Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[Ricky Joe]

This is the only Cross Country tool I own. I assume it is Indestro since I found the thread here. It is the only Ford bearing wrench I own that is not round stock. I also own this wrench in Herbrand, Blackhawk, Mossberg, and unbranded.

 

[toolsigots]

A little 1/4 drive set I picked up a while back, although it looks early, I'm not sure of the age.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice set!
It looks like it is WW2 vintage to me. Are the sockets marked Duro-Chrome or D-I as both were offered during WW2?
-Don
I usually have a few that I’m putting together. The ratchets like yours are getting a little hard to find.

 

[toolsigots]

Interestingly, the sockets all have just the D - I -, but the ratchet, breaker and sliding t, all have Duro-Chrome and I do not see any marking on the extension.

 

[d42jeep]

The extensions may be brand marked or just have numbers or unmarked like yours. It looks original to the set to me.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

This Indestro set (I assume because nearly all the sockets that were in it were marked "Indestro Super") was at the local flea market Sunday. The sizes range from 9/16 to 1-1/8, and I replaced three non-original sockets with ones I had on hand. The 1-1/16 socket is a Master Mechanic, but now the rest match.

It has the unmarked 1/2 drive L-handle common to the Duro and Indestro sets, as well as the "sheath" handle that converts it to a T-handle. The sheath is only marked with the patent information and "Made in USA."

The box has no original finish on the outside, but just surface rust. The inside of the lid appears to be wrinkled black paint, with no decal showing.

I find it interesting that the socket bin is perfect for this size range, without the usual smaller 12-point sizes. Also, there is very limited size for drive tools and extensions.

 

[four.cycle]

^ SOME Indestro boxes are like putting a puzzle together - you have to re-arrange the pieces 3 or 4 times to get them all to fit. I have a 1950's 1/2" drive set like that - the ratchet has to go in ONE way or the drive tools won't fit into the box.
But....
The model 646 "Ell" handle (patent 1744413) was only included in "Master" sets in the 1935 and 1937 catalog, and is marked as having been discontinued in the 1948 catalog...
and...
The closest thing to that size of a set in their "Master" series has a different size range of sockets (which would not have been marked "Super" and the boxes on those early "Master" sets were completely different, using a "slide-on" lid.
and...
I don't know if I have any black wrinkle-finish Indestro boxes
(Don?)
I think you've got something that was cobbled together, but it fit the bill.

 

[d42jeep]

The only black Indestro 1/2” drive set that I have is an earlier WW2 vintage D-I set that came with a ratchet. It would have been easy for Indestro to modify the center divider to make a box like Provincial’s and replace the ratchet with the ell handle set.
My Indestro marked ells are slightly different than my bars that came with Duro marked sleeve handles but I tend to be Duro-centric.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is an even earlier prewar Duro 1/2” drive set with the ell and sleeve in a sliding top box.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ thanks.
so they DID put a black box out, right?
I wasn't sure on that one because I think there might be a 1/4" drive black-box set out in the living room, but I'm not going to go digging through six boxes to find it.

Don's "green box" Duro set is pretty much same/same as what Indestro was offering in the 1935 and 1937 catalogs: 7/16" - 7/8", and the "ell" handle.

 

[Cruzan80]

Just got these. 8 D-I 1/4" sockets, 3/16-7/16, all by /32 except goes from 3/8-7/16, and a matching breaker bar. Would this have lived in a green krinckle box, or did the DI stuff have a different color scheme?

 

[d42jeep]

They were used in many different boxes. Here are a few examples that I’m currently working on.
Wartime picture
The larger boxes on the left in my picture are the most common.
-Don

 

[Cruzan80]

I have a box like the third one down in the middle row, or maybe closer to the lower on the right side (bright to slightly olive green). Just wasn't sure if there was a color scheme change during wartime.

 

[four.cycle]

I only picked stuff off the top layer. The "Indestro" "D-I" sets are probably at the bottoms of those boxes. For the moment:

* note my wrinkle-finish green and blue 1940s boxes contain pieces that are either plated or plain steel.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

This is the only Cross Country tool I own. I assume it is Indestro since I found the thread here. It is the only Ford bearing wrench I own that is not round stock. I also own this wrench in Herbrand, Blackhawk, Mossberg, and unbranded.

Indeed made by duro and marketed and sold by Sears in the early 30s

 

[Ricky Joe]

Indeed made by duro and marketed and sold by Sears in the early 30s

I also have the V8 Ford valve spring compresser in hex stock, but no maker’s name. Probably the same.

 

[MisterEd]

Duro Chrome G61

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I wondered if I'd ever see another box like this Cross Country I found empty about 20 years ago,and there it is.
Guess I haven't looked in this thread for a couple years or so.
I filled it with chromium vanadium as I felt that might be what was in it originally,and looks like I guessed right.

These sets are unbelievable. It’s hard to imagine a set of that age existing in that condition. I’m very jealous of you guys

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this GMTK wrench this morning with a beautiful dark finish that will be hard for the other two pieces in the set to match.

 

[d42jeep]

I have an ongoing search for these 1945 Duro G2110 ignition pliers since they don’t come along all that often. Like Lugz’ new wartime DBE wrench above, these have a very nice dark finish and are correct for a late war GMTK. The FSN is 41-P-1820.
-Don

 

[GarageHobbyist]

Here is a Duro 4436 I picked up last weekend.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a WW2 vintage 2015 Duro-Chrome DBE wrench I found at a garage sale today. The sizes are 3/4” x 7/8”. The circle DC marking is quite legible.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm probably the only one in the world collecting these 800 series versions of the wartime Duro ignition wrenches, but I probably have enough to put a couple sets together by now. And I never leave the pliers behind. These CHROMIUM VANADIUM are not branded, but I am thinking Duro.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm probably the only one in the world collecting these 800 series versions of the wartime Duro ignition wrenches

Successfully, I'd guess yes. I collect all mini/ignition/magneto wrenches. But only have 2 Duros; Not sure if they fit the 800 wartime, I'd need to dig them out of the other 100-odd ignition wrenches...

. I also added 9 British Association "BA" screw thread DOE wrenches yesterday, and a captive set of those Terry's SOE wrenches in metric (I think...) yesterday -wondering if I have more that just ran under the radar...

 

[four.cycle]

errrr... 800-series is Indestro numbers, no? I thought the Duro numbers were like... G61 - G68 ?

 

[Outlawmws]

Ahh, I may have mis-interpreted Lug'z spot, I saw the "Duro" reference at the end and assumed.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

G61 - G68

And E series, through 69, by the way. E was prewar to midway, G was late war.

 

[four.cycle]

@Private Lugnutz -
Something just occurred to me that I had never noticed before:
It looks like Duro-Chrome was marketing the drop forged ignition wrenches before Indestro was marketing the drop forged ignition wrenches.
It also looks like Duro-Chrome changed their part numbering system at some point. I've never seen any of those 1700-series ignition wrenches - maybe Don has some?
I've never seen a plain steel Indestro drop forged ignition wrench - only plated and polished heads, satin-finish shanks.
I am truly puzzled on this one.

I do not find any drop forged Indestro ignition wrenches until they appear in the 1948 catalog, and it's only a limited range of sizes. (Prior to the 1948 catalog all I find are the low-end stamped steel wrenches.)
Not until the 1952 catalog does Indestro offer the full range of sizes.
Meanwhile, Duro Chrome has already expanded their selections to include both 15° and 60° angle heads, and also 15° and 75° angle heads.
Considering that the change in set-up would require only changing the die that stamps the part number, this one has me puzzled.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some duro and indestro sets

 

[four.cycle]

^ photos #1 and #2 are both Indestro product and are plain steel finish, correct?
^ photo #4 shows the earlier stamped steel units that were part of the #137 3-piece set (or carded, as yours is)
^ photo #5 shows Duro-Chrome G series, which don't show up in any of the catalogs we have and (unless I am mistaken) are the WWII "GMTK" type that Don collects.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Duro-Chrome G series, which don't show up in any of the catalogs we have and (unless I am mistaken) are the WWII "GMTK" type that Don collects.

Duro-Chrome are a popular choice for all wartime GMTK collectors. But, again, so are E series. See post # 3147.

 

[four.cycle]

E was prewar to midway, G was late war.

ahhh so! the "G" is not shown in any of the catalogs we currently have.

what I find puzzling is:
One might assume (and reasonably so) that both Duro-Chrome and Indestro would be offering the same range of products, but here's another example where they're not even close!
And if both you and @Oldtuleguy own plain steel finish Indestro-branded 800-series ignition wrenches, are those pre-war, mid-war, or post-war? Note that the 1948 catalog makes no mention of finish - whereas the 1952 catalog shows them having "brightly polished heads" and "satin finish" shanks.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's a few battery & ignition pliers. I know I have some ignition wrenches I'll have to dig out & post some pics. I can't remember if they're Duro or not.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...the "G" is not shown in any of the catalogs we currently have.

No. It's all deduction. They are identical to the E series in sizes and configuration, they're not plated, and they come in similar pouches. Also, keep in mind that there are DOEs and DBEs with a "G" marking as well, not a Circle-DC marking, also considered late war.

And if both you and @Oldtuleguy own plain steel finish Indestro-branded 800-series ignition wrenches, are those pre-war, mid-war, or post-war?

I don't know.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

My g series are black oxide finished, could that be the difference?

 

[four.cycle]

I would imagine Don has about 14 sets of those in Duro, so I'm curious to see if there are both E and G in both plain steel and black.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I'm sure Don has a few of those! Picked up another duro 699 . This thing works like a clock.

 

[d42jeep]

Generally the E series are black oxide and the G series are a more shiny black finish. Any of the black finishes can be worn off the wrenches and occasionally they may be plain steel finish.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

My g series have a nice black finish

 

[four.cycle]

^ curiouser and curioser.

would be real nice to have an Indestro catalog covering at least a bit of 1937-1948