About Proto® industrial tools

About company

Proto was founded in 1907 in Los Angeles, CA by Alphonso Plomb, Jacob Weninger, and Charles Williams as PLOMB To​ols. They began making punches and chisels from Model T axles. In 1917, John Pendelton became a partner, and his son Morris Pendelton became the General Manager in 1922. In the 1930's, Morris introduced the first line of combination wrenches to the market. They were based on the original design by Mr. Plomb. Throughout the 1940's, PLOMB Tools acquired several other companies including Cragin Tool of Chicago, IL in 1940, P&C Tool of Oregon in 1941, Penens Tool of Cleveland, OH in 1942, and J.P. Danielson of Jamestown, NY in 1947.