Vintage ProAmerica metric offset box wrenches

[SweetD]

Hi Guys,

I received my set of ProAmerica metric offset box wrenches today in the mail.

Sizes 6mm-20mm, no skips. They seem really nicely made for what they are. Supposedly military overstock?

A few pics:







Definitely NOS, but the plastic wrench roll is really dirty (not damaged though). I think I may try a light cleaning of it just to remove exterior dirt/grime/grease...

I like them enough that I ordered another set for my 12 year old nephew, as we have established an annual "Made In USA" tool gift for Christmas. Pretty cool!



Dave

 

[gol4]

Thanks for the post. I just placed order for a set for $12.
How can you go wrong for that.

 

[SweetD]

Thanks for the post. I just placed order for a set for $12.
How can you go wrong for that.

You can't...

As my brother would say...it's like a sore d!ck...can't beat it!

BTW - the plastic wrench roll cleaned up really nicely with just Simple Green and light elbow grease...



Dave

 

[four.cycle]

I can't help but wonder if my mention of those had something to do with your purchase.
Yes, apparently "Proamerica" (aka KAL tools of Los Angeles) supplied US military contracts.
Your photos actually look nicer than the ones the seller has posted on Ebay.

Just ordered a set (from Ebay) after seeing YOUR photos, which do them more justice.
Yeah... $12 (incl. shipping) pretty hard to go wrong there.

I've cleaned those plastic pouches with spray-on "Orange" cleaner and a worn "Scotch-Brite" kitchen sponge (not too gritty so it didn't scratch it all up) and it worked fairly well.

The "Proamerica" 1/4" drive socket sets (on Ebay) look nice but I really don't need another 1/4" socket set this week.

Their PLIERS are on sale right now 40% off - sale ends tomorrow.
they pay freight on orders over $40 - otherwise add $10 shipping.
http://proamericatools.com/

 

[SweetD]

I can't help but wonder if my mention of those had something to do with your purchase.
Yes, apparently "Proamerica" (aka KAL tools of Los Angeles) supplied US military contracts.
Your photos actually look nicer than the ones the seller has posted on Ebay.

Just ordered a set (from Ebay) after seeing YOUR photos, which do them more justice.
Yeah... $12 (incl. shipping) pretty hard to go wrong there.

One of my coworkers actually turned me onto this deal - he probably saw your post since he also frequents GJ. Glad to hear my pics were useful for you. They are really nice wrenches at $1.50 each shipped...!

 

[four.cycle]

I posted something about them here somewhere several days ago, but didn't buy them myself then because I wasn't really overly impressed with their photos.
Your pictures make them look a hell of a lot better.
I bet they run out before the night's over!

 

[bonneyman]

They remind me of the old Duro shorty DBE's, though the Duro's were full polish.

 

[firworks]

Glad you posted in the Double Box Ends thread. I never would have seen this post but I just bought a set.

 

[four.cycle]

where were those Duros?

ahhhh popparoach posted them in the 'show us your Indestro" thread.

right above THIS post:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5268558&highlight=mine#post5268558

they're at Meridian Tool in Oklahoma City. I called them on the phone and they do not ship - strictly cash and carry.

$30 for that set, though.

 

[geartow]

Thanks I ordered a set today.

 

[Model A Fan]

Where is the eBay/sale link for $12?

 

[four.cycle]

looks like GJ members cleaned 'em out! gone!

next best thing is that "Duro" set cited above - but, as I noted, they're at Meridian Tool in Oklahoma City and they do not ship - it's cash-and-carry out the door only.
they've got a boatload of them - $30 for a full-polished set of mm offset double-end box wrenches still ain't bad - problem is how to get 'em.

maybe through popparoach?

 

[PFSard]

looks like GJ members cleaned 'em out! gone!

Those damn GJ'ers!!! I plead guilty.

 

[txvwnut]

I saw that same auction last night and almost bought a set... but who needs three sets of those, since I have two sets already.

 

[MercLSU]

I bought two sets of these, one for myself and one for a Christmas present. Unfortunately when I put the two sets side by side, I noticed something funny about the 8 - 9 mm wrench on one set. It was actually a 3/8 - 7/16 wrench. So, here we go, I thought. I emailed the seller yesterday and based on the purchase price and the volume they do on Ebay, wasn't expecting much. Today, I got a response:

"I am so sorry that one of your sets arrived with a wrong wrench. We must have missed that set when we received them in and inspected them. I will send out a replacement wrench (size 8mm / 9mm) today. Please either keep or discard the oddball wrench, as we do not have any sets with that brand name. I will send you the tracking number later today when we ship it out. Thank you for your patience and I apologize again for your inconvenience."

Customer service ain't dead, folks.

 

[bonneyman]

Here's my set of the Duros. Missing the 12 x 13.

 

[four.cycle]

^ ooo now that's weird.
I got my "proamerica" set of metric offset box-ends yesterday.
Included is a 17mm x 18mm, and an 18mm x 20mm.
NO 19mm end in the set.
I sent them a note and told them that it MUST have been manufactured for the US Government.
Doubtless some procurement officer ordered them that way?
They look pretty good, for $12 bucks I have no complaints.

popparoach got me one of those Indestro ratchets from Meridian Tool. I'm thinking maybe of asking him if he can get me another.
maybe he could check out those Duro-Indestro metric double-end offset sets they have there and see if they're all whacky like that. for $30 I'd expect they'd be in order.

 

[bonneyman]

^ ooo now that's weird.
I got my "proamerica" set of metric offset box-ends yesterday.
Included is a 17mm x 18mm, and an 18mm x 20mm.
NO 19mm end in the set.
I sent them a note and told them that it MUST have been manufactured for the US Government.
Doubtless some procurement officer ordered them that way?
They look pretty good, for $12 bucks I have no complaints.

popparoach got me one of those Indestro ratchets from Meridian Tool. I'm thinking maybe of asking him if he can get me another.
maybe he could check out those Duro-Indestro metric double-end offset sets they have there and see if they're all whacky like that. for $30 I'd expect they'd be in order.

I know the Duro style I have also has an overlapping wrench sizing. There's the 18x19 which I have, and an 18x20 which I elected not to get. I'm beginning to think the same dies were used for both brands of wrenches.

 

[MAD]

I know the Duro style I have also has an overlapping wrench sizing. There's the 18x19 which I have, and an 18x20 which I elected not to get. I'm beginning to think the same dies were used for both brands of wrenches.

If you had both the Duro-Indestro and the Proameriaca set (as I do) you would see that they are different. The reason for the same sizing layout is because the two sets have the same government NSN number, so the sizes are specified in the contract.

 

[CARNAC]

Nice. My Common No 1 tool set has some of those in it. I think two sets of metric and one of SAE.

 

[firworks]

I got mine on Thursday. They seem like a fine little set. I think I'll keep them in the car probably since I've got Toptuls in my box already. They look a little crude but I think they are just spartan. I'm sure they'll do a fine job.