Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[d42jeep]

My set came with all 1939 pieces. My ratchet was missing the detent when I found it and Catfish Dan generously provided another ‘39 ratchet that had the missing detent. I think the detents were only used in ‘39 and ‘40 on 3/8” and 1/2” drive ratchets. I don’t know about the 1/4” drive ratchets.
-Don

 

[Catfishdan]

No I bought it. I am a sucker for really rare stuff like that.

Well done. Nice looking set.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Wasn’t that challenger run only a year or 2?

The 4700 and 5200 "Challenger" sets are not listed in Catalog 17-B, which was printed in August 1939. The first catalog they appear in is Catalog 18-A, printed October 1940. So, they were introduced sometime in late 1939 (which we knew from Carla's set, with Don's set confirming) and apparently produced at least through the end of 1940. Then the name disappears until 1949.

Don't have it yet. Looks like ratchet is missing. Looks like 39 date codes from pics.

The 4700 Challenger sets did not have ratchets. Set No. 4700X, which is the decal on the box you just bought, had a hinge handle and cross bar. Set No. 4700Y had a spinner and sliding tee. EDIT: And no extensions.

 

[bmwrd0]

That is a very nice set!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like I will be looking for a hinge handle!

 

[d42jeep]

Yeah, one that matches the date on the rest of the tools. You will also need a chrome Plomb crossbar with the pinched ends. It’ll either look like this 1/4” one only plated or a smaller version of the chrome one. I think it depends on if there’s a retaining ball in the hole in the hinge handle.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They touted Challenger as an economy line. I've read the description of how they achieved the lower prices several times and I still can't figure it out! Page 24, Catalog 18-A. Maybe that's why they canned it after a year and a half, although I suspect it was the impending war, also.

 

[d42jeep]

Possibly the failure of the Challenger experiment was that the distributors would open the “sealed packaging” and sell the pieces individually. That may account for their rarity. When I was selling S-K in the ‘80s, it was common practice to order the less expensive sets to replenish shelf stock and pitch the boxes in the dumpster. Sad but true.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Don. That does help explain the discount, and also probably the failure I was guessing at. (Tangentially, I think this is the first time I realized you were selling S-K in the 80's. I knew you had a shop, but I thought it was strictly service. So you had a retail counter up front?)

 

[d42jeep]

After my mercifully brief (~10 yrs) wrenching career, I managed a couple of different auto parts stores in Berkeley for many years. I found S-K tools to be a very satisfactory brand to sell back then. My partner in the plaid shirt is now my Tahoe next door neighbor.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

After my mercifully brief (~10 yrs) wrenching career,

Snerk.

My partner in the plaid shirt is now my Tahoe next door neighbor.

Wow. Between Creedence Clearwater Revival and his solo career, I don't know where he found the time to work on cars!

 

[d42jeep]

Snerk.


Wow. Between Creedence Clearwater Revival and his solo career, I don't know where he found the time to work on cars!

That’s funny. The Fogerty (Dan) that wasn’t famous was in my high school class.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

After my mercifully brief (~10 yrs) wrenching career, I managed a couple of different auto parts stores in Berkeley for many years. I found S-K tools to be a very satisfactory brand to sell back then. My partner in the plaid shirt is now my Tahoe next door neighbor.
-Don

I didn't know you use to sell SK back in the day. That explains alot!

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some tools I bought new back then. I had to pay 10% over cost which really made them reasonable. I lost the box over the years but found a replacement. I’m surprised that more of them weren’t lost.
-Don
Since I’ve derailed the thread so badly, here are my neighbor’s pebble combos. He has the collecting disease too.

 

[Zrxrunner]

Funny, I wonder if whoever at plomb thought of the challenger set later came up with the proto challenger tools��

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Almost certainly. It was only eight (8) years later when the Plomb Tool Company launched the "Proto" brand and re-introduced the "Challenger" series. Morris B. Pendleton was still at the helm and it's very likely that many of the senior people in the engineering and marketing/merchandising departments were still with the company.

 

[r_olson_06]

A couple more including a very low part number chisel. I think it may be the lowest coming in at 4 a 5/8" Plugging Chisel.
The other is a square shank screwdriver for the display board.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[r_olson_06]

Another round of Rare Plombs. A beautiful stubby spinner handle and a 3055 LA. I have nearly completed the 47XX drive tools with only a pair of drive studs and a 1/4" X 9/32" adapter to finish it off.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[mustangSR70]

Another round of Rare Plombs. A beautiful stubby spinner handle and a 3055 LA. I have nearly completed the 47XX drive tools with only a pair of drive studs and a 1/4" X 9/32" adapter to finish it off.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

Great finds!
The little adapter is certainly a tough to find piece. I think I've only seen a couple.

 

[r_olson_06]

Great finds!
The little adapter is certainly a tough to find piece. I think I've only seen a couple.

Did they make them in Plomb or were they only proto?

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[Catfishdan]

Did they make them in Plomb or were they only proto?

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

I’ve got one in proto. Never seen a plomb one. If it’s out there though I’m sure you’ll find it.

 

[bmwrd0]

Picked this up today at a garage sale




A couple of the legs are Proto marked but overall, I am not unhappy!

 

[r_olson_06]

Picked this up today at a garage sale




A couple of the legs are Proto marked but overall, I am not unhappy!

Solid pick!

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[Smokeshow69]

Solid pick!

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

You can say that again ! X2


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[mustangSR70]

Did they make them in Plomb or were they only proto?

The one I have is Plomb 4790 cad plated

 

[Smokeshow69]

I’ve got one in proto. Never seen a plomb one. If it’s out there though I’m sure you’ll find it.

I swore there was one on the bay last year that went for good money but don’t quote me on that...


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[r_olson_06]

The one I have is Plomb 4790 cad plated

Thanks for sharing. That makes sense that it would be wartime era with the 9/32" drive.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[r_olson_06]

Hey Roy, Pic of broached end of the 5/8 impact?

I am envious. Must find. In Wild.::

Sorry the late response. Here is a pic of the broach end. Also a family shot of my 1/2" Power Drives.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[ssdave]

Got a Plomb Tire Chains box today at an estate sale. A few miscellaneous Plomb pieces also. I dumped the tire chains out, didn't want to carry the extra weight home. Don't know what to do with the box, too big to ship to anybody easily.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Got a Plomb Tire Chains box today at an estate sale. A few miscellaneous Plomb pieces also. I dumped the tire chains out, didn't want to carry the extra weight home. Don't know what to do with the box, too big to ship to anybody easily.

That box looks pretty straight for holding tire chains! Nice grab


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[r_olson_06]

Got a Plomb Tire Chains box today at an estate sale. A few miscellaneous Plomb pieces also. I dumped the tire chains out, didn't want to carry the extra weight home. Don't know what to do with the box, too big to ship to anybody easily.

Looks like a 1" drive socket box if I had to guess. Nice looking box.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm wondering how one would carry that box if for a 1" or even a 3/4" set. I have much smaller one, and it's 50# IIR. Does it have end handles?

 

[ssdave]

I'm wondering how one would carry that box if for a 1" or even a 3/4" set. I have much smaller one, and it's 50# IIR. Does it have end handles?

It has handles at each end. I too think it's for 1" sockets. I'll wash the 20 years of dirt off the top and see what the paint looks like today.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Well guys , I met up with Rileysan and I did some horse trading yesterday. Not a true pick since it wasn’t in the wild but these days you can’t be picky [emoji15][emoji23] I scored these 2 -1/4 drive boxes but now need to fill them! Anyone have these sockets or extensions or ratchets they want to sell or trade? The boxes are nice enough to just need waxing and I will put some cork in them to protect the paint! The maroon 4795 box tools should be marked Proto la while the red 4700C box should be marked mfd??




Small box -1962 catalog snippet




Bigger 4700-C set. There is one set bigger but this is a good size mid set







Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[r_olson_06]

Well guys , I met up with Rileysan and I did some horse trading yesterday. Not a true pick since it wasn’t in the wild but these days you can’t be picky [emoji15][emoji23] I scored these 2 -1/4 drive boxes but now need to fill them! Anyone have these sockets or extensions or ratchets they want to sell or trade? The boxes are nice enough to just need waxing and I will put some cork in them to protect the paint! The maroon 4795 box tools should be marked Proto la while the red 4700C box should be marked mfd??




Small box -1962 catalog snippet




Bigger 4700-C set. There is one set bigger but this is a good size mid set







Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

I will check tonight but I am sure I have drive tools for both and some misc sockets.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[Smokeshow69]

I will check tonight but I am sure I have drive tools for both and some misc sockets.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

Awesome! I did post this in the Proto thread but I know not all of the plomb guys read the Proto thread but that a lot of plomb guys will have these tools I need


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[damon18]

Posting to get educated on Plumb/Plomb and what is desirable.

Saw this ad on FB Marketplace for a tiny Plumb ball-peen hammer for $45.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/589777111708562/

I'll post the pictures in case ad disappears, it's been posted for a while so figured if anyone local wanted it, it would be gone already.

My question is, if I saw something like that locally should I buy it? How much would be a good price? Is $45 crazy?

 

[ssdave]

Posting to get educated on Plumb/Plomb and what is desirable.

Saw this ad on FB Marketplace for a tiny Plumb ball-peen hammer for $45.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/589777111708562/

I'll post the pictures in case ad disappears, it's been posted for a while so figured if anyone local wanted it, it would be gone already.

My question is, if I saw something like that locally should I buy it? How much would be a good price? Is $45 crazy?

That's a common hammer from PLUMB, not PLOMB. It's a $1 to $3 garage sale hammer, $10 to $15 if you really needed one.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

EDIT: REDUNDANT to ssdave. (What happened to the Delete Post option?)

 

[Smokeshow69]

Posting to get educated on Plumb/Plomb and what is desirable.



Saw this ad on FB Marketplace for a tiny Plumb ball-peen hammer for $45.



https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/589777111708562/



I'll post the pictures in case ad disappears, it's been posted for a while so figured if anyone local wanted it, it would be gone already.



My question is, if I saw something like that locally should I buy it? How much would be a good price? Is $45 crazy?

Damon- just like Ss Dave said- that is plumb, not plomb. That is the company that sued plomb and won. He is on the mark with the prices as well! There are certain small size paschal or p&c hammers that may sell for a bit more depending on condition but the hammer you pictured is way overpriced!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app