Show your Indestro and Duro-Chrome tools

[four.cycle]

doh! okay sorry my mistake! mritchie's pouch is completely different from anything we carried

 

[demiandvm]

My #2736 3/8 Flex head is a superbly built ratchet. There is virtually no play when one tries flexing the anvil. Clean, crisp, with what I count to be 56 teeth in the mechanism. I also own a Craftsman late model USA made and it does not compare in the close machining tolerances and loose play in the mechanism. Does anyone know when these ratchets were made? When I look at the intricate machining in the production and the quality chrome, I don't believe they could make a ratchet like this today and be price competitive. Just my thought.

 

[Outlawmws]

The 2736 was made in (at least) 2 varieties; the round knurled handle like yours, and the flat fairly smooth handle which is the one I have. I really like the flat handled version and wish I could find then in the non swivel head as well.

I agree, very well made.

 

[four.cycle]

the first iteration of that model (patent 2686582) had a 52 tooth mechanism.
the earliest versions employed a 4-point selector knob and a flat handle.
the 2736 shows up in the 1959 catalog No. 22, but with a 4-point selector knob and a flat handle.
the 2736 shows up in the 1971 catalog No. 55 with the 3-point selector knob and a round handle.
the 2736A showed up in the late 1970s or early 1980s (?) with the 6-point selector knob, round handle, and a 60-tooth mechanism.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmmm, Mine is the 2736 but with a 3-point selector knob and a flat handle. 52 tooth...

Handle is marked "Indestro Super after the 2736, far side "Forged in U.S.A."

 

[four.cycle]

^ yours might possibly have been made somewhere "in the middle" there..... unfortunately we don't have "start dates" and "end dates" for ANY Indestro ratchet simply because there's such a shortage of catalogs.
some fairly significant changes occurred at Duro/Indestro somewhere between the late 1950s (presumably what is seen in the Catalog No. 20) and the late 1960s. Even though we do have a Catalog No. 22 from 1961 (which shows the model 2736 with the four-point selector knob and the flat handle), changes occurred after that for which we have no definitive timeline.
(Funny this would come up at the same time as the inquiry from AA about "timeline" on MPI sets... when it rains it pours, right?)

best WAG: the repair kit part number 2775-8 (which would have fit all of those 3/8" models) might well have had the (later) three-point selector knob that got installed in an earlier handle. (definitely would not be the first time I've seen that.... I have a 1/2" drive model here somewhere like that.)

 

[Outlawmws]

I was also thinking an "In the middle" time frame. I've had this since mid/late 70's but it was well used before I got it. - Still one of my favorite ratchets. Swivel head, comfortable grip that I can really pull hard on, and reasonably fine tooth - whats not to like?

 

[four.cycle]

^ My guess would be that the head internals were replaced with a later production unit.

 

[Outlawmws]

I just looked through the active Eprey sales for "Indestro ratchet" and most of the flat handles were open gear heads, followed by pear heads, the very few round head (none swivel) were as much 3 as 4 point selectors

I also saw one that was a 5 point selector? Are you sure they were 6 in the late game?

 

[four.cycle]

The later production Indestro 60-tooth models used a 6-point selector knob - more like a "star wheel" (for lack of a better descriptor.)
There were 5-point selector knobs used on some earlier models, but those were not Indestro brand.

Help me out here Don... Westline? Westcraft? Wardmaster? It was one of Indestro's private label accounts that did that. I only collect Indestro branded and Duro branded stuff - none of the private label (Wards, Wizard, Western Auto, etc.) so I don't have an example.


1982 Indestro catalog No. 60 pp 22 (3/8" drive ratchets)

Duro Indestro 2875A 60-tooth RHFT ratchet (using 6-point selector knob) (patent 2686582)

btw: I'm still looking for a 2739 and a 2780 (and a 2839, but that's an earlier model)

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my 1/2” drive Wizard ratchet.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ that's the one. first time I saw that I thought "WTH?"

 

[four.cycle]

Interestingly, the original patent drawings show a selector knob more along the line of what one might find on a Penens, Fleet, Speedmaster, or early Giller ratchet:


patent 2686582 Aug 17 1954 W.H. Odlum et al

 

[3baygarage]

I have to agree with you, that is odd about the knob. It totally looks like a Penens. I'm not familiar with the mechanism to comment on that portion.

 

[Outlawmws]

I must have see a Wizard then.

 

[demiandvm]

I should have included a top down picture of my ratchet as I illustrated it above. Mine is obviously has a 3 point sector making it produced after 1971 according t above info. The ratchet looks like it was used very little in its probable 50 years due to the excellent chrome finish remaining and tightness of the mechanism. As I dismantled it to clean and lube, it appeared to never be done before. Thanks for the in depth discussion above.

Michael

 

[four.cycle]

@3baygarage - yeah.. Penens made one with a knob on it. and I know there's an odd Giller here somewhere with a knob on it like that.

"...3 point sector making it produced after 1971 ..."

It could have been produced at some point between the early 1960s - the 1961 catalog shows the model 2736 with a flat handle and (what appears to be) a four-point selector knob.
It could have been produced at any point up into to the late 1970s, when the model 2736A was first introduced. (see post #2450 above.)
(* The earliest catalog listing I have for that model is the 1980 Catalog No. 60, but that's not an indication that the unit wasn't manufactured prior to 1980. We were selling the 2736A in the late 1970s. *)

 

[Provincial]

Maybe the 5-point selector knob was intended for use on Chrysler products.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

1947 Motor Age Duro Chrome ad pp 189 (model 4499 80-tooth RHFT ratchet)

This ad got me to updating my duro chrome chest.

 

[bmwrd0]

That box is darn tootin"!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes Duro made some cool stuff! I was pleased to add some pristine 3/4 drive sockets with the cross hatch knurling.

 

[Cruiserman]

 

[genog]

That box is darn tootin"!

Heck yeah!
Rootin' Tootin!

 

[LNKMK8]

I came across this nice 1/2" drive set last week. I went over to buy some clamps a guy had listed which ended up not being that great, but he said he would be clearing out and listing some other tools. I asked him to let me know when we got through sorting. He contacted me the next day and this was among some of the tools he was clearing out. It is missing some of the sockets (and maybe other pieces?) but the condition is very nice for what is there.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I came across this nice 1/2" drive set last week. I went over to buy some clamps a guy had listed which ended up not being that great, but he said he would be clearing out and listing some other tools. I asked him to let me know when we got through sorting. He contacted me the next day and this was among some of the tools he was clearing out. It is missing some of the sockets (and maybe other pieces?) but the condition is very nice for what is there.

Looks good! I think Don has a bunch of those. Here's the one I have pretty sure it's complete.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...nice 1/2" drive set

VERY nice wartime "-D-I-" set. Congrats.

 

[d42jeep]

This shows the contents that the wartime set came with. I have some extra D-I sockets.
-Don

Here is a list of the contents from the Navy NAF catalog.
I’ve run across several of those sets. One is currently listed on eBay for $350 but it’s been listed for quite a while. I received an offer of $300 which I declined for obvious reasons.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ if Don doesn't have the sockets you're short I probably do, but I have yet to find them out there.
(I found several zip-lock bags full of 1/2" hex drive stuff out there when I was "Christmas shopping", but never did find all that Duro stuff ssdave unloaded on me.)

 

[LNKMK8]

Thanks for the info! Looks like I'm missing the 3/8" drive 5/16" and 1/2" drive 5/8" and 15/16" sockets and the cross bar, so not too bad. I will probably end up selling this one as I really don't need to start collecting yet another brand of tools... sure is a neat set though.

 

[four.cycle]

be sure to write if you find that missing cross bar! we'll be waiting!

 

[d42jeep]

be sure to write if you find that missing cross bar! we'll be waiting!

No crossbars were included from the factory but I think they should have been.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No crossbar in mine

 

[four.cycle]

I was kidding! kidding!

 

[four.cycle]

Duro Chrome 11 pc 1/4" dr SAE socket set (DI)

Duro Chrome 11 pc 1/4" dr SAE socket set (DI)

Duro Chrome 11 pc 1/4" dr SAE socket set (DI)

(* note the 3/8S 8-point socket is marked "D I" *)

 

[d42jeep]

Beautiful set!
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

Thanks to Don, I am one step closer to finishing this set:

I need the 5/16" socket and a T-handle, and it should be good to go at that point. I will run across those sooner or later.

 

[Cruiserman]

Well here is my socket set. I like the standard, stubby, and wobbly drivers. Eventually I will post some of my others.

 

[demiandvm]

Luckily I ran into another Indestro ratchet. The swivel head 3/8 2736 cleaned up real nice and I posted it at the beginning of the month. The guess from the group was it was a 1971 vintage I think. Now I ran into a 6472 that was rusted tight with a rusted frozen socket attached. Overnight in the electrolysis process loosened it up and removed the rust and the socket. I was amazed at how well it cleaned up with the degree of rust it showed. I should have taken before pics. The quality of chroming and machining on these are amazing and durable. Its a heavier duty ratchet than my Craftsman. 30 tooth I think. Does anyone have a guess on the date of the 6472. I thought I read the earlier ones had the hole in the handle and later versions they stopped to lower costs. I'm guessing early 70's like the swivel head. Thanks

 

[four.cycle]

^ the 6472 pear-head does not appear in the 1961 Indestro catalog No. 22
the 6472 30-tooth pear-head does appear in the 1971 Indestro catalog No 55
so... could be anywhere from early 1960s to 1990, when Indestro ceased operations.

 

[demiandvm]

^ the 6472 pear-head does not appear in the 1961 Indestro catalog No. 22
the 6472 30-tooth pear-head does appear in the 1971 Indestro catalog No 55
so... could be anywhere from early 1960s to 1990, when Indestro ceased operations.

Thank You for the info--Michael