Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[Outlawmws]

Incomplete sets of Indestrp, "Auto Kit" wrenches - both marked Indestro and unmarked:

I have a couple of complete sets in the rigs, likely they are the Auto Kit Branding (Danielson)

 

[d42jeep]

My buddy brought me this big combo today.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

My buddy brought me this big combo today.
-Don

That is a big one! nice!

I found a really nice 1/4" Indestro ratchet with an extension still attached in a bin at the flea this past weekend.

 

[d42jeep]

I have been looking for one of these spark plug socket sets for a few years. Today the next best thing arrived from an eBay seller, the empty box. I wasted no time filling it with wartime D-I sockets.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks good!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That crinkle paint looks like it was applied yesterday!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, guys. I also picked up this Indestro spinner since Duro spinners have all disintegrated.
-Don

 

[bmoore]

Just picked up this 2270 3/4" drive 2 3/16 socket. Is there any collectible value to it? Looks like the largest socket they made.

 

[Debcrow]

A poor mechanic uses his ratchet for a hammer.... would it be OK to use one for a Sledge Hammer? LOL.
Picked up a older Duro-Chrome 3/4 Ratchet.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. Those are not common.

 

[bonneyman]

Just picked up this 2270 3/4" drive 2 3/16 socket. Is there any collectible value to it? Looks like the largest socket they made.

Wasn't it a big socket like that where the maintenance crew dropped it while working on the Titan missile and the ICBM started leaking and then exploded? Could be a piece of history!

 

[bonneyman]

A poor mechanic uses his ratchet for a hammer.... would it be OK to use one for a Sledge Hammer? LOL.
Picked up a older Duro-Chrome 3/4 Ratchet.

Didn't know Duro made this style in 3/4". I'm sure it would make a good hammer - or **** prevention tool.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have one I got in a box of tools. Must not have made many.

 

[Provincial]

.....many that survived!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

this thing is a tank, but not rebuildable. could be most were destroyed.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this No. 2183 1/2-inch drive torque adaptor at the flea market this morning. Check out the way the model numbers were punched so deep you can see the outline of the die stamps. I have the feeling we've seen these turn up before - maybe it's just the search tool limitations or the terminology people used, but I can't find any.

 

[Provincial]

The indentations show how number inserts were changed out to change part numbers. It looks like they didn't trim the base of the dies to even them out.

 

[d42jeep]

A tool collecting friend from Tennessee sent me these tools to help complete some sets. The sockets are cad plated for the cad plated set. The last shots are some wartime D-I 1/2” drive socket sets.

 

[LesserSon]

Completed my first E-series ignition wrench set, closing in on a second.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is an image from the 1940 catalog. They changed the markings in 1945 to start with a G and generally they have a more shiny black finish.
-Don

 

[MR.X]

Indestro rockin the font on the bottom wrench.

 

[Old Radar]

Has anyone seen this before? Indestro 138 screwdriver. Overall length 2-5/8"

I've seen catalog reference to Indestro 136 pocket screwdriver--overall length 4-1/16", but can't find any info on this one.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Have not seen that one but great find

 

[d42jeep]

I have a 136 but haven’t seen that tiny one. Maybe for eyeglass repairs? If anybody has one of these Duro Chrome screwdrivers that are the same size as the 136, I need several of them for ignition wrench sets. They are very hard to find.
-DonView attachment 1470458

 

[Username already in use]

Nice midget screwdrivers. Here's a pair of mine.

 

[bmwrd0]

I have these, I almost forgot about them:



It's kind of interesting that the case is marked for having three drivers but clearly has only had the two. #'s 138 and 139. Which are 2-5/8"s and 3-1/4"s, respectively.

 

[Old Radar]

Beemer in for the win! I've tried enlarging your photo of the case but still can't read "Something Kit", nor can I discern what the illustration is. It may be a tool chest but looks more like a high-armed couch.

And then there is the numbering mystery. 138-tiny, 139-slightly bigger, but then the next size up has a 136 designation...

 

[bmwrd0]

It says"Treasure Kit. 3 Quality Midget Screwdrivers" they what I think is a picture of a treasure chest, followed by "No. 135T K"

I will spend some time cleaning it up this afternoon and try for a better shot.

 

[Old Radar]

Interesting. I wonder what the marketing strategy was supposed to be relating a treasure kit/chest with jewelers screwdrivers. Okay, it just dawned on me as I wrote that. Treasure=Jewels?

 

[bmwrd0]

Here is a better photo:

 

[Provincial]

Was this contemporary to the Blackhawk "Treasure Chest?"

 

[bmwrd0]

No, I have had that for a little while. I picked it up at an estate sale in Salem.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...138-tiny, 139-slightly bigger, but then the next size up has a 136 designation...

Where are you seeing these part numbers? What catalog?

Duro/Indestro made reversible screwdrivers. A different size on each end. You pulled them out of and then squeezed them back in the handle. But they had different numbers, and I don't think that's the answer to this riddle. We may have to call Four.cyclock Holmes in on this case.

 

[Old Radar]

Where are you seeing these part numbers? What catalog?

Duro/Indestro made reversible screwdrivers. A different size on each end. You pulled them out of and then squeezed them back in the handle. But they had different numbers, and I don't think that's the answer to this riddle. We may have to call Four.cyclock Holmes in on this case.

This started with my finding the Indestro 138 "Jewelers" screwdriver and asking if anyone had seen one. Beemer posted his 138 and larger 139 up in post #1706. (the numbers are stamped into the handles after Indestro) In my perusal of the usual catalogs on archive.org I found only the (comparatively) larger, but numerically smaller 136. Indestro Catalog 55-M (1970)

Further perusal just now of archive.org turned up another listing for a slightly smaller pocket driver than the 136 but much larger than the 138 I have >>>---> using the number 138! Indestro Tools 1935

I'm beginning to suspect many of these tool companies purposely injected these little inconsistencies into their offerings to keep the competition guessing but also to just mess with the minds of future generations--talk about taking the long view on a joke!

 

[Provincial]

No, I have had that for a little while. I picked it up at an estate sale in Salem.

What I meant was: were the Indestro screwdrivers sold during the same years that Blackhawk was offering the "Treasure Chest" tool boxes?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This started with my finding the Indestro 138 "Jewelers" screwdriver... [ ]...I'm beginning to suspect many of these tool companies purposely injected these little inconsistencies into their offerings to keep the competition guessing but also to just mess with the minds of future generations--talk about taking the long view on a joke!

Thanks, OR. I see the trail now. I thought you were referring to catalog entries.

Another possibility is that Beemer's vinyl "Treasure Kit" pouch may not be Indestro. Note that it's not explicitly marked Indestro. And nothing about it (packaging, artwork, branding etc) is really screaming Indestro to me. Any ignition screwdrivers would probably fit in there and a PO may have put those two inside. The model number does seem like the kind of thing they would do if the screwdrivers were in the same series (i.e., 13X), on the other hand.

I've alerted 4.c.

That doesn't explain the "New Math" issue. Maybe one of the original screwdrivers was a double offset?

 

[four.cycle]

RE: bonneyman's 3/4" drive socket and Oldtuleguy's pressed-flange 3/4" drive ratchet (pat 1902878):
I may be in the market for those, gentlemen, depending upon whether or not I am able to acquire a 3/4" drive set recently listed on a popular online auction site. Thank you both for bringing those to my attention.

RE: "Duro/Indestro made reversible screwdrivers."
Yes, they made two models: a #4694 (red handle) and a #4695 (blue handle), both of which were manufactured by VACO. They are considered highly collectible and command ridiculously high prices on Ebay. I have one of each but only have a photo of the #4695. The #4694 is buried in the mess here somewhere.





RE: bwmrdO's model 135TK miniature "Treasure Kit" (brought to my attention by Private Lugnutz's email):

Yes, it is definitely Indestro, and no, it apparently was not listed in any catalog - at least none that I could find. There was one listed on Ebay a year or so back, but I didn't bid on it because the seller wanted far more than I considered it worth. I would definitely be interested in acquiring bwmrdO's specimen if he's willing to part with it.

RE: model #136 Ignition screwdrivers:
Hard as hell to find anymore. The early (yellow handle) models are difficult to find in decent condition. The later (white and clear handle) models don't seem to be any more abundant. I think I have about half a dozen - a few of them are NOS units I snagged on Ebay ridiculously cheap - obviously the seller had no idea what they were.

====

I'm still working on additions to the list from material Mark has been forwarding to me, and I've come across some real oddballs lately that scream "WTH?", like this little gem that sold this morning:

If any of you have ANY idea what the hell that is, or who might have actually manufactured it, do be sure to let me or Stan Schulz know.
The seller listed it as "3 inches long" overall.

I may run into some difficulties keeping the list updated here. I was looking at some previous posts and apparently there's been some sort of limit set on the number of edits one can do on a single post? No idea what that's all about, but a limitation on number of edits will make it impossible to keep the list updated without completely re-posting it in its entirety. It's possible I may have to explore other options.

This is about as much of the low-contrast charcoal-gray-on-white text that my eyeballs can handle for now. I'll check back in later. You all know how to contact me via email.

Happy Flag Day, Gentlemen.
Mine will be waving proudly.
BK

 

[d42jeep]

I think that there is a limit on editing posts to 10 per day.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

RE: bwmrdO's model 135TK miniature "Treasure Kit" (brought to my attention by Private Lugnutz's email):

Yes, it is definitely Indestro, and no, it apparently was not listed in any catalog - at least none that I could find.

Thanks for confirming, 4.c. Do you remember how many and which screwdrivers were in the other one you saw on eBay? That's the other half of the issue. Why two pockets, seemingly for two drivers, when the pouch says 3?

I may run into some difficulties keeping the list updated here. I was looking at some previous posts and apparently there's been some sort of limit set on the number of edits one can do on a single post?

As Don alluded to, the limit is number of posts (it's 15) in 24 hours.

 

[bmwrd0]

A possibility on the "treasure chest" could be that it was branded and sold by a third party, and Indestro drivers were (semi) random contract item.