Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[RubiconJK]

So I picked up an oddity (at least I think so, you are free to disagree) today. A half inch WF ratchet, with no Plomb marking but it has I&V on the front
No idea who or what this refers too, as it was an estate sale at a house.

There was another one of those that showed up a few years ago. Last spitballing session lead to a maybe Industrial Vocational.

Yes, in the same point font and in a similar raised panel.

Below is a link to the post I made in April with my WF-38 collection which includes one of the I&V marked ratchets. A brief discussion followed this post and I had mentioned the reference to Industrial & Vocational from something I found on Plombob's old site.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7846428&postcount=6349

 

[MR.X]

Here is another photo. It is a "round O" 4A, so early 1934.

Hell, i wasn't even close. Thanks.

 

[RubiconJK]

I see why you ask. It looks like it tapers in at the broach end, almost like an S-K socket.
-Don

I see what you mean. There isn't any indication that this socket was machined down so I do believe it was made this way. I need to check to see if I have other round "o" sockets that look similar, but I sure don't remember noticing it before. Mr. X do any of your early sockets have that taper?

 

[3baygarage]

One of those ratchets sold in a ratchet lot on Ebay recently, it was in my watch list which I just cleaned up. They do come up from time to time. I don’t have much else to add other than I’ve seen a fair number of them over years.

 

[MR.X]

I see what you mean. There isn't any indication that this socket was machined down so I do believe it was made this way. I need to check to see if I have other round "o" sockets that look similar, but I sure don't remember noticing it before. Mr. X do any of your early sockets have that taper?

Hi. here's some random ones I grabbed without having to dig too much. BTW, it wasn't really just the taper, it was the look, polished steel, deeper stamping, Los Angeles, and size that drew my eye. Anyway, it's not just the "O" sockets, that last pic of a 34 is a different socket than the one in the lineup that I first asked about looks like a 38? right?

 

[RubiconJK]

Hi. here's some random ones I grabbed without having to dig too much. BTW, it wasn't really just the taper, it was the look, polished steel, deeper stamping, Los Angeles, and size that drew my eye. Anyway, it's not just the "O" sockets, that last pic of a 34 is a different socket than the one in the lineup that I first asked about looks like a 38? right?

Not sure I follow? The last photo I posted that showed the 4A date stamp was the same 5438 I thought you were asking about.

 

[MR.X]

Yeah, I mixed up the one you first showed in your box ( which ended up being a 34) where I couldn't see the date with the 38 that d42jeep showed in post 6609. ughhh.

 

[MR.X]

My confusion started when d42jeep posted a shot of YOUR set and then in the next post he showed his 1 3/16 and I failed to make the distinction, later when you showed the closeup of the 34 I was thinking, you were showing ANOTHER one you had or had a picture of......anyway, it looks like Plomb kind of changed from a slight rounding of the last 1/8 inch of the broached ends to a little more distinct bevel around 42. Do you think yours tapers more than that?

 

[MR.X]

So I threw this together.

 

[DD T/A]

I would consider the one on the right hand side to be the newest of the bunch, and it always frustrated me that Plomb got worse at marking their tools, not better.

Call me crazy the three other ones look of higher quality and better presentation.

 

[Outlawmws]

Keep in mind, LOTS of corners were cut during the war, and many, if not most experienced factory workers were in uniform...

 

[d42jeep]

Keep in mind, LOTS of corners were cut during the war, and many, if not most experienced factory workers were in uniform...

Not only that, besides the metal restrictions, the government specified that the quality of the finish of tools was to be limited during the war.
-Don

 

[MR.X]

Keep in mind, LOTS of corners were cut during the war, and many, if not most experienced factory workers were in uniform...

Not only that, besides the metal restrictions, the government specified that the quality of the finish of tools was to be limited during the war.
-Don

Not sure I'd use the words "got worse at" but........................
Lay a 30's era combo down next to a war time, I'm taking the 30's. Lay it down next to a POST war combo I'm still picking the 30's.

 

[d42jeep]

I totally agree. I’ve said in the past that the nicest finish Plomb toolset I’ve seen is my 1939 3/8” drive set. The postwar tools just aren’t finished quite as well.
-Don

 

[MR.X]

That is sweet.

 

[Rileysan]

I got a phone call from Mr X this afternoon and I dropped everything to go pick this up from a nearby antique mall.

Plomb 9990 Master tool chest.

It's been spray bombed and the hinges on the lower cover have been riveted back in place but it has no rust and was just $40. And by "dropped everything" I meant to say I was just meandering around the shop.

Brian

 

[Provincial]

This weekend's Plomb.

 

[tym]

I got a phone call from Mr X this afternoon and I dropped everything to go pick this up from a nearby antique mall.

Plomb 9990 Master tool chest.

It's been spray bombed and the hinges on the lower cover have been riveted back in place but it has no rust and was just $40. And by "dropped everything" I meant to say I was just meandering around the shop.

Brian

The cops had better come knocking at your door 'cuz that was a steal!

 

[Provincial]

Team X and R, you ****!!!

 

[r_olson_06]

I got a phone call from Mr X this afternoon and I dropped everything to go pick this up from a nearby antique mall.

Plomb 9990 Master tool chest.

It's been spray bombed and the hinges on the lower cover have been riveted back in place but it has no rust and was just $40. And by "dropped everything" I meant to say I was just meandering around the shop.

Brian

Impressive find. How many Plomb boxes for you have now?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Good find on the 9990 Brian. It even has the little drawers in it...something that doesn't seem that easy to find anymore. Usually for even double that price drawers are missing and the latch and hinges are tore up. Ed.

 

[Catfishdan]

I grabbed all the plomb I could find at the flea today. I came home with a 5281 speeder, a 1222 combo, a 1131 dbe, wf-72 and 5275 universals, a wf-the socket, a 9762 Phillips, and five 1/4” drive sockets- including the 1st dual marked 1/4” I’ve seen. I also grabbed a proto LA 1220 and 9701 stubby flat head.

 

[Rileysan]

Impressive find. How many Plomb boxes for you have now?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

I've passed on a couple to Smokeshow but still have 3, not counting socket boxes.

Brian

 

[r_olson_06]

I've passed on a couple to Smokeshow but still have 3, not counting socket boxes.

Brian

Nice. Glad to see you back posting once again.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[bmwrd0]

Nice find Brian, and a good price.

 

[nickelTwin]

I bought these at a garage sale this past weekend.

The ratchet seems to still be in pretty good shape

 

[Dibiase77]

Nice finds. Definitely like the look of that pebbled ratchet.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044R using Tapatalk

 

[d42jeep]

These came from Roy today as my part of a Plomb for Plomb trade. They cleaned up great.
-Don

 

[Dibiase77]

These came from Roy today as my part of a Plomb for Plomb trade. They cleaned up great.

-Don

I've seen many of your tools across multiple threads and you always do a great job at cleaning them up. If you don't mind sharing what exactly is your process for cleaning them up? At the moment I just hit them with a dark green plastic wheel thingamajig that chucks in my corded drill. Cleans the rust up but it leaves scratches and I'm not happy about that. Thanks in advance if your able to share.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044R using Tapatalk

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for the compliment. In the case of these pebble flare nut wrenches, there was just some imbedded grease in the pebble field. I used a toothbrush size brass bristle wire brush by hand with brake cleaner. Although I have a power wire wheel, it is usually my last choice for cleaning up tools. I converted from using vinegar to Evaporust for rusty tools and think it is a great product. It is important to keep treated tools from rusting and Lugz turned me on to some protectant called Fluid Film, which is a lanolin based product invented during WW2. There has been some discussions about Tool restoration in the past and I’ll see if I can find a link and post it here. Hope that is helpful.
-Don
Edit... here is a link about cleaning sockets.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278177&highlight=tool+restoration&page=40

 

[r_olson_06]

Made some more head way in the wrench Dept. Found a 10" Utica sourced Plomb Adjustable Wrench. These seem hard to come by. Have the drop shot with the 8, 10, and 12. Also have this odd ball 4" that doesn't seem to fit with the JP Danielson or Utica versions.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[r_olson_06]

These came from Roy today as my part of a Plomb for Plomb trade. They cleaned up great.
-Don

Missed this post. Those cleaned up well Don. I will try and get a group shot of mine. I have one off ball dual marked that I am not sure if they made on a Plomb stamping alone.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[r_olson_06]

Well I can tell you that to complete the pebble wrench sets becomes progressively harder the further you get as Stormking put it. 6 months since the addition of the last wrench I started to wonder when the next wrench would come along. Thanks to Stormking letting me know he had a spare 3070 that he was willing to part with led me to insight of the finish line. Without further a do here is the 3070.

Last to find is a full 3061 to complete the pebble grand slam. I currently have a grind off restamp that from the back side looks all Plomb.

Still also looking for a smooth 3065 to finish off that set.

Last 3 pics are of the DOEs (not including the long patterns such as the 3046) left being smooth right being pebble.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Provincial]

This was in a batch of sockets I got from an estate about 35 years ago. I recently pulled them out to review what was there and to share them.

Plomb 4705 special socket for the screws holding Trico vacuum windshield wipers together.

 

[RubiconJK]

Well I can tell you that to complete the pebble wrench sets becomes progressively harder the further you get as Stormking put it. 6 months since the addition of the last wrench I started to wonder when the next wrench would come along. Thanks to Stormking letting me know he had a spare 3070 that he was willing to part with led me to insight of the finish line. Without further a do here is the 3070.

Last to find is a full 3061 to complete the pebble grand slam. I currently have a grind off restamp that from the back side looks all Plomb.

Still also looking for a smooth 3065 to finish off that set.

Looking good Roy.

This was in a batch of sockets I got from an estate about 35 years ago. I recently pulled them out to review what was there and to share them.

Plomb 4705 special socket for the screws holding Trico vacuum windshield wipers together.

I've seen them listed in catalogs, but never seen one till now. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Stuart in MN]

I bought these at a garage sale this past weekend.

The ratchet seems to still be in pretty good shape

Kind of a rare find in Minnesota - I've only found a couple pebble Plombs around here.

 

[r_olson_06]

A few more additions. In a trade with Don added another LA DOE putting my count to 3.
I also added a 9/16" X 1/2" swivel socket I needed for my 1/2" drive board. Only 1 left!


Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Those 1/2 drive swivels are hard to find. Seems like plomb did not make many. I think I have found maybe 2.

 

[r_olson_06]

Those 1/2 drive swivels are hard to find. Seems like plomb did not make many. I think I have found maybe 2.

I agree. I thought they cut out after the LA period but this proved to be not the case. The 3/8" 6pt swivels seem to be up there as well juding by what a set brought on the bay for them.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Which one are you looking for? I am not all that attached to them