Plomb WF Series Pics?

[twertsy]

Ok folks, I appear to be sorely lacking in Plomb WF examples. If y'all would be so kind on this crappy, rainy day (at least here on the east coast), could you do a little digging and post pics with comments under the appropriate page?

It'd be greatly appreciated!! Let's get this section filled up!

 

[DWise]

The only piece I have.

 

[twertsy]

The only piece I have.

May we use that DWise?

 

[DWise]

Sure

 

[3baygarage]

I'll gladly contribute Twertsy. Just picked up a WF-37 this weekend. Different from the one already on your site which has a stamped handle,this one has the stamped beam.

 

[3baygarage]

Wf-38-t

 

[bonneyman]

Wf-38-t

Dang, that is freakin' cool!

 

[mustangSR70]

I have about 40 different WF Plombs in my collection. I'll try and get some pictures up.

 

[3baygarage]

Dang, that is freakin' cool!

Thanks B-MAN. They are cool.

Mustered up the troops.

 

[chopper1]

Thanks B-MAN. They are cool.

Mustered up the troops.

No wonder we can't find any of those, you got them all!

 

[twertsy]

No $hit! Dang 3-Bay!!

Edit: And he's in Buffalo Chopper!! ??

 

[3baygarage]

No wonder we can't find any of those, you got them all!

No $hit! Dang 3-Bay!!

Edit: And he's in Buffalo Chopper!! ??

I get on my kicks sometimes,lol. None of them were found local, just like I've never found a Craftsman speed ratchet local. And some other things.

 

[3baygarage]

Twertsy, you have some good computer skills. That site looks great btw.

That ratchet I photo'd is the first one I acquired in case anyone cares. Didn't just pick at random, I love the patina.

Something else I noticed about these, the male and female drive squares seem to do what they want with temperature change. Perhaps the tempering? of the metal. I don't know about metals really. Is it the cad. plating? I haven't seen much of that with other tools.

 

[twertsy]

Twertsy, you have some good computer skills. That site looks great btw.

That ratchet I photo'd is the first one I acquired in case anyone cares. Didn't just pick at random, I love the patina.

Something else I noticed about these, the male and female drive squares seem to do what they want with temperature change. Perhaps the tempering? of the metal. I don't know about metals really. Is it the cad. plating? I haven't seen much of that with other tools.

Thanks 3bay, but actually, I have virtually NO computer skills! Luckily, some smart computer people develop software that make it easy for us dummies.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Twertsy,

I see that your site refers to the WF-8-S (1/4-inch square drive ratchet) the same way as most sites, by caveating the WF-8 (9/32-inch square drive ratchet) entry on the list. I recommend its own entry - they tend to get forgotten as a caveat.

The first generation 1/4-inch square drive ratchets made under the Wright Field contracts were marked "WF-8“ on the head, just like the 9/32-inch version, but bore an “S” crudely stamped into the flip side, suggesting that they re-used existing 9/32-inch ratchet hardware and added a new 1/4-inch square drive plug mechanism. Conjecture has suggested the “S” indicated “Special.” I don't own one, but several of these first generation 1/4-inch square drive ratchets have been in circulation at GJ, eBay, and elsewhere if you're looking for a photo.

The second generation 1/4-inch square drive midget ratchets under the Wright Field contract had the same frame, but a different face plate, pawl, and switch, and had had the full "WF-8-S“ stamped on the handle panel, as seen in these photos.







Feel free to use the write-up and photos if you want.

 

[twertsy]

Twertsy,

I see that your site refers to the WF-8-S (1/4-inch square drive ratchet) the same way as most sites, by caveating the WF-8 (9/32-inch square drive ratchet) entry on the list. I recommend its own entry - they tend to get forgotten as a caveat.

The first generation 1/4-inch square drive ratchets made under the Wright Field contracts were marked "WF-8“ on the head, just like the 9/32-inch version, but bore an “S” crudely stamped into the flip side, suggesting that they re-used existing 9/32-inch ratchet hardware and added a new 1/4-inch square drive plug mechanism. Conjecture has suggested the “S” indicated “Special.” I don't own one, but several of these first generation 1/4-inch square drive ratchets have been in circulation at GJ, eBay, and elsewhere if you're looking for a photo.

The second generation 1/4-inch square drive midget ratchets under the Wright Field contract had the same frame, but a different face plate, pawl, and switch, and had had the full "WF-8-S“ stamped on the handle panel, as seen in these photos.

Feel free to use the write-up and photos if you want.

That's interesting info, and thank you. I actually have a WF-8, without an S anywhere to be found that is 9/32 drive

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's interesting info, and thank you. I actually have a WF-8, without an S anywhere to be found that is 9/32 drive

As it should be, Twertsy. The ratchets marked WF-8 are 9/32 drive.

The ratchets marked "WF-8" on the face plate of the head with an "S" on the flip side of the handle (early production) or "WF-8-S" on the handle panel along with the "v PLVMB v" logo (later production) are 1/4 drive.

The WF series does not include any other 1/4 drive pieces. No sockets, no extensions, no handles. To add a 1/4 drive ratchet to production, ostensibly to be used by USAAF mechanics using 1/4 drive sockets, extensions and handles made by other suppliers, Plomb modified the drive insert. All the other parts - including the face plate of the head marked "WF-8" - were re-used from the 9/32 drive production stock. To distinguish a 9/32 drive ratchet from a 1/4 drive ratchet - again, both marked "WF-8" on the face plate of the head - they crudely stamped an "S" on the back side, initially. Later, they stamped WF-8-S on the handle panel.

As a tangential note, this is very similar to how Snap-On entered into 1/4-drive production, in 1943, a year and a half before they made the 1/4-drive sockets, extensions, and other handles to go with the ratchet, modifying the drive plug insert to their 9/32 drive ratchet.

My ratchet above is an example of the later 1/4-drive production WF-8-S.

There are examples of the earlier 1/4 drive WF production WF-8-S floating around - with the WF-8 on the head, just like the 9/32 drive ratchet, and the "S" on the back side handle - but I don't have one.

 

[twertsy]

Ah yup, had them backwards.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hate when that happens.

 

[bonneyman]

I loved the design so much I took a damaged 9/32" Plomb WF8 and converted it to 1/4" drive with a square-to-hex adapter.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I loved the design so much I took a damaged 9/32" Plomb WF8 and converted it to 1/4" drive with a square-to-hex adapter.

Well, that's certainly more inventive and less cannibalistic than the more common method of grinding the drive stud down 1/32 on each side!

 

[Coopduc]

My meager plomb collection. Thanks dad...

 

[DuroChrome]

I only have two WF items, one of which I need to clean up! Here they are...the little DBE is in amazing shape.

 

[DuroChrome]

Little guy!

 

[notlob]

Here are most of my Plomb WF's, with a couple other war-related pieces thrown in.

I think the most interesting is the last socket (2 pics), which is whitworth, and as I understand, was used in service kits for Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

 

[ritestuff]

I'm not exactly a Plomb collector, but I do find old Plomb tools fairly frequently. I was looking through this thread at the "WF" designation tools and came up with a question.

I have a Plomb 1/2" drive deep socket that doesn't have the initials "WF" on it, but it has the words "war finish" stamped on it. Is that something that was done on a certain line of these WF tools, or a certain time period?

Thanks in advance.

 

[notlob]

See section 5 of History of PLOMB Tools here:

http://www.vannattabros.com/plomb/plombtool.html

 

[Private Lugnutz]

"War Finish" tools were tools made during the war, probably between 1942 and 1944, when material and plating restrictions affected the finish that a tool would normally get for commercial production. They are not military or surplus tools. They were sold on the commercial market before most tools were restricted for military sales only. It was a way to say it was substandard. They could've been sold during that time, and also after the war, as surplus. Due to the confusion of "W.F." (for War Finish) and "WF" (for Wright Field, a USAF contract agency location), it's thought of as a Plomb thing, but Plomb was not the only tool maker that used the designation. Federal, which made perfect handle screwdrivers, is another example. And machine tools (e.g., lathes) also marked or put tags on their products with a 'War Finish' mark.

 

[Flatland Dave]

Damn I'm amazed by the knowledge on this board.
Thanks Private for that history lesson.

 

[DuroChrome]

Ever notice how the little plomb bobs are facing the opposite way on the WF tools?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Not all of them. Only a few, actually. While examples of those with the juxtaposed plumb bobs have been noted and shown for years, there is no factory documentation or conclusive explanation, and the models it appears on defy any fast and easy interpretation that I know of.

 

[twertsy]

Agree Lug. I've spent a little time trying to discern some rhyme / reason for the marking but just when you think you have it, another tool pops up that throws everything out of whack. I have a P&C branded "Bigazz" DBE that is WF-88 as well.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

'Zackly!

I also have a P&C WF DBE. I forget the sizes. I'll post a photo later. While P&C was still very independent during wartime (as opposed to what happened later in the 50's), they were clearly contributing to the high demands of the Wright Field contract.

 

[Username already in use]

Some of the WF production continued into the Proto era.
Not sure where these tools would fit in on your new tool history site, but here are a couple of pics of my Proto WF-38 1/2" drive ratchet.
Obviously this is the same pattern wrench as the Plomb version but has nothing forged into the reverse panel.
One screw that secures the ratcheting mechanism was replaced by me, unsure of the vintage of the other screw.

The head is marked PROTO and WF38-US although this example isn't in the best of shape.

 

[chopper1]

Double Box Ends, WF-79 [3/8 - 5/16] to WF-85 [15/16 to 1"]

 

[Bierisch]

Hey, guys, quick question, I was looking at my WF-84 and mine is like a black colour with some spots of thin rust around, I was wondering how I could see if it is steel or cadmium plated, and if it is cadmium plated how could I clean it up?

 

[danstead]

Hey Plomb Guys,

Just picked up a cool small ratchet at a flea market over the weekend.
WS-8 and I can't find an "s" anywhere, but the drive measures .251"

Also no markings on the face plate that I can find.

1 problem, the selector arm is broke off. Not sure if this was 1 or 2 pieces? Any chance I'd be able to find a replacement?

Thx

 

[Plombob]

Hey Plomb Guys,

Just picked up a cool small ratchet at a flea market over the weekend.
WS-8 and I can't find an "s" anywhere, but the drive measures .251"

Also no markings on the face plate that I can find.

1 problem, the selector arm is broke off. Not sure if this was 1 or 2 pieces? Any chance I'd be able to find a replacement?

Thx

The selector was one piece. Modern Proto repair kits will fit the old rat. Not all paddle handled rats have an "S".

 

[Plombob]

Agree Lug. I've spent a little time trying to discern some rhyme / reason for the marking but just when you think you have it, another tool pops up that throws everything out of whack. I have a P&C branded "Bigazz" DBE that is WF-88 as well.

That's what makes them fun to collect! Every now and again a tool is found that no one has seen before.

Twertsy - What WF pics do you need? I may be able to fill the gaps.

 

[twertsy]

That's what makes them fun to collect! Every now and again a tool is found that no one has seen before.

Twertsy - What WF pics do you need? I may be able to fill the gaps.

Give me a few days to "reinventory." I've still got a bunch to load up on my site, which I "might" get to today.