old tools
- Thread starter Brendan
- Start date
jerry grayson
Well-known member
They made some of the best punchs and chisels in existance. have some that are 70 years old.
Kurt in NJ
Well-known member
I am using some 1930 Snap on sockets , I have a Raja ignition wire crimper from the 20s that is perfect for some of the Mercedes ignition wires from the 80s, and 90s.
Bruce Lancaster
Member Emeritus
I have switched almost entirely to good period tools, 1930's-40's Plomb supplemented with same period Snap-on and of course everything I can get my hands on from KR Wilson.
These high end tools from this period are as light and strong as modern Snap-on, not clunky like cheaper lines from the thirties and back.
I have tracked down most of the specialist wrenches and things for Zenith, Stromberg, and Ford carbs too, mostly from Snap on.
It iis absolutely luxurious to to work on an old Zenith or Stromberg with the correct socket for everything! S-o actually made a custom length socket for each piece of brass in a Model A Zenith, for instance...slick, light, strong tools.
These high end tools from this period are as light and strong as modern Snap-on, not clunky like cheaper lines from the thirties and back.
I have tracked down most of the specialist wrenches and things for Zenith, Stromberg, and Ford carbs too, mostly from Snap on.
It iis absolutely luxurious to to work on an old Zenith or Stromberg with the correct socket for everything! S-o actually made a custom length socket for each piece of brass in a Model A Zenith, for instance...slick, light, strong tools.
jdl
Well-known member
I believe Plomb tools later became Proto tools.
the early Proto tools were excellent, later they sold out to ??? I would love to have that set of Plomb wrenches. thanks for posting. here is a interesting link for you on Plomb Tools
http://plombtools.com/CompanyHistory.aspx
the early Proto tools were excellent, later they sold out to ??? I would love to have that set of Plomb wrenches. thanks for posting. here is a interesting link for you on Plomb Tools
http://plombtools.com/CompanyHistory.aspx
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Bruce Lancaster
Member Emeritus
Plomb is simple the top of the heap in tools up to '48...somewhere around there they lost their name in a lawsuit by Plumb, and became Proto. For a while, same tools...now they have been owned by a variety of other companies, as noted, and no longer have king of the hill status.
WWII showed very heavy use of Plomb tools in aircraft and other war uses, making them not too hard to find.
Factoid: In the 1920s, Plomb was a small operation, not much more than a blacksmith shop. They needed superduper steel so they could make wrenches lighter and stronger than others of that period. They got it by simply buying quantities of Model T axles!
WWII showed very heavy use of Plomb tools in aircraft and other war uses, making them not too hard to find.
Factoid: In the 1920s, Plomb was a small operation, not much more than a blacksmith shop. They needed superduper steel so they could make wrenches lighter and stronger than others of that period. They got it by simply buying quantities of Model T axles!
Don McNeill
Junior Member
For the tool guys, Google Alloy Artifacts.
jerry grayson
Well-known member
Well, the CRS got me again!! The tools I mentioned, in fact, are TRUTH, not PLOMB. I like the Par X wrenches better than the SnapOn although they are made by the same company. I have a set of Blue Point that are even older than Par X.
charles in east texas
Senior Member
I have a few of the Williams wrenches.
Charles
Charles
TerryOH
Well-known member
A guy beat out a 32 axle perch pin and destroyed the first 5 to 6 threads. Just yesterday, my friend had a tool from his dads collection that was able to rethread the threads starting from the good threads that were inside the bad threads, the tool was about 70 years old and worked like a champ! My friend was able to loan the same tool to a neighbor who had damaged the first few threads on his tractor front spindles and it repaired those also.
Rowdy
BANNED
I have a decent collection of KRW tools. Just used the Model A KRW Rear spring compressor tool to remove the rear axle and spring for restoration. Third time I have used it and it woks well. I had to fabricate a new foof for it afew years ago as the original was broke when I bought it. Rod
tdlmomowers
Senior Member
There is nothing like having the right tool for the job at hand. I have alot of older New Britain and Sparta hand tools that I have used hard and they still function like new. I bought them at NAPA in the early 70s when I worked there. I look for older quality tools at garage sales and flea markets. I have a nice set of Herbrand sockets that are graduated in 32s, that I got at an auction for 5.00$. I bought a box of wrenches, at least 50 wrenches, at a garage sale for 5.00$ that had a bunch of Craftsman, Proto, Snap On, and some junk. How much does a 1,1/4 Snap On wrench sale for these days. I have a bunch of my grandfather's old tools also. When I retired from GM in August 2009, I brought home 5 tool boxes full of tools that I had bought over the 32 years that I worked there as a Industrial Truck Mechanic. I guess someday all those tools will go to my Grandsons. I only hope that they can still use them in the future.
fordy_nine
Senior Member
Dunlap was Sears' cheaper line of tools, below Craftsman. Nice find, complete with clip....Bob L