Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, D42Jeep, Four.Cycle and Provincial. I will start paying more attention to the brand when I visit yard sales - seems like it’s worth to add more Indestro to few of my random tools by this brand
I enjoy collecting tools, but I also try to use majority of them if I can to “keep them alive : ) “

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, Shelby. I want to say the male extension stud was unique to Duro, but I think there were a couple mfgr's using this design very early, and I'd need another cup or two of coffee to come up with the names. As for the tommy bar, I always pick them up whenever I see them in the wild, because they are almost always missing from sets or individual hinge handles. Here are some from my orphan stash, including one that fits the Duro 656DK.

Here is a Chrome X Quality set with that style of hinge handle but the set was made for Western Auto by Duro-Indestro. I can’t think of any other manufacturers that used the male end.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ d42jeep, is that ChromeXQuality set 1/4" or 3/8" drive?

After I posted my diatribe above, it occured to me that I might have a 3/8" drive breaker around here with that square end. Unfortunately there's no way to know much for certain in this clutter here.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I do not recall ever having seen a 1/4" drive "ELL" handle in any Duro-Chrome or Indestro catalogs.

I don't think I've ever seen an L-handle in 1/4-drive size from any mfgr.

Lugz, I grew up calling them breaker bars...

Same. Definitely a postwar Boomer thing, colloquially, and I tend to trust my periodicals search (60's) and Snap-on case study (1974-ish) in terms of it being adopted as an actual formal name in literature and catalogs. I'm not too eager to want to nail it down more than that.

I have an interesting but provocative question:
how did Indestro compared to Snap On side by side (quality, durability, precision)?

Since you expressed an interest in these kinds of comparisons, Shelbylex, you may find this older GJ thread to be an interesting read. Dismayed by some quality comments trending at the time that were extremely dismissive of Bonney and Blackhawk (by collectors probably thinking of their later incarnations), I set out to use the wartime production machine (contracts, specifications, etc) as objective metrics, with revelatory results. Duro-Indestro was included.

Here is a Chrome X Quality set with that style of hinge handle but the set was made for Western Auto by Duro-Indestro. I can’t think of any other manufacturers that used the male end.
-Don

By "early" I meant very early, by a mfgr that would be considered semi-obscure and perhaps even gone by the 40's. But I can't put my finger on a name. As I said, I want to say it was unique to Duro-Indestro, and it might well be. But "unique" is one of those uncompromising words and I am hedging for some reason. I could be wrong.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I steered clear of claiming that feature to be exclusive to Duro/Indestro for the same reason, but I can't think of another maker that did that.

For some reason, I have an image of a 1/4" "ell" handle in my head. May have been Japan made. Or maybe a hallucinatory episode from poring over too many catalogs.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think walden made this 5/16 fixed head version. Not in catalogs but snapon had a 9/32 fixed head pullbar as well.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

This wards riverside model is a dual threat, with a male square drive end and a pin hole

 

[four.cycle]

Oldtuleguy:
re: that 5/16" drive unit (which I am assuming is hex drive):

Here's a Walden Worcester 5/16" hex drive SAE socket set, but the t-bar is a sliding t-bar, similar to current production stuff.
I'm not really sure if the long screwdriver attachments are actually part of the original set. I've yet to get my eyes on an early enough Walden catalog to figure that part out.



That's a pretty fabulous Riverside set there.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a set pic

 

[Oldtuleguy]

ChromeX 3/8 version 2781 with 2780 crossbar

 

[d42jeep]

^ d42jeep, is that ChromeXQuality set 1/4" or 3/8" drive?

After I posted my diatribe above, it occured to me that I might have a 3/8" drive breaker around here with that square end. Unfortunately there's no way to know much for certain in this clutter here.

It’s a 3/8” drive set.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice set don!

 

[four.cycle]

Oldtuleguy - thanks.
Your photo images (of the Walden set) tell me that those weird screwdriver attachments are most likely original to the set I have.
I'm guessing my "Walden Worcester" predates your "Stevens Walden" and that might have something to do with the t-bar on yours being fixed and mine being the "sliding-T" version.

Just a wild guess, but if they made that 2781 with the square drive on the bottom end of the handle in ChromeX, they most likely made it in Indestro brand as well.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, Lugz. Very interesting and educational reading and analysis!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Oldtuleguy - thanks.
Your photo images (of the Walden set) tell me that those weird screwdriver attachments are most likely original to the set I have.
I'm guessing my "Walden Worcester" predates your "Stevens Walden" and that might have something to do with the t-bar on yours being fixed and mine being the "sliding-T" version.

Just a wild guess, but if they made that 2781 with the square drive on the bottom end of the handle in ChromeX, they most likely made it in Indestro brand as well.

Walden worcester and stevens walden markings can be confusing, as they were not consistently applied. The merger occurred in 1926 yet I have later tools marked Walden worcester, Are your tools marked at all with chrome nickle or chrome alloy?

 

[3baygarage]

Bought the same set Don. I may have a breaker bar for it.

 

[four.cycle]

Here's yet another catalog snip I just came across for the 1530 30-piece "Master" Series SAE set, this one from a "Spiegel Bros." catalog:

 

[bonneyman]

Found an old X-Circle DBE last weekend. Good condition, too.

 

[d42jeep]

That’s a wartime wrench with government specified sizes. They used the circle DC logo on wartime tools. 41-W-625 Short DBE Wrench 5/8" x 3/4".
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

That’s a wartime wrench with government specified sizes. They used the circle DC logo on wartime tools. 41-W-625 Short DBE Wrench 5/8" x 3/4".
-Don

I learned that the X circle is actually a stylized DC circle. After reading that, I could kinda see the D and C in the logo.

 

[four.cycle]

" D - I " collectors:

period correct 4550 Duro Chrome flex handle (breaker)(square end on handle), and 5 " D - I " sockets (cross-hatch knurling)
includes 4512 and 4514 12-points, 4510 6-point. decent condition if you're trying to complete a set.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333947128521

 

[d42jeep]

" D - I " collectors:

period correct 4550 Duro Chrome flex handle (breaker)(square end on handle), and 5 " D - I " sockets (cross-hatch knurling)
includes 4512 and 4514 12-points, 4510 6-point. decent condition if you're trying to complete a set.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333947128521

Don’t tempt me!
I received a nice wartime Duro 3/8” drive speeder along with a little Thorsen Vee combo wrench that I was missing. Thanks four.cycle! The speeder goes well with my wartime 3/8” drive Duro/D-I set.
-Do

 

[Oldtuleguy]

My favorite nut spinner / extensions. Why no one makes these anymore is a mystery.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some duro ratchets up to 3/4

 

[Old Radar]

Some duro ratchets up to 3/4

Like the Sesame Street song: One of these is not like the others... and I'm not talking about the big one.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some indestro supers. These things are almost indestructible

 

[four.cycle]

I received a nice wartime Duro 3/8” drive speeder along with a little Thorsen Vee combo wrench that I was missing. Thanks four.cycle!

The lady who just listed those orphan Duro-Chrome "D-I" pieces says she has an entire trailer full of tools that her father, who served during WWII in Europe, left behind. I told her to get them listed. Keep your eyes open.

I had no idea about vintage on that speeder. An Ebay seller included that as a "bonus" over a year ago. It was sitting on the dry sink in the kitchen for months with your name on it.

Now I just need to find that box full of the NOS Duro sockets. I think they're out in the garage somewhere.

 

[bmwrd0]

I picked up this case a while back, and could not identify the period. So, I settled on D-I sockets and have gone from there. Getting close now, only a few sockets left to find; 1/2, 1-1/16, 1-1/8.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I do not know if I have any 1/2" drive "D -I" stuff. If I do, it's out in the garage buried somewhere. The 1216 (1/2") might be a challenge.

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up this case a while back, and could not identify the period. So, I settled on D-I sockets and have gone from there. Getting close now, only a few sockets left to find; 1/2, 1-1/16, 1-1/8.

I no doubt have some spare 1/2” sockets. The 1-1/16” and 1-1/8” D-I sockets are the hardest to find. These sets only went up to 1”. I’ll keep an eye out.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

So, I settled on D-I sockets and have gone from there. Getting close now, only a few sockets left to find; 1/2, 1-1/16, 1-1/8.

The 1-1/16” and 1-1/8” D-I sockets are the hardest to find.

What him say!

These sets only went up to 1”.

But these...

...as you well know, went up to 1-1/8"!

The interesting trick, for general readers, is that the GMTK sets only went up to 1" through September 1942, based on the Office of the Quartermaster General (OQMG) Interwar specs. In October 1942, with responsibility for tracked and wheeled vehicles having been moved to the Ordnance Dept just two months earlier, the 1-1/6" and 1-1/8" sockets were added. This is just one small seemingly innocuous example illustrating the reason for the transfer - QMC's slow and ineffectual response to the war and modernizing their thinking, processes, and material.

Regardless of the brand, many boxes will only fit twelve (12) sockets from 7/16" to 1" in the compartment due to the prewar spec.

I'd have to check the cats (or just ask 4/c! HAHA), but empirically, I know that Duro-Chrome made 1/2-drive sockets up to a whopping 1-1/4" and up to 1-3/16" in "-D-I-".

Beemer, If you get desperate finding the missing sizes on your own, or even if you'd just rather not wait, I do have a couple extra 1-1/8" in my stash.

I don't have an extra 1/2", sorry to say. One of these is from the GMTK, and the other is for a second set I am building. Note that the three or four smaller sizes came in two styles, tapered (a little earlier, I reckon) and straight wall. I see you've got a tapered 7/16", which is probably appropriate for that box, and you'll probably want a tapered 1/2".

 

[bmwrd0]

Lugz, I would love to trade for that 1-1/8, and I have a few extra 7/8 and 3/4 if you are interested. I do have the elusive 1-1/4, so I got that going for me. Which is nice.

On the flip side though, I have a number of Duro Chrome marked 1/2" drive sockets, and will be keeping a lookout for more of them going forward, as they are another possibility for that oddly marked box. Until I can get a solid reference to that particular decal, I am keeping my options open.

 

[c1504]

I’ve got an extra tapered 1/2” if you want it

 

[Old Radar]

...so I got that going for me. Which is nice.

Ahh, those subtle cinematic allusions! Love it!

 

[macgee]

I have these two spares, a Duro chrome 1/2" size, 1/2" square in 8 point (1616S; type II, Class III) and a 1-1/8" deep Indestro Super in 1/2" (3036).

The quality of these two are excellent compared to my other sockets including Snap-On, they easily stand out among the other sockets in the spare box and would have zero problem owning and using a whole set in this particular vintage on a daily basis if I had a set. Much nicer detail finish than SK, Craftsman, Proto...etc.

I also have a cool Indestro 1/4" breaker bar.

 

[four.cycle]

P/M sent on the 3036 04/10/21 11:36 PDT

 

[bmwrd0]

Thank you, McGee, but those are way too nice for that rust bucket set!

Don, I would love it if you had one, and let me know if I have anything you might be looking for.

 

[macgee]

Just found another two and looked for ages for a third one (15/16") I knew was laying around but then just realized I mailed it to Don (Jeep). The 3036 above is now heading to Tacoma.

Have to say that Duro Chrome above has an excellent finish and easily the best knurling I've ever seen on a socket.

Idestro Super (3/8sq) and Indestro Select (1/2sq)

Don has this one:

 

[d42jeep]

Thank you, McGee, but those are way too nice for that rust bucket set!

Don, I would love it if you had one, and let me know if I have anything you might be looking for.

Here are some 1/2” socket choices for you. They are all available.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

Any of one of the three on the left would be wonderful, Don.

And thank you very much!