unknown craftsman =v= series wrench ?
- Thread starter ReedMeeks
- Start date
Big Bad Dad
Well-known member
Been modified? Does it look like a factory finish in the cut out area??
jakemac
Well-known member
It seems familiar.
Pre-1974 =V= series.
Could it be an early version of the Quick Wrench ?
Pre-1974 =V= series.
Could it be an early version of the Quick Wrench ?
Thanks Jim C. for the pictures... it is nice to see what they looked like when originally purchasing. I think I'm like LXCam with the thought that these don't really work that well. I couldn't see what was special about it unless it was a specialty tool. I don't really see why they consider it "ratcheting" but I get the general idea of what they were going for. I'd love to have a set like the pictures you showed of these just for collecting purposes though.
woody 73
Well-known member
yes indeed what the op has is an early version of the quick wrench.
thehorse13
Well-known member
I would have given you my set of quick wrenches for free. Worst tools I've ever used. Mine were from the height of the Craftsman gimmick tool era when Bon Vila was hucking these gems.
Hey Reed,
I've never been a believer in open end ratcheting wrenches. They might seem like a good idea, but they're really not great. At least the box ends are okay. A long while back I bought the middle three sizes in well used condition for my collection of Craftsman =V= tools. I think Sears/Craftsman initially offered the middle three sizes only. Later (in the 1960s I think) the set was expanded to five wrenches. I bought the set shown above within the last couple years. As you can see, the wrenches themselves are in practically new condition. They clearly didn't get much use. Someone probably bought them new and soon thereafter realized that they weren't as useful as a standard open wrench. Although I wouldn't buy an open end ratcheting wrench to use, from a collector's point of view, I couldn't pass them up.
Jim C.
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Jim C. I just joined the garage journal the other day. I am always running across this site constantly for the last several years when I'm doing google searches to learn more about tools....so I finally decided to join. I'm probably not like most members, I don't use tools as much as the normal person on here probably....although I've done my share of construction work and such....but now I work for a pawn shop and do the online sales. I like selling tools and especially hand tools...I've noticed how well this older Craftsman stuff sells and actually read up a lot about it through different threads I found here....I'm still learning though...but anyway this wrench was one I found here at work and I was trying to figure out just what it was since there was no model number.
WWheeler
Well-known member
They certainly do work. I've used those old Craftsman Quick Wrenches a lot changing chipper blades on old whisper chippers where you had to stick an open end into a dark slot onto a hex rod. You'd have to fumble around blind trying to get the open end on it and there was just enough room for that 1/6 turn to get to the next flat and you had to repeat that about 50 times (~9 full revolutions) or more just to get it loose/tight enough and there were 3 such fasteners on each of 4 blades.
That Craftsman Quick Wrench turned over an hour's job into under 20 minutes and made it look easy-peasy. It made working the open end blind just as fast as if you were using a ratchet. I used to oversee an area that had more than a dozen chippers that needed blades changed at least once a month, among the other million things I had to take care of. The Quick Wrench was a Godsend.
I've also have used the Snap On 'speed open end' versions which have a little different design - the cutaway is on the bottom instead of the top of the open end - but they work exactly the same. Of the two I actually prefer the Craftsmans.
That Craftsman Quick Wrench turned over an hour's job into under 20 minutes and made it look easy-peasy. It made working the open end blind just as fast as if you were using a ratchet. I used to oversee an area that had more than a dozen chippers that needed blades changed at least once a month, among the other million things I had to take care of. The Quick Wrench was a Godsend.
I've also have used the Snap On 'speed open end' versions which have a little different design - the cutaway is on the bottom instead of the top of the open end - but they work exactly the same. Of the two I actually prefer the Craftsmans.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
ReedMeeks said:
There were no part numbers stamped on earlier Craftsman hand tools. Part numbers came later.
All the comments above are correct, including the "they're useless" and "they're a Godsend" comments - you either love them or hate them.
The 3/4" size sold for a whole 85 cents brand new in 1955:
(* note the catalog states "please state size wanted" - because there were no part numbers at that time. )
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There were no part numbers stamped on earlier Craftsman hand tools. Part numbers came later........
The 3/4" size sold for a whole 85 cents brand new in 1955:
(* note the catalog states "please state size wanted" - because there were no part numbers at that time. )
Hey four.cycle,
That's an interesting catalog page. I had no idea that Craftsman offered the wrench in a 3/4" size. All along I've been thinking there were five sizes (3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16 and 5/8). I'll have to keep an eye out for one of those. Wonder if they made any other sizes? Good post.
Jim C.
DFB
Well-known member
Gee I never knew that design dated far back like that. I would have always been thinking it was generally a more recent weird Sears thing from that Bob Villa era. I have a 7 pc set of both metric and SAE from back then. I find the most redeeming feature of these later ones is that they are longer than the standard 6 or 12 point raised panel combination wrenches. I mostly use them for the extra leverage but just with the box end.
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nbpt100
Well-known member
I never bought them. But I can see the point of them being very helpful as long as you don't have to apply too much torque and the bolt head is in good condition.
Some newer designs have some sort of spring loaded piece.
I would not call them trash. I consider them a specialty tool with a limited range of use.
Some newer designs have some sort of spring loaded piece.
I would not call them trash. I consider them a specialty tool with a limited range of use.
WWheeler
Well-known member
I've got a 10pc set of -VΛ- from 1/4" through 13/16"
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WWheeler
Well-known member
Now all Craftsman had to do was switch the box end out for a swivel socket and they woulda had something!
Heh, I love my Craftsman saltus wrenches too! I still use them all the time.
bill300d
Well-known member
Jim C. I believe that what you have is as complete a set as they offered in the =V= series. Below is what I found in the catalogs I checked.
Not in 52 cat
54 cat 7/16, 1/2, 9/16 available. advertised as new
55-57 cats 7/16, 1/2, 9/16 available
59-69 cats 3/8-5/8 available
not in the 70 or 72 cats
Not in 52 cat
54 cat 7/16, 1/2, 9/16 available. advertised as new
55-57 cats 7/16, 1/2, 9/16 available
59-69 cats 3/8-5/8 available
not in the 70 or 72 cats
I started a thread on these a couple months ago,I found a pretty complete set of metric and sae set of the newer longer style,i've been using them and I must say they do work but best results are to break the nut loose with the closed end and
Then use the open ratchet end.As noted above the best feature is the extra length of the wrench itself.
Then use the open ratchet end.As noted above the best feature is the extra length of the wrench itself.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
DFB said:
Much farther back, apparently:
Frank C. Reilly Ltd. NY, NY.
patent 1624508A ( http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=13853 )
(see also Simplex)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Frank-C-Rei...922767?hash=item2a7889cb0f:g:RJEAAOSwImRYWz2C
http://www.ebay.com/itm/No-13-SIMPL...765962?hash=item1ebf2313ca:g:T-YAAOSwjDZYbocD
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Dennis Leigh Henry
Well-known member
Very interesting thread.. I never saw these "back in the day" or I would have purchased them I'm certain.. 
Thanks bill,
That's EXACTLY what I was looking for.....I was really just wondering what Sears/Craftsman offered with the =V= manufacturer's mark. I'm wondering if the 3/4" size was a misprint or something. I've never seen a 3/4" with a =V= mark.
Jim C.
DFB
Well-known member
(Not to sidetrack anything and just as a note I have seen a lot of strange wrenches/machine tools especially during my early years in the factory maintenance and manufacturing. Then some years back I was collecting a few oddball wrenches just for a hobby usually finding them at the flea mkt. for loose change. I once had the idea I was do a wall mount display in my garage.. Anyhow that didn't pan out and knowing my ex-wife they probably all ended up on Ebay)
Yes, it is a ratcheting wrench. Let's you go back and forth without completely removing the wrench from the bolt or nut. You much flip it over to go from tightening to loosening.
The "v" stands for Vanadium. All of the good quality wrenches are forged from Chrome-Vanadium high alloy steel and properly tempered and heat treated. It's a type of high quality steel that is both hard and tough. Even if a wrench comes from China or Japan, if it's hot forged from Chrome-Vanadium high alloy steel it is a good wrench. Name alone does not make a good tool. The real Quality comes from the type steel and method of manufacturing. I have a full set of Tatools brand wrenches from Korea that's as good as any USA name brand. That being said, I do love Craftsman tools. And the tool you've shown is an Excellent example of high quality wrench. It should last you a lifetime then hand it down to your kid and he can use it his lifetime. Congratulations!
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
The "v" stands for Vanadium. All of the good quality wrenches are forged from Chrome-Vanadium high alloy steel and properly tempered and heat treated. It's a type of high quality steel that is both hard and tough. Even if a wrench comes from China or Japan, if it's hot forged from Chrome-Vanadium high alloy steel it is a good wrench. Name alone does not make a good tool. The real Quality comes from the type steel and method of manufacturing. I have a full set of Tatools brand wrenches from Korea that's as good as any USA name brand. That being said, I do love Craftsman tools. And the tool you've shown is an Excellent example of high quality wrench. It should last you a lifetime then hand it down to your kid and he can use it his lifetime. Congratulations!
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
The =v= is a mfg. identity mark
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
I, too made the mistake of buying 2 sets of quick wrenches.
IIRC they were marketed as a non mechanical alternative to the ratcheting box end. All I can say about them is that they were pure garbage, and a total disappointment.
IIRC they were marketed as a non mechanical alternative to the ratcheting box end. All I can say about them is that they were pure garbage, and a total disappointment.
Back even farther than that!
Williams RATCHO patent 1910
http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=956259&typeCode=0
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Agreed. The metric set looks stamped.
(Sorry for the confusion)