Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[Oldtuleguy]

Got this indestro super set off ebay recently

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some recent finds that fit the thread.
-Don
eBay 1/4” drive ratchets
An Indestro auto kit wrench found at a garage sale
This partial Duro 1/4” drive set arrived today from an eBay seller. The outside of the box is going to require a wrinkle respray
The little breaker is marked Chromium Vanadium

 

[d42jeep]

A bit of progress on the above Duro-Chrome box.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Looks good. Going to be in the 90s here today with tons of humidity. Maybe I should paint something.

 

[genog]

Found this set at the Flea Market
Lot's of good stuff this weekend
Missing the 3/4" socket, darn it

 

[d42jeep]

Found this set at the Flea Market
Lot's of good stuff this weekend
Missing the 3/4" socket, darn it

That was a very popular set during WW2 based on the number of them that I and several other collectors have run across. It is listed in the Navy NAF catalog.




The bottom picture is a set in the U.K. Looks NOS to me.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Missing the 3/4" socket, darn it

I can almost guarantee I have an extra for you. Drawer on the left is all Duro orphan extras. This is an older photo, but I've only plucked a few out for guys before and there're lots of -D-I- in there below the loose ones on top.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well, that turned out to be a very interesting prompt.

I have one extra. It's been repaired. Twice. Believe it or not. Looks like it probably cracked on the business end, which is rare enough in my experience with "-D-I-" production, and was brazed. Looks like it also gave way in one of the inside corners of the drive square. Also brazed. I'm guessing your intent is show, not use, and for show, both of the patches can be hidden and will not detract. But in a fitting kind of way, it might even contribute to the resiliency of the entire set and its generation's users. Somebody obviously really like it!

Yours for the cost of the ride. PM me if you're interested.

 

[LesserSon]

On Thursday, I picked up this handy little box:

Now, most of the stuff isn't Indestro/Duro (the hex socket set is, though) but I could not pass up that label:

A nice listing of everything that goes in the set! But, my question is, are the sockets marked Indestro Select? I know the wrenches are marked Select Steel, but I have never seen a socket marked that, while I have seen some marked Indestro Select.

My guess would be Indestro Select but four.cycle might know for sure. I’ve never seen any Select Steel sockets.
-Don

I had picked up this hammered blue Indestro 1-7/8x4-1/8x15-3/4” box Saturday, and could just make out “merica’s…ocket…Chicago, Ill” and bits of a guy working on a lawnmower, so I was pretty sure it wasn’t a fragment of the Dead Sea scrolls. Thanks to Beemer’s post, I have a much better idea what it looked like originally!
The only Indestro socket inside was this deep. It wouldn’t be part of the set, but it doesn’t say “Steel” after “Indestro Select”.

 

[LesserSon]

Unusually, the exterior label of my box is in better condition than the interior. The 1961 Select catalog has matching artwork, but I’m not finding my set number (85001B).
The metal box (9710) for set 6503 has the same overall dimensions, but its top clamshell is thinner than its bottom. On my box, they are equal. And the color differs, if the catalog illustrations are to be believed (red). Maybe a couple years later than 1961? I don’t see any near-date catalog pdfs available.

 

[MisterEd]

Indestro Chicago Select Steel Black Enamel/Polished Face 731 & 27

 

[four.cycle]

^ Somebody just asked me about one of those Indestro "Select" sets.
Those sets with the 85000-series part numbers on them were promotional sets - not shown in any real "catalogs" but rather promoted with four-color lithographed "fly sheets" - single-sheet flyers that were mailed out to distributors - the prices were usually NOT shown on the regular price lists but rather on "supplement" price lists.
Figure date range on any of them - from the early blue steel boxes to the late black blow-mold plastic boxes - to be 1960s to 1970s, possibly 1980s on the last run.

 

[LesserSon]

Thank you!

 

[RacineJet]

Indestro Chicago Select Steel Black Enamel/Polished Face 731 & 27

Here’s what I think is a very early “non-ratcheting” rachet from Indestro. What do you think?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Flip flop ratchet

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Or rocker ratchet. Not sure what you mean by "non-ratcheting", though. The handle engages and disengages the pawl. No springs.

 

[MisterEd]

What do you think?

Racine, you have mistaken me for someone who actually knows something. Now, OldTule and the Private . . . they make sense usually.

 

[RacineJet]

Or rocker ratchet. Not sure what you mean by "non-ratcheting", though. The handle engages and disengages the pawl. No springs.

It just doesn’t look like it would rachet - well, I mean just that - wait a second! I’m standing here messing with it and I see I can take the center piece out and place it on the other side - duh! Thank you!

Or rocker ratchet. Not sure what you mean by "non-ratcheting", though. The handle engages and disengages the pawl. No springs.

there isn’t a switch or anything to push to go the other way.

Flip flop ratchet

Flip flop ratchet

Ok - now that I see I just pop out the center!! I’m guessing this is a fairly early rachet! I haven’t found a photo of any like it on any of the different websites I’ve been on.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's reversible the old fashioned way!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Spotted this little time capsule on ebay

 

[four.cycle]

@RacineJet

Your ratchet is the "Heavy Ratchet" shown in advertisements and catalog listings for Indestro's model 1536 "Master" socket set, which appeared in the 1935 catalog:

Indestro 1536 "Master" series socket set - 1935 Indestro catalog pp 20

There was apparently no part number assigned to that ratchet - at least none that I have ever been able to find.
Other "Master" series socket sets contained Indestro's more common model 655 ratchet, which is a much "lighter duty" model than what you have there.

OTG's "flip flop" comment is rather intriguing, and I have to wonder where he picked up that term.

A few years ago, in an online conversation concerning that style of ratchet with an ebay seller, one Mr. George Roberts (with whom I've done a fair amount of business) I used that term - "flip flop" - trying to describe one of those early non-reversible models.
Since then he's been using that term in his ebay listings for any and all of those non-reversible type ratchets.

So... OTG: did you get that from Groberts1's listings? Asking for a friend...

@RacineJet again:

Nice find and welcome to the site!
You will, of course, now be compelled to collect and complete that entire set.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Just the way the heads flop around

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Picked up a nice matching set of deep sockets for this duro box

 

[d42jeep]

Those look nice. I’ve been watching for a set of Duro marked sockets with wartime finish to replace the D-I sockets in my box since the sets I’ve seen have Duro marked sockets. My search is moving slowly! I only am up to two sockets.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks good! I am up to two complete duro sets and a wardsmaster.

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

Indestro Super DOE ignition wrenches

 

[bbbarracuda]

anyone recognize this anvil? A local auction has it coming up in the next couple of weeks. Says it is 6”x3”x1.5”
Real indestro? knockoff advertising piece?
Thanks

 

[jwilson645]

anyone recognize this anvil? A local auction has it coming up in the next couple of weeks. Says it is 6”x3”x1.5”
Real indestro? knockoff advertising piece?
Thanks

At that size, I'd say it's probably just an advertising piece.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

At that size, I'd say it's probably just an advertising piece.

Or for jeweler's type work. Either way, a very cool piece that I hope you get, 'Cuda.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm going t venture a guess that unless it says "USA" on ir somewhere, its was made for indestro, likely in Japan as I have 2 that size/config that are Japanese...

And yes Jewelers/Hobbyist anvil

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That is pretty cool!

 

[four.cycle]

^ It's real Indestro. They were originally painted red. I see them frequently on Ebay at insane prices, which is why I do not own one.

 

[bmwrd0]

I found this the other weekend, and could not resist:

The great leather handle helps date this to before the war.

The decal isn't in the best of shape, but the important part is there

Now, what's inside?

A mostly complete Grinder Set from the late '30s, and early '40s. It shows up in the '41 Duro Power Tools catalog, page 45:


Oh, and this little goodie was tucked into a corner:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Oh, and this little goodie was tucked into a corner:

That would be an awesome accent piece for a 'History and Evolution of Water Pump Pliers' display, especially for everyone who calls them "channellocks" and looks at you like you have three heads when you call them water pump pliers!

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmmm, I just left that same grinder setup at a yardsale today. No discernible makers marks, but the grinder body and tool holder pattern is un mistakable. is it decent? Maybe I'l see if still there tomorrow...

 

[bmwrd0]

I haven't tested mine. The cord is on the list to replace first.

 

[RTM]

Picked up this box last weekend, finally getting a few minutes to sit down with the catalogs, the tools and this thread to figure out exactly what I've got.




This is the as found set, with a few SK items removed. Based on the contents, I'm guessing its either a 2708 from 1937 or a 2707 from 1948, or something in between. I'm basing these guesses on the presence of the 10" swing head handle with the male connection on the back end. The 1952 catalog has the regular male ratchet, and the boxes appear to be red. I didn't see any similar sets in the earlier catalogs.

Based on this tiny dot of a decal left (I see a big serif E), I want to assume its the bigger longer decal shown in the 1937, not the shorter rounder in 1948. Is that a good assumption? Any tools to split the date differences, those are the only catalogs I see in ITCL.



I've already searched this thread for 2707 and 2708, and don't see any, and looked for blue, and it was a newer version of a lighter blue in many cases, or the blue green.

The tools inside include
16" Speeder
10" Swing head handle
5-1/2" Extension (wrong)
Universal Joint
3/4" 12 pt DI
11/16 12 pt
1/2" 12 pt
3/8" 12 pt DI

The drive tools I do have are all marked Indestro Super, but the 6" extension doesn't belong, should be a 4-1/2" double ended one


The sockets themselves are mix of Indestro Super and -D- I- marked, but they sure look the same until you get really close. The DI have no numbers. As AA says they were joined around 1933, it is probably OK to have either in this set. Is that a good assumption?


And finally, I don't see any catalog cuts with the divider in the right side of the socket tray, so I'm gonna guess and put my extension there for now.

Any clues on what shade of blue might be close? Gonna clean it up, see what I have that matches, but not expecting miracles, the top looks pretty rusty. Maybe its just dirt, after a wipe with diluted Simple Green. We may stop at arrested decay.



Time to do another read through this thread as I pull some tools out of my stash to start filling it up.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

 

[d42jeep]

It’s the postwar set, based on the chrome plating and the Indestro Super branding. If the D-I sockets aren’t chrome plated it’s doubtful that they were originally included with the set, but if they are chrome plated it’s possible. I have several chrome plated D-I sockets in my stash. The blue remaining on the box looks like the original color to me. Here are a couple of wartime Indestro branded D-I socket sets a few years earlier than yours. four.cycle is way more knowledgeable on postwar Indestro than I am so hopefully he’ll weigh in
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a little 9mm Duro combo I picked up yesterday. It has a bit of chrome peel.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This D-I 1/4” socket set arrived in the mail today. I was especially happy to see that all the socket sizes were included as well as the crossbar. I’ve been grabbing the ratchets whenever I see them so that shouldn’t be a problem.
-Don