Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[Provincial]

bmw, I have the 1/2 in the dull finish. I can put it in your pile. We need to get together anyway!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Since we're on a sockets kick and I just emptied my drawer (see Pic 1) to see how I could help Beemer out..., here are the "-D-I-" I have on hand after filling out my GMTK set (See Pic 2), the -DURO-CHROME- (see Pic 3 & 4) - and note how the dark steel examples have "G" codes (see Pic 5), and CHROMIUM VANADIUM (see Pics 6 & 7).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I don't seem to see much contract stuff in the wild, just a couple WARD's CHROMIUM VANADIUM examples (see Pics 1, 2, & 3) and a couple Chrome-X-Quality Vanadium Steel examples (see Pics 4 & 5).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Odds and ends include a -DURO-CHROME- 1/2-drive male to 3/8-drive female adaptor (see Pic 1), a pair of 1035 drag link bits, one of which has a knurling type I have never seen before (see Pic 2 & 3), and a special keeper (see Pics 4 & 5) that resides in my GMTK. I've posted it before. It's for installing and removing grousers (cleat, lugs, etc) on tracked vehicles and that part number ("A191314") is an Ordnance Dept drawing number.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice drag link sockets. Those are hard to resist.

Here’s a piece I wasn’t familiar with. Based on the part number I figured it had to be Duro, and more than likely 1/4 refrigeration wrench rather than a “ratchet”.

Had some trouble finding a reference to it because I wasn’t digging through the correct catalog. First I only looked at the 1935 cat on archive.org, but it appears in the 1939 cat., so I’m not crazy after all, it’s a Duro.

It’s stamped No 673. You may recognize the No 673 as commonly seen pressed steel hex drive socket kit ratchet. The same number being on this little guy really threw me off though. The catalog seems to call this reversible reefer rat a 673-1/4S. Could numbers have been shuffled, idk, but there’s nothing but 673 on this.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have seen one other example on a wall hanger set, was going to grab it but missed end of auction. Cool little ratchet.

 

[3baygarage]

Wall hanger as in hanging storage rack?

I think it’s neat too. The style of direction switch isn’t common to Duro, and the construction is very different for a refrigeration wrench.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes it was similar to the typical ones you see but with that ratchet. Was kicking myself for letting it get away.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As a quick follow-up to the 15/16" socket with the Ordnance Dept stock number and the "FOR GROUSER" marking on it in post #1564 above, I now have some references from a couple colleagues for those interested in more context, including what a tank track grouser looks like (Pic 1), a description (Pic 2), a period photo of them laid out for inspection in front of a tank and its crew (on left, front)(Pic 3), and even a figure from a Tech Manual on a grouser end fastener being turned with a socket and a hinge handle (Pic 4).

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Cool photo. Had no idea what a grouser was.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cool photo. Had no idea what a grouser was.

To be honest, I knew it was some sort of cleat, but I didn't realize it traversed the entire track. Now I am going to have to re-watch "Fury" (BADASS movie!) for the umpteenth time, look for grousers, pause, get my socket out, and do a Show n' Tell with whoever in the house will tolerate me!

 

[misterbill]

Belton Cooper discusses them in Death Traps, too. Good, honest, read if you liked Fury.

Bill

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Bill! Now on the library list.

I was put off by some blunders, especially the ridiculously tight road column stagger in unknown territory, where even sloppy fire would've had high success, and the recon by fire the tanks conducted while in motion across a field in which any minute change in elevation would result in strays tens of feet off at range. My biggest groan came at the very end of the movie, when the kid crawled back into the tank through the floor hatch to check up on the Brad Pitt character. Not a scratch on Brad Pitt's face or torso after two potato mashers went off in his lap. I was also not happy at all with the boorish behavior of the men in the liberated town. I know that most WWII movies over-glorify the actions of US and other Allied troops, and that not all soldiers were perfect gentlemen, but the movie gave the impression that every town we took was followed by a bacchanalian **** and pillage fest. But, yeah, overall I thought "Fury" was highly entertaining and realistic enough for a general audience.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

These excerpts I just made from TM 9-726 for the M3 Light Tank provide an even better explanation.

 

[d42jeep]

Back in August of last year, I found an Indestro 1/2” drive set at a Stateline, NV estate sale. It was missing a few pieces. I added an unmarked Duro ell in November and Shiftless contributed a Speeder in December. Recently I spotted an incomplete set on eBay and bid less than $10.00, the minimum bid. Surprisingly nobody else bid and it arrived today. I de-rusted the Indestro marked Ell as much as possible and will clean and go through the sockets tomorrow to add any to my first set that are the incorrect brand or missing.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ I saw that one when it first was listed! $10 bucks?!?! Wonder if that guy who is still asking $110 for his 1536 set saw it!

 

[Provincial]

Friday I found my first Indestro Polygon wrench, a 3/4 x 25/32 DBE. Alloy Aritifacts says that Western Auto sold these as a less-expensive option, so I guess this is a "2-fer" matching both collections.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Luge, if you read much WW2 history, you will learn that the US was only relatively chaste. Dwight Eisenhower addressed the problem of unruly soldiers in his book, “Crusade In Europe “, even, which was a whitewashed recounting of American involvement in the European theater. The problem was not just in liberated cities, but in just about any area occupied by American troops. We were saints only relatively, as our policy was to not mistreat the local citizenry and we punished those caught. The Russians vented revenge for Stalingrad and Leningrad on the German population as a matter of policy, and German citizens, so innocently unaware of occurrences in local camps, were so afraid of retribution that they fled their homes and went west in order to be liberated by the Allies. British soldiers weren’t innocent, either. American atrocities were well documented and covered up.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...if you read much WW2 history...

If? You know I have, since we've had short disagreements on several topics, the latest, on the subject of just how early we started preparing for war, ended with me giving you a short suggested reading list for that period. This topic wouldn't qualify as a disagreement, since my post clearly acknowledges that we weren't all saints. We weren't all barbarians, either, which is the impression my post objects to.

 

[Old Radar]

if you read much WW2 history,

If?

My eyebrows shot up to their limit!!

 

[Shelbylex]

"The Russians vented revenge for Stalingrad and Leningrad on the German population as a matter of policy,"
Ricky Joe, WWII was much much more than Leningrad and Stalingrad in USSR - Russians and Soviets (lets not forget about all the ethnicities of USSR - just Russia has >100) , were one of the nations planned for extermination. Even though German army including the groups which joined them only almost reached Moscow like Napoleon in 1812 (who actually was allowed to capture it; I am saying only because if you look at the map, it's not as far as you think), a lot of civillians and soldiers were killed and exterminated. Revenge was not for those two cities - for the rest of people who were killed. The war is always worse for people who are supposed to me exterminated... Never mind that the soldiers not only had to fight with inferior and insufficient weapons, they were supposed to fight without (yep, if you were captured alive, you became the Enemy of the state), and there were also groups of NKVD trained killers who killed the soldiers if they tried to retreat... There was no policy either .
...War is always a very dirty business and it's good that majority of us never had to experience it (I had multiple members who served, not all came back...)

Guys, I think that we should leave this thread for Duro and Indestro tools and not get into the confrontation over WWII here. However, if there is an interest, I would like to join all of you in the discussion of WWII if somebody creates a topic in the Free Parking
Please send me a message if you create a thread.

 

[four.cycle]

"...we should leave this thread for Duro and Indestro tools..."

^ this.

 

[macgee]

"guys, we should leave this thread for duro and indestro tools"

+1





```

 

[d42jeep]

Okay, here comes the Indestro set update and I promise not to mention WW2. I went through the cleaned up tools, added the Indestro Ell and some missing sockets. Although I haven’t found this exact set in the catalogs, I imagine that it’s pretty close to complete.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

Nice set Don!

I can't believe that the first mention of an Indestro Polygon on this thread has gone without a comment.

 

[four.cycle]

Although I haven’t found this exact set in the catalogs

Model 1530 or 1536, depending upon number of pieces and whether it includes the "Heavy Ratchet". Yours has the model 655 ratchet in it.
From the number of them I've seen listed on Ebay, I'd submit that (1) they must have cranked out millions of them, and (2) I think quite a few had the ratchets replaced with the smaller, lighter, 655 ratchet. (Purely wild speculation on my part, of course.)
Surprised you found the "ell" wrench so quickly.





(* I have yet to see that "Heavy" ratchet - as it is referred to in the contents lists in catalogs - identified with a part number, nor have I ever seen one listed on Ebay that had a part number stamped on it. Some are stamped "Indestro", but with no part number or patent number. None of mine are stamped with either the "Indestro" name or part number. *)

(* photos courtesy George Roberts - used with permission *)

 

[four.cycle]

I can't believe that the first mention of an Indestro Polygon on this thread has gone without a comment.

Duly noted. It looks like they've only been brought up in the "DBE" thread.

 

[Shelbylex]

Nice set, D42jeep!
What is the unnusual socket type tool used for in the last picture?

 

[four.cycle]

642 valve grinder attachment.

 

[Outlawmws]

My First Duro-Indestro hex drive socket (from either brand for that matter) - 5/16 so a good size to have around. From yesterday's AM yard sale.

Needs a better size set screw I think?

 

[Shelbylex]

642 valve grinder attachment.

Thank you, Four.Cycle

 

[four.cycle]

"My First Duro-Indestro hex drive socket (from either brand for that matter) - 5/16..."

Lucky you.

I'm still (6 years later) looking for an Indestro Super 2758 - the 1/4" size of those 3/8" drive hex driver bits.

Set screw should be fairly easy to find, I would think.

 

[Outlawmws]

I didn't have any any shorter (which surprised me) but the one in it had been badly ground on the tip anyway so I jsut ground it to size and put a tip on it (hardened so could not be cut with Crimper/machine screw cutters) Lots of cooling on process on a small fine wheel with a close fitting guard...

 

[d42jeep]

Model 1530 or 1536, depending upon number of pieces and whether it includes the "Heavy Ratchet". Yours has the model 655 ratchet in it.
From the number of them I've seen listed on Ebay, I'd submit that (1) they must have cranked out millions of them, and (2) I think quite a few had the ratchets replaced with the smaller, lighter, 655 ratchet. (Purely wild speculation on my part, of course.)
Surprised you found the "ell" wrench so quickly.





(* I have yet to see that "Heavy" ratchet - as it is referred to in the contents lists in catalogs - identified with a part number, nor have I ever seen one listed on Ebay that had a part number stamped on it. Some are stamped "Indestro", but with no part number or patent number. None of mine are stamped with either the "Indestro" name or part number. *)

(* photos courtesy George Roberts - used with permission *)

It any of those are my sets, the illustrator didn’t do a very accurate depiction of the interior of the box, not that catalog illustrations are notoriously accurate. There is no area for the Ell in the sets shown. In the larger sets only 4 point sockets are shown rather than 8 point.
-Don

 

[Ricky Joe]

If? You know I have, since we've had short disagreements on several topics, the latest, on the subject of just how early we started preparing for war, ended with me giving you a short suggested reading list for that period. This topic wouldn't qualify as a disagreement, since my post clearly acknowledges that we weren't all saints. We weren't all barbarians, either, which is the impression my post objects to.

My impression was that you were more familiar with tools than the actual history. I discounted your reading list when you included material from the Hoover era. To stretch to make the facts fit the theory leaves me a little skeptical. Shelby, I am aware that there was much more than Leningrad or Stalingrad to the revenge. To the rest, I apologize for contributing unrelated material to the thread. Discussion of the movie “Fury” opened the door, and I walked through. Mea culpa.

 

[3baygarage]

A couple Indestro Super finds yesterday.

I opened up a little Kennedy Kits box and my eyes went straight to the 4 incher. Didn’t have one in Indestro brand so I was quite happy to find it.

Also, a 1-1/16 6 point socket in 3/8 drive. Figured it was a specialty tool. No. 2738. Looks like it’s an oil pressure sending unit socket. Usually see them in every other brand. A little banged up, the working ends are in good usable shape.

 

[four.cycle]

"...the illustrator didn’t do a very accurate depiction..."

Searching my own posts for the word "rendition", I come up with several instances where "artists rendition" catalog illustrations have been discussed.
The 1530 and the 1536 are the only two sets I've seen in any of the catalogs (whether 1935 or 1937 Indestro catalogs, or contemporaneous hardware wholesaler catalogs) that use that long flat box and include those carbon steel sockets. (There was also a model 1545 set, which is shown in the 1935 catalog on page 20, but it's the same as the 1536 with the exception of its also including a 10-pc 5/16" square drive "Ignition Socket Wrench Set".)
The illustration of the 1536 set in the 1935 catalog shows only 4-point sockets, but the contents list just below says "8-point". The 1530 set includes the "L-T" handle but not the "ELL" handle. The 1536 set includes the "ELL" handle but not the "L-T" handle.

The illustrations are screwy.

I just ran into another deal like this with what the seller believes is a Thorsen unit (here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184756915254)
I pored through everything I had, and as close as I can come is an "ELL" wrench they show in the 1929-1930 and the 1933-1934 catalogs:



If the unit truly is a Thorsen piece, those illustrations are wildly disproportionate.
I thought the unit might have been Walden, but after receiving a Walden "ELL" wrench and seeing how it's constructed, I'm disinclined to think the unit that lady is selling was made by Walden.

Again, catalog illustrations, from what I've seen, particularly in earlier catalogs, are just plain screwy.

 

[four.cycle]

3-bay - lucky find on that 4-inch adjustable. People pay stupid money for those on Ebay.
The socket is indeed an oil pressure sending unit socket. I think everybody made them at some point.

 

[d42jeep]

Searching my own posts for the word "rendition", I come up with several instances where "artists rendition" catalog illustrations have been discussed.
The 1530 and the 1536 are the only two sets I've seen in any of the catalogs (whether 1935 or 1937 Indestro catalogs, or contemporaneous hardware wholesaler catalogs) that use that long flat box and include those carbon steel sockets. (There was also a model 1545 set, which is shown in the 1935 catalog on page 20, but it's the same as the 1536 with the exception of its also including a 10-pc 5/16" square drive "Ignition Socket Wrench Set".)
The illustration of the 1536 set in the 1935 catalog shows only 4-point sockets, but the contents list just below says "8-point". The 1530 set includes the "L-T" handle but not the "ELL" handle. The 1536 set includes the "ELL" handle but not the "L-T" handle.

The illustrations are screwy.

I just ran into another deal like this with what the seller believes is a Thorsen unit (here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184756915254)
I pored through everything I had, and as close as I can come is an "ELL" wrench they show in the 1929-1930 and the 1933-1934 catalogs:



If the unit truly is a Thorsen piece, those illustrations are wildly disproportionate.
I thought the unit might have been Walden, but after receiving a Walden "ELL" wrench and seeing how it's constructed, I'm disinclined to think the unit that lady is selling was made by Walden.

Again, catalog illustrations, from what I've seen, particularly in earlier catalogs, are just plain screwy.

S-K illustrations are the worst in that regard. They were always years behind in updating their artwork.
Is this the Thorsen? This Navy marked example was gifted to me recently.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

S-K illustrations are the worst in that regard. They were always years behind in updating their artwork.
Is this the Thorsen? This Navy marked example was gifted to me recently.
-Don

Nope... I posted the link to hers just above.... auction ends Tuesday. I just put a bid on it to satiate my curiosity since nobody else seemed interested in it.
Look closely at the photos. It's got something stamped on it, but I'll be damned if I can make out what it is.

I went back and forth with her on this same subject about "artists renditions" - some of the early catalog illustrations are just whacky.
Oddly the finely detailed drawings shown in late 19th-century catalogs appear to be dead on the money. Go figure.