Proto Tools Picture Thread - Post Yours!

[bmwrd0]

I might have some extras of the Whitworth stuff you need. I will double check my stash and throw what I can spare into the Smoke Bucket II; vintage tool boogaloo.

I also have a Proto LA 3/8's ratchet for you.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I might have some extras of the Whitworth stuff you need. I will double check my stash and throw what I can spare into the Smoke Bucket II; vintage tool boogaloo.

I also have a Proto LA 3/8's ratchet for you.

We just got that bucket out of your basement and now it is back Thanks.

 

[bmwrd0]

The bucket never dies, the bucket never ends.

 

[Smokeshow69]

The bucket never dies, the bucket never ends.

Totally....I gave someone else their bucket yesterday and they were quite pleased to get it.

 

[c1504]

I am glad you bought those 2 boards! They were the best of the bunch. If you hadn't beemer and I would have.

Thanks! I’ve got a long way to go on filling them but they shouldn’t be too hard. Those screwdriver boards are awesome too! I love the half width one. I wouldn’t mind finding some half width boards myself.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks! I’ve got a long way to go on filling them but they shouldn’t be too hard. Those screwdriver boards are awesome too! I love the half width one. I wouldn’t mind finding some half width boards myself.

 

[d42jeep]

I found these large snap ring pliers at an estate sale yesterday. They cleaned up well.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

"Waldes is Coming!"

Let's see who gets the second entendre first. My money is on MR. X.

 

[bmwrd0]

I would think Mr. V would get it first.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Haha. Well done. A book worm and a film buff.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Traded with UNAIU to help him on his p&c counter top display. He traded me a proto la screw driver I needed and also got a flare wrench I needed! I at least got the lower left hand portion of the wood driver section on my screw driver board done! I still have a long way to go but at least got one section done!

 

[Username already in use]

Happy to help! And thank you for your help! I didn't realize you needed the amber handle drivers as well. Do those say Proto L.A. on them or just Proto? I have some, but I think they're all labelled Proto Professional.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Happy to help! And thank you for your help! I didn't realize you needed the amber handle drivers as well. Do those say Proto L.A. on them or just Proto? I have some, but I think they're all labelled Proto Professional.

They look very close but are not labeled proto professional...those are slightly newer than what I need. The drivers i need just say proto on them and the handles are slightly different than the better grip ones you are talking about. They are not super easy to find but I have a few! **I will post a few pictures of the differences here later on** maybe someone has a few tucked away and hasn't noticed the differences before!

 

[bmwrd0]

The Proto LA drivers don't say LA, but do have pebbled fields:

 

[Smokeshow69]

The Proto LA drivers don't say LA, but do have pebbled fields:

Correct! They are slightly different than the better grip ones as indicated below

 

[Smokeshow69]

So diving into my latest screw driver obsession, now that I have lots of holes to fill on my board. To my knowledge, there were 4 different types of screw drivers offered by Proto during the LA era....and 3 of these were also offered by plomb towards the end of the plomb name run as well. I have 3 of these drivers badged as plomb as well but we will stick to the topic at hand

4 types- wood handle , Early "bet'r grip" (handles are round, no deep flutes) , square handle and also the more modern bet'r grip handle you can still purchase today ..... In my 51' jobber catalog (proto la logo), they are using the more modern style of bet'r grip handle and are actually calling it "bet'r grip"while showing it beside the older wood handle version...I dont see the square handle driver in that catalog...

In terms of the pebble driver handle Beemer posted above, it is the earlier style bet'r grip with pebble inset into the driver part number area. Unless you really sit down and compare the handle to the more modern bet'r grip that UNAIU mentioned above, you probably wouldn't notice that there are slight differences in the handle. The "flutes" on the more modern one are deeper inset for bet'r grip. I have posted a picture showing a proto la bet' r grip and the more modern proto professional driver handle...there isn't really any difference in between the 2 but you will notice that the color of the handles is different. The older ones are a tan/amber color while the modern ones are that yellowish translucent color we think of. The part numbers stayed the same as far as I can tell from my limited research. So my point is , it is possible to have the more modern version with the exact same part number and would phyically fill a spot on my screw driver board but due to the handle color and shank treatment, it would not be era correct for the board. I am not sure when they started chroming the shanks but the 1 later proto la bet'r grip driver I do have appears to be plated but not chromed. The 3 other drivers are not plated on the shanks as well....Again, hopefully my pictures show the subtle differences between the modern bet'r grip and the earlier versions as well. I didn't really notice this until I started looking at the boards, my catalogs and the wording in them and then also finish types . Sorry for the blathering on . I have really been paying attention to the small differences with these drivers the past few weeks

**again if anyone has any spare drivers, I would buy or trade them for some more "modern" yellowish translucent ones** Hopefully this has shown the slight and almost indistinguishable differences that most would overlook.

 

[c1504]

Good info. I do have one question though. If they aren’t marked with la, is the color the only way to tell the post pebble la ones from the mfd era ones? I can’t quite tell but is the area with the part number raised on the la ones and recessed on the later versions?

The professional era drivers are abundant around here, but I have yet to find any plomb or proto la ones. I did pick up this la 1/4 drive screwdriver socket a while back though

 

[Smokeshow69]

Good info. I do have one question though. If they aren’t marked with la, is the color the only way to tell the post pebble la ones from the mfd era ones? I can’t quite tell but is the area with the part number raised on the la ones and recessed on the later versions?

The professional era drivers are abundant around here, but I have yet to find any plomb or proto la ones. I did pick up this la 1/4 drive screwdriver socket a while back though

The first generation of bet'r grips have the pebble inset around the part number. The later ones (modern handle/leading into the mfg era) have the inset but not the pebbling around the part number. But the wood screw drivers ferrule which lists the part number towards the base of the shank actually says Proto Los Angeles... whereas none of the acetate handled ones say that.

 

[c1504]

Ok thanks. I just got a little confused

 

[Smokeshow69]

Ok thanks. I just got a little confused

Trust me, I was confused and hadn't really realized all this until a few weeks ago...and the more I study Proto/Plomb the more I realize how loosey goosey they were with different timelines/trade marks, stampings etc. After all , not paying attention to detail is what got them in trouble with Uncle Sam Also, I don't think most folks really ever pay as much attention to things like this as us collectors. 99% of the public would never think twice about a marking on a wrench, screw driver or other tool. But to a collector looking back in time and trying to fill in blanks or understand reasoning, those things are important clues that can help us find the era correct items we are looking for.

 

[d42jeep]

I went through my non-professional Proto screwdrivers and found two that didn’t match the others. The larger one clearly had pebbles. The smaller one had no flutes and a raised area where the Proto stamp is.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

I went through my non-professional Proto screwdrivers and found two that didn’t match the others. The larger one clearly had pebbles. The smaller one had no flutes and a raised area where the Proto stamp is.
-Don

You dont want those 2 screw drivers...they mess with your more modern screwdriver collection...you better send them to me

But seriously those are both of those are proto la. The differences are slight but they are there!

 

[d42jeep]

My Proto actually isn’t a collection. I just can’t leave them behind when I see them at sales for pennies on the dollar. Those two will be on their way to you shortly. I won’t even notice their absence.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

My Proto actually isn’t a collection. I just can’t leave them behind when I see them at sales for pennies on the dollar. Those two will be on their way to you shortly. I won’t even notice their absence.
-Don

Oh wow, you are awesome And now that you know their age, I have a feeling you will be picking up more from now on!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. I’m alway hoping that they will be Plomb. I have a few Professional drivers as well.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks. I’m alway hoping that they will be Plomb. I have a few Professional drivers as well.
-Don

Email sent to you!

 

[c1504]

I got these three la screwdrivers this last weekend

 

[Smokeshow69]

I got these three la screwdrivers this last weekend

Lookin good! That stubbie wood handle isnt super common , at least in my experience.

 

[outofbounds]

Found this Proto Los Angeles 3336 9/6" Right Angle Obstruction wrench on my lunch hour today.

 

[four.cycle]

^ there was a 1/2" version of that same series (black finish obstruction wrench) listed on Ebay about a week or so back - I posted it in the "Ebay hot deal" thread.

I am assuming it's not current production stuff.

 

[outofbounds]

^ there was a 1/2" version of that same series (black finish obstruction wrench) listed on Ebay about a week or so back - I posted it in the "Ebay hot deal" thread.

I am assuming it's not current production stuff.

4C - I'll assume this one as Proto Los Angeles is 1950s fare. Ironically, it's the latest entry as an Ebay "Hot Deal" LOL

 

[four.cycle]

I posted it in the "Ebay Hot Deal" thread on 04/25. It's still available.
$5 bucks delivered:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/294116345619

I thought it looked interesting, although Proto is not a line I really "collect".

 

[outofbounds]

I posted it in the "Ebay Hot Deal" thread on 04/25. It's still available.
$5 bucks delivered:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/294116345619

I thought it looked interesting, although Proto is not a line I really "collect".

$5 Delivered is like "Free Wrench, you pay the postage". I can't operate on those margins!

 

[four.cycle]

^ that's why it got posted in the "Ebay Hot Deal" thread.

 

[d42jeep]

Just when I thought that I had gotten rid of my Proto LA, these two followed me home this morning.
-Don

 

[consti2tion]

Wanted to see if any of you could help me identify the year of this little 1/4” drive tin I have. It’s got 4796 printed on the top and “SET 4700 C” on the inside of the lid. I need to know what year sockets and accessories I need to start hunting for to fill it up.

Thanks for any help y’all can provide!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Wanted to see if any of you could help me identify the year of this little 1/4” drive tin I have. It’s got 4796 printed on the top and “SET 4700 C” on the inside of the lid. I need to know what year sockets and accessories I need to start hunting for to fill it up.

Thanks for any help y’all can provide!

I believe this is mfd era...so right after proto la....so late 50's to 60's..... The 4700C set is the big set that had the most 1/4 drive accessories. I have attached a screen shot from the 1962 catalog...you can see the 4700c column all the way on the right hand side

 

[consti2tion]

I believe this is mfd era...so right after proto la....so late 50's to 60's..... The 4700C set is the big set that had the most 1/4 drive accessories. I have attached a screen shot from the 1962 catalog...you can see the 4700c column all the way on the right hand side

This is excellent info! Thank you very much for the screen shot of the catalog, that will help narrow it down for sure. I haven't seen another box for this set of this same color.

 

[Smokeshow69]

This is excellent info! Thank you very much for the screen shot of the catalog, that will help narrow it down for sure. I haven't seen another box for this set of this same color.

I have a metric socket rail that is this same odd/faded/pinkish redish color...I don't understand why they used this color compared to the older bright red or maroon color that was used on the wrinkle finish boxes?? Regardless, your paint is original but you have the largest box set offered at that time.

 

[bmwrd0]

I have a 1/2 set box that is the same color. I am guessing that whatever paint formula they used from that factory didn't hold up over time.