Proto Tools Picture Thread - Post Yours!

[Smokeshow69]

Recently I got this amazing condition wrench roll from jabberwoki. I believe he said he found it pushed way back into a cabinet of an old house or something along those lines. It very looks like it was purchased and then forgotten about. The wrenches don’t appear to ever have been used and the roll is in fantastic shape! It has a few slight grease stains where some oil fell on it but other than that it’s beyond in amazing. I thought this was the 3000h set but this is the 3000s set and I can’t find any info on that? Is this an assemble your own set roll? Interesting to note the roll is Proto la and the wrenches are mfd era.

 

[RTM]

The -s could just be the roll. My Bluepoint ignition set has a specific roll part number, and the set includes the roll.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have a similar set, some wrenches marked proto LA. I suspect they made a bunch of rolls and just used them until they ran out

 

[Smokeshow69]

The -s could just be the roll. My Bluepoint ignition set has a specific roll part number, and the set includes the roll.

Probably. I looked at a bunch of Proto la catalogs and didn’t see this roll listed but doesn’t mean this didn’t exist

I have a similar set, some wrenches marked proto LA. I suspect they made a bunch of rolls and just used them until they ran out

Absolutely agree. I have seen this before in other wrench rolls. I have Proto la and mfd era boxes with both markings on them.

 

[Straightgrain]

I have a similar mystery roll Smokeshow. Although I couldn't find it in any catalogs, sometime in the past I identified it as being used for a metric open end wrench set, though I couldn't explain to you today how I came to that conclusion.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I have a similar mystery roll Smokeshow. Although I couldn't find it in any catalogs, sometime in the past I identified it as being used for a metric open end wrench set, though I couldn't explain to you today how I came to that conclusion.

Interesting. Yours just lists the 3000 part number so I would be cut to see how you reached that conclusion since that is just a generic doe wrench designation

 

[JohnDeere]

They seem to be breeding in my Proto box. If anyone needs one please let me know.

I am interested.

 

[d42jeep]

I am interested.

Send me a message with your address.
-Don

 

[genog]

I told the Ole Picker Hyena that I'll pay his price but he has to throw this Proto thing in on the deal.

He wouldn't at first... said it's rare (Typical Hyena response)
Yeah. I asked what is it?
He didn't know

He threw it in.



So, I give up.
What is it used for?

 

[Smokeshow69]

I told the Ole Picker Hyena that I'll pay his price but he has to throw this Proto thing in on the deal.

He wouldn't at first... said it's rare (Typical Hyena response)
Yeah. I asked what is it?
He didn't know

He threw it in.



So, I give up.
What is it used for?

Used for old plumbing work packing the joints

 

[RTM]

Spring yarning iron

Proto Hand Tools Catalog No. PR62120 : 1962-1963 : Proto Tool Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

84 p., illus., 27.3 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[genog]

Ah.....ok

We had an ole plumber put in a clean out for us. He used oakum and lead to join the old cast iron pipe. I didn't take notice of the tool(s) that he used to tamp down the oakum.
He didn't use an old screwdriver, that's for sure

I should look him up and see if he wants this...

Thanks guys for letting me know

 

[JohnDeere]

There is a proto screwdriver in there somewhere…

 

[JohnDeere]

You are such an awesome dude don! Many thanks!

 

[d42jeep]

You are very welcome. Glad they made it okay. Happy New Year.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

You are such an awesome dude don! Many thanks!

Hey that’s bs. I thought I was the only one who Don enabled

 

[d42jeep]

I am an equal opportunity enabler.
-Don

 

[Ricky Joe]

Now I feel slighted!

 

[calandrod]

Just rolled this into my workshop!











All the handles are present, all the friction sliders are intact and well functioning and it's the smoothest rolling box I now own. I have to set the foot brake or it slowly starts to roll away. The mats are OEM Proto and super thick. Even has the original key.
The 1978 KRA429B Snap-On middie came with the purchase.

I've seen a lot of Waterloo made Proto tool boxes, but this is the first time I have run across an aviation type rear storage model. I waited this one out on OfferUp until he lowered it twice, it had been sitting almost 2 weeks so I started very low and he took my first offer. @Smokeshow69 would love if you broke out a 1979 Proto catalog to see if you can find this one. I cannot find a date on it so far, but my other box with the same exact handles is dated 1979.

Thanks for the recommendation @Hoorn !

Here’s my recently acquired box that is twins with Hoorn’s. I am now in the middle of a restoration on it.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Those are great boxes. I like the the little side cabinet, had a similar one for years

 

[Smokeshow69]

Picked up 2 thread related tools today. A Proto mfd marked hammer and this LA marked 3/4 drive ratchet today. I do need to clean up the handle of the overspray on the hammer but it’s otherwise in really good shape!

 

[Targa68]

A very nice Proto 5267 3/8" drive flex shaft spinner.
Maybe not so common?

 

[Smokeshow69]

A very nice Proto 5267 3/8" drive flex shaft spinner.
Maybe not so common?

Not super common but I have one

 

[Old Radar]

A very nice Proto 5267 3/8" drive flex shaft spinner.
Maybe not so common?

Not super common but I have one

Probably a lot less common in Norway!

 

[c1504]

This Bulletin No. 5677 just showed up from an ebay seller in Canada. I had never seen one of these before so I had to get it to check it out. It is 42 pages of tables comparing other manufacturer’s part numbers to Proto part numbers. I’m guessing this would have been given to the government so they could order Proto replacements for tools they already had? It includes Utica, Bonney, Williams, Cornwell, Billings, Duro, Crescent, Herbrand, Snap on, New Britain, Armstrong, OTC, Vaco, Xcelite, Thor, Mephisto, Ingersoll Rand, Delaware, Chicago Pneumatic, Apex, Rigid, Trimo, Erie, Champion de Arment, Boker, Klein, Kraeuter, Diamond, Streamline, Fairmont, HK Porter, Wiss, Walden, Blackhawk, and Challenger. I think it’s really interesting that Challenger is included because it makes them seem like Proto’s competitor.

 

[Smokeshow69]

This Bulletin No. 5677 just showed up from an ebay seller in Canada. I had never seen one of these before so I had to get it to check it out. It is 42 pages of tables comparing other manufacturer’s part numbers to Proto part numbers. I’m guessing this would have been given to the government so they could order Proto replacements for tools they already had? It includes Utica, Bonney, Williams, Cornwell, Billings, Duro, Crescent, Herbrand, Snap on, New Britain, Armstrong, OTC, Vaco, Xcelite, Thor, Mephisto, Ingersoll Rand, Delaware, Chicago Pneumatic, Apex, Rigid, Trimo, Erie, Champion de Arment, Boker, Klein, Kraeuter, Diamond, Streamline, Fairmont, HK Porter, Wiss, Walden, Blackhawk, and Challenger. I think it’s really interesting that Challenger is included because it makes them seem like Proto’s competitor.

That’s an interesting piece of literature! Guess it makes sense as an indirect sales tool.

 

[mikedodge]

This Bulletin No. 5677 just showed up from an ebay seller in Canada. I had never seen one of these before so I had to get it to check it out. It is 42 pages of tables comparing other manufacturer’s part numbers to Proto part numbers. I’m guessing this would have been given to the government so they could order Proto replacements for tools they already had? It includes Utica, Bonney, Williams, Cornwell, Billings, Duro, Crescent, Herbrand, Snap on, New Britain, Armstrong, OTC, Vaco, Xcelite, Thor, Mephisto, Ingersoll Rand, Delaware, Chicago Pneumatic, Apex, Rigid, Trimo, Erie, Champion de Arment, Boker, Klein, Kraeuter, Diamond, Streamline, Fairmont, HK Porter, Wiss, Walden, Blackhawk, and Challenger. I think it’s really interesting that Challenger is included because it makes them seem like Proto’s competitor.

It says to facilitate bidding so it was probably their way of showing they meet the "or equivalent" clause that's regularly used. Interesting none the less.

 

[four.cycle]

^ If you have to bid on a military contract (for the local motor pool) they supply a list of part numbers by manufacturer's name. They may or may not be the same manufacturer and the brand you're stocking, so the manufacturer supplies the interchange list to the wholesaler to make it easier for the wholesaler to bid on those contracts.
We had the motor pool contract out at Ft. Lewis (now JBLM) for a couple years but it was such a pain in the *** to deal with them we stopped bidding on it after a couple years - simply wasn't worth the trouble with all of the returns.

 

[jabberwoki]

Finally got it fixed up . Motor repaired, led light with on off switch and a better mounting set up.

 

[d42jeep]

We found a few Proto pieces today. I think most of the Allen wrenches are original to the set.
-Don

 

[c1504]

Are the allen wrenches marked?

 

[d42jeep]

Just with sizes, not Proto.
-Don

 

[c1504]

Interesting

 

[d42jeep]

They were probably made by another hex key manufacturer.
-Don

 

[jabberwoki]

Nice vintage set

 

[calandrod]

Thanks for the recommendation @Hoorn !

Here’s my recently acquired box that is twins with Hoorn’s. I am now in the middle of a restoration on it.

Here’s the backside of it. I got all the paint scraped off. You can see where the tarp melted over it on the backside. I think o forgot to mention this box was in a fire before I got it. I spent a long while scraping that off.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Here’s the backside of it. I got all the paint scraped off. You can see where the tarp melted over it on the backside. I think o forgot to mention this box was in a fire before I got it. I spent a long while scraping that off.

That should be a cool box when it’s all done. Can’t wait to see it!

 

[NoahG]

I picked these up a few days ago, there was no way I could leave them behind.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Picked up a bunch of Proto today. Ranges from the la era all the way to modern era with the asd wrenches. I’m pretty excited about the 4950 long handle ratchet. I have a spot for it on my tool board.

 

[bb29510]

i went to the pawn shop yesterday, there was a lot of proto wrenches in the dollar bin, a proto adjustable, and some s-k wrenches, no craftsman