Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[RubiconJK]

Oh my gosh, we are all sitting on the edge of our seats here!!

 

[DD T/A]

̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶g̶u̶e̶s̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶P̶&̶C̶.̶


No wait, Thorsen!

 

[twertsy]

̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶g̶u̶e̶s̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶P̶&̶C̶.̶


No wait, Thorsen!

Ding, Ding, Ding!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You guys are cracking me up! No, not Thorsen. Not any mfgr's publication. Something a little more personal to Don and his former career, as well as to one of his kits.

 

[d42jeep]

I can’t wait!
Here are my Thursday Plomb finds cleaned up.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I officially joined the Firestone-by-Plomb club this morning. Full story in the 2019 Garage Sale thread, linked here. I will post more photos here later. Need to take a well-earned nap!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here are some shots of the Firestone 3/8- and 1/4-inch drive sets...

I'm so new to this I'm not really sure what's missing, if anything. (Speaking of which, is there a good on-line source? Lists? Catalogs? etc?) If not, I'll probably just search around and look at everyone else's sets to compare.

The 3/8-inch drive set appears to have all its sockets. Maybe missing one. There's plenty of room for additional extensions, swivels, etc, but again, I don't know if it came with anything else or not. It may have had a tommy bar for the cross-drilled hinge handle.

Ditto the tommy bar for the 1/4-inch drive set, which is probably missing a couple sockets. Almost certainly an 8-pointer, at least. But it doesn't look empty, by any means. There's room for a sliding tee, but maybe it didn't come with one.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It looks like there are more Firestone wrenches than there actually are in the lot photo, because of the dupes. I'm assuming "221" is set number.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The coolest Plomb snag was the female reversible 4748 1/4-inch drive rat, which appears to be 1938 production. It is missing its push-pull drive plug. I pick them up whenever I see them, in all drives sizes, so I may have something that can serve as a suitable placeholder.

I never thought I'd call a 4769 spinner-extension hum-drum, but it looks it next to the 4748, and as you can see, it is ossifying a little inside the composite handle.

 

[r_olson_06]

Here are some shots of the Firestone 3/8- and 1/4-inch drive sets...

I'm so new to this I'm not really sure what's missing, if anything. (Speaking of which, is there a good on-line source? Lists? Catalogs? etc?) If not, I'll probably just search around and look at everyone else's sets to compare.

The 3/8-inch drive set appears to have all its sockets. Maybe missing one. There's plenty of room for additional extensions, swivels, etc, but again, I don't know if it came with anything else or not. It may have had a tommy bar for the cross-drilled hinge handle.

Ditto the tommy bar for the 1/4-inch drive set, which is probably missing a couple sockets. Almost certainly an 8-pointer, at least. But it doesn't look empty, by any means. There's room for a sliding tee, but maybe it didn't come with one.

Don't be a tease. Let's see that female ratchet.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm not sure what to make of this Cub drive extra deep socket set. I am drawing a blank and I don't remember seeing one before. The box has no number on it. It looks too new to be original finish, although there is nothing under that paint except steel. It seems to be missing two (2) sockets, almost certainly a 3/4" (the 3/4" that is in there does not belong) and maybe a 1-1/16" (since it skips from 1" to 1-1/8". I can't seem to find the model numbers, all followed by an "SP" (probably for Special), in any catalogs. The handles are a WF-20 and a WF-22. They will turn the sockets, obviously, and they both fit inside that slot behind the socket compartment, but I doubt the original handle was a "WF" series. Probably a 52xx instead. And the sockets are cross-drilled for turning with a pin handle as well.

If this has been covered and other examples of these sets are here on this thread somewhere, someone please post links. Thanks.

 

[r_olson_06]

I'm not sure what to make of this Cub drive extra deep socket set. I am drawing a blank and I don't remember seeing one before. The box has no number on it. It looks too new to be original finish, although there is nothing under that paint except steel. It seems to be missing two (2) sockets, almost certainly a 3/4" (the 3/4" that is in there does not belong) and maybe a 1-1/16" (since it skips from 1" to 1-1/8". I can't seem to find the model numbers, all followed by an "SP" (probably for Special), in any catalogs. The handles are a WF-20 and a WF-22. They will turn the sockets, obviously, and they both fit inside that slot behind the socket compartment, but I doubt the original handle was a "WF" series. Probably a 52xx instead. And the sockets are cross-drilled for turning with a pin handle as well.

If this has been covered and other examples of these sets are here on this thread somewhere, someone please post links. Thanks.

I think the SP represents Spark Plug. I know it's in a catalog somewhere. Your suckage is piling up quickly.

Thanks for posting the pics of the ratchet.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[twertsy]

I officially joined the Firestone-by-Plomb club this morning. Full story in the 2019 Garage Sale thread, linked here. I will post more photos here later. Need to take a well-earned nap!

I see you went a bit out of your normal range today........I wanted those sets!

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Don't be a tease. Let's see that female ratchet.

Haha. I was getting to it!

I was truly sorry that 1-1/4" open end was attached to a 1-5/16" open end on the other end, Roy. I would've loved to have found that 3061 for you!

 

[r_olson_06]

I'm not sure what to make of this Cub drive extra deep socket set. I am drawing a blank and I don't remember seeing one before. The box has no number on it. It looks too new to be original finish, although there is nothing under that paint except steel. It seems to be missing two (2) sockets, almost certainly a 3/4" (the 3/4" that is in there does not belong) and maybe a 1-1/16" (since it skips from 1" to 1-1/8". I can't seem to find the model numbers, all followed by an "SP" (probably for Special), in any catalogs. The handles are a WF-20 and a WF-22. They will turn the sockets, obviously, and they both fit inside that slot behind the socket compartment, but I doubt the original handle was a "WF" series. Probably a 52xx instead. And the sockets are cross-drilled for turning with a pin handle as well.

If this has been covered and other examples of these sets are here on this thread somewhere, someone please post links. Thanks.

Found it.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I think the SP represents Spark Plug. I know it's in a catalog somewhere.

Doh! That makes much more sense!

I see you went a bit out of your normal range today...

A hour and a half or so. It was a long morning. Did you read the whole story? I am so not used to leaving my territory I had to put a raid spin on it. See GS thread.

...I wanted those sets!

Don't you already have a bunch of Firestone?! You gotta leave some for the rest of us sometimes!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found it.

Thanks, Roy! I just found it in the 1941 No. 18-A, too. Apparently, I am only missing one socket: 5026SP 13/16".

 

[3baygarage]

Nice run there Lugz. I noticed that 1/4 ratchet in the bin and thought it was a 3/8.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's okay, I thought the 3/8 pebbled hinge handle was a 1/4 pebbled hinge handle. That was the second sour note of slight disappointment after finding the 3061 was a 3055.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Amazing haul of Plum and Firesticks!

I get entirely too excited when I find Plomb as I don't see it much in my area. Perhaps the summer will be kinder to me but for now this spud wrench is the newest addition.

 

[r_olson_06]

Amazing haul of Plum and Firesticks!

I get entirely too excited when I find Plomb as I don't see it much in my area. Perhaps the summer will be kinder to me but for now this spud wrench is the newest addition.

Nice find and thanks for posting over here. I have only ever seen/found one of these. These are as hard to find as their DBE cousins.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Indeed. I found one a few years ago and sent it to Europe, like an idiot, when I was fund-starved and flipping almost everything. I haven't seen another one since.

 

[r_olson_06]

Indeed. I found one a few years ago and sent it to Europe, like an idiot, when I was fund-starved and flipping almost everything. I haven't seen another one since.

Been there a few times. Nice pick ups on the Firestone and Plomb items. Still drooling over the SPs.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks. I am thrilled with the finish on the 3/8-inch drive set box. The 1/4 box is so roached on the outside I may refinish it. It will be a fun project to see if I can imitate the crinkle finish. It seems like such a blasé color until you think about it connotatively. What is a fire stone if not brick (i.e., chimney)?

 

[bmwrd0]

Indeed Lugz, restoring things such as this is half the fun. I picked up a Herbrand chest that needs a refresh (badly) and am slowly figuring out how to replicate that color!

But as to Plomb, I posted this in the garage sale thread, but after bargaining, this is what $30 got me:

 

[Catfishdan]

Dang Lugz! Quite the day you had. Love that female 1/4” ratchet.

Here’s my few plomb finds for the day... 3051, dual marked 3026, and a proto la 3718. Plus, 2 more SR sockets to add to the bunch.

 

[RubiconJK]

Lugz, awesome lot of Plomb and Firestone today! Congrats. I've never found any of the SP deep sockets. Do you have any of the standard deep sockets to do a comparison?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Roob.

The only standard 3/8-inch drive deep socket I have is the one that came with the set, but didn't belong in the set. In Pic 1 below it is shown to the right of the SP sockets with my PWA marked 3/8-inch drive deep socket. And the larger socket to the right is a standard 1/2-inch drive deep socket. As you can see, all the SP sockets have a hard black composite bushing-like insert.

Pic 2 & 3 are catalog excerpts from Catalog 18-A (1941). Page 34 (Pic 2) lists the SP sockets individually, shows a cutaway view of the socket (including the insert), and refers to page 15 for the set. Page 15 (Pic 3) shows the set.

What I have is Set No. 5000 SPA. It looks like it came with the pin handle to turn them (through the cross-drilled hole in the base). That's what goes in the space behind the socket compartment, not a hinge handle or a sliding tee. And it also came with an adaptor (5400A). That is why I thought I was missing two sockets. That extras space is for the missing adaptor. You can see it in Pic 2 and all the way to the left in Pic 3. Honestly, I am not exactly sure what the adaptor is for.

 

[Provincial]

Lugz, #5240 is a spline adaptor for 10mm spark plugs. See page 35 of the Catalog 18A, with the illustration on page 34. The #5266PH pin handle is the standard one for the 3/8 drive handles.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ah, got it. I will be looking for one - and a pin handle now. The latter may as well be a needle in a haystack!

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my 5266 pin handle made in 1939
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

Here is my 5266 pin handle made in 1939
-Don

Ah, got it. I will be looking for one - and a pin handle now. The latter may as well be a needle in a haystack!

Every Plomb pin handle seems to have a crimped end vs a ball dedent. I have quite a few pin handles as I pick them up like ratchet plugs due to how rare they are bit still yet to find a Plomb one.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[RubiconJK]

Thanks, Roob.

The only standard 3/8-inch drive deep socket I have is the one that came with the set, but didn't belong in the set. In Pic 1 below it is shown to the right of the SP sockets with my PWA marked 3/8-inch drive deep socket. And the larger socket to the right is a standard 1/2-inch drive deep socket. As you can see, all the SP sockets have a hard black composite bushing-like insert.

Pic 2 & 3 are catalog excerpts from Catalog 18-A (1941). Page 34 (Pic 2) lists the SP sockets individually, shows a cutaway view of the socket (including the insert), and refers to page 15 for the set. Page 15 (Pic 3) shows the set.

What I have is Set No. 5000 SPA. It looks like it came with the pin handle to turn them (through the cross-drilled hole in the base). That's what goes in the space behind the socket compartment, not a hinge handle or a sliding tee. And it also came with an adaptor (5400A). That is why I thought I was missing two sockets. That extras space is for the missing adaptor. You can see it in Pic 2 and all the way to the left in Pic 3. Honestly, I am not exactly sure what the adaptor is for.

Good to know. Thanks for confirming.

 

[Provincial]

Modern 10mm spark plugs have a 5/8" hex. I suspect that the #5240 adaptor was for a version of spark plugs that used a spline instead of a hex.

Take-apart spark plugs were obsolete by 1940, except for BG aircraft spark plugs. The spline may have been for an early take-apart 10mm plug, with the spline used on a retaining nut for the insulator. It would be interesting to see an old spark plug catalog to check this out, but I have never seen such a thing.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have quite a few pin handles as I pick them up like ratchet plugs due to how rare they are bit still yet to find a Plomb one.

Same here, Roy, with respect to generic tommy bars or cross bars. I meant Plomb pin handle. In fact, as long as we're on the subject, I am not sure I'm aware of another mfgr that used that specific term. I think it may be unique and formal to Plomb.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Same here, Roy, with respect to generic tommy bars or cross bars. I meant Plomb pin handle. In fact, as long as we're on the subject, I am not sure I'm aware of another mfgr that used that specific term. I think it may be unique and formal to Plomb.

What's a pin handle?

 

[d42jeep]

What's a pin handle?

Here’s one. Unmarked. Perfectly straight too.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What's a pin handle?

Plomb's official catalog nomenclature for a cross bar.

I don't have one (again, meaning a Plomb "Pin Handle", specifically), in any drive size, but the catalog images imply that they used the same round bar stock as the Sliding Tee handle in 3/8- and 1/2-inch drive. I could be wrong about that, but I know for a fact that SK and Blackhawk did.

Not to side-track the Plomb thread into a Cross (or Tommy) Bar discussion (we actually have a thread for that somewhere on GJ!), and if only to satisfy my own curiosity and confirm or deny my statement above about Plomb's terminology, "Pin Handle" does seem to have been unique to Plomb. I didn't do an exhaustive check, but I did do a representative check.

S-K, Duro/Indestro, Walden, New Britain (and, in turn, Craftsman) called it a "Cross Bar".

Williams called it a "Bar" or a "Sliding Bar" (this was not in reference to a Sliding Tee handle)

Herbrand called it a "T Handle Bar" (again, also not in reference to a Sliding Tee handle)

Blackhawk called it a "Handle Bar."

Bonney called it a "Cross Handle."

Roy: I just checked my stock of orphan cross bars, and I don't have any with a recess in the middle, or with pinched end stops.

 

[bmwrd0]

Every Plomb pin handle seems to have a crimped end vs a ball dedent. I have quite a few pin handles as I pick them up like ratchet plugs due to how rare they are bit still yet to find a Plomb one.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

Great minds think alike. I just picked up one the other day and it goes straight into storage if it doesn't fit anything I have.

 

[honza.vosalik]

So my father in law has been collecting plomb, but he doesn't have a plomb toolbox. He even mentioned his grandfather used to have a 3 piece roller setup.

Yesterday I opened up FB marketplace and saw this beauty. I messaged the seller, several hours later he finally responded and agreed to meet this morning. I just picked it up and can't wait to see my father's in law face once I show him! Paid $30 for this 9989