Proto or Plomb WF-38?

[SCscoutguy]

I have a good many Plomb tools and I have a few Plomb WF-38 3/8" ratchets that all say Plomb on them on one side and WF-38 on the other side. The other day at the flea market I picked up this WF-38 ratchet but it is blank on one side and has the regular WF-38 on the other. The head of the ratchet says Proto on it as well instead of being blank like Plombs. Could this wrench have been made maybe during the time when Plomb turned into Proto and they were just using up old stock or something? I have just never seen one like this before.

 

[Mickey O]

Lawsuit tool!!!!!!!!!*






* actually I have no idea, it might be a lawsuit tool.

 

[cruiser808]

I have a good many Plomb tools and I have a few Plomb WF-38 3/8" ratchets that all say Plomb on them on one side and WF-38 on the other side. The other day at the flea market I picked up this WF-38 ratchet but it is blank on one side and has the regular WF-38 on the other. The head of the ratchet says Proto on it as well instead of being blank like Plombs. Could this wrench have been made maybe during the time when Plomb turned into Proto and they were just using up old stock or something? I have just never seen one like this before.

Hi scoutguy - yes, I believe you're right on target. The handles were probably NOS when the name change took place and the new plates put on at the factory. I have one of those myself.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290398186632

 

[SCscoutguy]

Hi scoutguy - yes, I believe you're right on target. The handles were probably NOS when the name change took place and the new plates put on at the factory. I have one of those myself.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290398186632

Yea I kind of figured that they were just using new old stock of what they had on hand. I wonder why Plomb wasn't cast into the handles though?

 

[stricht8]

Ok so does that baby work?

 

[jerryW]

I've got one of those myself. Looks exactly like the one you posted.

I was thinking that it might have been a Korean War continuation of the WWII contract for the military. Haven't been able to find out for sure though.


jerry

 

[SCscoutguy]

Ok so does that baby work?

Yeap it works well. I am going to take it apart and blast it more than likely and oil everything in the head up.

 

[selohssa]

I don't know anything about that ratchet but those pics are very clear. I have a hard time getting details to show up.

 

[T56 Impala]

I've got one of those myself. Looks exactly like the one you posted.

I was thinking that it might have been a Korean War continuation of the WWII contract for the military. Haven't been able to find out for sure though.


jerry

Doubtful. Wright got a contract with the Military about that time. It could have been a repaired tool that was still in the system though.

 

[Tool Pants]

Some time ago on ebay I saw a Wright Field ratchet marked Proto on the plate. I thought someone had put a Proto plate on a Plomb ratchet, because I only associate Plomb with Wright Field. The name change from Plomb to Proto came several years after the war ended. I searched here and someone said the WF tools continued to be produced after the war ended, and that is why some are market Proto.