Thorsen, indestro brands, what do you think

OliverGuy

Well-known Member
Bought some tools at an estate sale today. Many good brands-snap on, old craftsman, proto. How good are thorsen and indestro? Were they made by someone else or themselves. There was a brand name of Fuller, I wasn't familiar with that one. Thanks
 
In the late 80's the 3/8 thorsen ratchets were junk, sockets and extensions were fine. After the third or fourth one we gave up on trying to get a good one.
 
Here's some info on Thorsen
http://alloy-artifacts.org/thorsen-manufacturing.html

and
Duro/Indestro

http://alloy-artifacts.org/duro-indestro.html

Short answer is that both were excellent tools for their day, and probably better than most stuff today.
 
I have a good many old Thorsen tools. My Grand Father sold them at his Black Smith business. They where good quality. The newer ones are not quite as good but are still better than most cheaper tools.
 
The local hardware store had Fuller. I think made in Japan. Not top of the line, but still pretty good. I think we have at least 3 of their adjustable wrenches around here still-so must have been pretty good. The hardware has been gone for at least 20 years. And I have at least 1 Fuller 9/16 on my workbench at work. They made screwdrivers too. I used one of those the other day.
 
Got a few Thorsen tools and a 1/2 inch Indestro ratchet I bought used over 40 years ago, usually used with a pipe on the handle. It's the only ratchet I've never broken, no got and SK I haven't broken either. Have broken lots of Craftsman and Snap On.
 
I know I've got some Thorsen tools, but I'm not sure what, or where? Maybe an old socket set relegated to a tractor tool box? If they are the ones I'm thinking of, the ratchet was junk. The cog wheel was exposed. The sockets are OK.
 
I only have a Fuller 10" adjustable , but I've used it for 50 years ! still tight and the jaws are square to each other. They are a Japanese import . I used Thorsen long pattern wrenches for years at my first job . Chrome didn't hold up well , but we never broke any . In dustro is a solid wrench , but I never cared for how wide they made the jaws , no good for tight spaces ....
 
I have 3 or 4 different sets of Thorsen sockets that I bought new around 1960. I have used them ever since. I have worked in different truck garages and all. I've never broke one tool. These tools were in a Hyout [probably not spelled right] tool box that was in a building that burned down. I cleaned all the tools up and still use them. I would buy them again if I could find some.
 
I still have some Thorsen wrenches my parents gave me back in the early seventies. They aren't pretty, but are good tools. I remember getting a couple broken sockets replaced back in the seventies, as they carried a lifetime guarantee.
 
I have a Thorsen socket set I bought it the early 70s and use it often. I believe I bought it from Kmart. Never had a need to use the lifetime warranty but if I did I have no idea where or if I could get a replacement. Sid
 
My friend has a collection of Thorsen tools that he acquired over the years. He said in his area they were sold by the COOP stores.
 
In the 70s I bought a lot of Indestro tools, combination wrenches from 1/4" to 1 1/4", tube fitting wrenches, offset wrenches and 1/2" and 3/8" socket sets. I use them at work daily and still do now, I never broke or damaged any of them and use them hard, They feel good in my hands and look good and the chrome finish if that what it is, is still in good shape. I bought Proto tools for home around the same time and they are still in good shape as well although I have lost a lot of the Proto tools so maybe they have a tendency to grow legs LOL. I lost my Indestro 7/16 combination wrench at work more than 20 yrs. ago and that is all I ever lost at work and I never lock my tool boxes, I don't believe anyone stole it I probably left it on a machine somewhere and it got shipped with it.
 

I bought an Indestro mechanics tool set from good ol' J.C. Whitney way back in about 1968. I've still got 'em. Still use 'em. Never broke any of the sockets or ratchets.
 
(quoted from post at 09:55:04 01/07/17)
I bought an Indestro mechanics tool set from good ol' J.C. Whitney way back in about 1968. I've still got 'em. Still use 'em. Never broke any of the sockets or ratchets.

Yep.. I have a set from jc pennys also...only problem is that after 48 years, one of the wrenches got lost. Dont have a spare 7/16-3/8 wrench?? They were my first set, and still serve me well.
 
I have my dad's 1/2" drive Thorsen socket set as well as a 3/4" Thorsen set I bought about 30 years ago. Never a problem, even with a 5 foot cheater pipe on the breaker bar. Lifetime warranty, wonder where one might find a dealer these days.

Dick ND
 
Fuller is comparable to Craftsman. Thorsen is a better grade than Craftsman, I've broken a few Craftsman tools but I've never broken a Thorsen.

:>)
 
I have Thorsen wrenches and socket sets I bought in the late 60's. Then they were good quality with a no questions asked warranty. I still prefer to use the Thorsen 3/8 ratchet over the Craftsman I have. I bought some Chinese made Thorsen wrenches a couple years ago. The finish wasn't as good., but they have held up ok.
 
grew up using Thoreson ratchets and never had a problem with them even though their guts were hanging out.
Have a couple of sets of Indestro sockets around that my dad picked up used many many years ago.
 
I have a 1/4" drive Thorsen socket set that I bought when I went to Vo-Tech in 1984. Still have it and use it. Never replaced anything in the set. I agree, the later ratchets were too cheap. Thorsen was property of Allied Tool Division for a while, hence "TAT" (Thorsen Allied Tools) on some of the tools. I believe Allied makes Prograde now. Have a broken 3/8" Thorsen ratchet. You could kind of feel they were cheaper made later on. Indestro was sold here in most of the farm stores. Very decent quality. My dad bought quite a few of the Indestro and Indestro Super wrenches. My brother started out with them when he went to Vo-Tech for auto mechanics. Still has most all of them. Fuller are fairly decent. I started out with Truecraft which I still have most all of. Kind of funny, years ago we always said "that cheap stuff from Japan" Little did a person know if you find stuff made in Japan that was the GOOD import stuff compared to the imports of today.
 

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