Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[Username already in use]

Not for the feint of heart. These Plomb tappet wrenches are hard enough to find, but this guy has been through the war. Someone cut off the 9/16" end to make a nice, thin, 1/2" SOE.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple that made it through unscathed.
-Don

 

[drivesitfar]

USER: yep I was removing a 3/4 inch steel top off a workbench a few years ago and found a PLVMB chisel that was used as a SHIM and welded to the bench.

Jeep: great looking ratchets and thanks for sharing more of your cool stuff.

BMW: I can't recall ever owning a Plvmb stamped wrench that is also stamped PROTO so happy to see you found one (maybe you have a few?).

 

[bmwrd0]

I just moved all of them along to Smokeshow, as he is building a tool board just for them.

 

[RubiconJK]

Recently added 5426-S to my 1/2" drive set. These 8 pt versions have proven challenging to find. Still missing a couple, but chipping away at it!

 

[d42jeep]

I have five 8 pointers in my 1/2” drive set. I don’t run across them very often.
-Don

 

[r_olson_06]

Recently added 5426-S to my 1/2" drive set. These 8 pt versions have proven challenging to find. Still missing a couple, but chipping away at it!

Indeed they are. What is the big size? Seems like the 1-1/16" and 1-1/4" are near impossible.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found this 3324 (3/8") electrical wrench at the flea yesterday. Note the non-pebbled recessed panel. We talked about these back in 2018, but I was never satisfied with the answers, and I still don't think it's resolved. As you can see in the group shot of the paltry, fugly Plomb electrical/obstruction wrenches I have managed to find in the wild, they clearly made 33xx series wrenches with a smooth shank. That's a 3318 directly above it. I don't know if the recessed panel was a factory thing, in parallel with the smooth shanks, or a time thing, made earlier or later than the smooth shanks. But 33xx electrical wrenches were never shown with a recessed panel in any Plomb catalog as far as I know.

 

[RubiconJK]

Indeed they are. What is the big size? Seems like the 1-1/16" and 1-1/4" are near impossible.

Roy, I am indeed still missing the two you mentioned plus the 5/8" and the 3/8". The largest one I have is 1" and attached shows a pic with the 8 pt and 12 pt counter part side by side. Quite a difference!

I have five 8 pointers in my 1/2” drive set. I don’t run across them very often.
-Don

Don, your great family photo inspired me to get my 1/2" drive box out and take a similar pic. As I was doing so, I realized that one of my breaker bars, an extension and one long socket are in my fifth wheel (used to pull my water heater anode) and are missing here.

I found this 3324 (3/8") electrical wrench at the flea yesterday. Note the non-pebbled recessed panel. We talked about these back in 2018, but I was never satisfied with the answers, and I still don't think it's resolved. As you can see in the group shot of the paltry, fugly Plomb electrical/obstruction wrenches I have managed to find in the wild, they clearly made 33xx series wrenches with a smooth shank. That's a 3318 directly above it. I don't know if the recessed panel was a factory thing, in parallel with the smooth shanks, or a time thing, made earlier or later than the smooth shanks. But 33xx electrical wrenches were never shown with a recessed panel in any Plomb catalog as far as I know.

Lugz, all of mine are the smooth finish.

 

[disston]

I collected a bunch of 8 point sockets a few years ago when I owned a boat, an older boat, 1967 Criss Craft, and I still worked on older machines of different sorts. Not much call for them or less call as time has marched on. Now the manufacturers throw weird fasteners at us willy nilly but the old square drive was popular back when.

I remember when I first encountered a clutch drive bolt on my 1954 Ford. That blew my mind.

 

[MR.X]

Picked these up recently. Kind of interesting 3/4" drive WF's as they're 1940 date codes and chromed. I'd have close to a whole set by now if I hadn't been trading these off over the years.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Those are interesting. Any pics of the tops?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Those are purdy. Almost look like polished but lusterless dark natural steel. I have a set of 1936 dated tappet wrenches that have a very similar finish. Whatever Plomb was doing in their plating process back then, I like it so much better than the blinding shine of modern plating.

BTW, I've pointed this out before, but Plomb's first contract with the US Army Air Corps was June 1940. We tend to think of WF tools as wartime, and wartime as 1941, but not according to when the Office of Emergency Management, which eventually became the War Production Board, started keeping records. A good reminder for just how early we were getting ready despite public, Congressional, and even internal FDR administration opposition.

 

[MR.X]

I collected a bunch of 8 point sockets a few years ago when I owned a boat, an older boat, 1967 Criss Craft, and I still worked on older machines of different sorts. Not much call for them or less call as time has marched on. Now the manufacturers throw weird fasteners at us willy nilly but the old square drive was popular back when.

I remember when I first encountered a clutch drive bolt on my 1954 Ford. That blew my mind.

I learned from experience about sockets for square heads doing a detailed time sensitive salvage operation in an old factory where the ingress alone took considerable time and effort only to realize that a significant item would involve time frozen square head fasteners requiring an offset means of access. I thought my "assault pack" combined with cheater pipes etc. that would be found onsite would cover just about anything I'd run into but I didn't have the experience to know what I didn't know.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I learned from experience about sockets for square heads doing a detailed time sensitive salvage operation in an old factory where the ingress alone took considerable time and effort only to realize that a significant item would involve time frozen square head fasteners requiring an offset means of access. I thought my "assault pack" combined with cheater pipes etc. that would be found onsite would cover just about anything I'd run into but I didn't have the experience to know what I didn't know.

This could be read two ways. You are an advertised expert hired on the up and up by an institution or a major architectural construction firm looking to carefully remove some historic manufacturing machinery prior to a demolition scheduled to take place sooner than planned due to some administrivial ****-up. Or, you broke into an abandoned building at night to steal a lathe and daylight was approaching fast. Either way, you didn't have any 4-pointers!

 

[RubiconJK]

Picked these up recently. Kind of interesting 3/4" drive WF's as they're 1940 date codes and chromed. I'd have close to a whole set by now if I hadn't been trading these off over the years.

Nice! Never seen one in person and resolved to the fact that I need to spend some time on the left coast after retirement in June!

 

[MR.X]

This could be read two ways. You are an advertised expert hired on the up and up by an institution or a major architectural construction firm looking to carefully remove some historic manufacturing machinery prior to a demolition scheduled to take place sooner than planned due to some administrivial ****-up. Or, you broke into an abandoned building at night to steal a lathe and daylight was approaching fast. Either way, you didn't have any 4-pointers!

Or the Tennessee Valley Authority was about to flood some valley in the process of constructing a dam....but yes, you are absolutely correct.....I didn't have any 4 pointers.

 

[drivesitfar]

MR. X: sounds like a movie I watched called "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" starring George Clooney.

ALL: I certainly didn't need another one, but yesterday while I was at a guy's house looking at a nice old pre block Craftsman grinder I asked if he had any Blackhawk and Plvmb and he showed me his 3/4 inch Plvmb ratchet with 6 inch extension and mentioned a price that was just about what I had in my wallet so it followed me home with the grinder and it's cool huge cast stand.

i'll post pics later, but I think it might be the 5th or 6th one I own now that followed me home. while I do have a lot of 3/4 inch sockets i'm not sure I need this many, but I did need another extension. AND a 3/8 inch speed handle (forgot at the minute what it's called) that's shaped like a top hat.

He also gave me a nice socket, but I can't see if it's plvmb or not so I'll post it up and see if you recognize it.

 

[MR.X]

MR. X: sounds like a movie I watched called "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" starring George Clooney.

Of course that was what I was referring to in my last comment.

 

[MR.X]

Nice! Never seen one in person and resolved to the fact that I need to spend some time on the left coast after retirement in June!

Congrats on your retirement. These 2 were found South of Harrisburg PA.

 

[MR.X]

Those are interesting. Any pics of the tops?

are "the tops" drive end or working end?

 

[macgee]

Thats the exact reason why I always keep a set of 8 point sockets in my car tool box. Most things that are vintage and selling cheap or for free are bolted down with square fasteners and required 8 points. Can't tell you how many Walker Turner & Stanley grinders, wilton bullets and Athol vises that needed them, it also cuts down on the splinters compared when having to deal with the alternative without 8 points.

I don't have any Plomb's in 8 point but do have a couple of sets in Vintage long C Craftsman H, I have no idea how old they are but have been extremely useful during pillaging.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Referring to drive end

 

[MR.X]

BTW,( apologies for the thread hijack) ref. that 4 point post I made, that operation involved, among other things, falling thru a floor into a dirt cellar narrowly missing some ancient pointy *** unidentifiable machinery, making an eventful climb up the elevator shaft to the machine room on the roof,and a pair of thieves making the laughingly bad luck decision to stash their recently stolen goods under one of the wood floor loading bays unaware that I was in the building.

 

[MR.X]

this is the only other pic I have for now.

 

[MR.X]

Thats the exact reason why I always keep a set of 8 point sockets in my car tool box.

Right?!

 

[drivesitfar]

Mr x: I’ve had a few close calls but I was showing a friend a house I thought he’d like to buy and he had to see what the view was behind a taped off door and his first step out onto deck went about 15 feet down. After I finished laughing I did ask if he was ok and helped him out. He bought a different house btw.

Did you ever see thrives again?

Ok back on track. Here’s the 3/4 inch Plvmb ratchet with 6 inch extension, speed wrench with proto Los Angeles and the unidentified at this point socket.

 

[MR.X]

looks like a Chicago Pneumatic.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

this is the only other pic I have for now.

Looks like drive end is flat? No recess around the broach. Very interesting thanks!

 

[mtgrizzlymn69]

My collection so far





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[Oldtuleguy]

That's alot of plomb!

 

[RubiconJK]

Congrats on your retirement. These 2 were found South of Harrisburg PA.

Thank you sir!

 

[AK4570]

Are there any markings on the crossbar? I would not expect to see any. I would like to see the manufacturers marks on the drive tools, if possible. Great set. Thanks.
-Don

Well, I finally made it back across the country and got my grubby mitts on the Plvmb 5400T set.

As promised, here are some pictures of the drive tools. As you suspected, there are no markings on the crossbar.

After double-checking the catalog, it looks like I need to find a 5463 10" extension to complete the set... I'll keep my eyes open.

Best regards,
John

 

[mtgrizzlymn69]

That's alot of plomb!

Thanks lol. It sure takes time and looking to complete sets. I’m getting closer. One at a time sometimes will pop up in a tool box I buy.


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[Oldtuleguy]

Yup patience pays off eventually.

 

[d42jeep]

Well, I finally made it back across the country and got my grubby mitts on the Plvmb 5400T set.

As promised, here are some pictures of the drive tools. As you suspected, there are no markings on the crossbar.

After double-checking the catalog, it looks like I need to find a 5463 10" extension to complete the set... I'll keep my eyes open.

Best regards,
John

Thanks for the pictures. The crossbar looks perfect and very likely came with the set. All of the date codes that I can see on some of the tools indicate manufacture in 1941. I’m a little surprised that I didn’t see the date code on the ratchet but a lot of years have passed since the set was made. The patent number on the hinge handles was interesting.

https://www.datamp.org//patents/displayPatent.php?pn=1380643&id=24903

Here is a 1/2” drive ratchet with a 1941 date code that mrbill sent me and some relevant catalog images.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I received a couple of interesting sockets in the mail yesterday from an eBay seller. I replaced the Chrome C marked 21/32” socket in my green box set which stood out like a sore thumb alongside its unplated brothers.
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

Well, not as nice as a lot of tools there, but now they will live another day. Before and after
Tappet wrench had a lot of corrosion. I decided not to polish it and leave as is after taking the rust off...

 

[Outlawmws]

A couple of Plvmb additions -WF-8 ratchet, Extension (sadly, some pipe jaw marks on one end) and a 5/16 socket. Also a JO MFG Co clamp socket. 44B8812

I don't have a lot of this drive size.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Plomb and JO go together like PB&J.