Proto Brand Ranking

[freudianfloyd]

How do each of the divisions of Proto rank compared to the others? Challenger, Indestro, Blackhawk.

I have tools of each name, but am curious why they need so many different brands. I am assuming Proto is the top tier, but what comes next? Are some of these other brands obsolete?

 

[B_Bimmer]

Indestro is not a stanley brand. Blackhawk and challenger are generally the same, challenger is now gone.

 

[unslow1]

Indestro is not a stanley brand. Blackhawk and challenger are generally the same, challenger is now gone.

That and they refuse to honor the warranty on Challenger stuff. Decent stuff I have a lot of it. If it's a good price buy it. Don't expect them to honor the warranty.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Wow, I'm going to have to go back and look at the Indestro set I bought at a swap meet a few weeks ago. I thought for sure it said Proto on it somewhere.

 

[notlob]

Duro and Indestro were very closely related, if not the same, companies. Your Indestro set may say Duro on it somewhere.

 

[Mgdoug3]

AA has some nice info on Indestto and Duro. They were in the same building but were two companies although Duro and Indestro Super are almost identical.

http://alloy-artifacts.org/duro-indestro.html

 

[Professional Tool User]

Challenger is no longer around. Stanley slowly started phasing out Challenger and replacing it with Blackhawk over the years. Indestro was never part of Stanley unless somehow Stanley bought whoever bought out indestro.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I stand corrected. I just looked at the sockets I was referring to, and they do not say Proto on them. I'm not sure why I thought they were the same.

 

[sk farmer]

black hawk sits a little differently in the mix. blackhawk stood on it its own for may years and may be nearly as old as plomb which is obviously the precurser to the proto name.

i am sure someone will chime in on the exact dates

 

[unslow1]

black hawk sits a little differently in the mix. blackhawk stood on it its own for may years and may be nearly as old as plomb which is obviously the precurser to the proto name.

i am sure someone will chime in on the exact dates

Wiki says 1986.

 

[davethorik]

Wiki says 1986.

May what to check what you read. 1919 according to Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackhawk_(tools)

 

[5ktq]

Yeah blackhawk is old. In the 80's stanley bought proto from IR, and blackhawk from.. litton I think. So that must be what the 1986 you found is about.

 

[r_olson_06]

Blackhawk use to be one of the most innovative tool companies EVER now they are owned by Stanley and some are made over seas. Indestro made good solid socket sets. Proto was good stuff as well. If you find older Blackhawk buy it. You won't regret it.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches
1164, 3732, 3032, 3055, 3060, 3061, 3062, 3070