Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[DGersic]

Another find in Dad’s tools, some Indestro double box end wrenches.

 

[Outlawmws]

The long ones too!

 

[DGersic]

Indestro and two Craftsman 3/8” extensions.

 

[four.cycle]

Another find in Dad’s tools, some Indestro double box end wrenches.

^ Those are Indestro "Select" - very cool.

I'm a bit puzzled by these, as I cannot figure out what year they might have been published, and the address shown doesn't align with anything we know about the company. I've sent out some feelers... hope to hear back from somebody soon.

 

[RTM]

^ Those are Indestro "Select" - very cool.

I'm a bit puzzled by these, as I cannot figure out what year they might have been published, and the address shown doesn't align with anything we know about the company.

-3429 w 47th street Chicago is listed both in AA, and in MadeinChicagoMuseum.com. The -57 implies they took over more space IMO.

What am I missing in your question? Both imply moving in 1929.

The building is still there, looks like the daylight model shown.

 

[four.cycle]

Am I blind? Where did you find that?
So... you think that 1929 is close on those?
The only marker I can see is the guy's shirt collar, tie, and vest and trousers.

 

[RTM]

Am I blind? Where did you find that?
So... you think that 1929 is close on those?
The only marker I can see is the guy's shirt collar, tie, and vest and trousers.

Forgot to attach this last night, sorry




And then google books added this (today’s search, earliest at a glance)

 

[four.cycle]

wow...
In that same AA article, up above that entry, it is stated that Indestro announced the construction of the factory on Kildare Avenue in 1923:
"Fig. 7 shows a notice regarding a new building for Duro Metal Products, as published on page 883 of the December 7, 1923 issue of Sheet Metal Worker. The text states that Duro Metal Products had awarded a contract for a new building, to be constructed at 2649 North Kildare Avenue in Chicago."
So if these catalog pages are from 1929, then we have to believe that Indestro built a factory on Kildare Avenue in 1923, then moved to West 37th Street in 1929, but continued operations on Kildare Avenue all the way through to 1990.
Am I getting that right?
Because when I was writing purchase orders and addressing the envelopes, it was the Kildare Avenue address I was using in the 1970s and 1980s.

 

[Flathead_Fred]

Picked up a Durobilt #411 valve lapping tool along with a seat cutter and valve face cutting tool. I was drawn to it because it had the complete Duro writing and logo on it. The guy I bought it from said it was his grandpa's valve job kit. I tried to just clean it up but the paint just fell off hence a complete redo. The perfect color match for the Duro red is VHT caliper paint #SP731 Real Red. I don't know why I am so enamored with the old Duro tools but I can't pass them up. The valve face cutter appears to be a Zim Mfg. (just pretend the extension is a valve).

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple of Duro wrenches BK sent me in a recent care package. The combo didn’t need any clean up but I did a little on the prewar DBE wrench.


-Don

 

[ctuai]

Indestro no. 824 brake lining riveting set.

 

[nz44tool]

I just picked up this set - complete and in great shape. I'm kinda shocked. Not cheap, but not too bad.

 

[Ayrhead]

So, just curious, up in Ontariariarioooo, Canada that would be like $25.00 to $35.00. What’s it worth where you are??

 

[nz44tool]

So, just curious, up in Ontariariarioooo, Canada that would be like $25.00 to $35.00. What’s it worth where you are??

I'm no authority on these - don't know what more knowledgeable folks would shell out, but I paid $30.00 for it.

 

[MR.X]

I posted this ratchet on the Williams thread a couple days ago for obvious reasons. Found in an old dirty toolbox at a neighborhood sale in Dearborn Michigan. 3 ratchets for $2.00. Thoughts?

 

[Outlawmws]

Several/many companies made those I-Beam style ratchets. I have a SO 3/8 that just feels great in the hand, and you know you can pull on it harder without hurting yourself.

Same reason I like the Indestro paddle style drive tools.

 

[Cruzan80]

Outlaw, I think the odd part for most people is that the style with a angled end off the ratchet and the overall outline screams "Williams" to most people. Curious if you have seen others that are virtually identical with different branding.

 

[Outlawmws]

the style with a angled end off the ratchet

I guess I'm not seeing the angle you are talking about?

and the overall outline screams "Williams" to most people.

What about the outline? The grip handle?

 

[Cruzan80]

The grip handle (the slight flare/oval), and the rextangular protrusion with a screw to the right of "Off" in the first picture.

Also, I have seen few items with Indestro branded into the casting, as they seemed to prefer stamping (so Duro/Indestro parts could both come off the same line).

I am not an expert, just what I am noticing. Hoping to be proved wrong.

 

[four.cycle]

I posted this ratchet on the Williams thread a couple days ago for obvious reasons. Found in an old dirty toolbox at a neighborhood sale in Dearborn Michigan. 3 ratchets for $2.00. Thoughts?

You mean other than being totally baffled?
No.

No.... I'm completely gobsmacked.

 

[four.cycle]

You think maybe there's a possibility that Indestro (of Chicago) outsourced that unit from Williams (Brooklyn, New York) at some point?

When did Williams first begin manufacturing that style ratchet? (I don't know jack about Williams.)

It's too close to a Williams to have not been outsourced, I thinks.

What else makes sense?

 

[Outlawmws]

You think maybe there's a possibility that Indestro (of Chicago) outsourced that unit from Williams (Brooklyn, New York) at some point?

When did Williams first begin manufacturing that style ratchet? (I don't know jack about Williams.)

It's too close to a Williams to have not been outsourced, I thinks.

What else makes sense?

This makes perfect sense to me, especially during WWII wartime production, as once contracts were awarded those companies would often outsource if it was past their production capacity or specialty.

 

[Outlawmws]

The ... rextangular protrusion with a screw to the right of "Off"

That was fairly common for ratcheting tools in the early days. I have my dad's old pipe thread ratchets that used that and have seen other early ratchets with similar.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Maybe mtf

 

[four.cycle]

^ MTF is another brand I know absolutely nothing about, but I think you're on the right track.

I know for certain that Indestro outsourced MANY items in their catalogs, so nothing would surprise me.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's an odd early duro

 

[MR.X]

I’d like to compare that MTF, a Williams and this Indestro side by side. Unfortunately, all my tools are not in one location. Here’s some side by side pics with an AA example. Also like to compare that style MTF with 3bay’s Detroit Tool Mfg example.

 

[MR.X]

Other side.

 

[four.cycle]

^ this is the reason I ship all weird pliers to @LesserSon

 

[Ayrhead]

A pair of Indestro Super DOE 1/2 x 9/16 wrenches. One is marked with a 2 and the other with a T2.

 

[Outlawmws]

One is marked with a 2 and the other with a T2

Are these thin Tappet wrenches, or std thickness?

 

[Ayrhead]

Are these thin Tappet wrenches, or std thickness?

These are thin tappet wrenches…

 

[Outlawmws]

These are thin tappet wrenches…

So marking like that expected. They number those in sets. 1, 2, 3, 4...

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

They offered quite a variety of colors.
Refrigeration set with D-I sockets.
Indestro sets.



-Don

Don,

I just got this in. It's a Indestro Super Quality box with D-I sockets and the #2850 flex handle. The box is 9 3/4 × 3 1/4 so similar to your Duro blue box but this one appears more OD green (and Indestro). Not seeing it in the 1935 catalog so unsure what's supposed to be stocked in it. Have ya seen this one before?

 

[2001ZR2]

1/2" 6 point ratchet



Not a bad box but what's inside?

Extra sockets and a Snap On 1/4 extension

But this is an Indestro thread
.
Open Ratchet in great shape

Very nice 6pt and 8pt sockets with two extensions and Breaker Bar.

 

[four.cycle]

I just got this in. It's a Indestro Super Quality box with D-I sockets and the #2850 flex handle. The box is 9 3/4 × 3 1/4 so similar to

^ that one's kind of an odd duck that we believe is "wartime" vintage. Don has one or two. I had one, but mine was a Duro-Chrome, not an Indestro, as I recall.

 

[d42jeep]

All of my “long box” wartime 1/4” drive D-I sets are Duro marked. I have 1/2” drive D-I sets marked Indestro and Duro. Here is a wartime picture of a long box set.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ am I imagining things, or is that Indestro army-green box something of an oddity? Yours are both Duro Chrome as well?

 

[d42jeep]

When it comes to the long 1/4” drive boxes mine are all Duro marked and olive green. Duro and Indestro were putting out so many tools during WW2 that branding and colors seemed much less important than before and after the war. Here is a shorter green Indestro marked box with D-I sockets.
1/2“ drive sets D-I sets with different colors and markings.
-Don