust), I like to completely strip it, repaint it, and then use painterly techniques and other effects to distress and age the piece into looking as if it was found in an authentically well-used but fairly well-preserved "barn find" state. Some of the WWII guys have seen my work before. It may be a little unnerving to others.

Looks awesome Lugz!

 

[RubiconJK]

Here are a couple recent finds that one of my sons found for me!

The first is a #9684 Phillips screwdriver. It is different (earlier I believe) from most of what I've found before and I've included a side by side picture of another 9684 I have that I believe is a later version. Other than handle shape, the primary difference is that the one my son found is only marked on the shaft where the later version has the model and brand molded into the handle.

Second is a round handle WF-21. This is the first of these I've held and now added to my WF set along with the flat handle version as also shown.

 

[DD T/A]

I'm not keen on NOS, so a warning right up front that this won't please everyone's aesthetics. I like the aged, well-used, been-there done-that look, which is why I always prefer to preserve "as is," and, when that's not possible (just too far gone in rust), I like to completely strip it, repaint it, and then use painterly techniques and other effects to distress and age the piece into looking as if it was found in an authentically well-used but fairly well-preserved "barn find" state. Some of the WWII guys have seen my work before. It may be a little unnerving to others.

I feel nice knowing there is somebody out there who things exactly like me: I feel the same way about the whole been-there done-that thing, perfect analogy.

Did a great job, thanks for posting.

 

[DD T/A]

Some of today's finds.

Never seen "J" code before. Before and after wire brushing by hand in a bath of purple power.

 

[RagTopTA]

Found a Plomb 1147 DBE this weekend. It's strange as it has the USA stamped on the back like the other I found a few weeks ago. Also a Proto LA with the little pebble boxes!

 

[LesserSon]

I weakened this weekend, and started buying Proto and Plomb again. Mostly pebble-box inserts.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Looks awesome Lugz!

I feel the same way about the whole been-there done-that thing, perfect analogy.
Did a great job, thanks for posting.

Thanks.

Someone asked for the paint mix and process in a PM. Thought I'd post it here instead.

- Base layers (2) are RUSTOLEUM Camouflage 1919 Deep Forest Green. Let dry a few hours, not a day.

- Techniques layer is mix of RUSTOLEUM 284986 Satin Eden and RUSTOLEUM 249127 Flat Black. You are going to look at the Eden and think, "no way," but trust me, Eden is an almost perfect shade of green for WWII, just too bright, so you are basically darkening it with a little black. In a small pan (I use the bottom cut out of a plastic milk jug), spray a puddle of the Eden and a squirt or two of the black. (Sorry, I eyeball it. It's a rattle can mix. You won't need a lot.) Add turpentine. A LOT of turpentine. Probably 50% turpentine to 50% paint. You are basically making a VERY THIN stain. Mix with a brush.

- Make a dabber (about the size of a baseball) out of a bunched up t-shirt or rag, dab it in the stain, and liberally, sloppily dab and wipe it on the base layer in the same way you would be staining bare furniture with wood stain, only not as neatly. The turpentine mix will immediately react with the base layer, at the same time thinning the base layer and adding the techniques layer, and drying within seconds, creating non-uniform effects in the shape of your wiping and dabbing motions. If you don't like an area, just re-dab, and re-apply. (People do this to their walls, if you're familiar with that, same thing.)

That's it. It dries to the touch within minutes.

 

[bmwrd0]

"Wow. $15 is a misdemeanor. Less than $15 is a FELONY!"

Well, Lugz this might have been highway robbery!


I found it at a small car club swap, asked the price... "$5" I added a couple sockets I had laying around, the short extension is newer and the other extension is a Blackhawk that was mixed in.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice! (It's neat to see the evolution of these sets. Like Don's, yours has a few more sockets (15) than mine (12), and I am guessing they are probably either the /32nds or sockets larger than 1-1/8, which were all dropped in 1944/5.) But yeah, that was a crime!

 

[Smokeshow69]

"Wow. $15 is a misdemeanor. Less than $15 is a FELONY!"



Well, Lugz this might have been highway robbery!





I found it at a small car club swap, asked the price... "$5" I added a couple sockets I had laying around, the short extension is newer and the other extension is a Blackhawk that was mixed in.

You **** big time !


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[RagTopTA]

I paid $35 dollars for my 1/2 set at an Estate sale. Ill try to find the pics form it. I have added a ton to it since I got it. I was messing around in my garage tonight building a coffee table and looking for a nut driver. found a little orange one I forgot I had., It says Plomb on it! also, here's a Penens set I got off the bay. Need to find a 1/4 Penens sliding T bar !

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Need to find a 1/4 Penens sliding T bar !

Me too. Been looking for one for a few years now. I need the ratchet, too! I have the same set! Only yours is way more complete. Click the WANTED link in my signature block to see mine. I am REALLY jealous right now. Dang. My set doesn't have the US Army Signal Corps part number stamped on the box lid! (That's what that "TL-483/U" is.)

EDIT: Here are a few photos of a Signal Corps TL-483/U midget set I found at a flea market back a few years ago, just for comparison. It was a mix of brands, all dipped in proprietary red paint, but it will always hold a special place in my collector's heart. That little brake bleeder wrench with the WO-A (Willys Overland) stamp was inside the box. It goes to a Willys MB jeep! That's a needle in the haystack find. Haha.

 

[RagTopTA]

Hiw cool!! Whats the difference with tye green and red boxes? Different contents? Looks same part number.... I coukd have sworn I had a penens 1/4 T bar. I gotta look through all my stuff. But Ill be keeping my eyes open. I put my penens 6" pipe erench in the box also ; )

 

[Catfishdan]

I paid $35 dollars for my 1/2 set at an Estate sale. Ill try to find the pics form it. I have added a ton to it since I got it. I was messing around in my garage tonight building a coffee table and looking for a nut driver. found a little orange one I forgot I had., It says Plomb on it! also, here's a Penens set I got off the bay. Need to find a 1/4 Penens sliding T bar !

Very nice set! I was watching that one too. Glad someone here got it.