1. I occasionally see a WF-38 1/2" Proto ratchet for sale. Is it actually a post-Plomb tool? Was it manufactured for the government after Plomb became Proto?
2. We know there are two different Plomb pebble 5449 ratchets: the Mfd USA and the Made in USA. Many other pebble tools are found in the two styles, as well.
There are also two different Proto pebble line wrenches, the Mfd USA type and the Made in USA type. But are there two different Proto pebble 5449 ratchets, as well?
I have a Proto pebble Mfd USA type. Do any of you have the Proto Pebble Made in USA type?
BTW, I have read that the two types of Plomb pebbles are based on production dates. How does that jibe with there being two different Proto pebble line wrenches--and possibly? two different Proto Pebble 5449's since they were produced post Plomb?
WF tools were WWII contract production for the armed forces. WF is generally considered to stand for Wright Field - the point of delivery for the tools. Some think WF stands for War Finish which is also possible.
Pebble was post war and there are a few variations. It is my belief the variations are repairs to the forging dies between runs and probably because Plomb contracted out the repair work to a third party. There is a major change in the pebble ratchet handles from a flat handle to one with beveled edges and I believe the bevels are the later (and not as attractive) version.
Part numbers tended to stay even with large variations in the design. I have early round handled ratchets with the same part numbers as later pebble and later still Proto which ironically bear some resemblance to the early designs.
Early tools are marked Los Angeles which is only partly true - they were made in Long Beach a suburb of LA but a separate and independent city. About 39 or 40 the marking changed to MFG in USA and the change to Made in USA was near the end when it became Proto.
These pages may help:
http://toolarchives.com/node/232
http://toolarchives.com/node/17
http://toolarchives.com/?q=Plomb-Company-timeline