Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[d42jeep]

I came away with some early Indestro extras if anybody is trying to fill out a set.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

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

Just ordered it through Inter-Library Loan, Bill. Also re-watched "Fury" last night (free on tubi), fast-forwarding through the misleadingly ignoble parts, and I can report, despite heavy mud, that I didn't spot a single grouser being used on a tank track. That led me to do some digging. Apparently, the so-called "platypus grousers" for the M4 Sherman were different than the standard grousers installed by turning a cap screw with the 15/16" "FOR GROUSER" socket on M3 Grant and Lee tanks, quite rare, and much more difficult to install, increasing their rarity on Shermans. I look forward to further reading in the Cooper book. Thanks again for the rec. Funny how one little tool so often leads to bigger subjects. The best part of collecting, in my opinion.

 

[four.cycle]

Finally got around to reassembling this little gem:

Indestro model 2875A 1/4" drive 60-tooth RHFT ratchet.

Note shorter knurled round handle.
Note no part number or manufacturers name anywhere on the unit. It was only identified by a small sticker affixed to the 6-point selector knob (which is a unique and identifying feature of this model and other Duro/Indestro 60-tooth RHFT ratchets from their last days.)

 

[Username already in use]

That’s a nice one four.cycle. The 3/8 drive flex head version of that ratchet is my go to. So smooth.

 

[outofbounds]

Also posted this pic in the Wizard thread. From yesterday's random box of wrench haul.

 

[outofbounds]

Today's lunchtime Garage Sales produced this little nugget.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

When I spotted this "Dart" style combo wrench at the flea this morning, my heart skipped a beat and I scoured every box on that table twice looking for more. Alas, just the one. This is the first one I have ever seen in the wild, and I think there may be only one other example on the thread.

 

[four.cycle]

^ very cool. and it's not an 11/16" or 25/32" !!!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice grab!

 

[c1504]

That’s cool! I wasn’t even aware those existed.

 

[d42jeep]

This set came in the mail today. The intact decal was the main reason I bid on it. About half of the sockets were D-I. I’ll fill it out with more D-I sockets.
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

I picked up this little guy today. I don’t think I’ve seen one with an 8-point box end before.

 

[four.cycle]

^ The 1/4" box end on that series was all 8-points. They are quite uncommon.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

First one I have seen

 

[d42jeep]

Mine are all 12 point.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

So I picked these up today, and I'm pretty sure these are Duro-Indestro - Early? Wartime?

I even looked through about 5 years of the early posts here, and no mention (AA was useless).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They are. Wartime. Many examples have been posted, but they're not easy to search for. I posted a 7/16" to 1-1/8" set (in my GMTK) a few pages back (on Page 78, Post 1551), and a partial set and some big orphans (on Page 79, Post 1562).

 

[Oldtuleguy]

D-i sockets are so cool. They pop up here randomly at garage sales and such. Nobody knows what they are or the part they played in the war effort. Great part of tool history.

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks Guys, CRS had set in on these.

 

[d42jeep]

These wartime sets all feature 100% D-I sockets as does my GMTK in the third picture.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Mine are all 12 point.

^ All the box ends above 1/4" were 12-point. The 1/4" box end opening wrench (#907) only came in the 900-4C (or 0900-4C) four-piece set.
Private Lugnutz posted one here some time back.
I'm pretty sure I have a copy of that 907, if not as part of a set. It's a rare one.

The first catalog page is from the 1948 Catalog No. 16:



The 1/4" box end opening model does not appear in the 1937 Catalog.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

June 2018, page 29, post #561. Also posted it on page 5, post #73, in the Auto-Kit type thread.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Yes. There was a reason I saved the photos to my hard drive when you originally posted them. That one is a real oddball - polished heads or otherwise.

 

[LesserSon]

I had been on hiatus from Indestro collecting, negligent of the “sets” I started. This little guy (no “Indestro” on it) caused me to dig up what I have, and I find I am as far from a matching set as ever. Good time to inventory before next weekend!
Now I notice the one second down in the center collumn is the only one that is the same at both ends.
Oops! the fourth one down the same column isn’t marked INDESTRO, either. Rats!

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have yet to sit down and try to determine exactly how many iterations there were of that "Open-Box Wrench" style that Indestro made.
Some have "Indestro" forged into the panel.
Some have "Select Steel" forged into the panel.
Some say only "Forged in USA".
If you look closely at the catalog illustrations I posted just above (which is just a small sampling of the listings for that style wrench) you will note there was no shortage of choices. You could have 4 piece, 5 piece, or 6 piece sets, in either dull finish, or with polished heads.
They must have stamped them out by the millions - they were selling them to hardware stores, auto parts stores, Montgomery Ward, Western Auto, True Value, and other accounts.

There is currently a set of three listed on Ebay which by every detail appear to be Indestro made, except they are marked "West Germany". A seller in Chicago had a couple a few years ago, but I think he finally sold those.

Short version: that little 907 with the 1/4" 8-point opening is like trying to find an early black-finish Walden 6-inch extension. (But probably not as difficult as locating the missing 9/32" drive 9/32" "C" series Craftsman socket one of my sets is missing.)

 

[LesserSon]

Yeah. It might be easier to build a time machine, go back and buy a set, than to assemble one today.
I’ll just be pleased with what I have, and add what I can.
Thanks for the insights.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have learned during my very short time in this game that the odds are probably better of filling an inside straight in a high-stakes poker game in Las Vegas than trying to fill a hole in some obscure set of wrenches or sockets.

 

[macgee]

This maybe of interest to one you?

I would be thoroughly impressed if someone can fill this board

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/312759723614347/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%226955607644523920718%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%223661832023944688%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A3661832023944688%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A0%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A193%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A8047666173124280320%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A504%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A6.349432242329e-6%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3Anull%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%7D

 

[Cruzan80]

If only it was closer...
I have five different Indestro boards, only paid $20-25 each. But metric would be nice ..

Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Old Radar]

This maybe of interest to one you?

I would be thoroughly impressed if someone can fill this board

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/312759723614347/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%226955607644523920718%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%223661832023944688%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A3661832023944688%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A0%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A193%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A8047666173124280320%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A504%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A6.349432242329e-6%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3Anull%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%7D

Wow, Macgee, I'd really be interested if I had a trusted agent in SoCal that could negotiate the price down to $30 and then store the board until some unspecified date when I would be able to come and collect it--and in the meantime be on the lookout for appropriate items to fill it. They'd have plenty of time to look, it could be years until I make it back to CA.

 

[Cruzan80]

You see, I would go $50, but no way to get it to Colorado...

Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[macgee]

There's quite a few OWWM members in Huntington Beach, you may want to contact them if you're a member there. They're very serious and excellent about getting tools to other members.

Its worth a try if your serious about it

 

[RTM]

Ruckering!!!

 

[Old Radar]

There's quite a few OWWM members in Huntington Beach, you may want to contact them if you're a member there. They're very serious and excellent about getting tools to other members.

Its worth a try if your serious about it

It was in jest. I actually would be interested if, like Cruzan, I was closer, but because I have no plans to visit CA in the foreseeable future, I would never impose upon anyone like that.

Ruckering!!!

Don't know what that means, but as a guess: someone who doesn't feel the same way I do about imposing.

 

[Cruzan80]

Same here. While I would love to have it, not worth the hassle of transport.

Rucker-ing refers to Keith Rucker (founder of OWWM), and the process of a multi-leg journey, being able to transport and store at volunteers along the way. Used to get old machines cross country.

Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Here is my newest find. Got it at the pawn shop. Duro-Chrome that’s peeling. It’s an 11/16x13/16 I found it strange they would put 2 16th sizes on one wrench but ok. The number on it is 1029C. Not sure on the year.


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[four.cycle]

^ The number of sizes of Indestro/Duro Chrome open-end wrenches, when viewed in catalogs, is mind-boggling.

That unit dates from anywhere between the late 1950s and the late 1970s.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

That’s good to know a time period. Yes I can imagine with sizes like that the catalog was probably very confusing.


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[four.cycle]

^ No... actually what was confusing was trying to figure out which part numbers to stock in the warehouse. Not all of the part numbers were on the display boards:



^ This was also true on combination wrenches, sockets, and other tools as well.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

That definitely would get confusing. Glad I didn’t work there haha.


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