PLOMB #1134 box end wrench question.

[EVILDR235]

I just got back from the Habitat Restore after picking up several items. One item was a Plomb box end wrench #1134. The wrench is in very good condition for it's age. The date code is EC. Size is 5/8 x 11/16. The odd thing about it is it has a flat black finish. It is not paint on it. Did Plomb ever use a black chemial finish on their tools ? I suppose a former owner may have done it sometime in the past. Maybe a special finish for a large order ? My picture person is not here at the moment, so no picture at this time.

EvilDr235

[Northwoods]

AA shows an open end Plvmb  no. 3037 coded EC and dates it 1939-45.  But it is in chrome.

[Aunt Phil]

Black oxide was fairly common as a tool finish into the 1960s.  Chrome had been diverted to bearing surfaces during World War II, and was slow coming back to the general market, especially tools.  Chrome in that era required a 3 step process, Copper, Nickle then chrome, and had a nasty habit of flaking off leaving very sharp edges that cut hands.  Black oxide only took boiling in a tank, and didn't require the polishing plating required.

Less cost per unit manufactured.

BTW, when did you last encounter a fastener that was 25/32"?  That size stopped being popular by 1960.

[Bill Houghton]

If I recall correctly, some of the 32nds sizes would work as a cheat for metric.

And Snap-On was offering black oxide as an option on some of their wrenches until pretty recently - well, maybe last decade or so.  At one point, when I was daydreaming of replacing my Craftsman wrenches with Snap-Ons (this daydream would open with someone driving up in an expensive car and handing me two huge bags of money, a necessary first step for the rest of the daydream), I thought it would be nice to get fractional wrenches in chrome and metric in black oxide, or vice versa, so I could easily distinguish them.

[Twertsy]

AA shows an open end Plvmb  no. 3037 coded EC and dates it 1939-45.  But it is in chrome.

Just an FYI, we are working at the tool archives to decipher those 2 letter codes.  I have a box full and have just begun to inventory them.  It would be a great help if anyone else had some plomb wrenches or ratchets with 2 letter codes that they could contribute.  I've noted that the 2 letter codes are MUCH more common on ratchets, but some wrenches have them as well.  The upload forms are pretty self explanatory on the site but if you have any issues at all, just PM me.  The more examples we have, the better chance we have of cracking the code.

Thanks!  Todd

[EVILDR235]

I know about the black oxide finishes used on tools, i just have never seen a Plomb tool with this finish. I have some Proto tools with the black oxide finish including impact sockets, wrenches, brake tools and adjustable wrenches. On Proto tools i prefer the black oxide finish. Proto chrome peels a lot.

EvilDr235

[skipskip]

AA shows an open end Plvmb  no. 3037 coded EC and dates it 1939-45.  But it is in chrome.




I am prolly the only one here who doesn't know where the "tool archives" live

can someone enlighten me?

Skip

Just an FYI, we are working at the tool archives to decipher those 2 letter codes.  I have a box full and have just begun to inventory them.  It would be a great help if anyone else had some plomb wrenches or ratchets with 2 letter codes that they could contribute.  I've noted that the 2 letter codes are MUCH more common on ratchets, but some wrenches have them as well.  The upload forms are pretty self explanatory on the site but if you have any issues at all, just PM me.  The more examples we have, the better chance we have of cracking the code.

Thanks!  Todd

[Northwoods]

Try    toolarchives.com     

[skipskip]

Huh.. sees too easy