PLVMB Collecting......

[Flatland Dave]

What are the hardest items to find? I am going to see a guy who collects all brands, and is looking to sell some stuff. I have some PLVMB, probably 50 to 75 pieces, but was wondering what to keep my eyes open for?

What are your nemesis PLVMB tools?

 

[Outlawmws]

Probably drivers and hammers. Sockets, ratchets and wrenches are generally available.

 

[jerryW]

Some of the WF series. I don't think that they have all been identified yet.

Otherwise the double marked transition tools,Plvmb/Proto.

Proto LA is aanother varuation that I do look for.


jerry

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

I look for the 'War Finish'... Been collecting for a while now and still only have two of them....

JMHO

-BWP

 

[Flatland Dave]

Are there many 9/32 drive sockets out there?

I have no war finish, but some Wright Field.

I'd love to find some hammers and body hammers.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

AFAIK, I think someone with a lot more knowledge than me said that he's only seen one other pair of pebble dykes besides mine. But, the WF/War Finish stuff, pebble items, LA items, and Plomb/Proto dual marked items are in demand... here, and only here, just ship me what you find and I'll ship you back the "junk" I don't need But really, keep an eye out on the oddball items, the not every day tool type stuff.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Screwdrivers in good condition.
Striking tools (chisels, punches) in good condition.
Pliers.
3/4" and 1" drive sockets.
Plugs for the really old ratchets (the push-through style).
"War Finish" tools in general. Wright Field (WF) tools are easy to find by comparison.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Well, sockets and extensions and such are all over the place, but it is generally hard to get together a complete set of reasonably matched ones. Actual original sets still together can be very valuable finds because of this.
Handles are generally common...seems that no one ever discards an old ratchet or breaker.

 

[rusty65]

Plomb bit sockets are pretty rare I have a flat head one but have not seen any others since.

 

[Flatland Dave]

Here is what I ended up with:
1/2 x 7/16 3425 Dual marked Proto Plvmb Marked USA
11/16 open/box 11/16 marked usa traded for a Vlcheck
5469 1/2" speeder with swivel on the bottom marked USA
36** 5/16 obstruction screw driver marked USA
5564 3/4" Drive 2" socket.
8" adjustable wrench. marked USA.

Nothing really early, but it is there.
He has at least 1 complete set of 3 different styles of PLVMB combination wrenches.

Then, I ran out of money after a Wright 3/8 speeder and an old Athol vise. (worthy of it's own post)

There was lots more left of the 3/4" drive. 8 or so sockets, a breaker bar and a sliding T bar.

I spent almost 8 hours looking at tools with this gentleman. His eyesight is going and he can't see well enough to sort wrenches, so that is what we did.

82 years old and still very sharp. Remembers the different manufactures, who they merged with etc. Still has his original PLVMB set he bought when he started working on tractors.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21062498@N03/9886185055/" title="PLVMB purchase 092113 by dressage57348, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3814/9886185055_8b8a592b5d_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="PLVMB purchase 092113"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21062498@N03/9886183925/" title="WP_20130922_008 by dressage57348, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/9886183925_068aa30e97_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="WP_20130922_008"></a>

 

[ken w.]

I just picked up a Plvmb gear puller at an estate sale today. Really cool.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

that speeder is so cool!

 

[3baygarage]

that speeder is so cool!

I second that! You just don't see them every day.

 

[Steven67fr]

AFAIK, the rarest stuff is as follows (in no particular order):
Items in original packaging.
Very nice condition boxes - top or bottom
Unusual sized sockets
Anything 1933 and earlier, especially pre 1928 (aside from striking tools)
Hammers, nearly all. Body hammers really fetch a premium
Unique puller attachments/parts
Very nice conditions screwdrivers as WWII Jeep mentioned

Better yet - let me re-phrase as Outlaw said:

Anything that isn't a standard sized wrench, socket, extension, drive tool, beat up striking tool, or beat up screwdriver.

Impact is good - Metric is REALLY rare - there's some whitworth stuff out there...

The K series of tools from the 20's, body dollies, packing hooks, 7/8ths drive stuff, 5/8ths and 9/16ths socket adapters... I could ramble on about the stuff I've been unable to find. It's pretty rare that I have to go to a box other than my Plomb chest to find what I need.

 

[Steven67fr]

Here is what I ended up with:
1/2 x 7/16 3425 Dual marked Proto Plvmb Marked USA
11/16 open/box 11/16 marked usa traded for a Vlcheck
5469 1/2" speeder with swivel on the bottom marked USA
36** 5/16 obstruction screw driver marked USA
5564 3/4" Drive 2" socket.
8" adjustable wrench. marked USA.

Nothing really early, but it is there.
He has at least 1 complete set of 3 different styles of PLVMB combination wrenches.

Then, I ran out of money after a Wright 3/8 speeder and an old Athol vise. (worthy of it's own post)

There was lots more left of the 3/4" drive. 8 or so sockets, a breaker bar and a sliding T bar.

I spent almost 8 hours looking at tools with this gentleman. His eyesight is going and he can't see well enough to sort wrenches, so that is what we did.

82 years old and still very sharp. Remembers the different manufactures, who they merged with etc. Still has his original PLVMB set he bought when he started working on tractors.

That speeder's one of the more uncommon items to run across. A neat tool as well, break the nut loose, hinge it up, and speed the nut off.

Another way to figure what's less common is to look through the catalogs and see what was "discontinued" over the years - usually marked in red in the catalogs.

 

[nine4gmc]

Good stuff, I'd use that big socket as a pen holder on the desk!

 

[MHGhost]

I just acquired 3 of these tools recently. Im new to Plvmb collecting. I also acquired 3 dual wrenches and other sockets. 3 pieces say War Finish on them. Have any info on em?

 

[decableguy2000]

For me, it has been the 1/4" stubby spinner handle.

 

[Toothaker]

I like my PL▽MB pebble finish 7/8" flare wrench. I've been looking for more without success.

 

[FARMAN33]

I just came into possession of a PLVMB 3 1/2" socket (1" drive)

 

[d42jeep]

There is likely more information in the Plomb thread in the vintage forum. I would like to find one of these unicorns for my Plomb based GMTK.
Almost as difficult to find is a pebble 1/4” drive 4766 flex handle.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

There is likely more information in the Plomb thread in the vintage forum.

PLOMB thread <- HERE

 

[FrankLee]

The rarest pieces I had were the:

• 5297 socket rack
• 5497 socket rack
• WF-2adapter