Craftsman Stainless Steel Wrench set.

[ssharrell22]

Does anyone know when these were made. I stumbled on them on Craigslist and got super excited because I have never seen any before. The Gentleman who had them was awesome and was shipped them to me so that I didn’t get in trouble with the wife for making a 4 hour drive for a set of wrenches. (She doesn’t understand)

Anyways, what do you guys know about these?


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[Beerman]

WOW!!!!


I'm a semi-serious Craftsman collector and I've NEVER heard of, let alone SEEN a set like that. I've owned or at least seen MOST of the Craftsman unobtanium collectables out there- The stainless ratchets, the V lever ratchet spinner and the pride of my collection, the Amber plastic handled ratchet from the late 40's.

I have to say it again- WOW!!!!!!

I'll be rude-how much??????

 

[notlob]

From a 2009 GJ post by Uncle Buck:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=366782&postcount=19

"I found the stainless steel wrenches discussed in the 1972-73 Sears tool catalog. The set was offered as a set of 8 and came in a fancy box. This was a very high end set for the time, and sold for $48.00 when new. While the price sounds cheap today, the price for a 10pc set of raised panel combo's at the time was $18.75! The price points alone speak volumes.
I also have the 1974-75 tool catalog and they were not offered in that, or subsequent years that followed. I think they are one of Sears "We tried, but it didn't work" experiments that was there one year and gone the next."

 

[notlob]

72-73 Cman catalog can be seen here, SS wrenches on pg 122:

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=3

 

[ssharrell22]

WOW!!!!


I'm a semi-serious Craftsman collector and I've NEVER heard of, let alone SEEN a set like that. I've owned or at least seen MOST of the Craftsman unobtanium collectables out there- The stainless ratchets, the V lever ratchet spinner and the pride of my collection, the Amber plastic handled ratchet from the late 40's.

I have to say it again- WOW!!!!!!

I'll be rude-how much??????

Glad to know everyone else is finding this as awesome as I did! He had them listed for 75 and I didn’t even haggle. I paid what he was asking plus the 15 dollars to ship them.


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[ssharrell22]

72-73 Cman catalog can be seen here, SS wrenches on pg 122:

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=3

Thanks for the awesome info on them. I have a couple of the stainless steel ratchets but it just shocked me when these popped up and I had never even heard of them


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[ssharrell22]

Did a little more research and a set like these have sold on Ebay from 250-450 that is CRAZY!


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[ssharrell22]

And these don’t seem to have ever been used


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[pendragon1998]

That's pretty cool.

 

[Jim C.]

Nice find. I have a set of those wrenches too. They weren’t offered very long, and I think they may have been available as a “catalog only” item during 1972 - 1973. It’s a very scarce set. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen any of those wrenches sold as singles. They seem to always be in a set, and they’re usually in pretty good shape. I think people bought them and never used them. They apppeared to be presented as a collector type item from the get go, and those who bought them seemed to recognize that and treat them as such.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

Glad to know everyone else is finding this as awesome as I did! He had them listed for 75 and I didn’t even haggle. I paid what he was asking plus the 15 dollars to ship them.





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That’s practically a “You ****” price considering the fact that a nice set of those wrenches in their original presentation box can sell for a couple hundred or more. Well done.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Those are very nice! Sweet find!

 

[ssharrell22]

Thanks guys, I’m about to get the out and clean them up a bit with the wife finishes telling me things to do for the night.


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[bonneyman]

Never seen those, never even heard of them. And they do look pristine.

 

[davethorik]

I have a lone Craftsman stainless 13/16 combo. I got it in a box of mostly junk, too bad it was the only one there. I have never seen any others. I always thought it was strange that it didn't have a pn# stamped, but as part of a special set makes sense.
Edit: this one was definitely used. It has wear in the open and box end, lots of little scratches and a few dings. If these tools could only talk...lol.

 

[Jim C.]

I have a lone Craftsman stainless 13/16 combo. I got it in a box of mostly junk, too bad it was the only one there. I have never seen any others. I always thought it was strange that it didn't have a pn# stamped, but as a special set makes sense.
Edit: this one was definitely used. It has wear in the open and box end, lots of little scratches and a few dings. If these tools only could talk...lol.

That’s unusual. I’ve never seen Cman SS wrenches that were not in complete sets and generally in top condition. I wonder if your wrench came from a set or was purchased as a single.

Jim C.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Do all of them bulge out in the middle of the shank? Or only some of them? Is it an optical illusion that it looks like some of them have a straight shank while some bulge out? Or am I just seeing things?

 

[Jim C.]

They all bulge.

 

[ssharrell22]

All of mine bulge in the middle, someone in another thread about these mentioned that there were 2 different kinds but I have only seen this 1


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[twertsy]

Thanks guys, I’m about to get the out and clean them up a bit with the wife finishes telling me things to do for the night.


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Your wife finishes??

 

[bczygan]

Your wife finishes??

Made me laugh out loud!

Told my wife this one.....she ddidn't laugh.....

 

[Jim C.]

I’ve had this set for several years. They come out for photos and then go back in the box. The more I think about it, and the more I look at the wrenches themselves and their “display” box, the more I’m convinced this set was produced as a collector’s item. While the wrenches themselves seem to be of very good quality, and could be used, I don’t believe that was Sears’s intention when these were offered in the early 1970s. The display box and fitted liner which holds the wrenches at an angle we’re clearly made for impactful viewing......not use. It’s hard to say for sure why this set was ever produced. All I can say for sure is that the set is relatively uncommon.

Jim C.

 

[twertsy]

They remind me of the award presentation sets you see from Bonney, S-K, etc.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Totally agree, Jim. Everything about it smacks of some kind of anniversary or other recognition or celebration special limited edition offering. Like a Snap-On NFL team logo set or the Herbrand Indy 500 sets.

In the Garage Sale thread, where these were also reported, EOC Jason asked ssharrell if he asked the seller where he got them. This was ssharrell's reply:

I did actually, pretty cool story.

“Ha,ha! I wonder if you were curious. I'm a retired Product Development Engineer who worked for a large manufacturing co. That has made CRAFTSMAN tools for SEARS for nearly 100 years. I am dispersing my collection of 1st production runs of products I worked on and was able to keep for myself. We have downsized and I no longer have room for my collection. So it's time to share them with others. “

After I picked my jaw off the floor and replaced it in its normal position under my head, here was my reply to ssharrell:

ssharrell: Um, please ask 'the retired Product Development Engineer who worked for a large manufacturing co. that has made CRAFTSMAN tools for SEARS for nearly 100 years' WHICH large manufacturing company he is referring to!!!

ssharrell: In addition to the identity of the mfgr, please ask the old Craftsman OEM gent if he knows the story behind these wrenches. EDIT: AND DON'T LOSE HIS PHONE NUMBER! We may have just a few more questions.

 

[notlob]

It is interesting to note that on page 118 of the same 72-73 Cman catalog there are listed not only the SS wrenches, but also other SS tools, including SS screwdrivers.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

We need a time machine. The catalog description and that case - which looks like it should be on a mansion's dining room sideboard with a set of silverware in it - just don't jibe!

Edit: On the other hand, there is precedence for it. The turning chisels were put in fancy felt lined boxes, too. Then again, that was the 40s.

 

[ssharrell22]

Totally agree, Jim. Everything about it smacks of some kind of anniversary or other recognition or celebration special limited edition offering. Like a Snap-On NFL team logo set or the Herbrand Indy 500 sets.



In the Garage Sale thread, where these were also reported, EOC Jason asked ssharrell if he asked the seller where he got them. This was ssharrell's reply:











After I picked my jaw off the floor and replaced it in its normal position under my head, here was my reply to ssharrell:







ssharrell: In addition to the identity of the mfgr, please ask the old Craftsman OEM gent if he knows the story behind these wrenches. EDIT: AND DON'T LOSE HIS PHONE NUMBER! We may have just a few more questions.

I’m still talking to him, we haven’t stopped messaging back and forth since I found him. I will try to find out more but he has been fascinating to talk to. He is trying to sell me a full set of the stainless steel ratchets now..... he is going to end up owning my house.....


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[ssharrell22]

I’ve had this set for several years. They come out for photos and then go back in the box. The more I think about it, and the more I look at the wrenches themselves and their “display” box, the more I’m convinced this set was produced as a collector’s item. While the wrenches themselves seem to be of very good quality, and could be used, I don’t believe that was Sears’s intention when these were offered in the early 1970s. The display box and fitted liner which holds the wrenches at an angle we’re clearly made for impactful viewing......not use. It’s hard to say for sure why this set was ever produced. All I can say for sure is that the set is relatively uncommon.

Jim C.

Those are absolutely beautiful sir, your box is in a lot better shape than mine.


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[ssharrell22]

Made me laugh out loud!

Told my wife this one.....she ddidn't laugh.....

Lol, that was way funnier than what I meant to say!


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[ssharrell22]

It is interesting to note that on page 118 of the same 72-73 Cman catalog there are listed not only the SS wrenches, but also other SS tools, including SS screwdrivers.



Even had tin snips listed, the search continues....


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[Oldtuleguy]

I see these on ebay sometimes. Not sure what there for, maybe just nonrusting, like for boats?

 

[Jim C.]

Those are absolutely beautiful sir, your box is in a lot better shape than mine.


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Thanks...... While my box might be in a little better condition, you have me beat by a mile when it comes to the price you paid for your set versus the price I paid for mine!

 

[McFarmer]

Your wife finishes??

Yes, and usually first.

 

[ssharrell22]

Yes, and usually first.

Hey, we started at the same time.... it’s her fault if she doesn’t finish. Lol


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[Recordus]

I have one of those SS “LIFETIME” 1/2” ratchets, it was one of my first tool purchases in college. I’ve always wondered who made those; I read somewhere it may have been EASCO, or Moore Drop Forge. Anyone have info on them?

 

[Farmall450]

I see these on ebay sometimes. Not sure what there for, maybe just nonrusting, like for boats?

If anyone wants a set:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CR...106580?hash=item41d61d1d94:g:yHwAAOSwUlxaKewA

 

[ssharrell22]

I have one of those SS “LIFETIME” 1/2” ratchets, it was one of my first tool purchases in college. I’ve always wondered who made those; I read somewhere it may have been EASCO, or Moore Drop Forge. Anyone have info on them?

I’m not 100% sure but I do think it was Easco that held the patten on the design at least. I think that the Lifetime and the Stainless Steel were separate ratchets though. If I’m not mistaken the Lifetime was not produced with Stainless steel as a second run at the design due to the stainless steel being too expensive and the line not taking off.


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[Jazz1]

Some Craftsman tools were made in Germany in the 70's and earlier. I have a stamped Craftsman dog bone wrench that is stamped made in West Germany

 

[Garagetime]

There is a set of those wrench's on eBay right now. Current bid is 125

 

[Jim C.]

Some Craftsman tools were made in Germany in the 70's and earlier. I have a stamped Craftsman dog bone wrench that is stamped made in West Germany

Hey, that’s something I’ve never seen. Can you post a picture or two? Thanks.