Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[Private Lugnutz]

Snap-on and Herbrand definitely used Pyralin. They proudly cited it in their catalogs.

Back in 2017 I said that Duro did, too, but I did not cite catalog references, and, after double-checking the 1939, the 1941, and the 1950 catalogs, I can find no reference to the composition of the plastic used in Duro-Lite (amber) or Duro-Grip (black) handles. However, I did find a reference to Pyralin, for amber handled screwdrivers, on page VIII of an Indestro Price List dated August 27, 1948. I think that strongly suggests that Duro -Chrome was also using it.

We should remember that survivability is also highly affected by humidity and environment. Generally speaking, that comes down to how and where they were stored before we found them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Quick add: Duro also branded their soft-face/soft-tipped hammers Duro-Lite, because it used the same amber material. Does anyone have one from that era?

 

[d42jeep]

Snap-on and Herbrand definitely used Pyralin. They proudly cited it in their catalogs.

Back in 2017 I said that Duro did, too, but I did not cite catalog references, and, after double-checking the 1939, the 1941, and the 1950 catalogs, I can find no reference to the composition of the plastic used in Duro-Lite (amber) or Duro-Grip (black) handles. However, I did find a reference to Pyralin, for amber handled screwdrivers, on page VIII of an Indestro Price List dated August 27, 1948. I think that strongly suggests that Duro -Chrome was also using it.

We should remember that survivability is also highly affected by humidity and environment. Generally speaking, that comes down to how and where they were stored before we found them.

Oddly, my earliest Indestro drivers show no sign of deterioration. I don’t have a very large sample size, however.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

It's going to be fun looking for the rat, the sliding tee, and especially the spinner. (No eBay tips, please! I mean in the wild.)

Nice looking set, Lugz!

I've got a sliding tee that might fit that set. It is plain steel, but not marked D-I.





I've got a few others, so I pulled some out for comparison. The DURO is the only one with a 5/16" bar. Another distinguishing feature is the pinched end/BB combination on the bar. The others are either BB/BB, or pinch/pinch. One more difference is the way DURO rotated the drive plug 45 degrees from the others.



DURO CHROME, unmarked black oxide, MECHANICRAFT, unmarked chrome plated. The diameter of the center sections varies too. 1/2", 9/16", 1/2", 7/16".

Tom

 

[bmwrd0]

I picked this metal box up over the weekend, mostly as I recognized the color.

I didn't even realize that this tag was still attached!

Digging through my spares, I had most of what goes in it, just need to find two extensions and a flex. Then again, I am not sure if the ratchet and flex are correct. But they are what I had on hand.

You can see the remains of some of the original interior labels, but sadly they were oil soaked. I will do what I can to preserve them once I clean up the muck. It took me a while, but I finally found the listing in the Select Steel catalog on ITCL.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice looking set, Lugz!

Thanks.

I've got a sliding tee that might fit that set. It is plain steel, but not marked D-I.

Thanks. Noted, just in case I come up empty in my own hunting. I have the patience of Methusaleh, though, and the budget of a 12-year-old on a 1972 "allowance". So it could be a few years.

 

[Outlawmws]

I had to take a miss on an early SK carry box (Yellow adn black decal) this past Sat. The guy would not separate the box from the pipe tools in it, and he was too proud of the pipe tools...

It was missing the tray, and the exterior cosmetics were pretty bad, so no great loss.

 

[four.cycle]

1976 Duro Chrome Catalog and 1977 Price List NOW AVAILABLE at International Tool Catalog Library!

thanks Mark!

 

[Mark Stansbury]

Just got my first Indestro-branded wrench.

 

[four.cycle]

1959 Indestro Tools Catalog No. 22 NOW AVAILABLE for download at International Tool Catalog Library!

thanks Mark!

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro "Chrome Vanadium" SAE 45° offset double-end box wrench set - ca. 1930s

 

[Username already in use]

I brought home a deuce of Duro-Indestro ratchets from the flea.
I've already got the flex head 3/8 Indestro 2775A and it's been my go to ratchet. Nice to add the standard 3/8 as well.

 

[Outlawmws]

That style Indestro Flex was my first flex, and has always been my go-to with few exceptions. Even after getting a longer handled SO. It's just the right size unless something is stuck. I've yet to find the same handle in Non flex.

 

[four.cycle]

^ You have to go to a "Wizard" or "Wardmaster" to get that "paddle" shaped handle.
Indestro did make a 3/8" RHFT drive ratchet with that flat "paddle" handle early on (part #2777) but it only appears in the 1959 and 1961 catalogs, and I have never seen one online or anywhere else.
Nice finds.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a 2736 indestro super with a couple wizards

 

[Outlawmws]

Yep the Super is what I have. I guess I'll have to watch for a Wizard, or hope to get lucky...

I really like the feel of the handle on those. and class them among the top for pulling on hard without damaging your hand. Even above SO which is stellar.

First time I used some SO combo wrenches I was sold on those for the same reason. I had all the Craftsman, and while a very decent tool, you just can't pull on them as hard, so for really heavy pulling its SO.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The open ends on my snapon wrenches are better than most. Seem to grip better.

 

[Username already in use]

Here’s my current cache of Duro/Indestro fine tooth 3/8” ratchets.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice collection!
This Duro G series ignition wrench set arrived yesterday missing only the G63 wrench and the unicorn and almost always missing screwdriver. I added the missing wrench and replaced a few others with less rusty examples. I added an Indestro screwdriver in place of the missing Duro. The roll is in surprisingly good condition.
-Don
As received
Wrenches replaced
Completed

 

[JjKk40]

Nice collection!
This Duro G series ignition wrench set arrived yesterday missing only the G63 wrench and the unicorn and almost always missing screwdriver. I added the missing wrench and replaced a few others with less rusty examples. I added an Indestro screwdriver in place of the missing Duro. The roll is in surprisingly good condition.
-Don
As received
Wrenches replaced
Completed

Nice score Don! Ha I bid on that days ago and totally forgot about it!

 

[four.cycle]

really nice set Don.

 

[lbpd716]

These are a few from a garage sale yesterday. Went back a third time and got even more industro, snap on, mac and duro.

 

[four.cycle]

I am not convinced Duro Metal Products Co. or Indestro Manufacturing Corp. were making their own pliers, but here you go:

Indestro 3443 12-inch groove-joint pliers (ca. 1971)

 

[Arne73]

From a distance those look like Klines.

 

[c1504]

These are the only Indestro pliers I have, but the look identical to Diamonds

 

[JjKk40]

Waiting impatiently for this 1/4" drive set to come in! Looks brand new and never used to me and was advertised as such. I have another, not in this condition, which also, instead of 1/4" drive, does fit 3/8" drive tools. I think I did find something in a Duro catalog that shows they used this box for both 1/4 & 3/8 drive sets.

 

[d42jeep]

They made two boxes that same size but one has a wider socket slot that will better accommodate 3/8” drive sockets. I really like that NOS set. I expect that the sockets will be marked D-I rather than Duro-Chrome.
-Don

The bottom set in the next picture has the wider slot and has 3/8” drive tools.
Wartime D-I 1/4” drive socket set pictures.

 

[JjKk40]

I checked my other set and it can fit a 7/8 socket max. I don't remember what where the sizes in the 3/8 sets tho. From the pics they do all look the same sockets on the 1/4's being D-I except the 6 pt'ers might be different? I'll check when it comes in.

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro 7600 11-piece SAE socket set (ca. early 1950s)

(* has an extra 2812S and an oddball drive adapter *)

(* 1959 Indestro catalog No. 22 shows the 7600 in a plastic box. *)

 

[Cruzan80]

Anuone know anything about Chrome Alloy sockets with the same vertical knurling as Indestro Super and D-I sockets? Pretty obvious match.

Actually same pattern as the post above.

 

[d42jeep]

I saw one shown on the GJ but they aren’t real common.

"Chrome Alloy Steel" - who made it? 12/28/21

Duro Chrome? somebody's house brand?

www.garagejournal.com

-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Cruzan, please post any photos in that "Chrome Alloy" thread Don cited just above.

 

[saukit]

Cleaned up some Duro Chrome yesterday: 2015A circle X, a couple interesting combos that are really thin like a tappet, one has a circle X and the other has no makers mark. Then a little offset DBE that's marked G 2042.

 

[JjKk40]

They made two boxes that same size but one has a wider socket slot that will better accommodate 3/8” drive sockets. I really like that NOS set. I expect that the sockets will be marked D-I rather than Duro-Chrome.
-Don

The bottom set in the next picture has the wider slot and has 3/8” drive tools.
Wartime D-I 1/4” drive socket set pictures.

Regarding the NOS wartime set, all 11 sockets are D-I! I gotta find a 1/4 ratchet now! I only have 1 for all the sets I have and it cadmium plated and is in the smaller cad set i have.

 

[d42jeep]

They occasionally come up on eBay and recently seem to have gone up in price. A collecting buddy in Tennessee and I take turns buying them in kind of a gentleman’s agreement so as not to run the price up even further. The bad part is when buying one that you think has a wartime finish and it turns out to be chrome plated. If you spot one that you need, let me know that you plan to bid so we don’t have a repeat of the recent yellow and black handle spinner fiasco.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

In the "Crescent" thread last night:

Puzzlingly, however, the patent document refers to (of all things) an Indestro wrench, the image of which appears on page 29 of the 1955 Indestro catalog No. 20.
I not only own a copy of that catalog, but also a set of those wrenches, and there isn't any "scoop" (or "tapered box end") on the Indestro units, so I have no idea what they're talking about, but it does provide a better clue as to the actual date of Indestro's catalog No. 20 (for which thus far Mark and I have only been able to come up with a best-guess estimate.)

I got a reply from Mark regarding this. The date of the Indestro catalog No. 20 IS 1952, evidenced by this advertisement which appeared in an August 7, 1952 issue of "Hardware Age":


August 7 1952 "Hardware Age" Indestro advertisement for Indestro catalog No. 20

Yes, enlarged, the image clearly shows that it is Catalog No. 20

The entry at the bottom of the patent document (Barcalo's design patent D177636) is puzzling, but in the end cannot refute the date printed on a magazine page. I think whoever drew up the patent document was a bit confused or misinformed.

One of the great things about working with Mark on this stuff - he's as pedantic as me when it comes to establishing dates.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The entry at the bottom of the patent document (Barcalo's design patent D177636) is puzzling, but in the end cannot refute the date printed on a magazine page. I think whoever drew up the patent document was a bit confused or misinformed.

I think you're misunderstanding the citation, 4.c.

I just posted this in the Crescent thread, which I saw first, but I will repeat it here for continuity.

The fact that the Indestro box end wrench they are citing does not have a scoop is precisely why they're citing it. Why would they be applying for a Design Patent (requires novelty) for something that has already been designed and made? I think they are using Indestro as representative of the state of the art in box ends for which they are innovating with their so-called scooped design.

As for the dates, note that Barcalo submitted their design patent application on Nov 23, 1955. It looks to me like they turned to the most current catalog they could find (Indestro 20-S, which they say was published October 25, 1955), just a month before they submitted their application. I am guessing the same box end that is on page 29 in your 1952 catalog also appears on the same page in the 20-S, which is apparently from 1955.

 

[d42jeep]

The dates in the patent artwork make perfect sense since the cover of the 1958 Barcalo catalog features the new wrench.
-Don
-Don

 

[matthew]

Couple of thought on how to read the patent -

1. The date - October 1955 - could mean they are saying that is the current catalog at that time (a retrieval date), as opposed to the publication date
2. The 20S could be a supplement dated 1955 to append to already published 20
3. Citing the Indestro wrench likely means they are saying “here’s something similar enough we are noting it exists but see the differences which is what we are claiming”
4. Design patents are poorly named - they refer to aesthetic design, and not functional advancement.

 

[four.cycle]

yeah - I replied in the "Crescent" thread earlier.
and since have gone back and forth with Mr. Stansbury.
I'm more inclined to say catalog No. 20 is 1952. The idea that the 1952 magazine ad would show an illustration of the wrong catalog is simply not logical.
as to the citation on the patent document, they've apparently got the catalog date incorrect.