Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[d42jeep]

I’ve only seen four total. I think that I passed one along.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

I'll keep my eyes opened.

 

[burnin53]

Here is the one 3/4 drive D-I that I have,next to it's half drive version.

 

[d42jeep]

Yeah, the 3/4” drive ones came in two styles.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

D - I, 3/4" drive, and you got both knurled band and single band?

good luck putting together a matching set!

(after I hit "submit" it occurred to me: you think it might be possible one is Duro and one is Indestro?)

 

[Outlawmws]

I have a number of brands of 3/4" and 1" drive tools and none are Duro or Indestro. (Mostly Plvmb/Proto or SO)

 

[d42jeep]

D - I, 3/4" drive, and you got both knurled band and single band?

good luck putting together a matching set!

(after I hit "submit" it occurred to me: you think it might be possible one is Duro and one is Indestro?)

It’s hard to say. Both of the divisions were turning out plenty of tools for the war effort. These are pictures of D-I Whitworth tools from eBay UK. They have both some knurling and the groove for easy ID.
I still seem to have my 3/4” drive knurled socket. Here is a parallel picture of my NOS 1/2” drive 1-1/8” and 3/4” drive 1-1/16“ socket side by side to Burnin’s upthread. I’m a little short on 1/2” drive 1-1/16” spares since that is the most difficult one to find.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ I haven't sorted any of the Indestro yet.
I did sort all the Duro and I think I sent you a "D-I" 1/2" drive deep-well.

Looks from your photo above like you unearthed a third knurling pattern there - that cross-hatch stuff is completely different.

 

[d42jeep]

That pattern has only been found in the UK on D-I Whitworth sockets. It has been suggested that the unique knurling/groove was to make them easily identifiable as Whitworth. These belong to a colleague in Wales.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They have both some knurling and the groove

that cross-hatch stuff is completely different.

That pattern has only been found in the UK on D-I Whitworth sockets.

If I squint, it kinda sorta bears some resemblance to Chrome-X-Quality production, which had the groove located more or less in the same place up the wall, and a similar band of knurling on the base. The difference is the knurling is not all the way to the edge of the base, and it's not bounded by a second groove.

 

[outofbounds]

Found this Model 3093 1/4 Drive torque indicator the other day

 

[Outlawmws]

Found this Model 3093 1/4 Drive torque indicator

Nice find!

I have the Duro version of that; Mod No. 8069. I think it was the second torque wrench I ever acquired. I bought a Kennedy 520 full of tools from a friend's brother. First time I ever bought a box full. Man that was a long time ago! i was maybe 20?

 

[d42jeep]

Two different but similar 1/4” drive sets arrived in the mail yesterday. The first has a complete compliment of Duro-Chrome branded sockets with an unmarked flex handle and crossbar.
The second set came with some D-I marked sockets and a Duro marked flex handle and sliding tee.
The two sets side by side. Even though the color is similar, one has wrinkle finish and the other is smooth.




I moved the Duro marked drive tools into the Duro set.
and added a matching extension
I added some D-I sockets to the other set, now it is only missing the 5/16” socket and various drive tools.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This 1/2” drive deep D-I socket arrived yesterday. This may be the largest 1/2” drive one.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found some miscellaneous Duro at the flea this morning. The "-D-I-" socket is as humdrum as the uni joint. But that Duro-Chrome 4479 hinge handle might be the first and only 3/8-drive Duro/Indestro drive tool I have ever found in the wild. I'm not sure about the 3/8F-to-1/2M adaptor. Found together, and the finish is right, but the 3-digit P/N ("492") does not look Duro to me. I am happy to use it to demonstrate the female drive opening in the end of the hinge handle, though.

 

[d42jeep]

The 492 is Duro and probably was included in the 41-W-2997 combination set.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Very nice find on the breaker/extension! I have ONE in the collection for 3/8 also a Duro-Chrome 4479 (kept in the road box)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The 492 is Duro

Good to know, Don.

Very nice find on the breaker/extension! I have ONE in the collection for 3/8 also a Duro-Chrome 4479 (kept in the road box)

 

[d42jeep]

I have one of those and one with the male square drive on the opposite end.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ 492 = 1/2" female x 3/8" male same part number for both Duro and Indestro. was a really good seller because they broke so many of them.
the breaker is odd. I knew they made one with a 3/8" MALE drive anvil on the **** end of the handle, but I don't think I've ever seen one with a FEMALE opening. very odd.

 

[Outlawmws]

I don't think I've ever seen one with a FEMALE opening. very odd.

The female pockets were short lived across all brands as the handles were not beefy enough to stick an extension in there to use as a cheater - NOT its intended use - these (that survive) are usually found in 1/2" drive. I can't recall seeing one in 1/4" in any brand? But used as and extension it's a nice feature to have. which is why I put the 3/8 in my road box and would line a couple more if I can ever find them.

I have several in 1/2" drive in a couple of brands.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I can't recall seeing one in 1/4" in any brand?

Not enough steel. I've thought about squaring off one of the round holes you see in the ends of some of them, put there to sink the detent ball for the crossbar, experimentally, but just holding another hinge handle drive stud against that hole to size it up and you can see how thin the walls would be.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yet they jam a female socket into the back end of a 1/4 spinner handle, and let the plastic handle take the torque...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

A reminder that Duro made a male/male version, though.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmm, Got curious and dug out two 1/4" breakers -

• The Thorsen 18M is definitely too small.
• The New Britain NM51 has more than enough!

I'll get comparison pics tomorrow when I have decent Photography light.

Another hack way would be to simply TIG weld a ground short socket to the end...

 

[d42jeep]

Yeah, the male/male version was definitely popular until female or dual drive ratchets were phased out, serving as both a breaker and an extension.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ that's a first for me... 2850 was the Indestro number on the 1/4" breaker (Duro number was 4550) ... I wasn't aware there was an Indestro 1/4" version with the male end at the bottom of the handle.

If you are looking for a larger 1/4" breaker HANDLE, the late-production (Triangle) Herbrand should be more than ample enough.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, I have daylight assisted photo lighting now and no sales today to distract, and I'm stalling on doing my State taxes...


I used some Powr-Kraft sockets for size comparisons, and added the Powr-Kraft breaker into the mix:

The New Britain could easily support a drive socket. (3/8 socket for comparison) so could the Powr-Kraft, but slightly smaller (11/32 for comparison -had a hard time aligning but they are the same size). The Thorsen not even close into its stock handle.

Any of them could take a socket TIG welded onto the end, but the Thorsen would have a step, or need a tapered socket for a smoother transition. (The next socket size down in PK did not line up...) the TIG weling method would also give a slightly longer handle. (the NB is the clear winner on that of these three)

I'm not planing on doing this, but it is going into the "If I'm bored" project list that may never get addressed...

I don't remember if I have a 1/4" breaker with the mail tail, but the "refer ratchet" solution is intriguing, but less so for a road box (additional tool - I would want a regular ratchet as well.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a duro chrome. Seems to work nicely as an extension

 

[Private Lugnutz]

@Outlawmws When I said I was worried about enough steel, I was referring to the prospect of milling a 1/4-square-drive female opening into the end of a handle, not welding a socket onto the end. When I look at the type of handle provisioned for a crossbar, with the round hole in the end - for access to peen and service the crossbar detent ball, the round hole is very tempting for squaring off. But I worry about enough steel around it. Some pics to illustrate my concern. Most of my 1/4-dr hinge handles have 3/8" diameter knurled handle. A few have 7/16" diameter.

 

[Outlawmws]

I get that Lugz, and I agree; many, maybe most, are too small a diameter for this. Heck, some grips are not even round. Thats not an option at all...But a few, like my None Better, could be drilled and broached for it pretty easily. I was just spitballing on the welded "fix" and comparing to sockets, as if the sockets will survive, then the handle should also.

I'd love to find one that was done factory. that would be cool and potentially useful.

I've been working up the idea of a small set of 1/4 drive tools and including a set of 3/8 drive sockets for my inside bench and lantern/stove fettling, and the only reason for 3/8 drive sockets would be for my 3/8 drive in 1/4" ratchets. possibly a 3/8 breaker? This is light work generally

 

[d42jeep]

^ that's a first for me... 2850 was the Indestro number on the 1/4" breaker (Duro number was 4550) ... I wasn't aware there was an Indestro 1/4" version with the male end at the bottom of the handle.

If you are looking for a larger 1/4" breaker HANDLE, the late-production (Triangle) Herbrand should be more than ample enough.

I haven’t seen an Indestro made 1/4” drive breaker with the male square drive either but they definitely made 3/8” drive bars with that feature. These live in my Chrome X Quality set.
This 3/8” drive bar isn’t branded but has a number consistent with Indestro. I keep it with my ratchets.
These are Duro and D-I 1/4” drive sets mostly with the square male drive end.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is the 3/8” drive breaker bar from my 3/8” Duro set with the square female end.
-Don

 

[LNKMK8]

I came across this 1/2" drive set a few weeks ago at an estate sale. To my surprise it seems to be nearly complete and in quite good condition for the age. I couldn't find a catalog old enough to check to see what pieces might be missing. Would there have been a ratchet with this set?

 

[JunkNstuf]

Dad's Duro-Chrome Ignition Tool Roll

 

[four.cycle]

@LNKMK8

^ yes. it would have included either a model 655 or the UN-numbered "heavy" ratchet, depending upon which set it was.

 

[d42jeep]

Dad's Duro-Chrome Ignition Tool Roll

Nice 7 wrench E series set with the roll. The wrenches should go from E61 to E67. The R.T.E.C. ignition pliers would have come from a wartime R.T.E.C. set.
Randolph Tool Set
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I came across this 1/2" drive set a few weeks ago at an estate sale. To my surprise it seems to be nearly complete and in quite good condition for the age. I couldn't find a catalog old enough to check to see what pieces might be missing. Would there have been a ratchet with this set?

My slightly different set from around the same time period came with this ratchet.
-Don

 

[PSCo1867]

Duro-Chrome 4575A 1/4" drive ratchet. I'm surprised to find no pic on a GJ search. Of course, this is when I get hammered with pics and links proving me wrong. A precursor 4575 is shown on post #1869.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a recent buy that looks to likely be from 1940. Finding the screwdriver will likely be impossible. I might get lucky on the extension.
-Don