Why Plomb?

[farmerdude]

First off, let me say I am not a machanic, nor do I want to be one (I **** at it, and have no interest). I was doing a little maintainence on my snowblower the other day, and came across a ratchet that I got when an uncle passed a few years ago. I noticed that it is a Plomb, something I would never have noticed if it wasn't for being on this site. I used it for a couple of things, and it seemed like a really nice tool. It was very smooth, and it never skipped like some of my others. I also liked the short handle, since I didn't need a lot of leverage for what I was doing. I don't really see a lot of difference between this tool and my other ratchets (Craftsman, or China stuff). Many people here seem to really be into Plomb tools,so, my question is, why Plomb?
Sorry, this is the only pic. right now.

 

[FJ 432]

A traditional US made tool that was over built, looks awesome and has a loyal following. Most American made tool brands have their followers on this site.

 

[fivespdcat]

Why Harley's? Why Levi's? Why Red Wings? Because these are classic American things that encompass some of the best times this great country has had. While I am not a Plomb tool collector I can appreciate the quality of the classic tool brand.

 

[Packard V8]

How about style? Plomb usually put more effort into adding style to utility. The pebble finish, the knurling on the handle of the ratchet pictured.

jack vines

 

[btbsandman]

How many years has the 5249 ratchet been in use?

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I used it for a couple of things, and it seemed like a really nice tool. It was very smooth, and it never skipped like some of my others


You answered the question. There are a few different types of plvmb plomb tools people collect pebble finish, grind off, transitional etc.

I myself like the 30's PLOMB Los Angeles with an O

 

[farmerdude]

How many years has the 5249 ratchet been in use?

I know nothing about tools, but I would like to know how long this has been in service too.

 

[KnurledNut]

How many years has the 5249 ratchet been in use?

according to AA since 1939

 

[ARAMP1]

In a time when snap-on won't put USA on their ratchets and buying Mac, Stanley, Huskey, Craftsman, etc you're more likely to buy a Chinese tool, I like to think that just maybe that Plomb ratchet was used to assemble a P-51, B-29, etc that was used to win the war.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Proto, (plomb)
Proto still makes that ratchet

 

[ganymede]

They also made those ratchets for other mfg's too. I have one made for Owatonna tool co.

 

[woody 73]

Birkat Tal- "IF WHY IS THE QUESTION,THEN I HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THE BLESSING AND NOT FOR THE CURSE FOR SATISFACTION AND NOT FOR HUNGER FOR LIFE AND NOT FOR DEATH FOR TRUTH,COMPASSION, AND JUSTICE.''

 

[Paul Bee]

Some of us West Coasters are very proud that at least one Brand of Professional tool comes from Los Angeles and not the East Coast, Ohio, or Chicago. I was born near Los Angeles and my dad had a few Plomb tools.

 

[justin10054]

I don't know. It's a sickness. These are just the ones I don't use regularly.

 

[Thumper]

Why Plomb ?......because....it represents what America was back in the day. It represents the pride we had making the best tools in the world....the steel.... the fit and finish.....the pride in workmanship had by everyone that used them in building the strongest manufacturing country the world has ever seen. The pebble finish are the "art deco" of fine tools worldwide and show form, function and style. Why Plomb?....why the hell not I say....!!! GO forth tool junkies....I raise my ratchet in a salute to all the proud Plomb owners of America.....go forth Lads and tighten that **** up....!!

 

[Thumper]

damn....I didn't realize I was this drunk...

 

[B17E1943]

Why Plomb ?......because....it represents what America was back in the day. It represents the pride we had making the best tools in the world....the steel.... the fit and finish.....the pride in workmanship had by everyone that used them in building the strongest manufacturing country the world has ever seen. The pebble finish are the "art deco" of fine tools worldwide and show form, function and style. Why Plomb?....why the hell not I say....!!! GO forth tool junkies....I raise my ratchet in a salute to all the proud Plomb owners of America.....go forth Lads and tighten that **** up....!!

damn....I didn't realize I was this drunk...

I couldn't have said it better myself, drunk or sober ...

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I love the double box end wrenches; have a few sets over here

Adam

 

[Carla]

Why Plomb?

They are good steel, and the 'pebble' versions 'look pretty'.

Seriously, tho, the generality of hand tools made by the best makers, from the mid-1930's to the mid-1950's, were the 'high-water-mark' of quality. If you use tools to earn your pay-cheque, you literally can't afford anything but the best.

There are subtleties of 'feel' between different makes of best quality hand tools......one make may just 'feel better' to one user, another make may 'feel better' to another, its purely a 'personal preference'.

Some tool users prefer the feel of Plonb tools, just as some prefer Snap-On.

Actually, most all of the best quality makes were equally good at turning a fastener, but when you are trying to 'make time' on a job, often getting into a contortion to access this or that inconvenient fastener, the tool which 'feels best' is the one to use.

Personally, I've been using Plomb and P&C tools for a great many years, now, many of which were from my father's old machine business, back in the '50's.

They are as useful for their purpose now, as they were half a century ago, i.e., with reasonable care, they'll never break or wear out. In all fairness, some of my tools are Williams, Armstrong, and other 'best makes' of the period, and equally serviceable......as an example, I tend to prefer the 'feel' of a Williams ratchet to that of a Plomb.....but only just slightly so, a subtle difference in handle shape which makes the Williams easier to hang onto when slippery with oil. Rather obviously, the fastener doesn't know what make of wrench turns it.......but I need the confidence that the wrench won't break or slip, and risk an injury to my hand, so I've no 'oriental brand x' tools whatever.

Risking injury to one's hands over the price of a wrench is an ultimate 'false economy'.

Now, 'collectors' are a different story. Personally, I tend to think its rather 'silly', a waste of useful working capability, when some folks collect up dozens of this or that make of tools, and just put them on a wall for display......but they've every right to do that, if they choose, its their $$$ and their option.

cheers

Carla

 

[farmerdude]

Thanks for the replys everyone, very interesting.
Thumper, too cool!
ARAMP1, The man that originally owned this tool worked for railroad companies all over the country before starting his own garage business in the fifties. So in the 30's and 40's he was working on steam locomotive engines all over the U.S., and ocasionally out of the country. I don't think he did any aircraft stuff though.

 

[sberry]

Everyone needs a hobby.

 

[MoTexan02]

I am looking for pebble wrenches to fill out my collection

 

[wild cowboy]

I am looking for pebble wrenches to fill out my collection

ebay

 

[bigcaddy]

First off, let me say I am not a machanic, nor do I want to be one (I **** at it, and have no interest). I was doing a little maintainence on my snowblower the other day, and came across a ratchet that I got when an uncle passed a few years ago. I noticed that it is a Plomb, something I would never have noticed if it wasn't for being on this site. I used it for a couple of things, and it seemed like a really nice tool. It was very smooth, and it never skipped like some of my others. I also liked the short handle, since I didn't need a lot of leverage for what I was doing. I don't really see a lot of difference between this tool and my other ratchets (Craftsman, or China stuff). Many people here seem to really be into Plomb tools,so, my question is, why Plomb?
Sorry, this is the only pic. right now.

Because when they look like this after 60 years of use, how could you say, Why not?

 

[Outlawmws]

2 year old thread BC.

 

[B17E1943]

ebay

... yard/garage/estate sales; thrift stores.

2 year old thread BC.

But - forever relevant.

 

[AllAboutTools]

Because when they look like this after 60 years of use, how could you say, Why not?

Those look awesome!

 

[sonvolt]

They are the epitome of what a quality took should be: fit, finish, and functionality. And everyone loves something that they cannot buy new anymore

 

[pauls_workshop]

I love almost all US made tools, old or newer. BUT, I have noticed older Plumb tend to just corrode real bad. I haven't seen much older Plomb with a great chrome finish still intact. Some US brands are better at lasting decades than others. Anyone else notice this with Plomb? Why is it? Protos seem to have much better chrome and last much better. - Paul

 

[Outlawmws]

Well, first off Plumb is a hammer company, (completely separate from Plomb/Plvmb) Proto and Plvmb are in fact the same company. the Plvmb branding ended about 1948 and, and included the era of "industrial finish" and the War years, where chrome plating and many other critical war effort materials were rationed to the war effort.

If you are in a high humidity area you need to keep them oiled and there is a contingent that don't believe in wiping off any more than the worst of any oil or grease off these tools.

I don't generally have any issues unless I leave them out in the rain/dew...

 

[zeet]

"Why Plomb"?

Well originally, for me it was economics. As a kid I couldn't afford the shiny, new Proto Tools hanging behind the counter in the parts stores but one day I found a Plomb ratchet (a 5450, no less) under the gas tank of a '42 Ford truck I was resurrecting and was struck by the obvious high quality of the tool. So I started buying sockets to match at swap meets and such for a nickel and a quarter a socket. My Snap-On and Mac friends called them "those old farmer tools" but I just simply liked the feel of them in my hands and the "pebble" styling caught my eye. Knowing they had already done more work than I'd ever do kind of caught my imagination too...
Now here it is some 40 or so years later and I still use them daily. As you might imagine, the set has grown considerably over the years and there isn't a whole lot I'm missing... I've watched them go from "Those old farmer tools" to a point where people actually collect certain styles and eras of production and I've seen some of them go for shocking amounts of money (to me, anyway ;^)

There are some great responses above. Both Thumper and Carla expressed it as well as anyone can.

For me? I'd say; Quality, Styling, and History.

 

[sk farmer]

Why Plomb ?......because....it represents what America was back in the day. It represents the pride we had making the best tools in the world....the steel.... the fit and finish.....the pride in workmanship had by everyone that used them in building the strongest manufacturing country the world has ever seen. The pebble finish are the "art deco" of fine tools worldwide and show form, function and style. Why Plomb?....why the hell not I say....!!! GO forth tool junkies....I raise my ratchet in a salute to all the proud Plomb owners of America.....go forth Lads and tighten that **** up....!!

i agree with all this. the only thing i could add is that it could even be said that plomb tools saved the free world in ww2. plomb wf series tools could be found on every front right along with every jeep, truck, tank, aircraft and ship. i bet most of our allies used them as well. sure there were other brands but none as well known or plentiful as them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

i agree with all this. the only thing i could add is that it could even be said that plomb tools saved the free world in ww2. plomb wf series tools could be found on every front right along with every jeep, truck, tank, aircraft and ship. i bet most of our allies used them as well. sure there were other brands but none as well known or plentiful as them.

sk farmer,

I'm not trying to harsh your patriotic tool buzz, but Plomb tools were not put on Jeeps (Willys MB, Ford GPW), larger Dodge, GMC/Chevy, Diamond T, White, Mack, or Autocar trucks. Honestly, I don't know about tanks, but I doubt it. Plomb had a very small contract with the Ordnance Department (responsible for all automotive vehicles) in late 1944, near the end of the war. They also had a few small Navy contracts.

All the Wright Field (WF) tools you're talking about were acquired by the US Army Air Corps for US Army Air Forces applications (air facilities, flight crews, ground crews, etc). Those contract were massive (over $8M) and they did sell more tools than any other single manufacturer.

As for our allies, Plomb had a single Lend-Lease contract worth $243,000 in 1943.

The Army had many, many suppliers. The manufacturers with the most name recognition value around thes parts were Armstrong, Bonney, Snap-On, Stanley, and Williams.

Since you're an S-K fan, you may be interested to know that S-K also had several contracts with the Ordnance Dept and the Navy in 1942 and 1943, totaling ~$3M.

 

[zeet]

Will do, Copilot! :^)

Fact is there's one on eBay right now for one of those "shocking" prices I mentioned in my earlier posting.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Plo...670?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item418fc38cb6

Mine's identical (pebble with the rounded handle) but without owner's marks... I'll get a photo up tomorrow or the next day.

 

[zeet]

Here's a photo of my 5450 and yes, It is indeed an "MFD".

And upon closer inspection I found some prior owner's marks... but at least he was subtle enough to put his initials in the "pebble" field.



.... And a photo of the entire pebble family 1/4" to 1";

 

[zeet]

Right again, Copilot... That 5249 is indeed a "Made In". I picked that up last year and swap it in and out of my "user" box. It almost, but doesn't quite, replaces an "MFD" I've used for years.