Proto Tools Picture Thread - Post Yours!

[Private Lugnutz]

That truly is "super clean" with a "perfect" badge and sticker.

No tools though
Set No. 4700B

Ratchet, spinner, sliding tee, and seven (7) 6-point sockets from 7/32" to 7/16", plus two (2) 8-point sockets, 1/4" and 5/16", if you're wondering. In the late 40's, anyway. I don't know that off the top of my head. Just looked it up. Seeing no socket tray/separator inside your box, which looks very odd to me, made me go to the catalogs to see when they dropped that feature. Sometime between 1947 and 1948, apparently. Your box is much later than that, though. Late 40's Proto boxes had rounded corners, a spot welded center pressure tab as a closure, and a label with the words "Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." under the 'PRVTV' instead of that Registered Trademark symbol (R).

 

[bmwrd0]

Looking over the physical catalogs I have that box was from between '69 and '78, and it is obviously pre-Professional Tools era but sometime during this period, they dropped the rounded corners and added blowmolded inserts. But I don't have any catalogs between those two years.

That is a very nice example.

 

[ssdave]

I don't know when they dropped the flying lady logo, but they started the "Professional Quality Tools" phrase in 1960; the ones before that said Proto Means PROfesional TOols. I think about 1969 they went to the rounded square PROTO logo, but I'm not sure on that.

 

[RatrodderX]

I love the detective work on this site!

Thanks guys.

I couldn’t find catalogs that showed it.

Probably right about the tools being dumped out. That little box has been sitting on a shelf for nearly half a century. And will continue to sit in a shelf for a while.

 

[bmwrd0]

SSDave, my '69 catalog doesn't show that rounded square (I am never shure what to call it) logo, but still has the flying lady. But it definatly shows up in the '78 catalog. These cats arent' online, I have paper copies.

 

[tin medic]

I’ll need to check the catalogs this weekend. I believe I have 90% of them from the beginning to the early 80’s.

 

[ssdave]

bmwrd0 and tin medic, thanks for any additional info that's available. I would really like also to have a definitive transition from Los Angeles to mfd to professional. The catalogs would also show the chevron era, too. I'm just not enough of a collector to really care. But, I'm being somewhat picky about filling up my green box and my green flying lady boards with the correct era, as I know it. Unfortunately, I had started down the road of filling the 1958 box with LA tools, and it probably really should have mfd, as should my re-stickered boards, which I have filled with mfd.

I may have to go down the road of getting a complete set of catalogs at some point just to satisfy myself. I'd just rather have someone else do the legwork!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A set of catalogs is ambitious!

 

[tin medic]

It’s expensive, I’ll tell you that.

 

[ssdave]

A set of catalogs is ambitious!

It’s expensive, I’ll tell you that.

I would expect so. I only own one, thought it was the correct one for my green box, but I'm off by a few years, so will need to fine a nice pristine one to match of that year.

 

[Catfishdan]

Here’s a group of Proto LA stuff I brought home today. The torque guide is pretty neat.

 

[bmwrd0]

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sweet. I have one but someone painted it.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Here’s a group of Proto LA stuff I brought home today. The torque guide is pretty neat.

Very nice catfish! Those dbe wrenches for me are not easy to find


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[DD T/A]

A prize from swap meet. No tray and the bottom has some heavy surface rust but no rot.

 

[bmwrd0]

I had picked up a Proto body hammer (1425) with a shot replacement hammer over the weekend, and finally got a chance to re-handle it yesterday:


Nice to have the correct handles sitting around, and I need to use them at some point.

 

[DD T/A]

Got this at an estate sale of a coworker. Some very interesting stuff I'd never seen before. All useful except the "Dyna ring".....it doesn't fit on a 1/2 drive tool but it is modern proto.....

 

[DD T/A]

Got a combination of tools this weekend. Found a Proto LA 5668 3/4 drive breaker. Next to it was a 5853 3/4 -->1" adapter, and stuck on that was what appears to be a FUBAR 1"-->3/4 impact adapter(Mfd. era) that has a Pi symbol stamped on it.

 

[ssdave]

I'd posted these on the Plomb board, but will post here also. Put up some garage art on the walls this weekend. Got the boards off the floor and out of my way.....

 

[Mintgrun]

I pulled this little box out of a scrap metal bin. Paint is a little rough, but it's pretty straight (now). The symmetrical divider layout is kind of cool. The sockets could go on either side, I suppose.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's a nice early challenger box. Nice save.

 

[bmwrd0]

I pulled this little box out of a scrap metal bin. Paint is a little rough, but it's pretty straight (now). The symmetrical divider layout is kind of cool. The sockets could go on either side, I suppose.

Nice! I scored a 3/8's version of that a few years ago.

Anyhoo, I picked up a couple more of these bad boys yesterday.

Proto pebble handled clutch drivers in almost new condition. Now this gives me three different sizes.

 

[d42jeep]

I have a couple of those in with my clutch head screwdrivers. Mine are probably a bit newer.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

Nice! I scored a 3/8's version of that a few years ago.



Anyhoo, I picked up a couple more of these bad boys yesterday.



Proto pebble handled clutch drivers in almost new condition. Now this gives me three different sizes.

Very nice score beemer! I have a few clutch head drivers in the slightly more modern better grip handle in the p&c version. They still have the price tags on them [emoji23] yours are the early handle and are very nice! Not easy to find


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[bmwrd0]

I have two duplicates that are a little more beat up, want me to throw them on your pile?

 

[Smokeshow69]

I have two duplicates that are a little more beat up, want me to throw them on your pile?

Yes please!


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[bmwrd0]

Done and done.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I don't normally pick up too many Proto tools unless they're uncommon or special or just catch my eye for some reason, such as this 3/8-inch square drive swivel socket for spark plugs with a 13/16" service opening. The two bands of knurling are recessed very deeply. Somebody liked it well enough to fix it at least once in its life.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I don't normally pick up too many Proto tools unless they're uncommon or special or just catch my eye for some reason, such as this 3/8-inch square drive swivel socket for spark plugs with a 13/16" service opening. The two bands of knurling are recessed very deeply. Somebody liked it well enough to fix it at least once in its life.

That is a good one! I have seen the swivel in other brands but not Proto but I would buy one if I found it


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[Catfishdan]

I got a new home for my partial Proto Los Angeles 1/4” set. It’s pretty beat, but it has the remains of a cool Pendleton tool 50th anniversary decal inside. The socket set is coming along nicely. Only missing the 4712 and the two 8pt sockets, plus the rest of the drive tools. I think I come across more plomb than proto la.

 

[ssdave]

I had no idea the little proto set was difficult to come by. I've been using mine as a user for 35 years. About 8 years ago replaced it with Snap-on, which I found to work better. I've broken a few of these over the years, but replaced them from extras so the set is pretty much intact. They've been relegated to light duty in my basement shop.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I had no idea the little proto set was difficult to come by. I've been using mine as a user for 35 years. About 8 years ago replaced it with Snap-on, which I found to work better. I've broken a few of these over the years, but replaced them from extras so the set is pretty much intact. They've been relegated to light duty in my basement shop.

Nice set Dave! I want to put one of those together


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[Oldtuleguy]

sweet set with the deep sockets!

 

[Smokeshow69]

sweet set with the deep sockets!

Those deeps are not very common as far as I know


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[Jc2043]

Is this partial Tru-Test set Proto manufactured? I think so, but the ratchet looks different than my limited vintage Proto examples.


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[Smokeshow69]

Is this partial Tru-Test set Proto manufactured? I think so, but the ratchet looks different than my limited vintage Proto examples.


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Yes it is. Someone serviced it but put it together wrong


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[Jc2043]

Yes it is. Someone serviced it but put it together wrong


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Thanks Smokeshow! It’s starting to make sense. What about that egg shaped plate? My Protos all look like this.


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[Private Lugnutz]

I don't know about the Proto brand, but other Pendleton Tool Industries Incorporated brands and subsidiaries, such as PENENS and Fleet, had the egg-shaped ratchet heads and face plates.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks Smokeshow! It’s starting to make sense. What about that egg shaped plate? My Protos all look like this.


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They made both of those. The egg shaped one I believe surfaced in the late 40’s under government contract/ wf series I want to say? The egg shaped one was also badged under brands like pennens ? Sorry to not be more specific


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[Username already in use]

Don't forget about TruTest and Fleet. That means there was probably a Challenger branded one as well.