who made the Saltus wrench for Craftsman

radrush · Apr 21, 2014

Anybody know who manufactured the Saltus wrenches for Craftsman?

jakemac · Apr 21, 2014

The Danaher/Easco/Apex conglomeration. The corporate name depends on when the wrench was made.

radrush · Apr 22, 2014

jakemac said:
The Danaher/Easco/Apex conglomeration. The corporate name depends on when the wrench was made.

Mine are marked VV. What year and maker is that?

woody 73 · Apr 22, 2014

This will not help you with an exact year but rather a rough time line:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84807

VV- Easco. Ca. 1974-1989
VV Danaher 1990-2011

Funny thing but I must be the only one on the GJ that loves the saltus style wrench. :beer:

BK13 · Apr 22, 2014

woody 73 said:
Funny thing but I must be the only one on the GJ that loves the saltus style wrench.

I've never used one, but they always seemed pretty handy to me, i'd like to get SAE and metric sets one day....

Jim C. · Apr 22, 2014

woody 73 said:
This will not help you with an exact year but rather a rough time line:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84807

VV- Easco. Ca. 1974-1989
VV Danaher 1990-2011

Funny thing but I must be the only one on the GJ that loves the saltus style wrench.

You know, I have a set of Craftsman SAE saltus wrenches, but I rarely if ever use them. They seem like good wrenches, but for some reason, they don't get much use.

Jim C.

Roverbo · Apr 22, 2014

radrush said:
Anybody know who manufactured the Saltus wrenches for Craftsman?

Sorry to ask a maybe stupid question, but why do you call them "Saltus wrenches"? To me, being european, Saltus is a german tool manufacturer, now owned by Atlas-Copco. Link:http://www.saltus.de
And yes, they make special flex wrenches like the Craftsman... :dunno:

lbgradwell · Apr 22, 2014

Roverbo said:
Sorry to ask a maybe stupid question, but why do you call them "Saltus wrenches"? To me, being european, Saltus is a german tool manufacturer, now owned by Atlas-Copco.

That is why; much in the same way many people call all adjustables a Crescent wrench here (or a Bahco on your side of the pond)...

3baygarage · Apr 22, 2014

I can't answer that question for you Roverbo but I'd like to know too. Maybe something with an inventor or patent?

Craftsman called them Saltus. Other brands may have, I seem to think I saw it somewhere else too.

Currently:

Armstrong calls them flex head combination.

Snap On calls them combination flex head open end. (Their old ones no longer made with two flex socket ends were just called flex-head).

S-k calls them flex wrench.

Mac calls them combination flex/ box wrench.

Cornwell? Do they make them still? Don't know what they called them.

Roverbo · Apr 22, 2014

lbgradwell said:
That is why; much in the same way many people call all adjustables a Crescent wrench here (or a Bahco on your side of the pond)...

3baygarage said:
I can't answer that question for you Roverbo but I'd like to know too. Maybe something with an inventor or patent?

Craftsman called them Saltus. Other brands may have, I seem to think I saw it somewhere else too. (...)

Thanks for your answers. Yes, we call adjustables for "svensknøgle" (swedish wrench) here in scandinavia.

lbgradwell · Apr 22, 2014

3baygarage said:
Craftsman called them Saltus.

Actually, I don't believe Craftsman ever referred to them as Saltus wrenches; I think they were always called Combination (Open & Socket) Wrenches...

The German company invented the wrench in 1953, so they get the glory! Craftsman introduced their version in 1956.

radrush · Apr 22, 2014

If you want a set by Facom you'll spend nearly $500.

sonvolt · Apr 22, 2014

radrush said:
If you want a set by Facom you'll spend nearly $500.

Holy **** $$$$ !

lbgradwell · Apr 22, 2014

A 7-piece set from Snap-on is US$448.75.

lbgradwell · Apr 22, 2014

The same set in the UK is £421.50 after VAT. That's the equivalent of US$709.01!

Outlawmws · Apr 22, 2014

lbgradwell said:
Actually, I don't believe Craftsman ever referred to them as Saltus wrenches; I think they were always called Combination (Open & Socket) Wrenches...

The German company invented the wrench in 1953, so they get the glory! Craftsman introduced their version in 1956.

57 & 64 catalogs called them "Combination Open-end and Socket Wrenches"

Tarheelgarage · Apr 22, 2014

radrush said:
if you want a set by facom you'll spend nearly $500.

metaldad · Apr 22, 2014

have a set of cman sae rp's, and armstrong polished sae

Outlawmws · Apr 22, 2014

And in 57, cost 8.75 for an 8 pc set vs. $7.98 for a 9 pc DOE set or $5.45 for a 6 pc combo set...

so a buck ten each vs. a buck or less for "std" wrenches...

metaldad · Apr 22, 2014

made me look, Outlaw.
i have an olde cman catalogue, no date i can find, i think early 60's.
6 pc sae for 9.29
3/8 - $1.49
sizes go up by a dime, until 3/4, which was 2.09
btw, same page, directly under, 12'' adjustable for 2.99

metaldad · Apr 22, 2014

9 pc. doe - 9.29
6 pc combo 12 pt 6.29
stupid dog bone for 3.49

3baygarage · Apr 23, 2014

lbgradwell said:
Actually, I don't believe Craftsman ever referred to them as Saltus wrenches; I think they were always called Combination (Open & Socket) Wrenches...

The German company invented the wrench in 1953, so they get the glory! Craftsman introduced their version in 1956.

Craftsman referred to theirs dually as Saltus and Open-End/Socket-End, LB. Here's a 2006-2007 cat. Craftsman sold the S-K version as well via catalog and listed those as Saltus in the index, but called them flex combination on the sale page.

jcfields · Apr 23, 2014

turmlos · Apr 23, 2014

I have a K-D set, which are virtually identical to the later Craftsman but lacking the raised panels. I would love to get my hands on a metric set with off-corner engagement socket ends.

lbgradwell · Apr 24, 2014

3baygarage said:
Craftsman referred to theirs dually as Saltus and Open-End/Socket-End, LB. Here's a 2006-2007 cat. Craftsman sold the S-K version as well via catalog and listed those as Saltus in the index, but called them flex combination on the sale page.

Very interesting! :thumbup:

I wonder when they started referring to them as Saltus?

radrush · Apr 26, 2014

Apparently a double Saltus is even more expensive: a Facom 30x32 mm is $108!

metaldad · Apr 26, 2014

mcmaster has double flex end socket wrenches starting at 44.20, going up to 73.45.
most likely are armstrong brand.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#socket-wrenches-with-attached-sockets/=rpmm17

dede2897234 · Apr 27, 2014

The most economical option for the combination open end/socket wrenches is Carlyle (NAPA). The price for any one wrench between 8 and 19mm is $26.39. Here is the product page for the 8mm wrench: NAPA. The wrenches are made in Taiwan. In the last month, the wrenches were as low as $22.97 each. In addition, if you have a Carlyle club membership and order the wrenches at a NAPA corporate store, a 10% discount applies.

Dave

radrush · Apr 28, 2014

This appears to be the SK SuperKrome set that listed in the Craftsman catalog for $199 (back in the day). :eyecrazy:

What's not clear in the catalog is if these were rebranded with the CRAFTSMAN logo or just sold with the SK logo on them.

http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-to...e&utm_campaign=sc&scpid=26&scid=scsho6828152&

List Price $445.01
Your Price $222.99
Item Number SK 86142
Mfg SK Hand Tool
Part No 86142

bobemmerich · Apr 28, 2014

I had a set of C-man SAE/MM for years. NEVER used them. I sold them a few years ago when I was clearing out my tools..

radrush · Apr 28, 2014

bobemmerich said:
I had a set of C-man SAE/MM for years. NEVER used them. I sold them a few years ago when I was clearing out my tools..

Oh dang. I would have jumped on that! :eyecrazy:

The sets you sold, we're they SK SuperKrome sets? Or the older RP sets?

radrush · Apr 28, 2014

It appears that Williams has 7 Saltus wrench sizes in SAE ranging in price from $20 to $32.

Made in Argentina.

454ragtop · Apr 28, 2014

I bought a mint set of Proto SAE, probably never used, at a yard sale a few years ago for $15., but I don't think I've ever used them either. Don't know why, they seem like a good idea, I just never reach for them. I have a bunch of other singles in all different brands, including some double enders, Snap On, Mac, Craftsman, etc. Some of those I've at least used a couple times.
Jim

radrush · Apr 28, 2014

454ragtop said:
I bought a mint set of Proto SAE, probably never used, at a yard sale a few years ago for $15., but I don't think I've ever used them either. Don't know why, they seem like a good idea, I just never reach for them. I have a bunch of other singles in all different brands, including some double enders, Snap On, Mac, Craftsman, etc. Some of those I've at least used a couple times.
Jim

If you have the Craftsman -VV- in 1/2... 9/16... 5/8... 11/16 in nearly new condition send me a pic if you want to sell. :willy_nil

who made the Saltus wrench for Craftsman

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