Proto Breaker Bar ID

[Adri2771]

I have a breaker bar that looks incredibly new but a google search of the part number doesn’t yield results that correspond to what I have. Instead, results for a rounded flex head ratchet wuth either part number 5457A or J5457F appear but this is not the tool I have.

On one side of the body it reads, “5457 PROTO MFD. U.S.A.” On the other side of the body it reads, “U.S. PAT. No. 2671367 PAT. Canada 1954”.

A patent search using the above patent number, was granted to John Modin of Canada, applied for March 1953 and issued March 1954 and describes the tool I have in my possession.

A Google search for John Modin Proto tools didn’t yield results.

Does anyone know the history of this tool? I have an email out to Proto asking them if they can identify it but haven’t heard back yet.

Image 1: The breaker bar

Image 2: The inscription

Image 3: The patent information

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Up to 58 or so they were marked proto los angeles, after that mfd. Usa, later just usa. That would make it late 50s 60s. The driveplug was replaceable and could be removed/repositioned.

 

[RTM]

It should be no newer than 17 years after the patent date stamped on it. Should reduce your search window a bit on "newer".

 

[Provincial]

The fork connection is "backwards" to the accepted design. Putting the fork on the handle was patented early in the 20th Century, and until P&C challenged it, other manufacturers had to use the design like your example. I have a Cornwell breaker with this design.

This makes me think that there was an older version of the 5457 ratchet that used the older style hinge. It is possible that Proto made a head to use the same handle, and someone mixed up a ratchet handle when assembling a breaker.

I also suspect that this tool was made in Canada because of the reference to the Canadian patent. Proto had a factory in Canada.

 

[Smokeshow69]

What does the head look like? Does it ratchet?

 

[four.cycle]

edited for brevity

Message --------

Subject:​	Re: patent 2671367 Mar 9 1954 John Modin
Date:​	2024-09-30 10:33 am
From:​	Stan Schulz
To:​	four.cycle

Thanks for this one.
It appears in a 1956 PROTO catalog as "ROTAHEAD" ( https://archive.org/details/ProtoToolsCatalog56291956/page/n39/mode/2up ). -- only in 1/2" drive. Working on a DATAMP entry.
Regards, Stan S.