I have modern ratchets, by Britool Hallmark and Halfords among others (I'm in the UK), which use that same V-shaped twin pawl design. You could really make that pebble design pop by colour-filling with a black oil paint marker, then swabbing with rubbing alcohol to take the paint off the high spots, just leaving it in the background.
One must remember that many tool patents were still in play at the time this was manufactured. In use I find that the Plomb ratchets tend not to turn loose fasteners on the ratcheting stroke due to the very very low resistance the design affords... Serendipitous, given the design probably had more to do with avoiding competing patents than it did with user functionality.
When you were fumbling with the springs I kept thinking that a pair of tweezers would really come in handy right now😅. Nice video, pebble Plomb are my favorites.
Definitely would have been a good use of tweezers! I love the Plomb - I always reach for it when doing little repairs on my bike that require hex sockets!
They engrave them because the tools are that important to them. If my ratchet goes missing I can buy a replacement in 15 minutes... back then it was all mail order and trains unless you were in a city, but even then money would be tight.
Many people where I'm from engrave their tools as a deterrent from thieves stealing tools not for personal use but from pawning them off. I had a friend of mine who worked in a pawn shop here in Bismarck, North Dakota and would tell me about this problem of contractors having their tools stolen and tools turning up at pawn shops. Great video and I look forward to more as I am a huge Proto fan!!!
I didn't know that! I definitely have some more vintage tools I could work on - those videos haven't gotten a ton of views, but if people enjoy them, I might do more!
Alphonse Plomb left the Plomb tool company in 1917 to start the A. Plomb tool company and was not was not involved in the lawsuit that started in 1946 by the Plumb Tool Company. The Alloy Artifacts website has the history of the Plomb / Proto Tool Company.
The Plumb tool company made hammers in my hometown of Philadelphia. The factory was about 5 miles away from the house that I lived in. They sued the Plomb tool company and the lawsuit stated that all Plomb had to do was give up their name and they could get back to business as usual. Plomb had a renaming contest and one of the secretaries that worked for them suggested PROffesional TOols and thus Plomb became Proto.
Nice video... A small suggestion for your video quality. Place your full hand or other larger object behind the subject you wish to focus in on. It gives the camera a larger target or place it closer to the back ground, ie work bench so the camera can focus on both and doesn't have to choose between the two objects.... Keep up the good work 👍...
Mr. Alphonse Plomb left the Plomb Tool Company in 1917 to form another tool company called A. Plomb. That ratchet you have was made from 1945 to 1948. It is a well known fact. I can't watch this bunch of mis information any more. I have been collecting Plomb tools for over 50 years and know what the hell I am talking about
I have modern ratchets, by Britool Hallmark and Halfords among others (I'm in the UK), which use that same V-shaped twin pawl design. You could really make that pebble design pop by colour-filling with a black oil paint marker, then swabbing with rubbing alcohol to take the paint off the high spots, just leaving it in the background.
That's a great idea! I might try that in a future video!
I collect ratchets and the only British one that I have is made by King Dick. I wish that I could find a Britool or Halfords.
One must remember that many tool patents were still in play at the time this was manufactured. In use I find that the Plomb ratchets tend not to turn loose fasteners on the ratcheting stroke due to the very very low resistance the design affords... Serendipitous, given the design probably had more to do with avoiding competing patents than it did with user functionality.
Interesting! I never thought about that.
I bought a pebbled 3/8'' 5249 in eBay 2 days ago for $42.48, looks to be in great shape.
Nice! I've been looking for a good 3/8" for a while now. I have the 1/4 and a 1/2, but missing a 3/8! Are you planning on doing a rebuild?
@@speedygarage264 I don't know if there are rebuild kits for these but I'm definitely going to do a clean and lube.
@@speedygarage264 Oh I'd been looking at a few vids of these and forgot your title was 'Rebuild'' so answer is yes, doing a rebuild.
When you were fumbling with the springs I kept thinking that a pair of tweezers would really come in handy right now😅. Nice video, pebble Plomb are my favorites.
Definitely would have been a good use of tweezers! I love the Plomb - I always reach for it when doing little repairs on my bike that require hex sockets!
Very cool ratchet
I agree! I love the vintage stuff - especially the Made in USA ones.
Alloy Artifacts has exhaustive information about most tool companies. Lots of photos too.
Very cool! The double pawl was really ahead of it’s time
They engrave them because the tools are that important to them. If my ratchet goes missing I can buy a replacement in 15 minutes... back then it was all mail order and trains unless you were in a city, but even then money would be tight.
Concerning the engraved face plate, wouldn't it be possible to polish the reverse side and flip over?
Looks identical from here.
Definitely a possibility - something I might consider doing in the future. Just need to confirm that the countersink for the screws is the same.
@@speedygarage264 Most common is 82 degrees.
Might get lucky
Many people where I'm from engrave their tools as a deterrent from thieves stealing tools not for personal use but from pawning them off. I had a friend of mine who worked in a pawn shop here in Bismarck, North Dakota and would tell me about this problem of contractors having their tools stolen and tools turning up at pawn shops. Great video and I look forward to more as I am a huge Proto fan!!!
I didn't know that! I definitely have some more vintage tools I could work on - those videos haven't gotten a ton of views, but if people enjoy them, I might do more!
I wonder if there was a ball bearing shortage at the time, so they needed an alternative perhaps
Good question - could definitely be possible as this was around the war.
Is it possible to put the faceplate on with the owner’s mark facing inside???
I tried, but unfortunately the countersink for the bolts is only on one side.
The pebble finish is from sand casting isn't it?
Alphonse Plomb left the Plomb tool company in 1917 to start the A. Plomb tool company and was not was not involved in the lawsuit that started in 1946 by the Plumb Tool Company. The Alloy Artifacts website has the history of the Plomb / Proto Tool Company.
The Plumb tool company made hammers in my hometown of Philadelphia. The factory was about 5 miles away from the house that I lived in. They sued the Plomb tool company and the lawsuit stated that all Plomb had to do was give up their name and they could get back to business as usual. Plomb had a renaming contest and one of the secretaries that worked for them suggested PROffesional TOols and thus Plomb became Proto.
Nice
Great info.. I like plomb, a few weeks back I did a video of a set of pebble wrenches.. enjoyed and subscribed! Have a gooden..Vic
cool video, keep em coming :D
Nice video...
A small suggestion for your video quality. Place your full hand or other larger object behind the subject you wish to focus in on. It gives the camera a larger target or place it closer to the back ground, ie work bench so the camera can focus on both and doesn't have to choose between the two objects....
Keep up the good work 👍...
Definitely not 1939.
What would your guess be?
Plomb, not plumb.
Mr. Alphonse Plomb left the Plomb Tool Company in 1917 to form another tool company called A. Plomb. That ratchet you have was made from 1945 to 1948. It is a well known fact. I can't watch this bunch of mis information any more. I have been collecting Plomb tools for over 50 years and know what the hell I am talking about