Tool Talk

Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Topic started by: kxxr on May 20, 2012, 09:07:01 AM

Title: Plomb Lug Wrench
Post by: kxxr on May 20, 2012, 09:07:01 AM
I watched this one with interest up to about $40. It didn't stay there long. Finally went to some lucky duck for $148. More pictures here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170840783433&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:1123
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn48/kxxr/tools/Clipboard01-5.jpg)
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: Papaw on May 20, 2012, 11:12:34 AM
Wow, that would be cool to have!
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: john k on May 20, 2012, 01:26:36 PM
A major brand 4 way tire wrench, very first one I have ever seen.  Usually they are plain, or maybe champion, acme.   I have a Goodyear tire iron, 7 inches, but think this is much rarer. 
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: jimwrench on May 20, 2012, 09:25:10 PM
 way neat
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: rusty on May 20, 2012, 09:27:52 PM

ditto.

If I stumbled across oneof those, I would have to start a whole plomb collection to go with it -P

dunno why they are hard to find, you would think there would be bazillions of something as common as a tire iron , but I have never ever ever seen one, not even a picture...
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: stanley62 on May 21, 2012, 01:06:29 PM
I had heard of a Plomb 4 way,  the classic swapmeet seller" you just missed a cool Plomb tool", but never had the pleasure of seeing on in person.  Pretty cool!

 Jim
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: lauver on May 22, 2012, 08:18:44 AM

It's a "dandy", no doubt about it.  I too have never seen one in the wild and did not know they even existed.

I have seen tons of 4-way lug wrenches, but they were always cheap generic import tools you might buy at Wal-Mart or your local auto parts store.  Plenty of shiney chrome, but no character or soul.
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: stormking on May 22, 2012, 10:47:22 PM
There are at least two versions of these by Plomb but this is the coolest one by far. Blackhawk made a great 4-way also.
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: lauver on May 23, 2012, 08:58:51 AM
Gang,

I suspect every major tool company made cool 4-way lug wrenches between the 1920's and 1950's.  But these were pretty much rendered obsolete with the advent of the pneumatic impact wrenches and sockets.  It's sad, these "end of an era" events...
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: rusty on May 23, 2012, 06:43:34 PM
>It's sad, these "end of an era" events...

Unless of course, you are the poor schmuck taking off lug nuts all day..

But you are right, the cheapo ones were for joe car owner to throw in the trunk, the Nice plomb etc ones were for the professional mechanic, who , after impact tools became widely available, really did not need them any more..
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: v8garage on May 29, 2012, 04:11:22 PM
I never cease to be amazed that people nowadays call lug wrenches "tire irons".  A tire iron is an entirely different tool used for mounting and dismounting tires on rims.
V/8
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: rusty on May 29, 2012, 04:29:51 PM

Because they used to be one and the same tool, one end was the spoon for the tire, the other the lug socket...
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: kxxr on May 29, 2012, 05:05:56 PM
I never cease to be amazed that people nowadays call lug wrenches "tire irons".  A tire iron is an entirely different tool used for mounting and dismounting tires on rims.
V/8
The world is indeed going to hell in a hand basket. And now this.
Title: Re: Plomb Tire Iron
Post by: anglesmith on May 29, 2012, 05:28:04 PM
The "tire iron" term had me puzzled too,we call them a wheel brace over here. Never seen one that fancy, though there is one similar (different brand) on our ebay at the moment.   ebay No 320912059689
Graeme 
Title: Re: Plomb Lug Wrench
Post by: kxxr on May 30, 2012, 06:23:53 AM
V8 is right. It is a lug wrench. Thanks!
Title: Re: Plomb Lug Wrench
Post by: john k on May 30, 2012, 08:09:34 PM
Here is a picture of what I think of at the mention "tire iron"  this one being from the time period a 4.00 x 19 inch tire was the norm.   Found in the bottom of a bucket at a flea market.   Sure was surprised when I saw the GOODYEAR, is about 7 inches long.  A comment on the big 4-way lug wrenches, when the air wrenches came in, the 4-ways eventually ended up on the service truck or wrecker, where they got beat to heck or lost, a possible reason why they are so seldom seen.  The cheap ones, I've stood on, twisted, talked at, trying to get a stubborn nut off a car by the side of the road.  I remember the one in my school car, on the 3/4in. socket end, there was a 300 degree twist visible in the forging line! 
Title: Re: Plomb Lug Wrench
Post by: rusty on May 30, 2012, 09:56:32 PM
>Sure was surprised when I saw the GOODYEAR

I have one somewhere that says 'Diamond', took a while to figure out diamond was a rubber co that made tires (long gone)

I have wondered if perhaps the tire companys were giving these out to the tire guys for advertising....

Title: Re: Plomb Lug Wrench
Post by: v8garage on June 13, 2012, 09:45:19 AM
This is what I am referring to when I say "tire iron" or "tire spoon".
Title: Re: Plomb Lug Wrench
Post by: skipskip on June 17, 2012, 07:21:11 AM
I went thru my stack o lug wrenches, 4 ways and crosses and found that most of them are no-name.

I did find these:

SK

Ken tool ( makers of tire equipment)

 Bonney


I assume these were made by someone else and re-branded, except the Ken.


Skip


Title: Re: Plomb Lug Wrench
Post by: B17E1943 on February 07, 2013, 04:33:56 PM
I hope I'm not breaking protocol by responding to this so late ... Anyway, this is SO cool, never seen one before. I have an old Cman 4-way lug wrench but it isn't nearly as neat as this.
Title: Re: Plomb Lug Wrench
Post by: jabberwoki on February 07, 2013, 07:18:11 PM
My friend Dale in cali just got me a P&C one of those but thats the first Plvmb i`ve seen.