Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[d42jeep]

Definitely a nice find, but I'm thinking, to find a set with the WF 8-S as the ratchet is unusual, but all the 47XX 1/4" drive pieces minus the ratchet are common. I think it would be more unusual to find a 48XX ( as opposed to the common wf sockets) set with a regular 9/32 ratchet. What do you think?

Since there are no WF 1/4” drive sockets that I’m aware of, a set with a WF 8-S couldn’t really have come with anything else. There is the real possibility that set was put together by Plomb. When you get right down to it, what is really the reason that the WF 8-S was ever made since it was incompatible with all other WF tools unless an adapter was used? Maybe those ratchets originally came in sets just like that one. I’m not sure we will ever know for certain.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

I'll get there eventually, and send you a list!

Here's a photo album of the marriage today. Like most marriages with extended family members, it may not come out as good as it looks like it will before the marriage.

New set I got today consisted of a nice box, 20 sockets, ratchet, 2 extensions and a breaker bar.

Old set was 9 sockets and a ratchet.

Went through the new stuff vs what I already had, and was disappointed. Only one non-duplicate. Missing 1 3/16", and 1 5/16" is a 3 line, not 5 line. All the rest of my old sockets are duplicates. Only could use the 1 1/2".

So, photo's show the two families, the lone transplant into the new blended family, the ratchet trade into the new family with the new family, the rejects/duplicates/mismatch from the new sockets, and the non-usable from the old sockets.

Ended up with a new blended family of box, 17 sockets, ratchet, breaker bar and one extension. Breaker bar isn't a pebble, and needs to be to match the ratchet.

So, a somewhat disappointing marriage. I was hoping to end up with a wonderful, collectible set out of it, but just ended up with another box full of old tools instead.

That don't think that should be a pebble ratchet with the five line sockets. I think I have an extra I will bring out when out that way.

 

[MR.X]

Since there are no WF 1/4” drive sockets that I’m aware of, a set with a WF 8-S couldn’t really have come with anything else. There is the real possibility that set was put together by Plomb. When you get right down to it, what is really the reason that the WF 8-S was ever made since it was incompatible with all other WF tools unless an adapter was used? Maybe those ratchets originally came in sets just like that one. I’m not sure we will ever know for certain.
-Don

Your first sentence is kind of my point.
Can't really disagree with anything you're saying.
Outside of a tentative plan to utilize leftover WF-8 ratchet bodies I'm not sure I have a theory for the 8-S.

 

[ssdave]

That don't think that should be a pebble ratchet with the five line sockets. I think I have an extra I will bring out when out that way.

Thanks! I'll have to research more what should be here. The sockets are a mix of unfinished, war finish, and one cadmium plate (duplicate, though). Most are date coded, so I'll research that more. I remember G over G (6?) or similar.

 

[RubiconJK]

Since there are no WF 1/4” drive sockets that I’m aware of, a set with a WF 8-S couldn’t really have come with anything else. There is the real possibility that set was put together by Plomb. When you get right down to it, what is really the reason that the WF 8-S was ever made since it was incompatible with all other WF tools unless an adapter was used? Maybe those ratchets originally came in sets just like that one. I’m not sure we will ever know for certain.
-Don

Your first sentence is kind of my point.
Can't really disagree with anything you're saying.
Outside of a tentative plan to utilize leftover WF-8 ratchet bodies I'm not sure I have a theory for the 8-S.

I've always wondered about the purpose for 8-S and had also speculated that they were late production, left over 8 bodies. My concern about this theory is that we don't see many (if any) examples with signs of grind off on the handle. There are exceptions, but most WF-8's have raised Plomb branding on the handles. All of the 8-S examples I have or have seen are marked like the one in X's pic. One of those Plomb mysteries!

 

[MR.X]

I've always wondered about the purpose for 8-S and had also speculated that they were late production, left over 8 bodies. My concern about this theory is that we don't see many (if any) examples with signs of grind off on the handle. There are exceptions, but most WF-8's have raised Plomb branding on the handles. All of the 8-S examples I have or have seen are marked like the one in X's pic. One of those Plomb mysteries!

I think you mean Twertsy's pic but point taken.

 

[MR.X]

I'd be surprised if the whole WF-8-S thing hasn't already been covered somewhere on the GJ. I've never given it much thought...obviously. My only real point, which I've already just about lost interest in was that IMO it would be rarer to come by a 48XX set with a standard WF-8 ratchet than a WF-8-S in a standard 47XX set. I'm also glad I never chased the WF-8-S ratchet when it went for big bucks. One just sold for like $16.00 yesterday.

 

[d42jeep]

I agree. So far I’ve managed not to fall into the WF trap although I’ve passed along quite a bit of it to another WF collector. They are pretty common around here. I can’t really figure out this unmarked ratchet I found last month. Anybody have any thoughts about it?
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

X thanks for correcting me, yes that was Todd's 8-S. I do agree with you about the 48xx set rarity with a WF-8 simply because I never see 48xx series sockets.....ever. I don't think I've ever seen one in the wild and they don't pop up online very often.

Don, I am chin deep in the WF trap, but am comfortable with the fact that this is a journey I will likely never complete. I'm probably just weird, but in some ways I prefer it that way because for me the fun is in the hunt! As far as your unmarked example, I don't think I have one, but have seen pics of a few others. I wonder if they could have been samples submitted to Plomb by third party mfg's?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Gents,

I am looking for a Plomb Los Angeles 3340 tappet wrench if anyone has an extra. It has to be LA.

 

[ssdave]

Looked at the 3/4" sockets a bit more. The new set I got I think really was originally a set, other than the mismatches. They are all date coded AC through EC, and about half marked war finish, although no difference between those marked and the others. The round breaker bar and extension are date coded BC. So, bmwrd0 called it right, the pebble is the outlier, not the round, and the old pebble ratchet I put in there is just as mismatched as the new shiny one was.

I think I'm back to my original plan before I bought the new set, of just ebaying them off, as I don't need to start another group of stuff I'm collecting.... I really had decided that about Plomb 4 years ago when I sorted them out of my stuff and began getting rid of them, to just concentrate on Proto.

 

[twertsy]

I wasn't sure where to put this but since Plomb made the tools, this is as good a place as any.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[twertsy]

And I had all the tools to fill it since I've been looking for one forever!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

Great find and wonderful set! Congrats!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Awesome Firestone box! I've yet to even see one.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Great find!

 

[twertsy]

Awesome Firestone box! I've yet to even see one.

Thanks gents. I've yet to see another. I saw it in a cat on eBay a while back and have been hunting it ever since. Snagged it at a flea. Couldn't believe it when I opened the lid and saw that logo.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[r_olson_06]

Thanks to Don being so generous at offering up a pair of AD Plomb Box wrenches. I am almost half way to the full set. These wrenches appear to forged very rough. The handle is about twice the thickness of the box ends.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[d42jeep]

Roy,
I think those wrenches are right where they belong. The manufacturing process must not have been too sophisticated back then.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Last month I found a 3/8” drive ratchet missing a screw. I found a slotted replacement screw but it didn’t look quite right. I visited a local old school fastener supplier in Berkeley this morning and picked up some screws that closely matched the originals, requiring just a little shortening. I have a few spares if anybody is missing one on either a pebble or regular ratchet.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Gents,

I am looking for a Plomb Los Angeles 3340 tappet wrench if anyone has an extra. It has to be LA.

Lugz, I'm confused? Unless my inventory is completely off 33XX is Offest DOE, and 34XX is Tappet?

 

[r_olson_06]

That's funny Roy, I have the 1-1/4, the 1-3/4, 1-7/8, and the 2" extra.

You don't have a 1-13/16", do you? Mine has been lathe turned thinner at the top.

Here are the 2 sockets. One chrome one Cad or raw steel.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[CRTDI]

I wasn't sure where to put this but since Plomb made the tools, this is as good a place as any.

Seriously....a Firestone carry box.... Didn't know that such a beast existed. You just keep digging up some pretty amazing stuff. Congrats..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz, I'm confused? Unless my inventory is completely off 33XX is Offest DOE, and 34XX is Tappet?

YES! Typo! At least someone was reading! Thanks for the correction. I am looking for a Los Angeles 3440 (13/16 x 7/8).

EDIT: This one...

...to complete this set.

 

[twertsy]

I thought I was going batty! I looked through all my tappets and couldn't find a single 33xx series..............

 

[RagTopTA]

That Firestone box!!! Man nice find !!!

So, as for the S used by Plomb every once in a while.. Im thinking it means Special. I read in a catalog the other day in the socket section, a foot note said S denoted sockets with out the handle hole I think it was? So do they use
S on anything thats not the norm for that part number maybe ? Even my little S.J.E. DBE I have a 5449-S ratchet but no clue what different about it..... pics after work

 

[d42jeep]

Here are my Plomb estate sale finds today. Found a couple sockets for Roy’s Wall o’ Plomb.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

YES! Typo! At least someone was reading! Thanks for the correction. I am looking for a Los Angeles 3440 (13/16 x 7/8).

EDIT: This one...

...to complete this set.

Sorry Lugz, that one I don't even have much less a spare. and I'm ALWAYS buying tappets when I find them...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Sorry Lugz, that one I don't even have much less a spare.

Thanks for checking. I looked on eBay and there's no Plomb LA era 34XX tappet wrenches offered right now in any sizes. I would defer to more singularly dedicated Plomb collectors, such as the likes of Roy, Rubicon, and Stormking, etc, but I'm starting to wonder if they're a little hard (not rare, but uncommon) to come by, in general. I know someone who has a Plomb LA 3440 (because I have his database!), but he only has one, and he only has three LA 34xx total from the set. Then again, the photo of the near-complete set didn't get much reaction, so I could be wrong about that. Waiting for the usual suspects to chime in on this!

 

[Outlawmws]

I think that big is hard to find in any make; the biggest I have is 7/8 X 25/32, (Williams)

below that is 3/4...

 

[3baygarage]

Those are quite nice. So did someone buy one wrench per year, or?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Right?! Very odd. That and the uniformity of the markings immediately made me second guess the supposed date code system. Unless they just made the hell out of these wrenches and never changed the dies and there was four years of inventory laying around in a bin when someone bought the set in 1938 and they happened to end up with a wrench made in each year prior starting in 1934. Note how the "LOS ANGELES" stamping in the 4C wrench is the only one that looks different (with letters more scrunched together) than the other wrenches.

For a twisted sense of perfection, the 3440 should be a 9D.

 

[RubiconJK]

Thanks for checking. I looked on eBay and there's no Plomb LA era 34XX tappet wrenches offered right now in any sizes. I would defer to more singularly dedicated Plomb collectors, such as the likes of Roy, Rubicon, and Stormking, etc, but I'm starting to wonder if they're a little hard (not rare, but uncommon) to come by, in general. I know someone who has a Plomb LA 3440 (because I have his database!), but he only has one, and he only has three LA 34xx total from the set. Then again, the photo of the near-complete set didn't get much reaction, so I could be wrong about that. Waiting for the usual suspects to chime in on this!

Lugz, I have a grand total of one Plomb tappet and it is a 3425 and not LA era. At least from my experience, they are indeed uncommon in my area, but I will also admit that I haven't actively been looking for them. I'll send you a PM with at least one suggestion for a contact to try.

 

[Outlawmws]

For a twisted sense of perfection, the 3440 should be a 9D.

But what will probably surface is a grind off or a double stamp Plvmb/Proto...

 

[r_olson_06]

Right?! Very odd. That and the uniformity of the markings immediately made me second guess the supposed date code system. Unless they just made the hell out of these wrenches and never changed the dies and there was four years of inventory laying around in a bin when someone bought the set in 1938 and they happened to end up with a wrench made in each year prior starting in 1934. Note how the "LOS ANGELES" stamping in the 4C wrench is the only one that looks different (with letters more scrunched together) than the other wrenches.

For a twisted sense of perfection, the 3440 should be a 9D. [emoji38]

Well I am sure you will pass on this one since it doesn't follow the pattern.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well I am sure you will pass on this one since it doesn't follow the pattern.

HAHA. My OCD isn't that bad!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

So here's a little more info on the near-complete tappet set, including an exchange I just had with the seller, a woman, which you guys may also find cute and amusing...

Me: "Hi. Thanks again for the wrench set. I was wondering if the little booklet that came with them was found with the wrenches originally, or if you just stuck that in there on your own due to the California association (of the "LOS ANGELES" markings on the wrenches and the "Oakland" marking on the booklet)."

Her (verbatim): "The wrenches were my father's. He was an auto mechanic in his early years. My parents were out in California for awhile sometime in the 30's into the 40's and I believe he bought a Plumb Tool box full of Plumb Tools (Los Angeles). You bought the last of the Plumb Tools that were in the tool box. The tool box I sold a few years ago for $375. The book was my father's. I believe the wrenches were used to set the tappets (that is the valves of the motors, probably their height, to let the gas in and out of the cylinders). All of this is what i remember from conversations i heard when i was very young so it may or may not be correct. Plumb Tools were hand forged and seemed to be a well recognized tool company of the time. The Plumb Tool Box was made out of heavy Sheet Metal and not the light stuff that tool boxes of today are made out of. Hope this answers your questions!"

The booklet is on its way to Don as a surprise, so I don't want to say what it is, but when he receives it, I am sure he will take some photos and post them.

I find it hard to believe this guy bought one tappet wrench per year, which would be kind of silly, impractical and almost useless, mechanically, so the set serves as a little time machine into Plomb's inventory and practices at that time, as I suspected.

 

[r_olson_06]

So here's a little more info on the near-complete tappet set, including an exchange I just had with the seller, a woman, which you guys may also find cute and amusing...

Me: "Hi. Thanks again for the wrench set. I was wondering if the little booklet that came with them was found with the wrenches originally, or if you just stuck that in there on your own due to the California association (of the "LOS ANGELES" markings on the wrenches and the "Oakland" marking on the booklet)."

Her (verbatim): "The wrenches were my father's. He was an auto mechanic in his early years. My parents were out in California for awhile sometime in the 30's into the 40's and I believe he bought a Plumb Tool box full of Plumb Tools (Los Angeles). You bought the last of the Plumb Tools that were in the tool box. The tool box I sold a few years ago for $375. The book was my father's. I believe the wrenches were used to set the tappets (that is the valves of the motors, probably their height, to let the gas in and out of the cylinders). All of this is what i remember from conversations i heard when i was very young so it may or may not be correct. Plumb Tools were hand forged and seemed to be a well recognized tool company of the time. The Plumb Tool Box was made out of heavy Sheet Metal and not the light stuff that tool boxes of today are made out of. Hope this answers your questions!"

The booklet is on its way to Don as a surprise, so I don't want to say what it is, but when he receives it, I am sure he will take some photos and post them.

I find it hard to believe this guy bought one tappet wrench per year, which would be kind of silly, impractical and almost useless, mechanically, so the set serves as a little time machine into Plomb's inventory and practices at that time, as I suspected.

Super cool. I am curious to see what this booklet is. Is it a catalog?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Private Lugnutz]

No. And it's not a Plomb publication. But it is cool, it is dated, and it has a few connections to Don beyond geographic proximity. That's all I'm saying! Don't make me use my SERE training!

 

[d42jeep]

I promise to be surprised.
-Don