The Ford Barn

Brendan · 06-30-2011, 09:33 PM

do you guys use old tools to work on your old Fords
i have a friend that has a lot of Plomb tools they are neet to use on old Fords!

jerry grayson · 06-30-2011, 09:57 PM

They made some of the best punchs and chisels in existance. have some that are 70 years old.

Kurt in NJ · 06-30-2011, 11:28 PM

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 · 07-01-2011, 09:55 AM

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.

jdl · 07-01-2011, 10:13 AM

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

Bruce Lancaster · 07-01-2011, 10:38 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

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!

Mart · 07-01-2011, 11:31 AM

I like to use old tools when I can.

I salvaged a bucketfull from a guy that was throwing them away at the local tip. I could see he was hesitating and offered to give them a good home.

They were his Dad's.

Go figure.

Mart.

Don McNeill · 07-01-2011, 03:16 PM

For the tool guys, Google Alloy Artifacts.

jerry grayson · 07-01-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry grayson

They made some of the best punchs and chisels in existance. have some that are 70 years old.

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 · 07-01-2011, 04:18 PM

I have a few of the Williams wrenches.
Charles

1oldtimer · 07-02-2011, 12:40 AM

I work with them everyday at work and home. I love old tools, have many Bonney, Plumb, Proto, Williams, SK and Billings......have yet to break one. Find them at swapmeets and antique malls, even found some Protos with "war finish" stamped on them.

Terry,OH · 07-02-2011, 07:26 AM

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 · 07-03-2011, 02:20 AM

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 · 07-03-2011, 08:05 AM

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.

f1builder · 07-04-2011, 04:51 PM

one of my favorites is this Torkflash Tension Wrench which still works but is probably off a bit. it has a nice bakelite case. probably late forties? early 50's? anybody know?

1oldtimer · 07-04-2011, 05:45 PM

Just found this today at the antique mall for $5

fordy_nine · 07-04-2011, 06:32 PM

Dunlap was Sears' cheaper line of tools, below Craftsman. Nice find, complete with clip....Bob L

06-30-2011, 09:57 PM	#2
jerry grayson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Atlanta area Posts: 833	Re: old tools They made some of the best punchs and chisels in existance. have some that are 70 years old.

06-30-2011, 11:28 PM	#3
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,672	Re: old tools 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.

07-01-2011, 09:55 AM	#4
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: old tools 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.

07-01-2011, 10:13 AM	#5
jdl Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: California Central Coast Posts: 931	Re: old tools 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 Last edited by jdl; 07-01-2011 at 10:19 AM.

07-01-2011, 10:38 AM	#6
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: old tools Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 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!

07-01-2011, 11:31 AM	#7
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 9,239	Re: old tools I like to use old tools when I can. I salvaged a bucketfull from a guy that was throwing them away at the local tip. I could see he was hesitating and offered to give them a good home. They were his Dad's. Go figure. Mart.

07-01-2011, 03:16 PM	#8
Don McNeill Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ada, Oklahoma Posts: 16	Re: old tools For the tool guys, Google Alloy Artifacts.

07-01-2011, 04:18 PM	#10
charles in east texas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Winnsboro, Texas Posts: 463	Re: old tools I have a few of the Williams wrenches. Charles

07-02-2011, 12:40 AM	#11
1oldtimer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Orange County, Ca. Posts: 700	Re: old tools I work with them everyday at work and home. I love old tools, have many Bonney, Plumb, Proto, Williams, SK and Billings......have yet to break one. Find them at swapmeets and antique malls, even found some Protos with "war finish" stamped on them.

07-02-2011, 07:26 AM	#12
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 5,394	Re: old tools 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.

07-03-2011, 02:20 AM	#13
Rowdy BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80 Posts: 4,893	Re: old tools 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 __________________ Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!

07-03-2011, 08:05 AM	#14
tdlmomowers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 409	Re: old tools 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.

07-04-2011, 06:32 PM	#17
fordy_nine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Springboro. Ohio Posts: 212	Re: old tools Dunlap was Sears' cheaper line of tools, below Craftsman. Nice find, complete with clip....Bob L