Powr Kraft COO?

[Duct Tape Man]

Powr Kraft used to be a homeowner-grade brand of tools marketed by Montgomery Ward. I recently got a small lot of PK tools in new condition, probably 1970s manufacture, however I notice that none of them seem to have the country of origin stamped on the tools. I assume it was printed on the original packaging, but I don't have any of that.

Anyone know where they tools were made, and by whom? I assume it was a contract deal, much like Craftsman isn't made by Sears, only marketed by them.

 

[Username already in use]

Post a pic of what you've got. They had several different OEMs through the years. I know they used Duro and Wright for drive tools. Pretty sure they used Moore and Barcalo for wrenches. Just depends on the year.

 

[d42jeep]

I believe that they may have sourced from Thorsen as well as the manufacturers mentioned above by username.
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

Anyone know where they tools were made, and by whom? I assume it was a contract deal, much like Craftsman isn't made by Sears, only marketed by them.

Correct. All made under contract by various US manufacturers. Most can be identified by sight. Post up some pix!

Brian

 

[Duct Tape Man]

I took a few pics of what I got in the lot I purchased. Includes a pair of each: 3/8 drive ratchet, 1/2 drive ratchet, and long-handled 1/2 drive ratchets. His and her set, if you will. Also have a bunch of sockets. The ratchets remind me of Wright tootsie-roll-handled ratchets. All of these were brand new, never used, but like I said no packaging.

I will probably be listing most of this for sale in the classifieds, except for one each of the ratchets, since I will add them to the collection.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Those are some nice NOS ratchets

 

[Username already in use]

Those are some nice NOS ratchets

Very nice. Ratchets are Wright and probably the sockets as well.
Haven't seen one of those long handle 1/2" rats before. Let me know if you'd like to part with one.

 

[davethorik]

Do Powr Kraft ratchets have part numbers stamped on them? For whatever reason, Wright gave long handle 1/2 rats the same part number (4425) for both knurled handle and the Tootsie roll grip.

 

[Duct Tape Man]

Do Powr Kraft ratchets have part numbers stamped on them? For whatever reason, Wright gave long handle 1/2 rats the same part number (4425) for both knurled handle and the Tootsie roll grip.

Yes, the part numbers are stamped on the handles, however the part numbers are different between the short and long-handled 1/2-drive ratchets. The short are 4860, long are 4862.

UAIU, I'll send you a PM about the ratchet. I'd be willing to part with one of the long-handled ones.

 

[Socket Pounder]

Some Powr Kraft stuff was surprisingly nice. Not all of it, but some of it was high quality. Those are some sweet ratchets although I never was a fan of that type handle.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I've got a Montgomery Ward "Riverside" wrench. Whenever did they make those in retro to "Power Craft".

 

[uncwstudent]

I don't know who made them but all of my wrenches are U.S. made.

 

[driftpin]

I have a Powr-Kraft 3/8" drive metric socket set I got new as a teenager, along w/a set of metric combination wrenches, also Powr-Kraft, so I could work on the 1962 VW Cabriolet my parents bought new. Still have 'em, and I grab them to work on my metric needs. Most have survived fine, a couple broke over the last 50 years, and were replaced w/other stuff. I recently replaced the guts of the Wright ratchet, though a good degreasing to remove the hardened grease probably would have restored the function. I like the Wright 'tootsie-roll' ratchet handle! Yes, the set I have from probably 1965, purchased new, was made by Wright, and are still going strong.