Craftsman -V- Mechanics Set

[MLM123]

I picked up a neat 215 piece Craftsman Mechanics set at a garage sale this weekend for $60. It's like new (some sockets still in sealed bag) and almost complete, missing the combo wrenches and hex keys. It came with a period tool box and a parts list. Pretty cool!

Most of the pieces have the -V- stamp, a few sockets were replaced with "G" stamped sockets. I attached a pic of the paper that came with it. Is there a way to date the set based on the set PN 33715?

I may go after a set of -V- combo wrenches and hex keys to complete the set. From what I've read dating these tools to a manufacture date within a couple years is tough, but any info would be appreciated.

 

[Rick B.]

Great score!

 

[DadsTools]

Show a closeup of the ratchets, both sides. Do the same for the small vinyl pouches with the mini wrenches.

 

[MLM123]

Show a closeup of the ratchets, both sides. Do the same for the small vinyl pouches with the mini wrenches.

Pics attached, thanks for looking, any info on the set most welcome.

 

[Lesserstore]

Do the ratchets have oil ports on top? And does a rod poke out of the anvil when you push the release button?

 

[DadsTools]

Pics attached, thanks for looking, any info on the set most welcome.

I got the info needed for the pouches. We need better photos of the ratchets that show the entire length of both sides of each, lit well enough to show the details of the stud. Your phone is cutting off parts of the image. Also, are the ratchets 1/4" and 3/8" drives, or 3/8" & 1/2" drives? I'm having trouble telling for sure just from the pics.

Also, we need to know as per Lesserstore's question as to whether these rat6chets have oil ports on the top of the heads. Also his question about whether a pin protrudes from the top of the stud when you push the quick release button, although well-lit photos can answer that too.

 

[Jim C.]

Hey DadsTools,

I think the ratchets are 1/2” and 3/8” drives. Neither one should have the oil port and both should have a solid socket post. I think they’re Type 13 examples.

Jim C.

 

[DadsTools]

Hey DadsTools,

I think the ratchets are 1/2” and 3/8” drives. Neither one should have the oil port and both should have a solid socket post. I think they’re Type 13 examples.

Jim C.

If the ratchets are indeed blind studs, and if all the components are contemporary to a single year's production, we could narrow the date down on this set quite a bit.

 

[MLM123]

Thanks folks, here are the requested additional pics. This is the 1/2 inch wrench, no oil port, post detent retracts when button is pushed.

Your help in ID and dating the set most appreciated.

 

[DadsTools]

Thanks folks, here are the requested additional pics. This is the 1/2 inch wrench, no oil port, post detent retracts when button is pushed.

Your help in ID and dating the set most appreciated.

Alright. This appears to be what I called in the RHFT study a 'blind' stud. The protrusion on which the socket is fitted could be called a stud, an anvil or a post. Sears and Moore/Easco called it a stud, so that's what I use.

'Blind stud' means it does not have the original 1965 pin or "plunger" that projected out of a hole in the end of the stud when the quick release button is pushed. The change to the blind stud was in 1981. These carried a patent pending mark until 1983 when the Sardo patent was issued. The markings then changed to what is on your ratchet. Sometime around 1986, the single letter V mfr code was replaced with a double letter code Vx, x being a second letter. And so your ratchet is very confidently dated 1983-86.

The mini wrench pouches bear the style of the Sears name in the logo that was in use from 1966 to 1984.

Of course the tricky part is not every component in these sets were produced the same year. Sometimes excess or discontinued items were included in these sets to move them out. Sometimes sets may have been in stock for several years until they were sold, but that would not affect the mfg date. However, if we assume that all components were of the same year's production (an assumption we are justified in making since we have no hard evidence to the contrary), we have to take the overlap year of the ratchet style and markings with the logo style on the pouches.

Your set was made in 1984.

 

[MLM123]

Alright. This appears to be what I called in the RHFT study a 'blind' stud. The protrusion on which the socket is fitted could be called a stud, an anvil or a post. Sears and Moore/Easco called it a stud, so that's what I use.

'Blind stud' means it does not have the original 1965 pin or "plunger" that projected out of a hole in the end of the stud when the quick release button is pushed. The change to the blind stud was in 1981. These carried a patent pending mark until 1983 when the Sardo patent was issued. The markings then changed to what is on your ratchet. Sometime around 1986, the single letter V mfr code was replaced with a double letter code Vx, x being a second letter. And so your ratchet is very confidently dated 1983-86.

The mini wrench pouches bear the style of the Sears name in the logo that was in use from 1966 to 1984.

Of course the tricky part is not every component in these sets were produced the same year. Sometimes excess or discontinued items were included in these sets to move them out. Sometimes sets may have been in stock for several years until they were sold, but that would not affect the mfg date. However, if we assume that all components were of the same year's production (an assumption we are justified in making since we have no hard evidence to the contrary), we have to take the overlap year of the ratchet style and markings with the logo style on the pouches.

Your set was made in 1984.

Wow! Thanks for the detective work and detailed follow up. More than info than I thought possible.

 

[Lesserstore]

Do your metric sockets have the knurled band on the top or on the bottom?

 

[MLM123]

Do your metric sockets have the knurled band on the top or on the bottom?

Knurled on the bottom, under the stamping.

 

[Lesserstore]

Ok thanks. Since we know your set was from 1984, I can change the date of the bottom knurling from c.1985 to c.1984 on my socket history articles.

 

[MLM123]

Ok thanks. Since we know your set was from 1984, I can change the date of the bottom knurling from c.1985 to c.1984 on my socket history articles.

Cool, I double checked to make sure I didn't grab and check a replacement socket. Confirmed, all are bottom knurled.

 

[DadsTools]

Ok thanks. Since we know your set was from 1984, I can change the date of the bottom knurling from c.1985 to c.1984 on my socket history articles.

Hope you're still extending the common courtesy of giving credit in your articles to those who are digging up info you're using. Otherwise one might get the impression that it's all from your own personal research.

Keep in mind that the photos in the catalog cannot always be trusted for the introduction of a design feature or of tool markings. If your original dating for the knurling was derived from 1985 catalog photos, their actual introduction may have been even earlier than 1984.

 

[DadsTools]

Wow! Thanks for the detective work and detailed follow up. More than info than I thought possible.

The ratchets are often the most critical component for dating many vintage Craftsman sets. If you want to see some detailed research with newly discovered findings, check out the essays in the RHFT ratchet type study at

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=455802

And also Jim C.'s extensive Teardrop Ratchet study at:

http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=23826.0

Both have a lot of findings presented to the community for the first time.