Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools
- Thread starter matthew
- Start date
Provincial
Well-known member
19/32 is the hex size for USS (US Standard) fasteners in 5/16" size.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Nice set! SAE, or metric?
Flathead_Fred
Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2025
- Messages
- 23
My newest acquisition. Finally got the last wrench to complete the six piece "Chicago" set. They cleaned and polished up nicely. I think I am obsessed with the old Duro-Indestro.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ I have that set, and I think it's arguably some of Indestro's best workmanship in the history of the company.
Correct! When assembling my metric Bonney socket set I was having a hard time finding a 15mm. I found a stash of several Bonney 19/32" and - knowing how close the two wee - grabbed the lot in case the 15mm search didn't pan out.
DetailSeeker
Well-known member
Found a tiny (less than four inches) Indestro combination wrench and polished it up. (AA indicates it's 1939-45.)
I should have so few nicks and scratches when I'm 80.
I should have so few nicks and scratches when I'm 80.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Indestro's "Drop Forged Open-Box End Wrench Sets" appear in the 1961 Indestro catalog No. 22A on page 37.
They are listed in the January 15, 1964 price list on page 5.
They do not appear anywhere in the 1971 catalog No. 55.
Not sure where AA got the 1945 date on that one.
The smallest size in that series - the one you have there with the 1/4" 8 point opening - is the unicorn in that series.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Nice example of the "auto-Kit" type of wrenches! I can't recall seeing one with an 8 pt box, but now I need to go look at my "collection"
EDIT - Nope, no 1/4" in 8 in 12 pt!
Is that plated or bare steel?
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four.cycle
Well-known member
^ They were plated, but not all of them were polished. And yes, the one with that 1/4" 8-point opening is something of a rare animal - and it's not too hard to figure out why:
that odd 1/4" 8-point opening unit only came in the small, 4-piece set that only went up to 1/2"
that odd 1/4" 8-point opening unit only came in the small, 4-piece set that only went up to 1/2"
DetailSeeker
Well-known member
They base it on the flip side being labelled "INDESTRO / CHICAGO U.S.A." rather than "MADE / IN U.S.A.", apparently - contend that only Select Steel stuff from before/during WWII was labelled that way, and post-War stuff didn't have Indestro's name on it.
ETA: Not that I'm saying that's correct, just relaying!
(Also that the very early stuff - pre-1939 or so, which this definitely isn't if they're right - didn't have the angled ends in the panel.)
Plated. There's some chipping - here's the worst of it, I think, though definitely not all.
four.cycle
Well-known member
I read through those entries (fairly quickly) and I did NOT see those dates. He makes assumptions on some things without all the facts.
They did make changes on what was on the panels - the "Chicago" thing was a fairly short time window I believe.
DetailSeeker
Well-known member
I started in the Open+Box Wrench section on Select Steel and only looked further when I realized that none of (what were called) the later ones seemed to have the Chicago stamp. I skipped around it pretty quickly in the last fifteen minutes of lunch and may definitely have missed something!I read through those entries (fairly quickly) and I did NOT see those dates. He makes assumptions on some things without all the facts.
They did make changes on what was on the panels - the "Chicago" thing was a fairly short time window I believe.
When I saw the mention of "Made in USA" as the post-war stamp, I assumed the earlier Chicago stamp meant 1945 at the latest, and the bit in the Indestro "Select Steel" Open+Box Wrenches (which is what the "Chicago" link from the last section took me to) about "the development of the "Select Steel" line from its beginning in 1937 through 1945" just reinforced that.
(The 1939-or-later thing is strictly me noticing that when I looked at the earlier wrenches, the ones with the streamlined panels were all dated 1939+.)
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d42jeep
Well-known member
I don’t have any of the little 8 point wrenches either.
-Don
-Don
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I found a complete No. 900-4C combo wrench set at the flea market back in 2018, complete with that teeny weeny and uniquely milled 8-pt 1/4" wrench (No. 907), in a klip-tite-like clip holder, posted upthread here, with some 1949 catalog info. "Made in U.S.A.", not "Chicago." The earliest catalog I have seen for these, posted by 4.c on page 1 of the Auto-Kit type wrenches thread, is a 1938 Jensen-Byrd Hardware, although neither the text or the artwork in the ad is precise enough to help date yours. I tend to agree with the "early" logic.
If you're going to try to onesy-twosy a complete set, you certainly started with the right one!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
If you're going to try to onesy-twosy a complete set, you certainly started with the right one!
Definitely!
DetailSeeker
Well-known member
Well, it is small... and apparently I have the most difficult piece already...If you're going to try to onesy-twosy a complete set, you certainly started with the right one!
(It was a pure luck find. I was at the tool library early and I offered to spend some time sorting the drawerfuls of $2 wrenches. I only decided to buy this one because it was tiny and crisp and I liked the specificity of a city instead of just "USA".)
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ You shouldn't have that much trouble finding matching pieces in the other sizes - particularly the larger ones, which are common as rocks. The "Chicago" thing might pose challenges, but I would imagine if you keep your eyes open you should be able to find the others.
The number of variants makes it a bit nutty - I have a four-piece set - model 0900-4B, which is shown in the catalog as "plated but not polished heads".
The number of variants makes it a bit nutty - I have a four-piece set - model 0900-4B, which is shown in the catalog as "plated but not polished heads".
Attachments
Outlawmws
Well-known member
And that is just Indestro! Lots of other similar "auto kit" brands!: AutoKit (actually a brand), Barcalo, Indestro, Wards... I'm sure more exist
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ Those are about the extent of it, I believe.... They didn't produce any of those tagged "Wizard" or "Westcraft" - just "Select Steel".
There were some produced in West Germany that are identical to Indestro's except for the branding, but they're pretty uncommon.
This "Rugol" set is kind of puzzling - they're marked "Select Steel", which was a trademarked brand name.
There were some produced in West Germany that are identical to Indestro's except for the branding, but they're pretty uncommon.
This "Rugol" set is kind of puzzling - they're marked "Select Steel", which was a trademarked brand name.
Attachments
DetailSeeker
Well-known member
Could it be a Rugol clip on an Indestro set, or maybe something Rugol repackaged? The wrenches alone look like the 900-5A set.
four.cycle
Well-known member
I take it as an Indestro-manufactured, private-label brand, but I have no clue who or what "Rugol" may have been.
DetailSeeker
Well-known member
The List says Rugol Co (dba Rugol Products Co) were NY importers of hand tools that also outsourced from U.S. manufacturers, so yeah, probably that exactly.
(Google also suggests Rugol is either a tool company from Japan or a vintage Swedish maker of chisels, but I suspect The List is more accurate. Google talks
these days.)four.cycle
Well-known member
GAH!
Sorry... should have checked my own list first. DUH!
Rugol / Rugol Co. dba Rugol Products Co., New York, NY / importers of hand tools. also outsourced from U.S. manufacturers / Popular Science 1954 / http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=13724.0 /
Sorry... should have checked my own list first. DUH!
Rugol / Rugol Co. dba Rugol Products Co., New York, NY / importers of hand tools. also outsourced from U.S. manufacturers / Popular Science 1954 / http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=13724.0 /
DetailSeeker
Well-known member
Hey, yesterday I forgot what a countersink drill bit for wood looks like. You're doing fine!
four.cycle
Well-known member
DetailSeeker
Well-known member
Huh. TIL that Garage Journal signatures don't get displayed if your browser thinks you're using a phone.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ I wouldn't know... I do not know how to use cellular phones.
LINK:
www.garagejournal.com
LINK:
List of Manufacturers and Brands of Mechanics Hand Tools
List of Manufacturers and Brands of Mechanics Hand Tools * For the most up-to-date version of this list, Please click HERE revised four.cycle Sun Jan 19 12:54:34 2025 PST U.S. Manufacturers and Brands are listed first. Brands and Manufacturers outside the U.S. are listed below alphabetically...
www.garagejournal.com
DetailSeeker
Well-known member
They have their conveniences, but you're not missing much.
You can get the same effect by resizing a browser window on a computer (although I admit the general take on this is quite reasonably "but why would you want to?" (and the most common answer I know of is "accessibility checking")).
I use my phone and my computer pretty interchangeably for Garage Journal, and I was just surprised I hadn't noticed before.
(I still look at The List on my phone! I just do it by going to the main forum and following the pins.)
Frances
Your list is incredibly. First place I go. The most complete I’ve ever found. Quite an accomplishment.
RTM
Well-known member
The easy way to go there is to go to Google and just put some obscure random tool company's name in there. The second or third hit is usually garage journal and a link to The List.
Just teasing, but seriously most strange tools that I find, it's on his list already. And I search almost every oddball tool posted here, and two other online locations.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
^ yep. I've got most of 'em covered. I still have never taken the shrink-wrap off my DAT CD - I'm sure I'll find more than a few I've missed.
I might get around to that when the monsoon season returns. I try to NOT delve into it this time of year - too time consuming.
If you want the most up to date version, follow the link and download the latest copy in notepad *.txt format.
I might get around to that when the monsoon season returns. I try to NOT delve into it this time of year - too time consuming.
If you want the most up to date version, follow the link and download the latest copy in notepad *.txt format.
d42jeep
Well-known member
Here are two D-I 13/16” sockets and a 1/4“ Duro-Chrome nutdriver that came in a care package from four.cycle yesterday. It seems likely that the nutdriver was sourced from Vaco.
-Don
-Don
Flathead_Fred
Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2025
- Messages
- 23
Finally got the 1/4-5/16 to complete this short box set. It is just so impressive how well the early select steel wrenches clean and polish up. I think I am addicted to the early tools.
d42jeep
Well-known member
Here are some 1945 Duro ignition wrenches that arrived in the mail recently. They will be used to upgrade some sets.
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
-Don
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
-Don
