Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[FrankLee]

I picked up this relatively clean set today in a drill press bundle deal. I haven't taken inventory yet.

Here's the contents of my set above:

Driver tools

• ratchet
• speeder handle
• L handle
• short adapter
• long adapter

Six point sockets

• 5/16
• 11/32
• 3/8
• 7/16
• 1/2
• 17/32
• 9/16
• 19/32
• 5/8
• 21/32
• 11/16
• 3/4
• 25/32
• 13/16
• 7/8
• 15/16
• 31/32
• 1
• 1-1/16
• 1-1/8
• 1-1/4

Four point sockets

• 3/8
• 7/16
• 1/2
• 9/16
• 5/8
• 11/16
• 3/4
• 7/8

Specialty sockets

• valve grinder
• universal adapter

IIRC, I've seen 27/32 sockets in other brands. Is it missing here or is it n/a?

Any other missing pieces? Screwdriver bit?

​

 

[bmwrd0]

Wow! that is really nice.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've seen 27/32 sockets in other brands. Is it missing here or is it n/a?

Any other missing pieces? Screwdriver bit?

Hi Frank. Again, that's a fantastic find.

Here is an ad for an Indestro No. 1536 36-piece Master Socket set from a hardware catalog that GJ member four.cycle pulled off ebay years ago. It was not dated, but almost certainly mid 1930's. Based on the older logo on your set, and your set having all 6-point sockets, it looks to me like what you have is a slightly older version of the set being advertised. The only difference as far as I can tell in contents (other than the 12- vs 6-point broaching) is your set having a 25/32" socket. The advertised set goes from 3/4" to 13/16" and skips the 25/32" service opening. With the screwdriver bit, I suppose that would make yours a 37-pc set.

 

[FrankLee]

Hi Frank. Again, that's a fantastic find.

Here is an ad for an Indestro No. 1536 36-piece Master Socket set from a hardware catalog that GJ member four.cycle pulled off ebay years ago. It was not dated, but almost certainly mid 1930's. Based on the older logo on your set, and your set having all 6-point sockets, it looks to me like what you have is a slightly older version of the set being advertised. The only difference as far as I can tell in contents (other than the 12- vs 6-point broaching) is your set having a 25/32" socket. The advertised set goes from 3/4" to 13/16" and skips the 25/32" service opening. With the screwdriver bit, I suppose that would make yours a 37-pc set.

Thanks for the additional info!

This keeps getting better... look what else I found in my junk bin. I've had this for years and never realized it was Indestro until I scrolled through this thread a bit more and saw one in your earlier post. It has part number 660, so I dunno.

​

I flipped over the sockets to show the broached side.

​

I'm not sure, but I don't think these sockets are cad plated.

​

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It should fit and work on your L-handle, which is made for it. Look at your short leg end. See that smaller extra friction ball on the shank, above the friction ball on the stud for retaining the socket? That's to help retain the 660 L-T sheath. When it's inserted into the short leg end, to form a T handle, that little ball sits inside the pinch on the sheath.

All the Indestro L-handles don't have that extra friction ball. I have an Indestro set like yours, all 6-point, no box, and the L-handle does NOT have the extra friction ball.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve had several of the sockets and I suspect that some were Nickel plated. Here is an Indestro Ell with the additional ball.
-Don

 

[Chris d]

Hi, My first post here
I have been enjoying going through all the Indestro and Duro Chrome pages
A great resource.
I have a small collection of Indestro and Duro tools
Hoping to collect more.
Thanks again for posting this.
Chris

 

[mred49]

Here are the Indestro (some are Duro-Indestro) tools I have. With one exception, I have 12 point SAE, 12 point metric, and 8 point sockets in the standard length. I am still trying to find a 1/2" drive 1-3/16" 12 point socket; it is socket number 1238. I have a 1/2" drive 1-3/16" 6 point socket (socket number 1238H), but I have not been able to even see a 12 point one. The 12 point one was listed in the 1948 Indestro catalog, so presumably they did actually make it. I would greatly appreciate any help you could provide in locating a 12 point 1/2" drive 1-3/16" socket number 1238. Ed

 

[Old Radar]

Nice collection!!

 

[outofbounds]

Here are the Indestro (some are Duro-Indestro) tools I have. With one exception, I have 12 point SAE, 12 point metric, and 8 point sockets in the standard length. I am still trying to find a 1/2" drive 1-3/16" 12 point socket; it is socket number 1238. I have a 1/2" drive 1-3/16" 6 point socket (socket number 1238H), but I have not been able to even see a 12 point one. The 12 point one was listed in the 1948 Indestro catalog, so presumably they did actually make it. I would greatly appreciate any help you could provide in locating a 12 point 1/2" drive 1-3/16" socket number 1238. Ed

Clean collection!

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I have tons of these tools I have always wondered about the history of them. All mine came from pawn shops most are 12 point sockets some are 6 point I use them at home I don’t use them at work since I had someone try to pry open my box one time.

 

[d42jeep]

I have a weakness for the Duro-Chrome ignition wrench sets in rolls and I recently picked this smaller set up on eBay. It’s only missing the E67 and I’m sure I have a spare.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found this early (guessing 1920's) Indestro 1/2-inch drive hex set at the flea market this morning. Indestro hex drive sets are so common I quite frankly don't even bother looking at them let alone picking them up, but they are usually in those open style holders they made famous, where you can see the sockets, with a long pinned piece of formed sheet metal or sometimes the L-handle itself to lock them into place in the holder. I don't recall ever seeing an Indestro set in this kind of case before and I didn't expect to find Indestro pieces inside.

I looked through 4.c's period ad database and didn't see anything like it. They sold larger 1/2-inch hex and square drives sets in tapered or oblong steel containers with pop off lids, but no smaller sets in oblong-shaped end-hinged steel containers.

Typical for Indestro sets, one of the sizes is stamped different from the others.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

More shots of the coffin-shaped box.

I don't know what's going on with that funky special socket, which looks to me to be for wingnuts or perhaps the older Alemite fittings. It has a through-hole and the hex opening on the other end, where I expected to find a female drive opening, is 11/32" and looks broached. So maybe a shop mod. Whatever it was originally, it wasn't in this set. Heat-treated and no knurling.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

After 100 years who's to say. Some of these older sets are a mystery. May just be some box someone put some indestro stuff in. I can see how that odd socket would work on the old pin type alemite fittings.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yup. I have a few factory jobbies. They did a pretty nice job of it. But what did they turn it with? Is the question. Something male, 11/32.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I suppose an 11/32 allen wrench! That is odd. You would think they would go 3/8.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That makes more sense. I probably just read the caliper wrong.

 

[11b30b4]

Well I posted a thread yesterday here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8624189#post8624189

And that was before I knew about this thread. I even posted in the Wizard thread since Wizard (as I understand it) was contracted to brand tools from Indestro/ Duro. Oh well, I have now learned that I need to skim through the stuck posts before I start a new thread.
So, this is a bit of a report but its now in the correct spot.
I thought I would share this stuff.

Last year my father gifted me some of my Uncle’s vintage tools. This forced a complete reorganization of my peg boards in my shop, but it was a huge win win.
Of the cool tools I was gifted, was an Indestro Super ½” Drive Ratchet Model 3275 along with a set of sockets, flex handle breaker bar, extensions, and Tee-handles.



I have never heard of Indestro Super Tools but they were built extremely stout, so I did some digging. The web site alloy-artifacts.org has an extensive history and examples of the products from Indestro/ Duro tools. The company or both companies marked their tools with a variety of names and trademarks such as Duro Metal Products, Indestro Manufacturing Company, Duro-Bilt, Indestro Chicago U.S.A., Select Steel, Duro Chrome, Tools of Progress, Spin-Flex, Klip Tite, Chromium-Vanadium, Handy-Hex, Super Quality, Perfection, Indestro Super Tools, Powr-Kraft, Wizard, Westcraft, Westline, Ward’s Riverside, ChromeXQuality, just to name a few. The company dates back to 1916 and one of their first products was the Lilly Hoist Controller, a mechanical and electrical controller for use on safety hoists in mines. The company is best known for their wrenches and socket sets. Their products were sold by numerous companies such as Sears, McMaster-Carr, Montgomery Ward, and Western Auto and eventually closed in 1990. The company held over 34 patents and proved to be quite innovative.







Along with the stout design, the ratchet, flex handle breaker bar and extensions all have cross-bar holes for use as a Tee-handle. This design feature may be present in other brands, but this is the first time I have seen is and it infers to the stout design and quality metals used.

Given the marking on these tools I can assume they are from the 1950s. In this pic there is a few other tools that most likely date back to the 1950s.





Anyway, though it was a cool gift and wanted to share.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have now learned that I need to skim through the stuck posts before I start a new thread.

A much better and easier way to find out if there is already a thread on a topic you want to discuss is to scroll through the Index in the Sticky. It provides links to threads that may no longer be active on page 1.

Oh, and I'll say it again - nice Super set!

 

[11b30b4]

Private lugnutz, thank you. Yes, from now on I will be spending a lot of time in the stuck thread list. I already see several areas I want to post some stuff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cool. It may seem curmudgeonly at first, but after you're here awhile, you'll see that it's just better for overall continuity to keep the topics from being split and scattered.

 

[Shelbylex]

Some of my Indestro tools
Picture one:
Indestro 13/16-7/8 dbe
Indestro 3/4-25/32 DBE
Indestro 19/32-11/16 (listed for sale, no indestro sign on the other side)
Sockets left to right
IndestroSuper 1222 1/2 drive 11/16
Indestro Select 6414 1/2 drie, 7/16
Duro 1/2 drive 5/8

The new incomplete set which came with my recent purchase:
Indestro Forged Ignition Wrench set 884PK
11/32-3/8 (missing)
9/32-5/16 (missing)
7/32-1/4 (Indestro Super 894)
13/64-15/64 (Indestro Super 892)
I will probably sell this one. What would you recommend for the listing price of this incomplete set? I tried looking on Ebay, but could not find a set with the preserved pouch...

 

[Old Radar]

Nice! I picked up this Indestro Super 888 ignition set last week. It looks practically unused.

 

[Shelbylex]

Old Radar, this is in fantastic condition! Congratulations!

 

[d42jeep]

That set looks a lot like my metric DOE set.
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

Gentlemen, I need to look harder in my search! Don, this is fantastic!
I wonder if Indestro made similar combination wrench or DBE wrenches? I will be on lookout for metric ones - never saw them in the wild

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I was poking through some old wrenches and tools at a guys house today and uncovered this duro 4276 3/4 drive ratchet. After a bit of wrangling he relinquished it along with a box of random other old tools. Here it is with its 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 inch smaller cousins.

 

[d42jeep]

That sucker is huge! Probably works like new too.
I found this early Indestro 1/2” drive set at a Nevada estate sale today. I haven’t had a chance to clean it up yet.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It is a clunker. Dont know why but I never see them. Maybe because they were not rebuildable.

Nice find don that is an oldie!

 

[d42jeep]

I have a bunch of the smaller sizes and they all work fine even if they are unsophisticated. I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen a 3/4” drive one though. That thing looks twice as long as the 1/2” drive version. No cheater bars needed with that one!
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

At about 18 inches it is twice as long. Gave it a good cleaning and oiling and works great!

 

[outofbounds]

At about 18 inches it is twice as long. Gave it a good cleaning and oiling and works great!

Very impressive OTG.......looks showroom!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks oob. Love the old duro stuff.

 

[d42jeep]

I spent quite a bit of time today cleaning up the early Indestro set I found on Sunday. The set came with a LOT of sockets. I think I’m missing a speeder and maybe an Ell handle. I didn’t find the exact set in a catalog but I found one from 1938 that is close.
-Don

 

[DD T/A]

At about 18 inches it is twice as long. Gave it a good cleaning and oiling and works great!

Did you paint the handle or is that original chrome? Looks crazy nice! What was your method?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A light blasting with walnut shells cleaned up the surface rust. Fortunately no deep pitting. Gave the handle a light coat of aluminum wheel paint to prevent any further rust. Then a good oiling for the ratchet mechanism, which is working like new. The plug only required a good cleaning.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I spent quite a bit of time today cleaning up the early Indestro set I found on Sunday. The set came with a LOT of sockets. I think I’m missing a speeder and maybe an Ell handle. I didn’t find the exact set in a catalog but I found one from 1938 that is close.
-Don

Very nice. Label looks good! You are definitely missing speeder.

 

[d42jeep]

Very nice. Label looks good! You are definitely missing speeder.

Thanks. I’m starting a speeder search. The bends are kind of unique to fit the space in the box. I think I have an extra Ell handle.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

That 3/4" drive ratchet is beyond stellar, OTG. Your "cleaning" skills are superb.