Plomb tool picture thread - show your stuff!

[d42jeep]

As a rule of thumb, the wartime pebble is not chrome plated, unlike the postwar pebble.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

This is something I have been thinking about for a while. “Los Angeles” seems to have been dropped from the logo and replaced by “proto means professional tools” by 1954, which is a couple years before the LA markings were removed from the tools, if the AA date of 1957 is correct. This is perfectly shown on your new wrench roll which has the newer logo but LA tools. This makes me think that a lot of stuff that we date to the MFD era, including your metric board, could likely be from the LA era. Is this an accurate assumption? Forgive me if I am missing something simple or this has come up before.

Your question opens up a can of worms But yes, it sometimes can be difficult to put concrete dates on plomb/proto...we know that plomb wasn't above selling old tool boxes with new logos on them. I do believe all the wrenches in my roll are original and are a mix of both Proto LA and Proto MFD tools. This set was probably assembled around the time of the change over and maybe they found some of the wrenches under a dusty shelf or something and completed the set before being sent out to a vendor.

 

[damon18]

damon18, here is your homework assignment on the pebble wrenches:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=360789

Thanks, I'll give that a read.

 

[damon18]

Beginning in February 1944 through 1949. Also ratchets, flare nut wrenches, pullers, pickle forks and a few other odds and ends. DOEs and DBEs in 1946. See link Smoke provided for longer explanation and evidence.

Thanks, I would have guessed that the round knurled handles were the newer ones.

 

[c1504]

Beginning in February 1944 through 1949. Also ratchets, flare nut wrenches, pullers, pickle forks and a few other odds and ends. DOEs and DBEs in 1946. See link Smoke provided for longer explanation and evidence.





See above.

Thank you for correcting me.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Apologies if anyone is getting tired of seeing this subject come up, but I for one never get sick of things like this, so I will follow smoke’s lead and post my new boards here too.

Also, if anyone has any LA wrenches they want to part with, let me know.

PM sent to you! I have acquired a few spares over the years.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks to AK4570 my SR socket collection is getting a little larger. I also received a new NAF socket for the Navy NAF box.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Your question opens up a can of worms But yes, it sometimes can be difficult to put concrete dates on plomb/proto...we know that plomb wasn't above selling old tool boxes with new logos on them. I do believe all the wrenches in my roll are original and are a mix of both Proto LA and Proto MFD tools. This set was probably assembled around the time of the change over and maybe they found some of the wrenches under a dusty shelf or something and completed the set before being sent out to a vendor.

This set is from 57 and box is labeled proto la

 

[c1504]

This set is from 57 and box is labeled proto la

That’s interesting. How are the contents marked? The logo I was refering to was the rectangle with the arch over the flying lady. I didn’t realize they used a different logo on some boxes

 

[Provincial]

OTG Thanks for posting that box. I picked up a similar one last weekend, and although the interior seemed to be the Plomb/Proto red, it didn't have any identification. The exterior paint is gone except for a little bit of the red on the back near the hinges.

The interesting thing is that the divider for the sockets is tapered the opposite of your box. Your box matches the illustrations in the Proto catalogs up into the early 1970's.

My box is also different in size compared to the catalogs. Mine is 6-11/16" long, 3" wide (perhaps a smidge wider), and 1-3/16" tall. The catalogs describe the 4795 box as 1"x2-1/4"x6-3/4", so my box is both taller and wider.

The latch and hinges on my box seem to be identical to the Proto box. One identification detail is the two crimps in the front edge that keep the lid from closing too far.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That’s interesting. How are the contents marked? The logo I was refering to was the rectangle with the arch over the flying lady. I didn’t realize they used a different logo on some boxes

All tools marked mfgd usa

 

[Oldtuleguy]

OTG Thanks for posting that box. I picked up a similar one last weekend, and although the interior seemed to be the Plomb/Proto red, it didn't have any identification. The exterior paint is gone except for a little bit of the red on the back near the hinges.

The interesting thing is that the divider for the sockets is tapered the opposite of your box. Your box matches the illustrations in the Proto catalogs up into the early 1970's.

My box is also different in size compared to the catalogs. Mine is 6-11/16" long, 3" wide (perhaps a smidge wider), and 1-3/16" tall. The catalogs describe the 4795 box as 1"x2-1/4"x6-3/4", so my box is both taller and wider.

The latch and hinges on my box seem to be identical to the Proto box. One identification detail is the two crimps in the front edge that keep the lid from closing too far.

That is same size as mine. I have 3 of them, all same layout. One has set number on inside lid and a flip latch.

 

[Provincial]

Thanks OTG. My box must be "special." It must be the first version when they went to round corners. It would either be from the Dual-Marked Era or the LA Era. At least that is what I'll have to convince Smokeshow!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes very rare limited edition trade bait!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks OTG. My box must be "special." It must be the first version when they went to round corners. It would either be from the Dual-Marked Era or the LA Era. At least that is what I'll have to convince Smokeshow!

I see what you did there

 

[MR.X]

non-standard Plomb DOE size pairing.

 

[MR.X]

...so a Plomb 4767 spinner with what looked like a Duro 1/4 to 3/8 adapter just went for like $67+4 on ebay. Are those little spinner handles really going for that much or did some bidders think it was an odd Plomb 3/8 spinner like the seller apparently did?

 

[d42jeep]

Odd things happen on eBay all the time but those spinners usually go for not much more than $20 to $25.
We found a few Plomb tools at a Marin County sale. The 3/8” drive wartime pebble ratchet is now in the evaporust as are the WF universal sockets.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

...so a Plomb 4767 spinner with what looked like a Duro 1/4 to 3/8 adapter just went for like $67+4 on ebay. Are those little spinner handles really going for that much or did some bidders think it was an odd Plomb 3/8 spinner like the seller apparently did?

“Fits like a glove! Bwah hah hah hah!” These are the pay anything for everything days. Plus factor in the talk about those spinners recently. Stuff is going silly.

Odd size wrench btw.

 

[r_olson_06]

...so a Plomb 4767 spinner with what looked like a Duro 1/4 to 3/8 adapter just went for like $67+4 on ebay. Are those little spinner handles really going for that much or did some bidders think it was an odd Plomb 3/8 spinner like the seller apparently did?

They are going for that much recently. I think the last auction one fetched north of $100.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[r_olson_06]

The big swap meet in Minnesota has returned! I netted a few uncommon Plombs!
A 3/4" WF Extension along with a socket. A first for me seeing anything 3/4" drive in WF. Also a 1940 on off 3/4" ratchet.

Also in that set is some NOS proto LAs


Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[MR.X]

Great pull!

 

[Smokeshow69]

non-standard Plomb DOE size pairing.

BRO

Not common! Does it even have a part number ?

 

[Smokeshow69]

The big swap meet in Minnesota has returned! I netted a few uncommon Plombs!
A 3/4" WF Extension along with a socket. A first for me seeing anything 3/4" drive in WF. Also a 1940 on off 3/4" ratchet.

Also in that set is some NOS proto LAs


Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

Nice work Roy! So far all the swap meets in my state have been inop....however I have found out about a small one next weekend in the state just north of us and I know of one in that same state in June. I think at this point, I would go to anything labeled "swap meet" even if it was full of baby clothes, just to say I went to a swap meet. I am jonesing so bad for some rusty gold it isn't funny! .

 

[d42jeep]

BRO

Not common! Does it even have a part number ?

Plomb would make tools on your special order back in the day. These Whitworth and special wrenches belong to my tool collecting counterpart in Wales.
-Don

 

[MR.X]

Yeah, It seems that Plomb, besides Whitworth had a line of no tool number DOE's that they may have distributed in the UK ( just based on personal experience and anecdotal accounts) . It would be nice if someone maybe one of our Bro's overseas could do a little research and maybe come up with an advertisement or someone with first hand knowledge..... and also shed some light on why the different size combinations from Plomb's regular line.

 

[Provincial]

I can see the 7/16x13/32 being sold in England, since it could be used on 10MM and 11MM bolts, although slightly loose.

The 9/16 x 11/16 would work on 3/8 bolts and nuts in both SAE and USS standards.

The 5/8 x 25/32 would work on 7/16 SAE bolts and 7/16 USS nuts (and bolts).

 

[MR.X]

Hi Jock. Since you're on a roll I have one of those same style no tool # DOE's that's 1 1/2 X 1 11/16.

 

[RubiconJK]

The big swap meet in Minnesota has returned! I netted a few uncommon Plombs!
A 3/4" WF Extension along with a socket. A first for me seeing anything 3/4" drive in WF. Also a 1940 on off 3/4" ratchet.

Nice! Congrats Roy!

 

[Provincial]

Hi Jock. Since you're on a roll I have one of those same style no tool # DOE's that's 1 1/2 X 1 11/16.

1-1/2 works on American Standard nuts and bolts (I know that this is what I find in the bolt bins at the farm store, even in Grade 8, so it must apply to modern cap screws), 1-1/4 USS cap screws, and 1-1/8 American Standard cap screws.

1-11/16 works on American Standard 1-1/8 nuts and bolts, and 1-1/4 American Standard cap screws.

All this comes from the chart in the Plomb 19R catalog.

 

[d42jeep]

The rusty 3/8” drive pebble ratchet came out of the evaporust this morning. It’s now ready to go back to work. Here are the before and after pictures.
-Don

 

[JjKk40]

That EvapoRust stuff is such an excellent tool for us to bring these pieces of history back from the dead! Nice work D42jeep! Here's a dual marked 1/2" i just picked up. No rust, just need to be disassembled, cleaned, and oiled up! Now she works as a charm!

 

[d42jeep]

Nice one! Yours is in better condition than the one I got in March.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8986512&postcount=10474


-Don

 

[Username already in use]

I managed to bring home a few Plomb pieces today.

The smalls need a bath in Evaporust, but the #3062 DOE is all good except for the hole someone decided to drill through the beam.

 

[btrnuthatch]

Stumbled across this version that I've never seen before -- it's about 10 1/2" long. My quick search indicates an early model. I'm very sure many of you are familiar with it.

 

[MR.X]

Stumbled across this version that I've never seen before -- it's about 10 1/2" long. My quick search indicates an early model. I'm very sure many of you are familiar with it.

Yeah, not their earliest, but early and very cool. Looks like it'll clean up. Nice grab.

 

[MR.X]

Plomb related, 30's era, Thorsen made,California Tool sockets I just picked up from a stop in Calif.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Plomb related, 30's era, Thorsen made,California Tool sockets I just picked up from a stop in Calif.

A little bird tells me that's not all you picked up But good pull on those sockets. Not common

 

[MR.X]

Thanks! and Thanks!

 

[MR.X]

A little bird tells me that's not all you picked up But good pull on those sockets. Not common

Box with most of the Plomb on the right I picked up from a cool dude in L.A... stuff was his grandfather's, as was the USN NAF toolbox not pictured. Obviously there is a later breaker (and extension) visible that were added at some point to the 30's Thorsen TT 3/4" set at top which was from the Sacramento area.