Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[genog]

Yes
Nice find!

 

[d42jeep]

This popped up on eBay as a buy it now for a reasonable price and I wasted no time in picking it up. The 1/4” drive ratchets don’t come up very often. This one looks to be cad plated. It was notchy at first but a WD40 soaking has it working like new.
-Don

 

[Macduf]

I guess I needed another 1/2 ratchet.

 

[bonneyman]

+2

 

[four.cycle]

No idea why I can't get this to post correctly.

@Mike'smeatshop - re: your 1207 Indestro 1/2" hex drive socket set in the steel box (posted in July):
The set didn't come with a ratchet, as Private Lugnutz noted above.
New Britain made a set exactly like the 1207 - they're hard to tell from one another - only the knurling pattern on the sockets differs.

 

[outofbounds]

Found this Simonsen-built Indestro tool box today at an estate sale. Some 1/2 Drive Super sockets and a 1/2 drive breaker Bar and a bunch of random unmarked Indestro produced wrenches.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

No idea why I can't get this to post correctly.

@Mike'smeatshop - re: your 1207 Indestro 1/2" hex drive socket set in the steel box (posted in July):
The set didn't come with a ratchet, as Private Lugnutz noted above.
New Britain made a set exactly like the 1207 - they're hard to tell from one another - only the knurling pattern on the sockets differs.

Thanks. I realize my tray would not hold a ratchet. But I found a unmarked press steel ratchet just to show my buddy's.

 

[four.cycle]

^ The Indestro early stamped-steel ratchet (model 1308) is still relatively common in the second-hand market. It's easily confused with the equivalent S-K model and the equivalent "Tomahawk" model made by Walden (the latter two being less common.) All three made units with no identifying marks on them - only by comparing their profiles can one distinguish one from the other.


Indestro 1308 stamped-steel 1/2" hex drive non-reversible ratchet - 1935 Indestro catalog pp 24

1936 Oregon Journal S-K advertisement - note ratchet in set at top left

Walden Tomahawk 9-pc 1.2 hex dr SAE socket set (photo: ebay 384105345429 01)

====

@Chrome Vanadium Cody

Forgot to answer your question about your newly-acquired ratchet:
The answer is just regular old oil. Nothin' fancy.
The Indestro factory rep would have used 30W.
I use MMO and a little dab of white lithium grease (e.g., Lubriplate)

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

@four.cycle thanks! You’ve got perfect timing, I just bought another similar one in 1/4” drive yesterday and need to lube it. I’m really liking these things

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

This is great information. But now I have to go and find them and compare. They are lost.

 

[four.cycle]

@Chrome Vanadium Cody

That little 2875 (52-tooth) model is arguably one of the best 1/4" drive RHFT ratchets produced in the 20th century.
My current 1/4" drive kit contains four ratchets: an early (4-point selector knob) 2875 Indestro, a later (3-point selector knob) 2875 Indestro , a 60-tooth (6-point selector knob) 2875A Indestro, and a Snap-on TM739.
The first one I usually grab is the 3-point Indestro.
(and in all four of them you will find MMO and a tiny dab of Lubriplate.)

(FWIW: the PROTO 1/4" drive phillips #1 and #2 bits are about $16 bucks a pop now, but they do seem to hold up decently.)

 

[mgmlvks]

This set - ** UPDATE 13-SEP-2023 >> ** appears to NOT be "Indestro", but rather New Britain / None Better set No. 1119. Only markings are "Made in USA". All that Cad plating is no longer shiny! Thanks for the education!

All there - although the ratchet has been "sprung" and while it rotates, it does not lock, and the blade screwdriver part is busted all-to-heck (maybe this was related?). A nice deep red color under all the wear and tear.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

New britain used that style ratchet and knurling

 

[four.cycle]

@mgmlvks -

You have a New Britain / None Better set there - easily distinguished from the Duro/Indestro counterpart by the cut-off corners on the wall-hanging rack. (The Indestro equivalent - 1454 - has square corners at the top of the rack.)

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro 10-piece 1/4" drive SAE socket set w/box ("D-I")

This set contains:

1/4" 6-point
9/32" 6-point
5/16" 12-point
11/32" 12-point
3/8" 12-point
7/16" 12-point

1/4" 8-point
5/16" 8-point
3/8" 8-point

6-inch flex handle (breaker bar)

None of the piece are marked with manufacturer's name or part number. All of the sockets are stamped only with size and " D-I ".
The sockets and breaker bar appear to be plated - possibly with a cad finish.

* this would be roughly the equivalent to the model 2800 set as shown in the 1948 catalog (see photo string) but the "D-I" stamping dates the tools to the first half of the 1940s (ca. 1942-1945) the plating defies explanation, but not the first example of plated "D-I" stuff I've seen.

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro Select 1/4" drive SAE socket set w/ original box (partial set only)

The set contains:

6006 3/16" 6-point
6007 7/32" 6-point
6008 1/4" 6-point

6010 5/16" 6-point
6011 11/32" 6-point
6012 3/8" 6-point
6014 7/16" 6-point

6008S 1/4" 8-point
6010S 5/16" 8-point
6012S 3/8" 8-point

6032 2-inch extension
6033 6-inch extension

2839 "open gear" ratchet - which works flawlessly and still has the original dust band.

The model 2839 made its last appearance in the 1959 Indestro catalog No. 22, and is shown as discontinued in the 1961 Indestro catalog No. 22A. It does not appear in the 1961 Indestro Select catalog No.2 (having been replaced by the model 6070.)

** the set is missing the 6009 9/32" 6-point socket

** ALL OF THE PIECES IN THE SET HAVE GRINDER MARKS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. **

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 12-piece 1/4" drive SAE socket set "D -I" in original box

The set contains:

3/16" 6-point

1/4" 6-point
9/32" 12-point
5/16" 12-point
11/32" 12-point
3/8" 12-point
7/16" 12-point

1/4" 8-point
5/16" 8-point
3/8" 8-point

6-inch flex handle (breaker bar)
5/32" x 3-inch cross bar (tommy bar)

** There is no 7/32" socket included in THIS set. (see GMTK charts in photo images for details) **
** The 7/16" 12-point socket has a different knurling pattern than the other sockets included in the set **

This is the inexplicable oversize box believed to have been made at some point during a major world conflict. (Details are sketchy.)
None of the pieces are marked with manufacturer's name or part number. All sockets are stamped only with size and " D I "
All sockets are plain black finish, with the exception of the 3/8" 8-point, which is shiny bare steel (but certainly doesn't appear to me to have been plated.)
The breaker bar has no markings at all and has a somewhat different handle than your run-of-the-mill 4550 (or 2850 Indestro.)

 

[d42jeep]

Those large box D-I sets are some of my favorites. I have a similar box shown on the upper right with a slightly wider socket slot that accommodates 3/8” drive sockets.
A couple more in progress.

-Don

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Those large box D-I sets are some of my favorites. I have a similar box shown on the upper right with a slightly wider socket slot that accommodates 3/8” drive sockets.
A couple more in progress.

-Don

Real nice collection.

 

[four.cycle]

@d42jeep -

I pulled out the ONE box that was still in the living room and dumped it out.
Guess what I found?
Nice 4550 Duro. Kind of greasy. Has a weird end. You like?
Also found a couple old 1/2" drive "Duro Chrome" sockets and an UNmarked 1/2" drive 9/16" 12-point deep-well marked "D I" with a big cross-bar hole drilled through it. Looks like it might have been put on a wire wheel and it looks like all three of these are stamped with a "K" by a previous owner.

Put these in with your stuff?

BK

 

[four.cycle]

@d42jeep -

out of the same box.....

I do not believe I have ANY 3/8" drive "D-I" sets that need completing, so those two in the center are orphans. Note they have different knurling patterns. They appear to have possibly a cad finish - dull grayish color.
Let me know if you're interested in those.

not sure why the 3110 Walden is in this box... it MIGHT be something I picked up to fill a hole, but until I get everything sorted I have no way of knowing.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Got this from an auction, I didn’t even know I got it until I was sorting through my stuff.

 

[d42jeep]

@d42jeep -

I pulled out the ONE box that was still in the living room and dumped it out.
Guess what I found?
Nice 4550 Duro. Kind of greasy. Has a weird end. You like?
Also found a couple old 1/2" drive "Duro Chrome" sockets and an UNmarked 1/2" drive 9/16" 12-point deep-well marked "D I" with a big cross-bar hole drilled through it. Looks like it might have been put on a wire wheel and it looks like all three of these are stamped with a "K" by a previous owner.

Put these in with your stuff?

BK

@d42jeep -

out of the same box.....

I do not believe I have ANY 3/8" drive "D-I" sets that need completing, so those two in the center are orphans. Note they have different knurling patterns. They appear to have possibly a cad finish - dull grayish color.
Let me know if you're interested in those.

not sure why the 3110 Walden is in this box... it MIGHT be something I picked up to fill a hole, but until I get everything sorted I have no way of knowing.

I would be glad to have any or all of the D-I marked sockets as well as the 1/4” drive Duro breaker. Thanks for thinking of me.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

I got a box with "Don" written on it.
Still haven't come across that bag of Duro ssdave dumped on me.

 

[d42jeep]

I’m sure it will turn up eventually, at least I hope it will.
-Don

 

[Stubby1743]

I picked up this little double ring spanner at my local car boot sale recently. It shows very few signs of use over its c80 years.

 

[rustyzman]

Just a fun little one that I forgot I had.
Very narrow pattern, about 1/3 of the width of your standard feeler gages, but long. I have a MAC set that is similarly narrow, but short.

 

[four.cycle]

I'm pretty sure this is a

Indestro 980-12B 12-ounce ball peen hammer

The acid-etched part number has been beaten off after using the cheeks of the hammer for an anvil for the last 50 years.

My mother has a 942A claw hammer (see catalog snip below) that also has the RED fiberglass handle (as well as looking suspiciously like the example Don posted last night in the Garage Sale thread. Note that the catalog shows these hammers as having a WHITE handle, which is the way they were arriving when we first brought the line into the warehouse in 1970. Shortly thereafter they began arriving with red handles.

I am certain that these were a buy-out item for Indestro - they were not in the fiberglass or rubber-handled business - that's a completely different operation than screwdriver handles or wrenches.

I have been trying to remember the NAME of the company that I believe made these since Don posted his newly-acquired red fiberglass handled hammer last night in the Garage Sale thread.. Name started with "U" (?)

(* Note that both my ball peen and Don's claw hammer do NOT have the rubber sleeve just under the head as is shown in the catalog illustrations. )

 

[d42jeep]

BK alerted me to this 1945 Duro ignition wrench set in an intact leatherette roll. The rusty wrenches will need some time in the evaporust. It’s missing the rare G2110 ignition pliers and unicorn Duro screwdriver.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ I didn't even look that closely at it... pouch appears to be in pretty good shape!

 

[d42jeep]

The condition of the pouch is why I was interested. When complete it will be a good example of this late war GMTK set.

41-W-900 Ignition Wrench Set - Duro Chrome (1945) (Canvas or Leatherette) consisting of:

41-P-1820 Pliers, Ignition, Distributer, Slip Joint, 5” - Duro-Chrome G2110

41-S-1550 Screwdriver, 2" blade with pocket clip - Duro Chrome

41-W-1468-350 Wrench, Elec. 13/64” (15) x 15/64” (60) - Duro-Chrome G61

41-W-1468-355 Wrench, Elec. 15/64” (15) x 13/64” (60) - Duro-Chrome G62

41-W-1468-360 Wrench, Elec. 7/32” (15) x 1/4” (60) - Duro-Chrome G63

41-W-1468-365 Wrench, Elec. 1/4” (15) x 7/32” (60) - Duro-Chrome G64

41-W-1468-370 Wrench, Elec. 9/32” (15) x 5/16” (60) - Duro-Chrome G65

41-W-1468-375 Wrench, Elec. 5/16” (15) x 9/32” (60) - Duro-Chrome G66

41-W-1468-380 Wrench, Elec. 11/32” (15) x 3/8” (60) - Duro-Chrome G67

41-W-1468-385 Wrench, Elec. 3/8” (15) x 11/32” (60) - Duro-Chrome G68

41-W-1468-390 Wrench, Elec. 7/16” (15) x 1/2” (60) - Duro-Chrome G69

41-R-2738-75 Roll, Electrical Wrench Set, Leatherette 11 pockets - Duro Metal Products

Here is the complete one in my GMTK.

 

[four.cycle]

I may well have a couple yellow-handled screwdrivers, but I believe they're Indestro branded - not Duro. (#136 ??)

 

[Provincial]

I have one with black finish wrenches, but of course it is missing the screwdriver.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve been known to substitute amber (or other) handled Indestro screwdrivers for the very difficult to find Duro screwdrivers. I prefer to substitute Indestro drivers but other vintage brands are preferable to an empty slot.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

All there - although the ratchet has been "sprung" and while it rotates, it does not lock, and the blade screwdriver part is busted all-to-heck (maybe this was related?). A nice deep red color under all the wear and tear.

That ratchet probably has a simple spring inside. it wouldn't be impossible to get it apart and fix it and reassemble without hurting the patina much. Might be worth it.

Here's a Dunlap ratcheting box that I bought frozen. Insides were simple and easy to fix.

 

[d42jeep]

The evaporust removed what was left of the shiny black finish on the G series Wrenches. I removed everything down to bare metal and will refinish with black enamel. I did a little cleanup on the pouch as well. -Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ pretty spiffy!

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro 11-piece 1/2" drive SAE socket set "D- I" (similar to set 3111B)

1214 7/16" 12-point
---- 1/2" 12-point
1218 9/16" 12-point
1220 5/8" 12-point
1222 11/16" 12-point
1224 3/4" 12-point
1226 13/16" 12-point
1228 7/8" 12-point

3215 button-head drive adapter
3216 6-inch extension
3202-R 18-tooth reversible ratchet stamped 3202-R (not stamped with patent number or manufacturer's name)

The sockets and extension appear to be cad plated. All of the sockets are marked "D - I". The 1/2" socket is not marked with the size - only "D - I". None of the sockets or the ratchet is marked with the manufacturer's name. The 3216 extension is marked "Indestro U.S.A."

The set is similar to the 3111B set as shown on page 11 of the 1948 Indestro catalog No. 16, with the exception of it including the mushroom-head 3215 drive adapter, as opposed to the straight 3205 adapter, and the female-to-male 3216 adapter as opposed to the male-to-male 3204 adapter. Clearly the "D - I" markings indicate it was manufactured some time prior to 1948.

Note that while I draw the comparison between this set and the model 3111B shown in the 1948 catalog, this is nothing at all like the model 3111B "Chromium Vanadium" set shown on the Alloy-Artifacts page, which is clearly of earlier vintage (based on the trapezoidal shape of the box.) Note the earlier "Chromium Vanadium" set employs the 3204 male-to-male extension as well as the 3205 straight drive adapter.

This is not the first instance I have seen where Indestro used the same part number for a set that had completely different contents.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple of my Indestro marked 1/2” drive D-I sets. The contents are slightly different from BK’s

 

[four.cycle]

^ And your top set is marked with a part numbers on the sockets, and the box has the darker "krinkle finish" paint.
The lower set has what I think is the earlier "super quality" label (unlike mine, which has what I believe is an even earlier logo), with the same sort-of-flat blue painted finish. Neither of your sets sockets appear to have the same cad finish as mine. I can't tell from that image if any of the sockets in the lower set are marked with part numbers or not.

It's seems absolutely pointless to try to make sense of what any of those three might actually be - in respect to part number - from either the 1937 or the 1948 catalog, because none of the three of them are exact matches to anything in either catalog.

How many different iterations of "D -I" could there possibly have been within a span of only 5 or 6 or 7 years?

As with my attempt at trying to "sort out" and "make sense" of all the various iterations of Duro/Indestro's pressed flange ratchet (patent 1902878), I'm beginning to lean more toward believing there was no pattern, no order, no consistency anywhere.