Plumb / P&C Wrenches/ Proto L.A. ?

[alton1911]

I have been collecting all of these with equal enthusiasm but Plomb pebble wrenches seem like the obvious predecessor to the Proto L.A. wrenches with a pebble type panel with the size. But P&C wrenches seemed to have skipped the pebble all together. The overall shape and contours seem to match Proto L.A. with no pebbles. I assumed they were produced well after the Plomb wrenches had finished.
I found a wrench that I thought was P&C ... very very similar to the other P&C wrenches I have... same rounded edges and smooth sides like the Proto L.A. wrenches but it is marked Plomb. When I get it clean enough, I will post a pic.
My question is: How late did they brand “ Plomb” wrenches? We’re Proto L.A. wrenches contemporary with P&C?

 

[r_olson_06]

Plomb made it into the early 50s with one year having a dual brand of proto and Plomb. Proto LA stamping started after the Plomb era. P&C started before the proto brand.

Sent from my XT1080 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[mustangSR70]

Plomb as a company name made it to the early 50's, but Plomb name on a tool ended in early '49 with what some call Dual Marked, Proto by Plomb. The reason for all this was the Plumb Hammer company sued Plomb for copyright issues. Plomb was told they could not use the Plomb name on tools, so Plomb called the tools Proto, but still put Plomb Tool Co on the tools, a violation of the court order.
P&C was a separate company that Plomb tool bought up in the late '30's/early '40's.
Proto Los Angeles was used from '49 until the company was moved out of Los Angeles in '57.

 

[alton1911]

I have a number of wrenches I took a pic of today. The above mentioned Plomb wrench... that looks like P&C is among them.
With a company like Plomb, it’s hard to figure out which wrench designs were earlier and which one was later.
Please take some time and look at these. Please Help me figure out where they belong on a timeline.
Top wrench being No. 1 and so on.



Thanks to all in advance.
alton1911

 

[tym]

Alloy Artifacts is worth consulting to help you construct your timeline.

 

[d42jeep]

I have a number of wrenches I took a pic of today. The above mentioned Plomb wrench... that looks like P&C is among them.
With a company like Plomb, it’s hard to figure out which wrench designs were earlier and which one was later.
Please take some time and look at these. Please Help me figure out where they belong on a timeline.
Top wrench being No. 1 and so on.



Thanks to all in advance.
alton1911

All of the Plomb wrenches are likely wartime except the postwar pebble. The P&C is not wartime but I’m not that good on dating P&C.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

The P&C was made after the Plomb acquisiton. It appears to be plated, which would make it after WWII.

 

[MR.X]

the Proto L.A. wrenches with a pebble type panel with the size. But P&C wrenches seemed to have skipped the pebble all together. We’re Proto L.A. wrenches contemporary with P&C?

Hi. P&C, after being bought by Plomb eventually did manufacture a line of pebble panel wrenches. You'll run into some sooner or later. There are examples somewhere on the GJ.
Yes. Proto Los Angeles marked wrenches and P&C marked wrenches were being manufactured at the same time.

 

[alton1911]

I appreciate your answers. I am a huge fan of these tools. I have a number of Proto and Challenger wrenches, sockets, and ratchets, but I am always happy to find any of the Proto empire. I am fascinated by the variety. I love that there are so many connections and as I read about the branding, it seems like it was all happening at once.

Thank you all again.
alton1911