Plumb Ratchet

[dj_110]

I've noticed a bunch of posts on Plumb or Plomb tools on here. I have a #5449 1/2" drive Plumb Ratchet that my dad gave me with my first set of mis-matched tools. It's kind of grungy looking, has some pitting, etc. but works well. Are they worth anything? Are they collectible? I'm not really looking to get rid of it, but wondering if it worth cleaning up, polishing, etc.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Yes to all of the above, they are collectible and worth something and are great to use! Post some pics!

 

[dj_110]

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[dj_110]

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[dj_110]

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[dj_110]

Like I said, it's a little grungy looking, the pictures are pretty dark. That back of the head it actually somewhat shiny. I have poor lighting in the kitchen with my camera. I should have taken them in the garage!

 

[softailgarage]

It aint worth squat...send it to me, I'll dispose of it properly for you.

 

[Karl_B]

The triangle represents the letter O. The manufacturer is Plomb, not to be confused with Plumb who later sued them over the similarity when Plomb started making striking tools.

I have a handful of old Plomb stuff I use, and lots of Proto, which is what they changed the name to after the law suit. I can't give you an idea of the value of that piece, but any tool you want to keep it worth cleaning up and protecting it from rust.

 

[dj_110]

The triangle represents the letter O. The manufacturer is Plomb, not to be confused with Plumb who later sued them over the similarity when Plomb started making striking tools.

I have a handful of old Plomb stuff I use, and lots of Proto, which is what they changed the name to after the law suit. I can't give you an idea of the value of that piece, but any tool you want to keep it worth cleaning up and protecting it from rust.

Thanks for the info. I was a bit confused by the two names.

I have wiped it down with oil in the past when shuffling the tools around. I have just never taken the time to totally clean it up. I was thinking that it would be neat to try polishing it up a little. They obviously weren't highly chromed like the new shiny stuff.

I'll try to get some better pics, in the daylight of it.

 

[dj_110]

Yes they are collectible and yes they are worth something, but likely more sentimental value than monetary.

There are several 5449 ratchets on ebay sold listings. That will give you a ball-park value.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...sanli=1&_sop=10&_dmd=1&_ipg=200&LH_Complete=1

Disassemble, clean off all the grease, use a brass brush to remove any loose rust. and soak it in a vinegar bath.

The modern Proto 5449 ratchets are the same design and the Proto rebuild kits still work for the old Plombs.

Frank,
There isn't any loose rust that I can see. I know I need to get all the grease off. How long do I soak it in Vinegar? Straight vinegar or dilute it? The ratchet works really nice and smooth yet. Probably since I've never really used it much since my dad gave it to me as a kid in the 80's.

I'll have to see if I can get it cleaned up. It's worth more to me sentimentally, I was just curious if they were worth saving.

 

[jjjrmx5]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Straight vinegar. For that the amount of rust that I see in the photos, it should not take a very long soak. I would guess that about 2 1/2 hours would be about right. After the soak, take it out of the vinegar and scrub it with a steel-bristled brush under running water until all of the black stuff is off, then pat dry and spray all surfaces liberally with WD-40 to displace any residual water. Wipe of any excess WD-40 and rub the whole thing with a good coat of paste wax. If you don't wax it to protect the steel, the tool will re-rust fairly quickly. I thiink you'll be surprised at how well it cleans up.

Here's a 5449 and breaker bar that I cleaned up using the same process:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227617&highlight=plomb+5449

Yep.

 

[Filson]

Great ratchet, I have one myself. When you disassemble it, you might want to flip the drive back around so you have the switch on the "back" of the ratchet, instead of facing your work though. The drive fits in either way, so it's easy.

 

[Smokeshow69]

As with all old tools, you do not want to take a bench grinder to this ratchet as it will ruin the value of the ratchet. You can clean it up a little but do not make it look new. Also be careful with Plvmb tools as they are cadium plated and the cadium is very toxic if it is inhaled. These ratchets feel great in your hand and are well made. If you are looking for an easy method to clean it-first degrease it with soap and water, 2nd-soak it overnight in rust penetrant. It will look better but will not ruin the aged look of the ratchet! Feel free to post any of your plvmb tools over in the plvmb/proto tools thread. You can find it by searching for it.

 

[dj_110]

Great ratchet, I have one myself. When you disassemble it, you might want to flip the drive back around so you have the switch on the "back" of the ratchet, instead of facing your work though. The drive fits in either way, so it's easy.

What is the original way of the drive to be facing? I haven't had this apart ever, but it was "old" when I got it as a kid. Any ideas on how old you guys think this is?

By cleaning up and polishing, I didn't me taking it to a grinder. I was just thinking of removing the black gunk from it. I'm wondering what it looks like inside as far as condition. Maybe this weekend I will get time to pull it apart and soak it.

All the tips are appreciated. I do like the feel of it better some of my other tools.

 

[drivesitfar]

DJ: not sure of the age and will let Frank or other Plvmb experts chime in. i can tell you that it is a keeper though and especially since you got it from your dad and he might have gotten it from your grandpa.

one thing i did hear from Zkling is that if you do decide to take it apart that there might be a spring inside ready to jump out and hide so do so carefully and with that in mind. probably just some scrubbing with a nylon brush and simple green will do the job on the outside and if it is working ok don't bother taking it apart.

also the pin pushes thru either way so if it doesn't easily shoot some oil or PB blaster or Kroil on it if you want to turn it around. I think they did that to have better access to the reverse and forward switch in tight spots and not sure why they don't use that version on today's ratchets.

my vote is clean it and keep it in your tool box.

 

[dj_110]

DJ: not sure of the age and will let Frank or other Plvmb experts chime in. i can tell you that it is a keeper though and especially since you got it from your dad and he might have gotten it from your grandpa.

one thing i did hear from Zkling is that if you do decide to take it apart that there might be a spring inside ready to jump out and hide so do so carefully and with that in mind. probably just some scrubbing with a nylon brush and simple green will do the job on the outside and if it is working ok don't bother taking it apart.

also the pin pushes thru either way so if it doesn't easily shoot some oil or PB blaster or Kroil on it if you want to turn it around. I think they did that to have better access to the reverse and forward switch in tight spots and not sure why they don't use that version on today's ratchets.

my vote is clean it and keep it in your tool box.

Thanks for the dis-assembly info. I'm always afraid of spring loaded parts. They like to hide under the bench when they come apart. I didn't get a chance to take any daylight pictures of it. It looks a little better in person, the pictures make it look pretty dark.

 

[dj_110]

By the way, I don't plan to sell it or get rid of it. I've always kept it since my dad gave it to me. The two of us used to do quite a bit of wrenching on cars together. Some day maybe it will get put on a shelf will some other momento's I have from him.

 

[dj_110]

After posting above, I started thinking. Dad also gave me a whole mismatched set of 1/2 dr. sockets. I know most are old school craftsman and SK, proto etc. I just ran out to the garage to find out the I have a 15/16" Plomb #5430 and a 1" Plomb #5432. I am wondering if at some point he had the whole set or if they came from my grandpa. That would be cool, but I will never know for sure.

 

[dj_110]

Your ratchet dates to around 1947-1948 (before Plomb had to change its name to Proto). These ratchets are one of the easiest designs to clean and lubricate. I've never had troubles with springs jumping out of a Plomb or Proto rachet. You'll find a pair of pawls inside, each with its own cone-shaped spring.

Contrary to a statement made in an earlier post, not all Plomb tools were cadmium plated. Some were (especially the military-contract WF series), but may were not. The pebble background stuff like this ratchet was either bare steel or had some chrome plating. You won't run into any "deadly fumes" while vinegar soaking this bare steel ratchet.

I'm thinking that my dad must have gotten this from his dad or he bought it at an auction or something along the way. He was born in '48.

I will obviously still be careful taking it apart to not loose pieces.

 

[Filson]

Usually, the lever is on the back side of the ratchet, for access convenience (flick of the thumb) and to prevent the lever from inadvertently being moved out of place from hitting whatever your working on. It is your ratchet though, so have it as you please

I love those old pebble Plombs!

 

[dj_110]

I did about a 2 hour vinegar soak on the handle today. It's starting to look pretty nice. Unfortunately I have misplaced my wire brush. This never happens to me, I'm pretty **** about putting my tools away in their correct spot. However I used a small brass bristled brush and some 00 steel wool with good success. I need to do another good soak on it and more scrubbing but had to surrender for the day because my family is coming from out of town for the night. So back at it tomorrow. I may have to run to town and get a wire brush because that would sure be better. I will post more pics soon.

Oh and the internals look pretty much like new. There was dirt and hard grease in there that wiped right out with a little brake cleaner. I don't plan to do anything with the insides.

 

[ganymede]

A steel wool dish pad will work great. They are plenty abrasive but not too much and the soap helps wash away vinegar .

 

[dj_110]

So, here are the photos of the before and after of the ratchet soak. I soaked it for 2 hours or so, and then scrubbed it with 00 Steel wool. Followed by a second 2 hour soak and more scrubbing with a brass brush and 00 steel wool. It's not perfect but turned out very nice! The inside looks like new (I forgot the after photo of that). I grease everything inside and flipped the drive around as suggested. You be the judge.

The before










The After

 

[3baygarage]

Looks great.