Proto Tools Picture Thread - Post Yours!

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks guys.. sorry about pics,not sure why they are sideways, did not take the pics sideways. Any idea on the year of this thing?

 

[bmwrd0]

Its post LA period, and pre IR. So, '56 to '64.

To be clearer, my 9990 is marked Los Angeles and yours still has the flying lady. The bottom is clearly a late Pressteel cabinet, so the best dateing would be to look in the catalogs for a similar bottom box. That top box is listed in the '62-'63 cat, but I don't see a four-drawer roller listed. Looks like it is time for a catalog dive!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...sorry about pics,not sure why they are sideways, did not take the pics sideways...

I've had a few do that. I deleted mine, reduced to a small portrait orientation (450 x 600), re-attached, and it fixed it. Wrenchguy spotted a few, too. In one case, an attached pic righted itself when you clicked on in it on a desktop, but not on mobile. Ryan knows about it and is looking into it.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks guys.. sorry about pics,not sure why they are sideways, did not take the pics sideways. Any idea on the year of this thing?

No worries, I know sometimes the pictures will do that. Did you edit them on your phone before you posted ? Sometimes the phone will automatically orient them so they look fine on your phone but are actually sideways

Its post LA period, and pre IR. So, '56 to '64.

To be clearer, my 9990 is marked Los Angeles and yours still has the flying lady. The bottom is clearly a late Pressteel cabinet, so the best dateing would be to look in the catalogs for a similar bottom box. That top box is listed in the '62-'63 cat, but I don't see a four-drawer roller listed. Looks like it is time for a catalog dive!

100% agreed with Beemer in terms of age. I don't have any of those catalogs, otherwise I help look.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks for info. We will see what Ryan figures out on pics. Took some drawers out for cleaning, had some paint spilled in them. Fortunately came off with some laquer thinner

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked this up for my half moon collection last week at the flea. I was struck by the perfectly hemispherical shape, how thin the shank is, the opening sizes (much bigger than typical starter/manifold wrenches), and that part number. Does anyone recognize it? Is it a Proto part number? Or is this a contract wrench?

 

[Provincial]

Wright Aeronautical wrench numbers often begin with an 8, but the WWII-era ones only have 6 digits.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

6 digits or less, Jock. I thought about that, too, but they were all 80xxxx through 84xxxxx. There were no 85xxxx or higher series Wright Aero numbers. But maybe you're onto something. Maybe they kept the same system and added prefixes (e.g., 85xxxx, 86xxxxx, 87xxxx, etc) AND extra digits as the engines and equipment evolved.

 

[Provincial]

Around 1929 they started using the 8*** sequence. Before that, tools had a WA prefix. The earlier tools were then listed in the parts book under the 8*** numbering system.

By the way, the full Wright J-5 tool kit (for a complete overhaul) listed a Bilmont socket set!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'd love to see the Billmont entry.

That pre-war history is interesting Jock, but are you following my point on the numbering system? During WWII, the numbers were 80xxxx through 84xxxx. No higher. Since the wrench is a Proto (i.e., not made before 1950), I'm speculating that perhaps they kept going up, (again, 85xxxx, 86xxxx, 87xxxx, etc) and also longer. ?? Maybe?

EDIT: I gladly take some of that back! I just checked my Navy ASO Class 88 dated July 1947, and by then they had added an 85xxxx and 86xxxx series for about a dozen special tools. It also lists two (2) 90xxxx tools. They were 6-digit numbers. Still no 87xxxxx. I'm thinking my theory might have enough merit to try to track down a little more.

 

[outofbounds]

Found this Fleet 3/8 & 1/4 Drive set in terrific complete condition.

 

[Provincial]

As requested by Lugz, here are some shots of the Wright J-5 Instruction Manual that show the tool lists. The Bilmont socket set is third from the bottom of the first page of tool lists, the WA-106. The photos start with the cover, the title page, then the three pages of tool listings.

Sorry for the pages turned sideways. The GJ app turned them. I'll put the next two pages in a following post.

 

[Provincial]

The next two pages of Wright J-5 tools. This time it put them in right side up!

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Found this really long Proto ratchet today at the pawn shop in a Powr-Kraft toolbox full of Montgomery Ward stuff that I also picked up, this was in the very bottom. Model number 54508L. Not sure if it’s old but it sure is cool.

 

[Provincial]

Long is good! If you have the room to swing it.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Resumed my toolbox repairs today. Made a drawer for the 9990. Have to find a better match for the paint. Also made a drawer pull for the bottom drawer

 

[Username already in use]

Looks real nice!

 

[Provincial]

Looks good! I see you had some supervision. Or is that the Inspection Department?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

My cat closely watches all my projects

 

[Smokeshow69]

I got 2 more Proto LA era tool boards in the mail today. They will be a bit of a restoration project as there is paint slathered on the edges and I will need to fabricate a corner of one...however what attracted me to them was the long combo/dbe board as well as the stickers! Don't find many of those stickers out there... It looks like someone also shellacked them with a darker tint but we shall see if that can come off...

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. No doubt about the age on those.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Nice. No doubt about the age on those.

Yes, we can certainly narrow the date down for the stickers...however, I think it could be possible that the stickers where added to the boards. One of the boards has the "property of the Plomb tool company" stamp on the back while the other doesnt. To me this means that perhaps they where made at different times. I don't have any resources to check when they stopped using that stamp. ..I would not be surprised at all if these stickers where part of a marketing campaign. Don't you have a drive set box with this sticker on it? At any rate, I felt the stickers plus the subject matter was enough to warrant purchasing them, even if they will need a little work. All the tool hanging pegs are intact which is another plus!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Certainly a worthwhile purchase! Were the stickers added? Who knows.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Certainly a worthwhile purchase! Were the stickers added? Who knows.

Yup I agree... I am certainly not particularly worried about it Either way the stickers up the cool factor! Now I just need to find the things to fill the hack saw board... I have no hacksaws, battery terminal pullers, piston compressors or anything for that board Oh well, part of the fun

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The 'Plomb Property' board is undoubtedly older than 1957. That's when the board of directors voted to change the name of the company from the Plomb Tool Company to Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc. My guess would be that the other board is also older. Why would they make new boards? Part numbers were the same, and there's already precedence for them using stickers for corporate changes (covering up the 'Plomb' in 1950). I am guessing they sent those stickers out for their vendors to ad to their existing boards, spreading the name change and celebrating the anniversary at the same time.

Kind of sneaky, actually, because the stickers imply that "PTII" is 50 years old.

Cool boards.

 

[Smokeshow69]

The 'Plomb Property' board is undoubtedly older than 1957. That's when the board of directors voted to change the name of the company from the Plomb Tool Company to Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc. My guess would be that the other board is also older. Why would they make new boards? Part numbers were the same, and there's already precedence for them using stickers for corporate changes (covering up the 'Plomb' in 1950). I am guessing they sent those stickers out for their vendors to ad to their existing boards, spreading the name change and celebrating the anniversary at the same time.

Kind of sneaky, actually, because the stickers imply that "PTII" is 50 years old.

Cool boards.

I agree on this lugz...both are LA era but the plomb stamp one is the oldest of the 2... all my other LA era boards have the property stamp on them except this one.... And yes, those stickers make me smile... it is a bit funny to think of them advertising the anniversary while also trying to make the connection with the new parent company name...Plomb always had a few cards up their sleeves

 

[c1504]

The stickers definitely take the coolness up a notch!

 

[Smokeshow69]

The stickers definitely take the coolness up a notch!

Thanks! I thought so. Not very common for sure.

 

[outofbounds]

Tripped over this set of Tru-Test 3/8" & 1/4" Drive today at an estate sale on my lunch hour. Was running late and literally hit the garage on a dead run. Was amazed it would be laying in the open on a garage table at noon when the lively sale was running for several hours already.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Tripped over this set of Tru-Test 3/8" & 1/4" Drive today at an estate sale on my lunch hour. Was running late and literally hit the garage on a dead run. Was amazed it would be laying in the open on a garage table at noon when the lively sale was running for several hours already.

If you paid the price tag on that you ****! Way to go!

 

[jabberwoki]

Ouch $350

[email protected]

 

[Smokeshow69]

Ouch $350

[email protected]

That dude has had those posted forever...You would think he would drop the price eventually.. Those wrench sets are cool but not $350 cool.

 

[outofbounds]

If you paid the price tag on that you ****! Way to go!

If I told you that I got them to toss in an old Oilstone in original box and a large perfect handle screwdriver, would you think less of me? or more?

 

[d42jeep]

If I told you that I got them to toss in an old Oilstone in original box and a large perfect handle screwdriver, would you think less of me? or more?

More. Of course, I’d like to see the screwdriver and oilstone to be sure.
-Don

 

[Hoorn]

Awesome stuff, love Proto. Thank you for posting.

 

[c1504]

Good score OOB!

 

[bmwrd0]

I found this old 3/4" socket box in at a barn sale yesterday, and as I am a sucker for any flying lady logos I find, it came home with me.



A little scuffed up, but not too bad.

And here it is with my Proto LA 3/4" pieces. A little bit off, but close enough for now.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks good!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I found this old 3/4" socket box in at a barn sale yesterday, and as I am a sucker for any flying lady logos I find, it came home with me.



A little scuffed up, but not too bad.

And here it is with my Proto LA 3/4" pieces. A little bit off, but close enough for now.

I don't think I have any extra 3/4 drive stuff but I will check...I will bring my spares to the next swap meet on friday

 

[outofbounds]

More. Of course, I’d like to see the screwdriver and oilstone to be sure.
-Don

Perfect Handle is 14" OAL with 1903 Patent Date. Some grinding around the tip but the handle is original and intact.