Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[Provincial]

I found a few [S.R.] marked sockets Friday. Sizes are 7/16, 1/2, 5/8, 13/16, 1", and 1-1/16. They all seem to be cadmium plated and have cosmoline residue on them. If I hadn't been exposed to the previous discussions of [S.R.] sockets, I'd think they were made for the military during WWII.

In the same lot, I bought a 1/2 drive ratchet that seems to be a Plomb WF-pattern, but unmarked. There is a "u" forged in the recess of the handle, and a "0" and a "V" are stamped on opposite sides of the handle were it meets the head. It has a plain steel finish.

There was also an unmarked 1/2 extension 5" long in the lot. It is shaped like the Plomb, but has no hole for a pin handle. Plain steel finish.

Also a hinge handle with no markings and plain steel finish. It looks like a WF-version, except it has a 3/8" diameter hole for the pin handle, and is 14" from the hinge to the end of the handle. It has a ball detent for the hinge, just like the WF-38 I have, but the knurling is finer than the WF or civilian Plombs, and there is no square drive in the end of the handle like the civilian versions. The last two photos compare it to my WF-38.

 

[3baygarage]

Saw a deep S.R. 1-1/8 today. It was in with some 3/4 stuff for too much money.

 

[r_olson_06]

Here's the latest additions to my collection. The darker 4749 was all gummed up inside, the pawls wouldn't engage the gear, I replaced the springs from a later model Proto, working perfectly now. The lighter-colored 4749 is cad plated. The N89 is an early '20's manifold wrench. The hammer is a 1421 dinging hammer.

Nice N89. I have an early one without a part number.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[d42jeep]

I picked this 1/2” drive ratchet up off of eBay in hopes that the lever retainer might fit my ‘39 3/8” drive ratchet. If nothing else it is a good working prewar ratchet.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

Picked up a few off of eBay for the pliers tool board and the wrench board.
A 3/4" LA combo
226 needle nose
206 dykes
209 dykes
227 duck bills with pebble Handles.

I picked this 1/2” drive ratchet up off of eBay in hopes that the lever retainer might fit my ‘39 3/8” drive ratchet. If nothing else it is a good working prewar ratchet.
-Don

Hey Don,
That is a nice pick up. Let me know how that works out. If want to part with the ratchet let me know with or with out the selector retainer.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice Name-Nurl, Roy. I just picked up a pair of pliers at the flea this morning (not Name-Nurl, though), also an 18" WF extension and a bunch of 1/4 sockets.

 

[r_olson_06]

Nice Name-Nurl, Roy. I just picked up a pair of pliers at the flea this morning (not Name-Nurl, though), also an 18" WF extension and a bunch of 1/4 sockets.

What number are they? [emoji2]
Edit. Didn't think if checking the GS thread.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I will post everything later.

EDIT: Okay, here are the "Plomb Empire" pieces from my flea market haul this morning.

I posted several pics of the Proto LA MFD Adjust-a-Cut snips in the Proto thread.

You guys know where that JPD-made PENENS 4212 adjustable is going! That's right. Into my PENENS master mechanics set (which still needs its red toolbox, btw!) with the 1/2- and 1/4-inch drive tools, the DOE wrenches, and the PENENS 4208 and 4206 adjustables!

The long extension is a 3/8-inch drive WF-19.

The pliers are No. 227 duck bills.

The finish appears to be that black (technically "gun metal") finish they liked in the late 40's. As I said, no Name-Nurl grip, but check out the logo. I have seen all kinds of variations, but I am not sure I have ever seen the two plumb bobs bookending the name as rounded as these. They look like spades on some playing cards.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here are the sockets.

All 9/32-inch drive. All cad. WF-29, WF-28, WF-14 (x2), WF-13 and WF-12 (x3). The electric pencil "USAF" marking on the WF-13 is interesting. The US Air Force wasn't established until 1947. Prior to that it was the US Army Air Forces, which included and subsumed the old Air Corps.

The small Phillips bit is also interesting. It is also cad-plated, it is 9/32-inch drive, and it has a Plomb "Hole-Tite" looking detent hole. It's marked "CAL-AIR NO. 2", but I am leaning toward Plomb production. I posted the Proto No. 2 and No. 3 Phillips bits in the Proto thread.

 

[Outlawmws]

Lugz, those duckbills bear a striking resemblance to a pair of Diamonds I have of later make; coated handles, but above the coated handles...

 

[RubiconJK]

Here are the sockets.

All 9/32-inch drive. All cad. WF-29, WF-28, WF-14 (x2), WF-13 and WF-12 (x3). The electric pencil "USAF" marking on the WF-13 is interesting. The US Air Force wasn't established until 1947. Prior to that it was the US Army Air Forces, which included and subsumed the old Air Corps.

The small Phillips bit is also interesting. It is also cad-plated, it is 9/32-inch drive, and it has a Plomb "Hole-Tite" looking detent hole. It's marked "CAL-AIR NO. 2", but I am leaning toward Plomb production. I posted the Proto No. 2 and No. 3 Phillips bits in the Proto thread.

Awesome haul Lugz! And the marking on those duck bills is really cool. I've seen that USAF mark before in similar hand engraved script as well as USAAF.

 

[r_olson_06]

This morning finds. Can't believe I found a Ratcheting adapter in the wild and for a buck to boot.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz, those duckbills bear a striking resemblance to a pair of Diamonds I have of later make; coated handles, but above the coated handles...

Plomb didn't make any of their own pliers, so it's quite possible. I haven't studied the OEM on pliers as deeply as I have studied it on adjustable crescent type wrenches, so I can't confirm Diamond, but, as I said, it's quite possible.

I've seen that USAF mark before in similar hand engraved script as well as USAAF.

I've seen and have examples of both, including another "USAF" anomaly (seemingly too early), but this is the first one I have seen on a WF piece. Typically the USAAF is seen on wartime stuff, and the USAF later, but there are some exceptions going both ways.

Can't believe I found a Ratcheting adapter in the wild and for a buck to boot.

Nice snag, Roy.

 

[r_olson_06]

Also picked up a new one for me. A 3/8" X 3/8" deep SR. My first 3/8" drive deep S.R. This thing is long.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That reminds me I gotta send some "[S.R.]" stuff to Rags.

I picked up a couple more "Plomb Empire" items at the flea market this morning. A ball-pein hammer for the Firestone collection (with some unfortunates gouges in the cheek) and another example of the ubiquitous WF-21 ratchet. That USAAF order amount must have been huge! This one is pretty clean.

 

[RagTopTA]

so I found this Plomb scrapper on the flea bay and won it... noone else must have seen it because I got it for nothing. But there's no part number I can see. Has anyone has ever seen one of these? or have one? This sucker is heavy. Feels like 4 pounds or so.

 

[r_olson_06]

so I found this Plomb scrapper on the flea bay and won it... noone else must have seen it because I got it for nothing. But there's no part number I can see. Has anyone has ever seen one of these? or have one? This sucker is heavy. Feels like 4 pounds or so.

I seen that one but didn't pull the trigger. That thing is a beast. Since it has the LA stamp and no part number is maybe pre 1927. I am not sure when they started adding part numbers but I have a few that don't. Check the 1928 or 1929 to see if they carried it over to the ones with part numbers.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[RagTopTA]

I seen that one but didn't pull the trigger. That thing is a beast. Since it has the LA stamp and no part number is maybe pre 1927. I am not sure when they started adding part numbers but I have a few that don't. Check the 1928 or 1929 to see if they carried it over to the ones with part numbers.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

good plan! I always go for these weird rare items that come up.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Haha look at Rags sportin' the Andrew Jackson for context. Big spender!

 

[Outlawmws]

RT, I think that may be a box label scraper, from back when wood crates were used and re-used..

 

[3baygarage]

so I found this Plomb scrapper on the flea bay and won it... noone else must have seen it because I got it for nothing. But there's no part number I can see. Has anyone has ever seen one of these? or have one? This sucker is heavy. Feels like 4 pounds or so.

I would say that’s a nice unique find there.

Also picked up a new one for me. A 3/8" X 3/8" deep SR. My first 3/8" drive deep S.R. This thing is long.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

Around how long is that socket?

 

[RubiconJK]

so I found this Plomb scrapper on the flea bay and won it... noone else must have seen it because I got it for nothing. But there's no part number I can see. Has anyone has ever seen one of these? or have one? This sucker is heavy. Feels like 4 pounds or so.

Very cool! Never seen one. Congrats.

 

[r_olson_06]

good plan! I always go for these weird rare items that come up.

I do sometimes. I have been jonesing on pliers lately. Still waiting for the lone Pebble wrench to finish out the grandslam.
Good to see your back in the mix.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[motorick]

Started my Plomb collection backwards, finding the ToolMobile first and then picking up a nice beginning assortment of hand tools. Ignore the Proto ratchet 'hiding' in the middle of the Plombs . Although I'm only half way thru this thread (wow!), I've seen mention of copper like coating which looks to be the case in the 1051 box wrench that came in the deal.

Rick

 

[r_olson_06]

Started my Plomb collection backwards, finding the ToolMobile first and then picking up a nice beginning assortment of hand tools. Ignore the Proto ratchet 'hiding' in the middle of the Plombs . Although I'm only half way thru this thread (wow!), I've seen mention of copper like coating which looks to be the case in the 1051 box wrench that came in the deal.

Rick [emoji481]

Looking good. The 10XX heavy duty DBEs and the 26XX spuds came in a Copper Clading.
I started collecting Plombs about 4 years ago. It now has become an obsession. Over 1300 plombs in but still no mobile. I have never seen one in person.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow, 1300 +is a LOT! I have maybe 700 ish Proto/Plvmb. (All "P" in the inventory, and not counting Craftsman branded...)

Two Plvmb top boxes - No Plvmb mobile either, I do have several Pressteel made boxes, only one branded thus...

 

[d42jeep]

I found a Plomb item in the wild today that I never expected to find. If it wasn’t for this thread I would never have given it a second look. My wife wants to try pulling some weeds with it and I’ve been trying to explain why that wouldn’t be a good idea.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

Great, now something else I have to look for! Nice find on that Rags.

And nice find on the weed puller Don. I have one and would never use it either.

 

[Outlawmws]

I could swear my grandfather on my moms side had one of those back in the day... Long gone now.

 

[d42jeep]

Great, now something else I have to look for! Nice find on that Rags.

And nice find on the weed puller Don. I have one and would never use it either.

I saw that you were one of the few people that have one. Where did you find yours?
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

Wow, 1300 +is a LOT! I have maybe 700 ish Proto/Plvmb. (All "P" in the inventory, and not counting Craftsman branded...)

Two Plvmb top boxes - No Plvmb mobile either, I do have several Pressteel made boxes, only one branded thus...

What do you use for inventory? I use Google sheets. It has been a life saver.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Outlawmws]

I use Excel. Google sheets is OK, but hasn't the flexibility Excel give me. What I need to do is a better way for segregation of Proto/Plvmb, I've just been lazy...

 

[r_olson_06]

I use Excel. Google sheets is OK, but hasn't the flexibility Excel give me. What I need to do is a better way for segregation of Proto/Plvmb, I've just been lazy...

I hear you there. Still learning some of the functions and capabilities on sheets. I like the portability of sheets. The conditional formatting is a little cumbersome.
If you would share your Excel I am super curious to your layout? I have reworked mine a few times.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Catfishdan]

Here’s some recent additions to my plomb 1/4”drive ratchet collection. Top to bottom-
wf-8s, craftsman circle U, speed master, late model pebble, and a Proto Los Angeles.

 

[Catfishdan]

And a new family portrait

 

[r_olson_06]

And a new family portrait

Nice looking set.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[bmwrd0]

I saw that you were one of the few people that have one. Where did you find yours?
-Don

I found it on the second day of an antique fair in Portland. Just sitting among vintage housewares. They had no idea.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I found a Plomb item in the wild today that I never expected to find. If it wasn’t for this thread I would never have given it a second look. My wife wants to try pulling some weeds with it and I’ve been trying to explain why that wouldn’t be a good idea.

-Don

That counts as a major you **** in my book! Those are stupid rare. I hope to one day maybe see beemer’s in person. I have only seen them online


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Provincial]

A couple of Plomb wrenches showed up at the Flea Market today.

Plomb 1218 9/16 combo with a 5 (1935) date code. Perhaps a heavy strike on a C for March?

Plomb AD910 DBE 9/16x5/8 date code 9B (Feb. 1929). Ugly owner's marks **

 

[BattousaiX]

And a new family portrait

Very nice ratchets!