Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[four.cycle]

it's marked "Not Guar.".

None of Indestro's "bit" attachments for ratchets had any warranty - they were all stamped like that. Same with the 618X connecting rod socket for Ford V8 engines.
Those are definitely post-war - Indestro didn't offer those in their early catalogs.
Several manufacturers produced items marked in the same way.

 

[RTM]

Here is a grab from yesterday’s estate sale, an Indestro 0930-5P wrench set. Offered from 1952 to 1971, per the resources in ITCL, it was found sorta loose, with a Blackhawk Hexite included under the Klip instead of the largest wrench. Grabbed all the pieces, tossed them in my bag. Saw the back of the Klip said 5P, hoped it meant 5 pieces, cuz I quit looking then.

 

[Outlawmws]

Klip looks full to me!

 

[four.cycle]

0930-5P wrench set.

yes. 5 pieces.
1959 catalog No. 22 - page 30 - 0930-5P - same as the 930-5P, but without polished heads

 

[RTM]

yes. 5 pieces.
1959 catalog No. 22 - page 30 - 0930-5P - same as the 930-5P, but without polished heads

Oops, I knew that, guess I forgot to link the image from the 1952 catalog showing that, listed as a budget line. Sorry for the extra work.

 

[ararat]

Just got these Indestro Super 3432 vise grip style pliers. They have a longer lever than my Dewitt vise grips. They also got to do some hammering at some point.

 

[Beerhippie]

Just got these Indestro Super 3432 vise grip style pliers. They have a longer lever than my Dewitt vise grips. They also got to do some hammering at some point.

Just looking at the peening on that jaw, I can hear the cursing! "Move, damn yer hide, MOVE!"

 

[d42jeep]

For several year I have been looking for a nicer example of the 7 wrench Duro ignition wrench set for my 11/42 wartime Motor Vehicle Mechanic Tool Set (MVMTS). I found this one on eBay recently. It’s not exactly like new but it’s closer. I cleaned it it a bit this morning.
As received
A little cleaner
Comparison with my existing set
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Don, Wartime as opposed to "GI"? I can't imagine red being issue...

 

[d42jeep]

I believe that the official late war description was canvas or leatherette. Here are two late war sets that match the description.
-Don

 

[JMP]

A few gems from my latest haul. I was impressed by how tight this 3/8 swivel socket is. Not even broken in yet. Top wrench is Indestro Super but is hard to tell until I have a chance to clean it up.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is more information about the WW2 Duro 7 wrench ignition sets and some more examples.

41-W-900 Ignition Wrench Set - Duro Chrome 7 wrench set

consisting of:

41-W-1468-350 Wrench, Elec. 13/64” (15) x 15/64” (60) - Duro-Chrome E61

41-W-1468-355 Wrench, Elec. 15/64” (15) x 13/64” (60) - Duro-Chrome E62

41-W-1468-360 Wrench, Elec. 7/32” (15) x 1/4” (60) - Duro-Chrome E63

41-W-1468-365 Wrench, Elec. 1/4” (15) x 7/32” (60) - Duro-Chrome E64

41-W-1468-370 Wrench, Elec. 9/32” (15) x 5/16” (60) - Duro-Chrome E65

41-W-1468-375 Wrench, Elec. 5/16” (15) x 9/32” (60) - Duro-Chrome E66

41-W-1468-380 Wrench, Elec. 11/32” (15) x 3/8” (60) - Duro-Chrome E67

41-R-2738-75 Roll, Electrical Wrench Set, Leatherette 7 pockets - Duro Metal Products


Prewar and postwar Duro Catalog images.





1947 catalog listing with different wrench part numbers
E series wrenches were used through 1944. More set examples.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Well heck, gonna resurrect an old post (2013) in a large thread, where many of the photos are already dead. I’m looking for a model, age etc for a Duro-Chrome box I got out of the shop clean out last summer. Seeing 85 pages of posts was a bit daunting, but finding a clue in post 67 was a bonus, et least for now.

I have quite a few, but I picked this up over the weekend

If that box is 19” long, 2” tall, and about 6” deep, I have it’s brother. Any idea on age, what catalog I can find it in? I still have 78 pages to look thru.

The wire loop handle on top seems to be different, some catalogs show it on the front instead of the top.

 

[d42jeep]

The sets that I have run across have been very consistent, with all matching contents. There is an almost exact listing in the WW2 Navy NAF Class 41 catalog (my Bible) for the set with a Federal Stock number of 41-W-2997. The only non original tools that I have added to my sets are the crossbars. Most of the sets available are bought by WW2 collectors as an excellent source of D-I sockets.
-Don

I have five of these sets.


-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Man, I had forgotten about that box.

@d42jeep; so WWII era? Did Indestro also use it? I'll have to go see if it's in my pile, or lost later today...

 

[d42jeep]

During WW2, Duro and Indestro acted much more as a single entity, as indicated by sockets being marked D-I and unmarked (and slightly shorter) ratchets that would normally be thought of as Indestro being used in these sets with the Duro label. These sets were probably made for and mostly used by the Navy as I’ve only seen a listing for them in the Navy NAF catalog. I don’t remember where I found this picture of what looks like a NOS set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This little hex drive set was a rusty throw in that came with an eBay partial S-K 1/4” drive set. I cleaned up the case and gave the other tools the evaporust bath so they look a little more presentable. The patent number comes back to Duro Metal Products and they are a match to an Indestro set I spotted on eBay.
Before pictures.
Patent info.
-Don

 

[RTM]

I have five of these sets.


-Don

Thanks Don, I don’t know that I would have found that other thread very easily. As always, I appreciate the expertise.

And following up on a note in the other thread, while my top and sides on this one look pretty good, the bottom has about 10% paint coverage. Forgot a pic, will add it later.

 

[Historyworker]

Indestro store display. Not mine but I thought it was pretty cool. It's an auction lot ending tomorrow. Wish I had the space for it.

 

[four.cycle]

taken care of. 03/05/25

 

[Provincial]

Duro Chrome from Sunday's flea market. Ignore the Mac starter wrench on the left.

2733 is the only marking on the 3/8 drive extension. It is unplated. Perhaps WWII?
Duro-Chrome 2213S combo 3/8
Duro-Chrome 2214S combo 7/16
Duro-Chrome 2013 DBE circle-DC, 9/16 x 5/8


Chrome X Quality 1721 DOE 5/16 x 3/8 "Vanadium Steel" Made by Duro-Indestro for Western Auto.

 

[four.cycle]

2733 is the only marking on the 3/8 drive extension. It is unplated. Perhaps WWII?

2733 is an Indestro part number. Duro Chrome part number would be 4433.
Don would know better as to whether it's suitable for entry into a GMTK.
<edit> I cannot make out the detail in that image. Is the part number stamped on the shank of that extension? or on the drive end?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It is unplated. Perhaps WWII?

Probably. Probably commercial sales though, Jock.

Indestro has an odd place inside WWII tool collecting. The tools are not a very popular choice and with good reason. They had no contracts listed in the WPB records. They are surprisingly listed in a late war general catalog (SNL J-4) I have but aren't associated with any major application empirically. Though the "I" in "-D-I-" tools almost certainly signifies Indestro in the twinned Duro-Indestro enterprise, they're always more closely aligned with Duro Metal Products, who had over a dozen huge contracts in the WPB records. Because of their very similar appearance to their Duro brethren, guys - including this one, will pick them up as a not unsightly placeholder or alternative when building a set. Like that extension, for example. And then over time sometimes it just stays there and never gets replaced. Especially for hard to find tools, like the ignition screwdriver.

On top of that, 3/8-drive tools have an odd story outside of US Army Air Corps. There is no 3/8-drive set inside the QMC/Ordnance Dept GMTK, for starters. 150,000+ sent to the ETO alone, but no junior drive set. Just 1/2-drive and 1/4-drive. The small wrecker truck (Dodge) kit had one - but it was Bonney. The big wrecker truck (REO) kit had one - but it was Blackhawk. Those were low in number though.

The only sets that show up separately from those with frequency, in OD boxes, are Duro Metal Products decals, typically with Duro handles and "-D-I-" sockets. And that set has its own FSN in the ORD 5 SNL J-4. It just doesn't have a major known popular application like other sets.

Link to an older deeper dive post of mine on G503.com with more details here.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks Don, I don’t know that I would have found that other thread very easily. As always, I appreciate the expertise.

And following up on a note in the other thread, while my top and sides on this one look pretty good, the bottom has about 10% paint coverage. Forgot a pic, will add it later.

I guess the tools moving around in the box did a pretty good job of removing the paint. These sets, when complete, came with three small D-I 3/8” drive sockets and a 1/2” to 3/8” drive adapter.
-Don

 

[genog]

Found a Duro Indestro refrigeration ratchet
Going to give it away to a friend who probably has the attachments
....looks like a cool quality tool

It's etched CUSD
probably Campbell Union School District

 

[d42jeep]

Nice. I keep one of those as a more modern extra in my wartime fridge set.
Some other Duro fridge tools.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

It's etched CUSD
probably Campbell Union School District

Almost certainly with your location.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve run across some Duro tools at recent estate sales. First some 1/2” drive sockets and a matching breaker bar with some battery pliers.
Next I found some cad plated 3/8” drive D-I sockets. After they came out of the evaporust, I added the best ones to the 3/8” drive Duro set.
Yesterday I found these sockets with the trapezoid markings.
From AA.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found these wrenches at a recent estate sale. I know an Indestro collector.
-Don
As found
Cleaned up

 

[humber2]

These three unnamed 1/2” drive unplated plug sockets do not feature the trapezoid ident, just the sizes with the oblique divide line.

5/8, 9/16 and 1/2

Interested to know probable date.

 

[d42jeep]

I think this could be them. The catalog image shows a larger one.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This Indestro Super flex handle was stashed in a filthy Heritage Craftsman 1/4” drive set at yesterday’s estate sale. -Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like it was all there plus extras don! do I see a tommy bar peeking out?

 

[d42jeep]

It was part of the Craftsman set and I was happy to see it
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This cad plated NOS wartime extension arrived in the mail yesterday from an eBay seller. The USPS lost the first one the seller sent for over a month and when it finally showed up they delivered an empty envelope. It went right into my MVMTS which is supposed to look like it would have in November of 1942. The dark finish extension moved into another set.

Part number markings.
Dark finish twins.
The extension in the MVMTS.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I liked finding this wrench set with the original screw at an estate sale yesterday. Hey BK, when were these made?
The thread identifying holes in the middle of the wrenches are pretty cool!
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

1920s or 1930s.

that's a model 112 "Nut and Rethreader" set.

The 110 "Nut and Tap Wrench" set has the SQUARE hole in the center to turn a TAP.

quite a find, especially with the original screw and nut.

 

[Outlawmws]

I liked finding this wrench set with the original screw at an estate sale yesterday. Hey BK, when were these made?

^ 20s or 30s and that is a REALLY cool set of those. That's a "Nut and Tap Wrench Set" and I don't think I've ever seen an intact set.

Someone splurged on the bid 5 pc. set!

 

[d42jeep]

I couldn’t tell what brand these were because they had size marking tape covering half the sockets. They turned out to be lightly used Indestro sockets.
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

Was going through my old sockets and found this one. Unfortunately messed up by PO