Somebody save this Plomb roller!

[posaune]

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/tls/2700489084.html

It has been posted at least once before. If I didn't have a garage full of Remline and Huot, I'd have already picked it up.

 

[930dreamer]

WOW, I wish someone could grab that for me.

 

[muddyjoe15]

Oh the storys that thing could tell.....

 

[Lost Road]

Man, cool box! Plomb is like crack for me.

 

[SubaruGreg]

I would be all over that if I wasn't halfway across the country

 

[davesnothere]

How'd that thing get all the way to mass., and I can't score anything like it in az?!

 

[ChrisF250]

Talked to the seller last week and then my truck went down. Picking it up this week unless someone else gets it.

 

[WastedAgain440]

I been eyeballing that for atleast 2 weeks now, I don't really need another box and I'd hate to restore a box with that much history...Hope someone here gets it

 

[bobemmerich]

I was eyeballing it, too. But I don't need another box. I do hope someone saves it.

 

[jwitt]

What is all this "need" thats being talked about? Wish I was closer!

Jim

 

[chappys4life]

If i was closer I would snag it. I never find used boxes for any personable price

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

If I was closer that thing would be getting sandblasted as we speak.

 

[thesilverone]

attention Bull

 

[Bull]

Wow, I didn't even know this thread was here! I picked the box up this morning, then someone on another site told me about this thread. I'm glad you fellas remained spectators and let me grab this. Blackhawk is my main focus, but I am a sucker for oddballs and uncommon stuff, and heck, how many of these have you seen?

I first saw the box two weeks ago. I tried to get a friend of mine who lives in the next town over to go and grab it, but he was unable to do so and I was not in a position to make the drive. After a few days, I forgot about it as I assumed someone would have snagged it up immediately at that low price. Was surfing yesterday morning, saw the box, and called the guy. He still had it, said there had been lots of interest but no one had come through. Told me he was busy all day, but that I could come down Sunday morning, which I did.

I need to get it pressure washed and scrubbed with a brush and some degreaser, then maybe I can get some pics up. It is showing its age, but overall quite solid and I am stoked to have it. He was getting tired of it and about to bring it to the scrap man! Someone cut both sides of the box to install outlets. I will probably clean them up and reinstall them, but not actually wire them up or use them. They look like they have been there a long time, and so seem like they are part of the box's history at this point.

 

[930dreamer]

Fate put a vintage Plomb box in your hands, nice score. Post some pics when you have a chance.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Wow, I didn't even know this thread was here! I picked the box up this morning, then someone on another site told me about this thread. I'm glad you fellas remained spectators and let me grab this. Blackhawk is my main focus, but I am a sucker for oddballs and uncommon stuff, and heck, how many of these have you seen?

I first saw the box two weeks ago. I tried to get a friend of mine who lives in the next town over to go and grab it, but he was unable to do so and I was not in a position to make the drive. After a few days, I forgot about it as I assumed someone would have snagged it up immediately at that low price. Was surfing yesterday morning, saw the box, and called the guy. He still had it, said there had been lots of interest but no one had come through. Told me he was busy all day, but that I could come down Sunday morning, which I did.

I need to get it pressure washed and scrubbed with a brush and some degreaser, then maybe I can get some pics up. It is showing its age, but overall quite solid and I am stoked to have it. He was getting tired of it and about to bring it to the scrap man! Someone cut both sides of the box to install outlets. I will probably clean them up and reinstall them, but not actually wire them up or use them. They look like they have been there a long time, and so seem like they are part of the box's history at this point.

You can just remind yourself that as time rolled on, Plomb and Blackhawk became close relatives (Blackhawk by Proto).

 

[Bull]

Fate put a vintage Plomb box in your hands, nice score. Post some pics when you have a chance.

Going to post some poorly composed pics now!

You can just remind yourself that as time rolled on, Plomb and Blackhawk became close relatives (Blackhawk by Proto).

Hah! Good thinking


I gave the box a good hose-down with some citrus cleaner, let it sit, then used my dad's power washer to spray off as much of the grime as I could. I forgot to do the bottom door and the locking handle (doh!) but will clean those up at another time.

The box has some dents, and while I have little experience straightening metal, I guess I have no option but to try. Then I suppose it will be time to sand and paint. I'm not sure if the slides can be removed, but I hope so. It would **** to have to sand and paint around them.

If anyone can ID the badges on the sides of the box, lemme know. They have been applied in such a way as to complete cover the stamped Plomb Tools logo, like the box was being disguised. There was apparently another such badge on the front, too, though that one does not seem to have been placed over the Plomb logo there.

 

[TAftw]

Bull, that box is sweet! I don't know if I was home when you were looking at it, but I surely could have grabbed that from Feeding Hills for ya.

What are your plans for it? I think it looks pretty cool the way it is. Just a little degreaser and it'd be a nice functional box.

 

[larryq]

Do we have any best guesses how old it is?

 

[sk farmer]

uhhmmm.............you **** just as much here!

 

[JSBriggs]

Looks like an old Studebaker 'S' trim of some sort that is bolted to the sides.

-Jeff

 

[Stuart in MN]

Looks like an old Studebaker 'S' trim of some sort that is bolted to the sides.

-Jeff

That's what they look like to me, too.

 

[Outlawmws]

Do we have any best guesses how old it is?

Not older than 1934, (triangular "o"s) and obv, pre Proto.

Interestingly, that Plvmb box has the exact same slide designs as my 1954 Craftsman, so I'm guessing the same manufacturer made them? (No clue who) The casters scream 1930's to me and my craftsman did not have the vertical tube internal framing that one has. The perforated drawer bottoms suggest an attempt to save metal? possibly for the war effort?

Great old box!

 

[Bull]

I called my powder coating guy (the one who did my daughter's Pinky project) and asked him if I could bring the Plomb over for an evaluation. I want to see what he'll charge me to clean it and coat it. I'm going to remove the odd cardboard-like work surface top, the mangled stainless trim, and see if I can hammer out the largest dent, which is on the bottom removable panel. I'm not trying to make it look new, just refreshed in a nice coat of red, and ready to be my work cart.

 

[Bull]

Long before this is anything good, it is most likely going to be a painful mess, since I am involved and have no skill.

I spent some time tearing it down, thinking I was just going to haul it to the coaters soon. Now, I don't think I can do that. I mean, do I really want to have them throw powder over the dents and bends and call it a day? Or, do I want to spend the time trying to fix the dents (with zero skill and little hope) and fixing some of the other issues? I don't know, you fellow vintage USA guys tell me.

The box now:

Here is one example of a dent, on the drawer front. I put a block of wood across the front, and proceeded to deliver a few hammer blows to the back side, seeing if that would begin to address the issue. I succeeded in making a few new high spots from the hammer head. Like a ********' chimp, I am. I dropped the hammer and wood and moved on, realizing I need to watch some Youtube videos on dent removal before I try this.

Tweaked bottom cover:

The rear of each drawer has a pair of rollers, one per side. Originally, they were welded, it seems. The little mounting tab that they are on was welded to the drawer frame. For some reason, I think 4 of 6 were removed at some point, and then a previous owner bolted the tabs back in place. They didn't look like they were properly positioned. The drawers all worked, but no exactly like butter. Probably doesn't help that the ball bearings inside the rollers are dirty, and some of them have a lot of wobble, like they are worn.

Pile of stuff removed from the box. Don't think I am going to reinstall the Studebaker badges. I don't know why that round metal tube had been installed in one of the drawers via a screw. Must have held something along the way. scratchhead I might clean up the electrical covers/outlets and put them back. If not, then I need to patch the jagged holes that were cut in the box to install them. Guess it might be time to learn how to use my welder. I mean, it's only been, what, ten years since my parents gave it to me for Christmas, right? lolx

 

[930dreamer]

Looks like a good project for body work 101.

 

[Danglerb]

On the bright side by the time you are done you should be pretty good at it.

I'd buy a basic set of body tools, hammers and dollies from HF, and find a couple pieces of junk to practice on. Wear some ear and eye protection and just beat away until some level of skill or a total lack of learning ability was present.

Take plenty of pictures.

 

[Outlawmws]

Bull, I think that is a doable project, but you need to tackle one kink at a time, with some patience and the right tools. Do you have a sheet metal hammer and/or a decent body hammer and dolly (with a flat side and a square edge)

Also very helpful are some sheet metal tongs. Here are pics of two pair I use for cleaning up dinged up box edges and the more important pair are the pair with red handles, and welded on angles. I made that pair from a destroyed set of nippers.

the pics shoe before and after on the mangled edges and all I really had to do was squeeze the mangled parts hard with the bull grips I made.

The roller I can also help you with. I have that exact same roller setup in my '54 craftsman 5 drawer roller. (very probably made by the same company) So I know what they are supposed to be doing, and it is not obvious. The rollers can be replaced with a set of modern roller bearings. If like mine, 1" in Diameter and the middle hole appropriately sized for a bolt. More on that later, lets get the metal straight first.

Tool check!

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Put the drawers in it and use the darn thing. By the time you fix, fill, paint you will have more than a cleaner one can be had for. I have a pressweld almost identical. It's beige, not my first choice in color, but I use it.

If you put the drawers back in you can use it as a cart to hold your framing stuff for the project you need to finish. It was cheap use it, It's still a ToolMobile.

The perferated drawers had a purpose. check the PLOMB catalog

 

[Bull]

Looks like a good project for body work 101.

I had better enroll in Body Work 01 first, to get up to the 101 level

On the bright side by the time you are done you should be pretty good at it.

I'd buy a basic set of body tools, hammers and dollies from HF, and find a couple pieces of junk to practice on. Wear some ear and eye protection and just beat away until some level of skill or a total lack of learning ability was present.

Possible bingo here; I'm better with books and abstract knowledge than this hands-on stuff. I mean, I enjoy futzing around, but I have no gift for it.

Take plenty of pictures.

Bull, I think that is a doable project, but you need to tackle one kink at a time, with some patience and the right tools. Do you have a sheet metal hammer and/or a decent body hammer and dolly (with a flat side and a square edge)

Also very helpful are some sheet metal tongs. Here are pics of two pair I use for cleaning up dinged up box edges and the more important pair are the pair with red handles, and welded on angles. I made that pair from a destroyed set of nippers.

the pics shoe before and after on the mangled edges and all I really had to do was squeeze the mangled parts hard with the bull grips I made.

The roller I can also help you with. I have that exact same roller setup in my '54 craftsman 5 drawer roller. (very probably made by the same company) So I know what they are supposed to be doing, and it is not obvious. The rollers can be replaced with a set of modern roller bearings. If like mine, 1" in Diameter and the middle hole appropriately sized for a bolt. More on that later, lets get the metal straight first.

Tool check!

I will assemble my various bodywork-related tools for a picture so you can see what I currently have to work with. Great news on the roller help when the time is right.

Put the drawers in it and use the darn thing. By the time you fix, fill, paint you will have more than a cleaner one can be had for. I have a pressweld almost identical. It's beige, not my first choice in color, but I use it.

If you put the drawers back in you can use it as a cart to hold your framing stuff for the project you need to finish. It was cheap use it, It's still a ToolMobile.

The perferated drawers had a purpose. check the PLOMB catalog

You guys out there in Plombifornia might stumble across these all the time, but they are not just to be scooped up on this side of the nation. I have seen precisely one Plomb roller box (this one) after years of going religiously to the flea and checking the local tool sections of CL.

I love patina and often enjoy leaving vintage stuff alone, but this box was more than just a little worn in; it's been abused and looks pretty nasty.

I don't have any Plomb catalogs to look through. If the setup of the top drawer is an indication, then the perforated drawer bottoms must be for organization. In the top drawer, there are four removable clips that fit neatly into the perforations. These clips accept the edge of a thin strip of metal, thereby allowing you to create different sections in the drawer. If that isn't then purpose of the perforations, then it seems to be a nice coincidental benefit.

 

[B17E1943]

I don't have any Plomb catalogs to look through.

Here ya go, Bull: http://bartlettstreet.com/toolcatalogs/

I don't know if they are from the same era as your box, but they are fun to look at.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I just oiled the rollers and loaded it up, I will paint it later when other projects are finished. This is a Pressweld. Pressteel made the same box as well. I wonder who made them for PLVMB. All three rollaways PLVMB, PRESSTEEL & PRESSWELD are the exact measurements with the same exact handle louver.
I wonder if someone else made them for all three??

 

[930dreamer]

Here ya go, Bull: http://bartlettstreet.com/toolcatalogs/

I don't know if they are from the same era as your box, but they are fun to look at.

My hard drive has 250mb of storage gone.