Japanese Craftsman

[Vash Bitchko]

I'll be willing to sell my set if anyone is interested. I couldn't find much reference to do an auction for them.

 

[lbgradwell]

I'll be willing to sell my set if anyone is interested. I couldn't find much reference to do an auction for them.

Ah yes, but those are branded "Sears", not "Craftsman".

I understand they were very good wrenches though...

 

[Tool Pants]

This Craftsman made in Japan thing comes up every few months. The story told here is that Sears tried to sell Japanese Craftsman in the US 1980s, but people did not want to buy them. I do not remember this. Funny these days, because China is now on some Craftsman hand tools. It has also been said this is what Sears sells in Canada.

I have a Japanese 14 mm raised panel I bought a a flea market least year, and put it next to my 14 mm USA. From a distance you cannot tell them apart.

Last weekend I saw a BF combo in 1" and 13 mm. I may buy them as an oddity.

 

[superautobacs]

... It has also been said this is what Sears sells in Canada.

You're referring to the past or the present? Present time, Sears Canada's Craftsman wrenches are straight up Taiwanese Stanleys. Sears Canada used to sell Sears BF wrenches. My FIL has a full set of metrics. The OEM, to the best of my knowledge is "KTC".

I've seen a few BF Craftsman combination wrenches here, at the local flea markets. I picked one 14mm as well thinking that it was an oddity.

 

[Tool Pants]

Found a 15 mm BF Japan at the flea this morning to keep my 14 mm company. It was in a big pile of wrenches. The BF Japan side was facing up. I turned it over to see if it was a Craftsman, and it was.

 

[Tool Pants]

Today it was a Taiwan spinner at the flea, which I have never seen marked Taiwan before. The top USA one is so old to me I do not remember when I bought it.

Never seen Taiwan and Craftsman together in my neck of the woods. Stuff like that would have the Sears name, or Companion.

 

[arkangel06]

Today it was a Taiwan spinner at the flea, which I have never seen marked Taiwan before. The top USA one is so old to me I do not remember when I bought it.

Never seen Taiwan and Craftsman together in my neck of the woods. Stuff like that would have the Sears name, or Companion.

Look how crooked the Tiawan one is too


I have 1 craftsman made in japan 9/16combo wrench

seems ok quality when compared to its us counterpart.

 

[cruiser808]

Today it was a Taiwan spinner at the flea, which I have never seen marked Taiwan before. The top USA one is so old to me I do not remember when I bought it.

Never seen Taiwan and Craftsman together in my neck of the woods. Stuff like that would have the Sears name, or Companion.

Seems the Taiwan version is a little sloppy and tilted.

 

[Tool Pants]

Just the picture. Nothing wrong with the Taiwan version. Here are the others. The Taiwan is the third from the left.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I found that the Japanese Craftsman wrenches were lighter than their USA counterparts.

TheGrooveking

 

[bfm336]

Sears Canada is a completely separate entity from Sears USA FWIW.

 

[rob1200]

Sears Canada is a completely separate entity from Sears USA FWIW.

Ummm, this entire thread was from 2010. Sears Canada was sold off by the U.S. parent in October 2014.

 

[va.grouseman]

The Japanese made some Craftsman vises to.---Pretty good quality, pretty rare.---There's one with 8'' jaws.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The green Sears brand floor jacks from the 70s/80s were made in Japan. Much better quality than most of the Chinese stuff around today.

 

[CobraChevelle]

If craftsman is around 20 or 30 years from now, I wonder how valuable and rare china tools will be after they move there production to India?? hmmmm

 

[Ponchoguy]

The green Sears brand floor jacks from the 70s/80s were made in Japan. Much better quality than most of the Chinese stuff around today.

Those were "328" model prefix Yasui jacks. The current ones are "875" model Florida Pneumatic/Torin/Big Red product, made in China as you stated.

Sears also sold a "626" model prefix Lincoln/Walker green rebranded jack for a time years ago.

 

[Ponchoguy]

If craftsman is around 20 or 30 years from now, I wonder how valuable and rare china tools will be after they move there production to India?? hmmmm

The thing is even with the USA made stuff, depending on what it is, there was so much of it out there that it doesn't command a premium per se.

I mean even the SO purists of this forum I'm sure have SOME Craftsman tools in their collection.....

 

[dodge610]

That is a well kept secret you are not suppose to tell anyone.

 

[CobraChevelle]

The thing is even with the USA made stuff, depending on what it is, there was so much of it out there that it doesn't command a premium per se.

hard to say when you look at ebay. I just sold a New craftsman pro USA P2 x 4 screw driver for $20 on there... Was going to keep it for myself but listed it for 20 to see how crazy people can be.

 

[Jim C.]

The thing is even with the USA made stuff, depending on what it is, there was so much of it out there that it doesn't command a premium per se.....

As a relatively serious Craftsman collector/user, I really try to keep an eye on current prices. In the last few years, I believe the older Cman tools are slowly but surely increasing in value, particularly those with the =V= manufacturer's mark. Even some with the -V- mark are getting harder to buy at reasonable prices. Just thinking off the top of my head, when one considers the recent selling prices of stainless steel ratchets, angled socket wrenches, speeder ratchets, and stainless steel combo wrenches, just to name a few, I'd have to respectfully disagree. I actually think with the influx of Asian made Cman tools, the USA made stuff (particularly pre-1980s tools) is becoming more and more desirable from a user and/or collector perspective. Consequently there's been a steady increase in the prices paid for them. Just my opinion.

Jim C.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I got my Japanese Craftsman wrench in the late 70s. Not a combination wrench but a 1/2" distributor wrench. Good for 1/2" distributor hold down bolts but perfect for such things as the front mounted thermostat bolts on Ford small blocks. Handy tool.

My brother in law (at the time) insisted that ALL Craftsman hand tools were being forged in Japan and only finished in the USA. Didn't take him seriously, he was full of stories like that.

 

[Ponchoguy]

As a relatively serious Craftsman collector/user, I really try to keep an eye on current prices. In the last few years, I believe the older Cman tools are slowly but surely increasing in value, particularly those with the =V= manufacturer's mark. Even some with the -V- mark are getting harder to buy at reasonable prices. Just thinking off the top of my head, when one considers the recent selling prices of stainless steel ratchets, angled socket wrenches, speeder ratchets, and stainless steel combo wrenches, just to name a few, I'd have to respectfully disagree. I actually think with the influx of Asian made Cman tools, the USA made stuff (particularly pre-1980s tools) is becoming more and more desirable from a user and/or collector perspective. Consequently there's been a steady increase in the prices paid for them. Just my opinion.

Jim C.

I find that the run of the mill V^ Craftsmans sell for average prices. A lot of good deals out there, such as CL and yard sales. Still a great buy.

I'm like you on the Cman, same thing.

 

[Ponchoguy]

I got my Japanese Craftsman wrench in the late 70s. Not a combination wrench but a 1/2" distributor wrench. Good for 1/2" distributor hold down bolts but perfect for such things as the front mounted thermostat bolts on Ford small blocks. Handy tool.

My brother in law (at the time) insisted that ALL Craftsman hand tools were being forged in Japan and only finished in the USA. Didn't take him seriously, he was full of stories like that.

BF was Daido (same company as Trucraft) which eventually came under the Easco umbrella as I remember. Of course, Easco became Danaher, and then Apex.