Proto Tools Picture Thread - Post Yours!

[Old Radar]

i went to the pawn shop yesterday, there was a lot of proto wrenches in the dollar bin, a proto adjustable, and some s-k wrenches, no craftsman

Thanks for the heads up, bb!

I went to the (insert any generic unidentifiable seller) yesterday, there was a lot of (insert your most sought-after tool and/or brand) that they were practically giving away along with (insert additional unidentified items of interest), but no Craftsman.


At least we don't have to worry about the Craftsman...

 

[Smokeshow69]

i went to the pawn shop yesterday, there was a lot of proto wrenches in the dollar bin, a proto adjustable, and some s-k wrenches, no craftsman

Sounds like you need to go back

 

[d42jeep]

I found too many Sears tools at yesterday’s estate sale but I grabbed whatever Proto tools were there just because. The cool stubby LA 9752 screwdriver came out of the evaporust today as did the sockets.
-Don

Proto LA socket
A couple of Mfd sockets.

 

[3baygarage]

Proto WF-21

Kind of interesting. Looks like a Plomb and a Firestone got freaky together on a Saturday night. I like the brass selector.

 

[genog]

I found this interesting Proto cutter in my Dikes drawer
Looks very similar to Craftsman cutters that (I believe) I bought in the mid 90's
Not exactly vintage, but what the heck?

 

[Smokeshow69]

I got my 100HR tool box all cleaned up. This was one that jabberwoki bird dogged for me at a local swap meet. Paid $30. It is really straight and not rusty. Shows signs of use but not a ton of abuse. All corners and spot welds are intact. Box had quite a bit of over spray and paint drops on it. It also had a nice layer of grease and dust and oil on it. But I cleaned it as best as I could. I couldn’t really get a buffer on it so I did all the work by hand. Before and after picture and a listing from the 1951 catalog. Judging by the bottom of the tray and the bottom of the box, it didn’t get a ton of use.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice find. That’s a great logo.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Nice find. That’s a great logo.

Hey thanks. It’s not perfect but then again, I haven’t seen any of these nicer. My mfd era one is beat and someone stood on it . A lot of the plomb ones I have seen are more worn as well. I think this one cleaned up pretty good for a shelf sitter

 

[jabberwoki]

Looks good, howbout some steel wool on the handles?

 

[Smokeshow69]

Looks good, howbout some steel wool on the handles?

Yeah I might try that. They are not chrome. Some sort of finish like galvanized or cadmium plating

 

[JohnDeere]

I/2 socket sets

 

[JohnDeere]

I have an identical screw driver

I found too many Sears tools at yesterday’s estate sale but I grabbed whatever Proto tools were there just because. The cool stubby LA 9752 screwdriver came out of the evaporust today as did the sockets.
-Don

Proto LA socket
A couple of Mfd sockets.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Got the handle hasps on my 100hr all cleaned up with wd40 and steel wool. Masked around them to avoid damage to the paint and proceeded to remove rust via hand. Some of the stains are really deep and can’t come out but that’s ok. The paint isn’t perfect so it would be weird if they were shiny and everything else was worn. Definitely a clean box for sure! The handles themselves are a cadmium/galvanized finish and don’t have much rust so I left them alone

 

[c1504]

That box turned out pretty nice!

 

[Smokeshow69]

That box turned out pretty nice!

Thanks. For being as old as it is and a hand carry box, I think it came out well. Carry boxes dont usually survive as well due to their portabilty and utilitarian use. Now it's back up on the shelf next to its mfd era brother

 

[c1504]

Some things I have picked up recently. Your handy guide to Proto tools, an early style screwdriver with the part number worn off, an LA 2336 gasket scraper, a mfd 36 offset screwdriver, and an mfd 3352 offset doe

 

[Smokeshow69]

Some things I have picked up recently. Your handy guide to Proto tools, an early style screwdriver with the part number worn off, an LA 2336 gasket scraper, a mfd 36 offset screwdriver, and an mfd 3352 offset doe

Dang it...I saw that on ebay and didnt bite. If I had seen that it included tool boards, I would have certainly bit. Glad you ended up with it!

 

[c1504]

The tool boards are a big part of why I bought it!

 

[Smokeshow69]

The tool boards are a big part of why I bought it!

Cant fault you there

 

[joel_400]

Found this little gem at the local flea market today. Got it for 2 bucks!
Joel

 

[Smokeshow69]

Picked up a few goodies today at 2 different sales
Mfd era- 5/8 deep and 19/32 shallow- both 3/8 drive

La era- 3027, 8180 dbe, 1/2 deep socket

 

[d42jeep]

I was happy to find this large rubber Proto mallet today at an estate sale. Too bad the handle has a hole in it.
-Don

 

[JohnDeere]

Proto 18545 Lock-back knife, like new. Same as a Buck 110. I have know clue why a tool company would want their name on a large hunting knife, but I like it.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Proto 18545 Lock-back knife, like new. Same as a Buck 110. I have know clue why a tool company would want their name on a large hunting knife, but I like it.

Proto also sold a “fisherman’s friend “ fishing pliers that had fish for grips. I would love to find one in the wild one day. But I don’t want to pay the eBay prices

 

[JohnDeere]

Can you post a picture?

 

[Smokeshow69]

Can you post a picture?

From page 8 of the 1962-1963 proto catalogue

 

[JohnDeere]

I did it again, it is the little brother, a buck 112. Both knives are eBay scores.

 

[JohnDeere]

A little goof on my part, both of these knives are made by Utica Cutlery.

 

[d42jeep]

I found these Snap-ring pliers at a Berkeley estate sale this morning. They didn’t look to have seen much use.
-Don

 

[JohnDeere]

All my proto knives in one place.

 

[d42jeep]

I finally got around to cleaning up the miniature wrench set I found at an estate sale on Saturday. The smallest wrench is JohnDeere’s favorite size.
-Don

 

[JohnDeere]

3/16 box end looks kind of circular.

 

[atlasfanatic]

Estate sale find today: Vintage Proto 5200AB set. Everything is complete but the top of the box could be in better shape. Thinking it’s between 1949 and 1952 based on the style of box. 1949 catalog page attached for reference.

 

[four.cycle]

^ nice introduction there.
pretty fabulous find!

 

[d42jeep]

Received these Proto items during a visit with an old friend. Two wrenches and a feeler gauge.
-Don

 

[atlasfanatic]

^ nice introduction there.
pretty fabulous find!

Thanks! First set of Proto tools I've found so far.

 

[genog]

I found this Proto roller at the Flea Market on Sunday.

It really looked bad when I spotted it...
The drawer retainer clips were gone so each one of the drawers pulled out too far and collapsed onto the drawer immediately below
It didn't help that the drawers were Grossly overloaded with junk tools which made each of them TOUGH to pull out in order to empty

The ole boy looked like a mess.
It looked so bad that it fooled the seller, a Flea Market Shark, so he unwittingly gave me a Good price on it

It cleaned up nicely.
Looks good now

 

[d42jeep]

The previous owner of the tools we checked out on Saturday was really hard on them. This DBE Proto LA wrench has been ground on the outside edge of the ends for additional clearance, I guess. At least it’s still a functional wrench.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

The previous owner of the tools we checked out on Saturday was really hard on them. This DBE Proto LA wrench has been ground on the outside edge of the ends for additional clearance, I guess. At least it’s still a functional wrench.
-Don

Very likely used on aircraft, since they are famous for limited clearance.

 

[d42jeep]

That is certainly possible. Here is a quote from the estate sale people regarding the sale. “

“A 3-car garage and carport chockful of tools and equipment for the owner who ran Speedway Repair Shop – for automotive, motorcycle, boats, industrial welding, fabricating, tool & die repair, and general maintenance. He specialized in high performance items, did custom motorcycle building”

I left many mutilated tools behind. He wasn’t adverse to using high heat to make any tool meet the need regardless of whether the tool was originally a desirable brand or a Harbor Freight special.
-Don