How many companies did sk make tools for

[outofbounds]

Whats the code on that one oob? Don't think sk made those

OTG,
I'm guilty of straying off topic a little bit. I first posted the Sears set (which was roundly rebuffed here as an Asian knock-off of SK) and when Roy mentioned infringement lawsuits, I added in the little red case Companion set, illustrating it as a knock-off of P&C. I opted not to buy either set. But apparently, outside of the Craftsman franchise, Sears was taking a fair amount of liberty copying other tools cheaply.

 

[d42jeep]

I believe that the Companion set is offshore too but the ratchet looks Thorsen to me. Probably somebody added the ratchet to the set.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Companion ratchets have a wf code (western forge).

 

[outofbounds]

Companion ratchets have a wf code (western forge).

If I could verify that mark on the 1/4" set I posted, would I be able to infer that it's made in the US then, OTG?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The 1/4 ratchet is the same

 

[d42jeep]

Companion ratchets have a wf code (western forge).

Thanks for posting those. They look a little less Thorsen-like from the back. I would expect that the tools with the Western Forge codes are US made.
-Don

 

[Lesserstore]

Thanks for posting those. They look a little less Thorsen-like from the back. I would expect that the tools with the Western Forge codes are US made.
-Don

Do you think WF could have just been the importer? I know that there are some WF marked imports like the grip driver (Germany) and companion pliers (Taiwan or China, I have forgotten).

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Anything is possible, but sears was pretty consistent with there codes.

 

[Lesserstore]

Anything is possible, but sears was pretty consistent with there codes.

I should have been more clear. What I meant was WF still meant Western Forge, just not as the manufacturer, but as the importer of the tools. Also out of curiosity, do the sockets have codes on them?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No codes on sockets, but they are stamped usa, as is ratchet.

 

[Lesserstore]

No codes on sockets, but they are stamped usa, as is ratchet.

Never knew that there were lower tier tools after Dunlap that were U.S. made. I always assumed that they were Japanese made and later Taiwanese/Chinese made. Learn something new everyday I guess.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some pics

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Some pics

Never knew Companion had USA made tools that’s cool I have a lot of their Taiwan stuff. If I remember correctly that was Kmart house brand right? And so was Benchtop I think.


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[Oldtuleguy]

Companion was a sears brand

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Companion was a sears brand

Oh ok I was close lol I knew I had seen them somewhere our Sears closed back in October of last year and then our Kmart closed in October 2016 so I hadn’t seen either of those brands in awhile but knew they came from one of the two.


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[d42jeep]

Here is an update on the tools in my Brazil carry box. My 1/2” drive sockets are complete to my satisfaction and I recently received a Chrome Alloy beaver tail ratchet from Roy to go with them. It’s unusual to see an S-K made 1/2” drive ratchet with the early patent number.
Here are some 3/8” drive tools. Finding 3/8” drive Chrome Alloy marked sockets is a slow process.
My few 3/4” drive tools in the bottom of the box.
Here are the 1/4” drive tools.
Although not sold as Brazil here are some Tiger marked tools.
Some tools marked Artison
Some Chrome Alloy combos looking like their S-K counterparts
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Western giant stuff, also posted in Western auto thread

 

[d42jeep]

I haven’t posted in this thread for a while as I tend to get lazy and just use the main S-K thread for everything S-K related. I received a batch of Chrome Alloy sockets today from an eBay seller.
After a quick cleaning I upgraded the 1/2” drive sockets that live in the top tray of the Brazil carry box.

Here are most of the Chrome Alloy tools in the box.

 

[four.cycle]

KANE 1/2" drive SAE socket set listed earlier today on ebay
@Oldtuleguy posted his in post #98 of this thread, but his set does not contain a ratchet, which is the reason I'm taking the liberty of posting these images here that include an image of the ratchet, which is something of a puzzle.
(photos: ebay)

 

[d42jeep]

raiderhillbilly posted some info on his here a few years ago.

Vintage S-K Tools

60s from I have observed. I think it was in the SK Wayne era.

www.garagejournal.com

-Don

 

[sixfootfive]

Well that didn't take long. It sold while I was looking at the listing.

 

[d42jeep]

OTG didn’t waste any time!
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

well... I kind of figured he would when I saw it listed earlier this morning, but that's no big surprise.... I'm just trying to suss out which patent belongs to which ratchet.

 

[genog]

I am a big fan of USA polished wrenches
I found most of these JC Penney's at the Flea Market last year
Kind members here helped me complete the set to my satisfaction

 

[genog]

These Klein combos are said to be S-K made

 

[genog]

These USA C-man Professional combos seem to have S-K attributes while I have others that are more Armstrong in look and feel

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Well ratchet arrived. Definately the 56 patent. This one is patent pending so between 54 and 56.

 

[bonneyman]

That KANE drive gear looks eerily similar in action to the later Crescent LT70 ratchet mechanism. The spring/polymer cushion engages one pawl while deactivating the other. I'll try and find the patent for better pictures.

Found it!

US2982161A - Ratchet wrench - Google Patents

 

[Oldtuleguy]

US2744432A - Reversible ratchet wrench - Google Patents

Here's link to the 56 Theodore Rueb patent

 

[d42jeep]

The Vacuum Grip snap ring pliers are just showing off! How does the ratchet seem to work?
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Works good! Kinda an oddball. Maybe sk just decided it was not worth pursuing, as their other ratchets seemed to have remained largely unchanged

 

[d42jeep]

That’s a great set. I guess they only made that design in the Kane brand. Good buy!
-Don

 

[StillTooManyHobbies]

@genog, nice set of wrenches. SK made the ones with the sideways K stamp after the PROFESSIONAL marking on the back. There is a post here somewhere describing the differences between full polish Craftsman wrenches.

 

[genog]

There is a post here somewhere describing the differences between full polish Craftsman wrenches.

I've looked for more info and threads concerning the full polished C-man wrenches.....
If you find the thread, please post it here
Meanwhile, I will look for it again

 

[chpns1]

I've looked for more info and threads concerning the full polished C-man wrenches.....
If you find the thread, please post it here
Meanwhile, I will look for it again

Craftsman Wrench History 1945-2011

Craftsman Wrench History 1945-2011 PART II ADDED I finally got around to starting my series on Craftsman wrenches. This covers Raised Panel onward. Part I will be Ratcheting DBEs and Part II will be Raised Panel End Wrenches. Part I...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[d42jeep]

I found these Artisan marked pliers on Sunday. They look very similar to my first pair. Based on the handle pattern, does anyone recognize who might have been the manufacturer? I’m not sure that S-K made their own pliers.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Looks like Gambles may have been having Diamond make the Artisan pliers. These are all Diamond handle patterns.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I bought a set that was sold as Artisan a while back and it came with most of the tools I would expect to see in an equivalent S-K set. I have been on the lookout for an appropriate box and finally overpaid for this one on eBay. It did come with four Artisan branded DBE wrenches and a 1/2” drive ratchet. Here is what arrived today.
I added the tools that I had on hand and found an appropriate breaker bar in my spares.



-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I dug the rest of my Artisan tools out of the Brazil box and added them to the new Artisan box.
All of the Artisan branded tools that aren’t part of the 1/2” drive set
Added to the box.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some artisan stuff