Proto Tools Picture Thread - Post Yours!

[d42jeep]

Glad to be able to help. The ratchets look great. Happy New Year.
-Don

 

[drivesitfar]

Hoorn: great looking Proto toolbox. i've never thought of not using the top portion and putting one on my bench like that. Also looks like you are very organized.

Mac: good to see the teamwork and nice looking and now nice working tools.

D42: nicely done

ALL: Happy New years and let's hope 2021 is heading back to some sort of normal crazy instead of what it's been lately. i've got a few more Protos to post as soon as I can remember where they are cause it's a bit chaotic around here while i'm moving out of a big storage unit.

 

[macgee]

Drives: Long time no hear, good to see you're back and thanks for the comment. I can imagine moving out of your large storage unit will be quite the task, I only wished I lived close by to you to pick up any crumbs you don't want. You always had a very good eye and an excellent collection of tools, shop furniture and paraphernalia.

Happy New Years to you!

 

[macgee]

Question about the 3/8" socket mechanism in my pic above, was this something that Proto made and was it common?

The mechanism fits perfectly in my other 1/4" ratchets but does not fit in my 3/8 pebble plomb ratchet, mechanism is waaay too small for it. I don't have any 3/8 proto's.

 

[3baygarage]

That gear was made to have a 3/8 drive in a 1/4 body. Proto sells ratchets in that format. I did what you did, and put that kit in an old 1/4 Plomb pebble that was missing parts.

 

[macgee]

That gear was made to have a 3/8 drive in a 1/4 body. Proto sells ratchets in that format. I did what you did, and put that kit in an old 1/4 Plomb pebble that was missing parts.

Good to know, thanks. I did it just for fun but actually find it a very usable tool for using 3/8 sockets for tight and low torque situations.

Do you by chance know the model number for that ratchet?

 

[Hoorn]

Hoorn: great looking Proto toolbox. i've never thought of not using the top portion and putting one on my bench like that. Also looks like you are very organized.


Drives, thank you very much for the compliment. I have three floor tool boxes but find the extra drawers on the workbench work well, the top is not needed. As for organized, I found those Craftsman pro small parts organizers work so well instead of numerous half full boxes of misc sized screws, nails, washers, wire nuts, etc. taking up space on the shelves.

 

[Hoorn]

Drivesitfar, if this makes more sense, here is the workbench.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

That looks like a great place to hang out Hoorn!

 

[drivesitfar]

Hoorn: so a mounted Athol and a Reedsman on the ready is a good start. the organization is terrific and it looks like its ready to do some work or have a shot of whiskey if asked.

you mentioned rollers so are your rolling toolboxes also Proto so you can post them up here or do tell?

thanks for the pics and only if i had that much garage space I'd be happier.

 

[Hoorn]

Drives, thank you. I hope this doesn't hijack the Proto thread. I bought my home in So Cal a few years ago. It was built in 1961 and came with a detached garage and car port. It had the original 2 car wooden garage door with the big ol heavy springs. After convincing my wife I could do a remodel of the garage in 6 weeks, I took a skilsaw to the garage door. 5 months later, I finished splitting the old garage into a dedicated one car garage (for our Cadillac XLR) and a workshop. I did all the work, framing, stucco, electrical, drywall, etc.

The rollers are a 44" HF, the 1975 Craftsman stack you see and a Pressweld. I partially restored the Craftsman top box, will not touch the bottom. My father in laws Kennedy is hiding somewhere behind the Reedsman. Above the Pressweld, yes that is a discharged LAWS rocket launcher. Raise your hand if you've got a M72 LAWS in your worshop lol.

As for taking a shot, I own a restaurant locally for the last 11 years, and 2020 with covid and shutdowns has been "challenging" and I'll leave it a that. However, I have a full liquor license and through my wholesaler, have access to Pappy and other fine bourbons. So sipping a few in that workshop with a poker buddy, a little Sinatra on my speakers and all is well.

 

[3baygarage]

Good to know, thanks. I did it just for fun but actually find it a very usable tool for using 3/8 sockets for tight and low torque situations.

Do you by chance know the model number for that ratchet?

yes, the J5248S

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice shop/den/bar/arms room, Hoorn.

 

[drivesitfar]

Hoorn: I agree with Lug that your shop is very tidy, well organized and your remodeling skills show off some cool work. WELL DONE!!

best of luck with restaurant and hope things get back to some sort of crazy normal soon for all of us this year.

 

[Hoorn]

Hoorn: I agree with Lug that your shop is very tidy, well organized and your remodeling skills show off some cool work. WELL DONE!!

best of luck with restaurant and hope things get back to some sort of crazy normal soon for all of us this year.

Thank you both, Lugz, Drives. Means a lot coming from 2 senior members who've contributed so much to this site. I've been on "the tour" of your workshop Lugz and was simply amazed. Mine is just a drywall shop, yours is every red blooded American man's dream. I'm not sure what I want more, Drives ability to hit 350 yards or Lugz workshop lol.

 

[Shelbylex]

Nice job, Hoorn. I like the Presteel box!
... one day I will have a nicely organized place too ��

 

[outofbounds]

I'm using the "MFD. USA" as a clue that this wrench is built by Plomb/Proto, but curious what the MF might stand for... Massey-Ferguson maybe? Any insight is appreciated. Condition is a little rough, and normally I would have passed on it, but curiosity won the day for $1.

 

[3baygarage]

Millers Falls. Part of the family tree as far as some of the automotive tools. Some ratchets are also like Penens, Fleet, etc.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Millers Falls. Part of the family tree as far as some of the automotive tools. Some ratchets are also like Penens, Fleet, etc.

MF made planes for p&c so I am not surprised. They made great stuff!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[RTM]

Millers Falls. Part of the family tree as far as some of the automotive tools. Some ratchets are also like Penens, Fleet, etc.

When did Millers Falls carry wrenches? Can’t find in any catalogs.

 

[outofbounds]

When did Millers Falls carry wrenches? Can’t find in any catalogs.

I have the same reservations about Millers Falls. Everything I have ever seen from them bears the entire name "Millers Falls" Wouldn't know why contract wrenches would be any different.

I have been looking for some cosmic all-encompassing logo database for a number of curious pieces I have, but haven't landed on it just yet. But I did find these Massey-Ferguson logos which are at least pretty close......

 

[3baygarage]

I don’t know the time period, I’d be guessing. 50’s? 60’s? Later?

The MF is definitely for Millers Falls. Seen plenty of examples.

 

[3baygarage]

Here’s one from an old thread posted by Moparhound.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2464665&postcount=10

I posted several ratchets in the vintage section Millers Falls thread. There are pliers with just the MF logo as well.

 

[RTM]

Dang, never seen that. I tried looking in the latest catalog online, and still found nothing, thus my question. Thanks for showing those.

 

[outofbounds]

I don’t know the time period, I’d be guessing. 50’s? 60’s? Later?

The MF is definitely for Millers Falls. Seen plenty of examples.

Good Stuff, 3 Bay. Thanks for the share.

 

[RTM]

Hmm, here is a bit of who made it, and might pin the age a bit for those of you who know the mergers.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=115157&postcount=10

 

[Provincial]

I have had this for so long I don't remember where it came from. It is marked PROTO 739, and I found one listed in an industrial catalog from about 1970. By then, they had changed the number to 2307 and were calling it a "hose ripper."

I didn't find it in the 1954 Proto catalog, or any Plomb catalog, so I suppose it came after 1954, and the number changed along the way.

 

[RTM]

No facts, but a brief bit of conjecture. Based on what I can find in the international tool catalog.

https://archive.org/details/internationaltoolcataloglibrary?and[]=proto&sin=&sort=-date

In the 1961 catalog 6120, there is the 2301 muffler tool

The 1962 new tools supplement has the 2301 - 2306 listed.

Gonna conjecture its the next catalog, but it's not in PR62120A


But it does show up here

https://archive.org/details/ProtoToolsCatalogSuppPR62120AB1963/page/n15/mode/2up

 

[Smokeshow69]

I am wondering if anyone here has a rotomat with the rotating topper ? If so , how wide are the logos ? I have been tasked with making the logos for a topper. I have made reproduction proto la logos in the past that are the tool board logo size but never the topper size. I believe them to be around the size of a dollar bill ? Can someone tell me how wide their logo is ?

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Picked this up today.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Very nice!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Picked this up today.

I could look at these photos all day! I did notice that you have the earlier style pleated handles but your paint is the later smooth paint... those style of handles usually appear on the wrinkle finish maroon tool boxes. I dont know the years they changed over because i never went down that rabbit hole if i had to guess i would put this one at late 50's ? I have a '55 catalog showing dark maroon wrinkle paint...the 62' catalog i sent you the snips of show the newer style handle so at least we know a window...

 

[c1504]

That thing is killer!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Thanks Ricky and c1504. Ben, I haven't really had a chance to comb over this thing but I am certain that it's original paint. Thanks for the clips and the clues on dating it. I'm not a hard-core Proto guy so I'm not aware of all the intricacies of design changes over the years. I'm assuming they didn't date code these?

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks Ricky and c1504. Ben, I haven't really had a chance to comb over this thing but I am certain that it's original paint. Thanks for the clips and the clues on dating it. I'm not a hard-core Proto guy so I'm not aware of all the intricacies of design changes over the years. I'm assuming they didn't date code these?

To my knowledge, these are not date coded , however Rileysan is convinced that based on the roller bearing system, they are made by waterloo I don't think anyone has found a date on them like the red and grey craftsman rollers that are also made by Waterloo, not pressteel. I have never seen one of these so i cant compare the roller bearing system to my tool mobile but I think that Pressteel production stopped on these when they went away from the wrinkle finish to the gloss paint. Again, this is just me guessing at this point ? These to my knowledge can only be dated by catalog characteristics, not a stamped date .... when you have time, would you be willing to take some pictures of the interior of the box ?

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I'll compare the rollers in this Proto to the rollers in my earlier Craftsman 9d tomorrow. The rollers in the Proto definitely differ from those in my Plomb TM. I think the only way to get a TRUE comparison of roller slides is for Brian to send me one of those 14 Deluxe Rollers he has!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I'll compare the rollers in this Proto to the rollers in my earlier Craftsman 9d tomorrow. The rollers in the Proto definitely differ from those in my Plomb TM. I think the only way to get a TRUE comparison of roller slides is for Brian to send me one of those 14 Deluxe Rollers he has!

If i understood Rileysan correctly, he said the early red and grey roller bearing slides are most like these proto la slides... and he only has 13 now because he traded me one of his cast offs

Also- in other news, i know this isnt helping my cause but you could add the lower drawer compartment at a later date, just like the Remline badged tool boxes.I would be curious to see some closer pictures of the add on attachments in the side of the box where the insert would go.

 

[Smokeshow69]

JoCo- this is from my March/April 1952 proto mailer- Proto finally trade marked the tool mobile name that year. How crazy is that ? They produced all those tool mobiles for over 30 years before they thought- hey , maybe we should trade mark this ??? Those guys always were footloose and fancy free with trademarks

 

[Private Lugnutz]

JoCo- this is from my March/April 1952 proto mailer- Proto finally trade marked the tool mobile name that year. How crazy is that ? They produced all those tool mobiles for over 30 years before they thought- hey , maybe we should trade mark this ??? Those guys always were footloose and fancy free with trademarks

Are you sure about that date, Smoke? Is the page that Toolmobile notice appears on physically connected to the Proto mailer cover that is dated 1952? Or could it be separate?

Here's why I ask.

According to the USPTO, Plomb Tool Company applied for that TM on April 12, 1956, and it was granted on November 27, 1956. Link here.

It gets weirder.

In their TM application, Plomb claimed first use of the Toolmobile name on December 13, 1946. I know it appears in Catalog 17B, which was published in 1939!

Did Plomb not have access to their own catalogs and other records? Or by first use are they referring to the first tme they put the "Toolmobile" name on the unit itself, not just in paperwork or packaging? (By the way, I get your point, but it was 17 years from its appearance in the 1939 catalog, and 10 years from their own stated first use date.)

This couldn't get any weirder.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Good thing there wasn't anybody named Lafayette out there making Tulemobiles.