Show your “Crowntop” Craftsman

[LesserSon]

That’s a nicely-themed C’man shop, @Paulie49. I like the reto look of the b/w photos, too.
What are the wall cabinets with the roll-up(?) fronts? Is the material plastic?

 

[Smokeshow69]

Don’t worry I didn’t cut the table lift screw I drilled a pass through in the base. Kitted out w/a Vari-Slo, hold downs and accessory light.

This is one decked out dp! Looks like something you would see in the catalog.

I know that’s a heritage 10top. I acquired a crown mid after I took this picture. Bottom box is a crown 7 drawer with 1 year only handles.
starter for a Flathead Ford on the ground

That 7 drawer isn’t common. But way more uncommon is the crown top mid chest . ‘58 or ‘59?

 

[Paulie49]

That’s a nicely-themed C’man shop, @Paulie49. I like the reto look of the b/w photos, too.
What are the wall cabinets with the roll-up(?) fronts? Is the material plastic?

Thank you. The cabinets are vintage 1950s steel Morton with fluted glass fronts I yanked out out of someone’s kitchen.

 

[Cruzan80]

This is one decked out dp! Looks like something you would see in the catalog.

That 7 drawer isn’t common. But way more uncommon is the crown top mid chest . ‘58 or ‘59?

It is a hand carry box, based on the latch at the top. Just had another box on top.

While I generally like B/W, dialing back the contrast would help show things off better, IMO.

 

[Paulie49]

It is a hand carry box, based on the latch at the top. Just had another box on top.

While I generally like B/W, dialing back the contrast would help show things off better, IMO.

Oh that one in the DP pic is a hand carry. I was referring to this.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Oh that one in the DP pic is a hand carry. I was referring to this.

This mid chest is pretty rare! Not something most collectors have. Where did you find it?

 

[Cruzan80]

Gotcha, missed that one. Sorry!

 

[Paulie49]

This mid chest is pretty rare! Not something most collectors have. Where did you find it?

It’s been a minute since I picked it up but it was wheeled and dealed from a West Coast Collector. A few of em out there have some real serious collections, along with a couple other serious guys here in NC too.
Those guys tend to go pre war so I ain’t stepping on toes with my Crown stuff. Over the years I’ve cleared out most of my early pieces to them.

 

[genog]

Bought this ole Craftman Crowntop chest this weekend
I felt a bit of sympathy for the seller...
....now I am feeling sorry for myself

 

[Smokeshow69]

It’s been a minute since I picked it up but it was wheeled and dealed from a West Coast Collector. A few of em out there have some real serious collections, along with a couple other serious guys here in NC too.
Those guys tend to go pre war so I ain’t stepping on toes with my Crown stuff. Over the years I’ve cleared out most of my early pieces to them.

Well I know Oregon's biggest collector and I also know one of NC's biggest collector so I would say your strategy is a good one. Get the big fishes what they want so they clear out of the way for what you want! Lots of good stuff in the crown era for sure! 10 years ago the heritage stuff was hot, now I feel like it's shifted to long c, maybe crown top will be next? Either way I'm glad you have collected and actually use what makes you happy!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I have a Heritage 12 bandsaw with a rebuilt Slo-speed adapter, guards and accessory light with cage but I’d like to upgrade to a Parks/Craftsman 18 bandsaw. Also did the 3 prong conversion on the Powr Pak

Mechanically rebuilt the lathe a few winters ago.

I forgot to say I’m loving your collection of vintage power tools. You’ve got all the good ones! I’m surprised you didn’t post any pictures of a block grinder? I have a heritage floor model dp, block grinder on pedestal stand and also a ‘53 dated 8” table saw which has pretty much every accessory offered for that year. The table saw is next up on the mechanical restoration list

 

[Paulie49]

Thank you for the kind words. Sounds like you have a great collection yourself. I’m sure we are talking about the same people.

 

[Paulie49]

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thank you for the kind words. Sounds like you have a great collection yourself. I’m sure we are talking about the same people.

Heck yeah ! I have the late crown era 3/4 horse grinder but I like your mail box style grinder better. I use mine all the time. By far one of my most used tools for cleaning up old rusty finds before I put them back to use.

 

[DAustin]

While adding the correct wrenches to the bicycle set, I found the wrench I had been missing to complete this Crown metric set.
-Don

I've got that same set out in the garage. My girlfriend at the time bought them for me when I bought my first VW Beetle. It used to ride around in a .50cal. ammo can with a few other tools in the trunk.

 

[Cruzan80]

Found a NIB Power Tool bench from Sears. Crowntop era from the instruction manual. Plastic straps were cut so contents could be verified. (Not listing price paid as I may be reselling this).

If I do sell, I will scan the instructions manual first, and try and upload it somewhere.

Edit: side of box pic isn't loading, see the GS thread for more pics.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Found a NIB Power Tool bench from Sears. Crowntop era from the instruction manual. Plastic straps were cut so contents could be verified. (Not listing price paid as I may be reselling this).

If I do sell, I will scan the instructions manual first, and try and upload it somewhere.

Edit: side of box pic isn't loading, see the GS thread for more pics.

Oh wow, this is super cool!

 

[d42jeep]

I found this at a recent estate sale. Missing the 3/4” bit. -Don

 

[d42jeep]

I wanted to add some recent Crown finds to the Crown storage box in my basement and realized that it was too full to add anything to. I looked around and found a 20” long larger Crown carry box to move the tools into.
Found a few more Crown pieces to add to the box. Finally everything fits


Added the Crown plane to the new box.
-Don

 

[oscarsnapkin]

I had an uncle who was a professional carpenter. I remember as a kid he had an old Craftsman crown logo tool cabinet and top in his basement. I thought it was so cool that he had a “big” toolbox full of all these tools he had to work with (in all honesty, it was a pretty standard, fairy small toolbox, but to 7 or 8 year-old me it was giant). Cancer took him in his early 60’s about 17 years ago. I wasn’t super close with him or anything, but he was a really cool, fun guy to hang out with. Every time I see that logo I think of him.

 

[d42jeep]

After moving the Crown items into the large box, I decided to populate the empty box with =v= tools with as many pointed As as possible. Here is how it came out. I could use a 13/16” socket
-Don

 

[genog]

A good friend of mine gave me a Drill Doctor to sharpen my dull bits
I'm pretty good with it now.....

I still thought it a good idea to pick this up


Looks like a useful tool.......I'll start practicing with it on some old bits and see how it goes

 

[d42jeep]

I found this rusty partial 1/4” drive set at an estate sale recently. I’m gradually adding to it and grinding off the rust. The exterior will eventually be repainted.


-Don

 

[Provincial]

That plastic divider is quite nice! Good eye for spotting that.

 

[Smokeshow69]

That plastic divider is quite nice! Good eye for spotting that.

yup, a non broken plastic divider is a big win!

 

[d42jeep]

It’s pretty brittle but holding up so far. Looks like I’m going to have to find a new Crown sticker.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

It’s pretty brittle but holding up so far. Looks like I’m going to have to find a new Crown sticker.
-Don

You need to put something under it to support the weight. I put some strips of cork drawer liner but you can use almost anything as long as it holds the weight. That’s what I do on all of my intact ones and it’s worked so far

 

[d42jeep]

Good idea. I’ll do that.
-Don

 

[Cruzan80]

If people really need the insert, it is somewhere on my list of "Things to pattern in CAD, for 3D printing". Both for broken inserts, and can probably scale it down slightly for support if needed.

 

[d42jeep]

I think I’ve seen some 3D printed ones on eBay already although the resemblance to the original certainly wasn’t exact.
-Don

 

[Cruzan80]

Yes, I have an original unbroken one, and plan on modeling it off of that one. Can't do a ton about layer lines or the smoothness of injection molding (without post processing), but can be faithful to the original sizing.

If I do, I plan on sharing it with others semi- publicly (not for sale).

 

[four.cycle]

I think I’ve seen some 3D printed ones on eBay already although the resemblance to the original certainly wasn’t exact.

^ that was exactly my same thought.... I would swear I've seen somebody peddling reproductions.

 

[d42jeep]

The Crowntop stickers arrived from an eBay seller today. Came with a few spares.
-Don

 

[btrnuthatch]

Too bad the rest of the box isn't in the same shape as the trays. I'm not restoring so off to the classifieds.

 

[genog]

Found a cool Crowntop Craftsman soldering gun at the College Flea Market today.
Still Unused Brand New......I should have taken a pic of it, darn it.
It was white plastic rather than the typical black

If I hadn't found a 300 watt Weller, I would have sprung for it, although it's more of a novelty than anything else

 

[Zrxrunner]

Another morning find. Have 2 others, but this is by far the best condition one. Will be swapping this one out for the other one I have to keep in the collection. Keys and all!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Couple of crown top items I picked up. The moulding insert it NOS

 

[LiveWire64]

Found a couple of Crowntop items today.

 

[genog]

Found a set of Crowntop Spade/Boring/Paddle Bits

 

[genog]

We need to keep this thread going.....
My previous post back in April was the last post we've had here
Hey, it's June....

I see Crowntop stuff rather frequently, like this brand new Kromedge blade
Like the Nice Guy that I am, I left it for the next guy
Had it been a 10"er, I would have bought it