Proto 1/4" drive thumb screw socket

[rjbeamer]

Good day all you WWII tool guys. I am looking for a 1/4" drive "Proto" socket that is used for the Flat thumb screws found on some worm drive hose clamps. It is slotted in a cross with both a 3/32th" and a 1/8th" slot. The number on the socket is 44-B 8812. It crosses over to a NSN # of 5120-00-542-4751. I have found reference to it in Proto, Plomb and JO Mfg. I think that it was WWII issue as Plomb and JO. and Post war as Proto but I am not sure. The only one that I have seen in the wild (as some call it) is a Proto. It was possibly also made in 9/32" drive but I am looking for it in 1/4" drive. Below is a link to a modern day version of it made by VIM. it is almost identical in looks and size. Sooo... As my old parts guy would say. "Whatcha Got"?

https://sostools.com.au/shop/product/15 ... 2906#attr=

Thanks Roger

[d42jeep]

I spotted a 1/4” drive Walden version on eBay and it is on the way to me. I have a pretty large Plomb 1/4” drive set in progress and have never seen any reference to that socket in Plomb or Proto literature.
-Don

[Wingnutt]

Sooo... As my old parts guy would say. "Whatcha Got"?

I have a few of the JO Mfg hose clamp sockets. They are for the Wittek types. Like Don, I have never seen a Plomb. Plomb and JO had a very close relationship, though, and I suspect that's where that notion came from. Plomb may have even been the prime and JO the sub providing those as specials. The JO sockets are 9/32-inch drive, though. They are wartime. No P/N on them. A friend of mine has the Proto 44B8812 and it is indeed 1/4-inch drive as you reported. If you're shopping online, just keep searching on that part number. They are out there. Another brand to look for is ARSCO, which are also 1/4-drive.

[Wingnutt]

RJ,

I do have one that is not marked at all. Has that phosphate finish that some Plomb WF- tools seem to have. Could be JO-made for Plomb. Also 9/32-drive.

[d42jeep]

The Walden socket arrived last night and I confirmed that it is 1/4” drive.
-Don

[rjbeamer]

Great Find. That's a dead ringer for the Proto 44-B 8812 that I have. I did not realize that Waldon made one also. I will keep looking as I would like to have a second one for my other 1/4" drive set.
The Proto that I have, I picked up in a small hardware type store in Beautiful downtown Plaiku Vietnam in 1968. I have used it ever since. Never met anyone else that had one as they apparently were sold mostly for aircraft maintenance folks.

Wingnut thanks for the offer on the 9/32" but I need it in 1/4" as it would be a working tool. (I don't have any 9/32 stuff)

Wingnut. look at this link and scroll down to the bottom 1/2 of posting #28.
It talks about the lack of a relationship between JO and PLUMB. This is a statement from the Grandson of the founder of JO Mfg. Interesting read on the history of JO Mfg.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/thr ... es.413693/

Roger

[Wingnutt]

I'm on that GJ thread, Roger. My G503 username was already taken when I first registered on GJ. I am Private Lugnutz on GJ. As much as I have relished Bill's anecdotes and information, they are third hand. I took that bit with a grain of salt when I read it. Their geographic proximity and the proximity of their tools inside USAAF kits and surplus cartons suggests otherwise, but that very well could be the results of USAAF policies, not business. Maybe they did not like each other. Machts nichts.