Proto Tools Picture Thread - Post Yours!

[Smokeshow69]

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.

I agree with that idea of paint fade...on those pictures of that proto la tool mobile that was local to us recently that sold, you can see the drawer faces are this faded color while the drawers are a bright red color. They must have changed something in the paint that was sensitive to light versus prior paint that is still red

 

[consti2tion]

It is definitely a bizarre color, but part of me kind of likes it. I like enough to spend money filling it up ha!

 

[AK4570]

I'd love to hear some thoughts from those with a bit more time in the Proto world.

I recently picked a Proto LA 1/2 drive deep socket that is stamped 5340. According to conventional wisdom, it should be 1 1/4... but it's not. The service opening is 1/2.

Thoughts? Am I missing something here?

V/r,
John

Sent from my SM-A115A using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a catalog image showing that 1/2” deep socket.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

I picked up this proto LA/MFD marked slide hammer, flare nut wrench and 2 wobble sockets...3/8 drive and 1/2 drive at a sale over the weekend! (the deal included a bunch of proto empire p&c stuff but I will post that in the respective thread)...ignore the non thread correct items

 

[AK4570]

Thanks, Don.

It would appear that they used a simple number system during that era rather than the "by 32nds" system of the shallow sockets...going back through my Plomb and Proto deep sockets, I'm surprised that I only now noticed the difference.

A quick Google search turned up the information that Proto is now using a "by 32nds" numbering system on their current deepwell sockets. Thus a 5332 is 1/2 drive, deep, with a service opening of 1 inch... Quite the interesting variation.

Best regards,
John

Here is a catalog image showing that 1/2” deep socket.
-Don

Sent from my SM-A115A using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[c1504]

I picked up this proto LA/MFD marked slide hammer, flare nut wrench and 2 wobble sockets...3/8 drive and 1/2 drive at a sale over the weekend! (the deal included a bunch of proto empire p&c stuff but I will post that in the respective thread)...ignore the non thread correct items

Good find on the slide hammer! I wonder if it was fairly common to mix and match parts, because mine is a mix of plomb and p&c

 

[Smokeshow69]

Good find on the slide hammer! I wonder if it was fairly common to mix and match parts, because mine is a mix of plomb and p&c

I do believe so...I have a proto la hub puller with maroon wrinkle finish box that is a mixture of proto la and proto mfd parts. I think proto wasn't real concerned with mixing logos and markings as long as they moved the old stock that was on their shelves. I have seen p&c pullers that are proto logo grind offs that are stamped p&c but you can still seen an outline of the proto logo. I also have seen a wrench that rileysan has that is stamped plomb on one side and p&c on the other... The qc in those days wasn't as stringent as it is now, especially with proto's economy brand p&c (in later years)...

 

[Smokeshow69]

Scored all this plus a ton of other proto empire brands at an estate sale recently! I thought the timing light was too cool to leave behind even though I have a really nice craftsman one.

betr grip driver
timing light
cylinder head torque wrench extension tool
various sockets
extractors
ratchet thumb wheel adaptor
brake bleeder wrenches

 

[Private Lugnutz]

These are the piles I was picking wrenches out of yesterday. If anyone wants/needs the big PROTO aviation/hydraulics wrench (see Pics 2 & 3), let me know, I bet it will still be there next week.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That is a big wrench. Got bored today so made a tray for one of my proto boxes that was missing one.

 

[drivesitfar]

Nice work making that tray? Aluminum or? I’m on my cell but can’t see any corner welds. Do tell how you made it? Well done and great looking proto box too

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Just 1/16" sheet metal, all bent no welds. If I add the divider like the original I will spot weld that.

 

[c1504]

I’ve picked up quite a bit of la stuff for my boards recently. Thank you to smokeshow for the bulk of it including the 5468 breaker bar and the 1 and 1 1/16 combos. The 1224L was a pretty unexpected find. I was at my grandpa’s house working on his four wheeler and needed a tool I had not brought. I found it when digging through his little box made up of almost exclusively craftsman he has had for 50+ years. He had no idea where the proto even came from and was happy to donate it to my board. The socket is a 25/32 and came from ebay.

 

[Catfishdan]

Here’s the two proto sets I picked up today. The 1/4” set is mostly complete now that I added a few pieces I had already. Just needs the deeps. the 3/8” set is mostly professional era stuff, which doesn’t really befit the flying lady box. As (bad) luck would have it, I recently got rid of a bunch of mfd. stuff thinking I was done with it. Ah well... more hunting to do.

 

[AK4570]

Here's a handful of 1" and 3/4" drive impact sockets I picked up the other day.

They look a lot better after a soak in Evaporust.

V/r,
John

Sent from my SM-A115A using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some Proto LA tools I found today. The offset is now in the evaporust.
-Don

 

[AK4570]

That's an interesting one, Don. I just picked a 5253 adapter today as well 'though mine is from the Professional era.

Best regards to you, Sir, and have a great weekend.
John

 

[Smokeshow69]

A fellow forum member -RagtopTA sent me some extras of his... I was pretty stoked to say the least!

-4 proto wood handle screw drivers-the top 2 probably have never been used and the bottom 2 are slightly used
(now my screwdriver board is getting pretty full on the wood handles )
-proto la screwdriver-yellow squear corner
-combos
-pipe wrench
-flare nut wrenches
-**very interesting stubby dbe -1130-*** I have never seen this style of stamped hump logo on a wrench before ? Have you guys ever seen this ? I have seen this hump logo on other things like tool boxes or cardboard boxes but never stamped into a wrench

 

[c1504]

I can’t say I have ever seen that on a wrench before but it’s pretty cool

 

[Smokeshow69]

I can’t say I have ever seen that on a wrench before but it’s pretty cool

I didn't know he was sending it and he doesn't collect proto la so it worked out well

 

[Nutria]

A couple of Proto puller sets.
(If anyone has an extra 4066 or 4067 jaw, I'd be interested-- I'd like to be able to use the slide hammer/light duty set in three jaw mode with those jaw sizes).

 

[Nick Danger]

I wanted some inch-plus wrenches, and a gentleman was selling some Proto wrenches on Craigslist. After I bought them, I looked up what Proto LA wrenches are. They're older than I am! If he's reading this, thank you sir.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

nice wrenches. Got bored again today so resumed my tray building. Painted the tray and made a socket rail for it

 

[Nutria]

nice wrenches. Got bored again today so resumed my tray building. Painted the tray and made a socket rail for it

That is nice work. Might have to try it.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Since mrx has all the originals, I decided to make own!

 

[Nick Danger]

Duplicate.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Got some paint on it a set it in the tray.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It's now in the box with its proto la buddies

 

[Nick Danger]

Alloy Artifacts talks about cadmium coated and chrome coated wrenches. How can I tell which coating my wrenches have?

 

[Smokeshow69]

Alloy Artifacts talks about cadmium coated and chrome coated wrenches. How can I tell which coating my wrenches have?

Your wrenches are chrome, just tarnished...Cad plating is a matt finish that is somewhat irregular in appearance... you wont find as many proto LA tools cad plated as plomb but they are out there. I have a 1/4 drive speed handle and a few drag link sockets that are cad plated.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Careful with the cad stuff. It's supposedly quite toxic. No wire wheeling it.

 

[d42jeep]

Alloy Artifacts talks about cadmium coated and chrome coated wrenches. How can I tell which coating my wrenches have?

The 1944 socket in the middle is cad plated. I was very careful cleaning it.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Back on topic, these are available for trade if any of you Proto LA collectors are missing one of them.

 

[Nick Danger]

The cadmium looks more gray. Thanks, guys!

 

[d42jeep]

I found these Proto screw extractors in their original box at an estate sale today
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

I found these Proto screw extractors in their original box at an estate sale today
-Don

Holy smokes Those are really nice!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice set, hard to find in the box. Picked up an old proto stack in a trade with a local collector today. Needs a little tlc but not too rough..

 

[bmwrd0]

Very nice stack. Very nice.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Nice set, hard to find in the box. Picked up an old proto stack in a trade with a local collector today. Needs a little tlc but not too rough..

Ugg, in the nicest way possible, I really hate you right now Major suckage awarded! I cant find one of these to save my life . Nice work **Also, can you post some photos that are correctly oriented ? I dont know how to edit your photos but would like to look at it right side up ** ?