JC Penney and Montgomery Ward (POWR-KRAFT) Tools wish book pages

Blacknwhitepit · Feb 6, 2011

What is amazing is that the prices have not gone up that much. Tools are less expensive now than back then. That is for sure.

From 1970 JC PENNEY

1966 JCPENNEY

1976 JCPENNEY

Whoops How did that get in there?

1981 MONTGOMERY WARD

bobcatdan · Feb 6, 2011

That flip vise is cool.

trexdoink · Feb 6, 2011

Cool! I love those old catalog pics. I save all of them i can get. If i remember right those ratchets were pretty solid.

TAMPAGT07 · Feb 6, 2011

I remember, as a kid, one of the best times of the year was when we got the Sears X-Mas catalog...

mikevango · Feb 6, 2011

bobcatdan said:
That flip vise is cool.

yea, i like that too.

old salvage · Feb 6, 2011

Thanks bwp this is awesome.
(including the suit)

philw · Feb 6, 2011

Great finds! If you ever want to know what NOT to wear then pick up any old 70's catalog......ugh....the above pic is a great example.

I did a quick check on an inflation calculator and the 1st JCPenney set (39.99) would be about $218.50 in 2009 prices. Seems like a good deal to me. It looks like most of it was supplied by New Britain which I would rate higher quality then Craftsman (today's Craftsman).

Amitygravel · Feb 6, 2011

Neat stuff , too bad Montgomery Wards isn't still around. Does JC Penney even sell tools anymore ? I haven't been in one in years.

Displaced Hokie · Feb 6, 2011

Very cool. I love old ads. I have that clamp on vise, always wondered what it was.

The boxes...not so cool. That 70's thin, crappy sheet metal stuff was horrible. It might be from China today, but stuff like that is way better. In fact, anything "cheap" is way better than it used to be.

How about that ratchet with the socket storage in the handle! Gimmicks never cease.

Hiball · Feb 6, 2011

Id like to Place a Order, Can you arrange that for me?

Stuart in MN · Feb 6, 2011

I have a 1972 Wards catalog. It is fun to look at all the tools and hardware they sold back then, along with all the bad fashion...The scary thing is I can remember wearing some of that stuff.

TurboCup87 · Feb 6, 2011

The first set of tools that I bought was a mechanics set from Monkey Wards. I got it in 1970. I still have most of the socket set, including the ratchet which still works perfectly.

racer1735 · Feb 6, 2011

I went to visit my parents over the holidays and noticed that my dad's tool cabinet is full of Powr-kraft stuff (mainly wrenches, sockets, pliers and screwdrivers). And its all still going strong.

jhn9840 · Feb 6, 2011

Amitygravel said:
Neat stuff , too bad Montgomery Wards isn't still around. Does JC Penney even sell tools anymore ? I haven't been in one in years.

Not in a long time. Still have a set of JC Penney tools similar to the 85 piece set shown above. First set of tools I ever owned. Got them for my 16th birthday in 75.

jhn9840
John

Builder302 · Feb 7, 2011

Did Wright make any of their stuff? Looks similar.

1QUICKMach · Feb 7, 2011

The top one is the first tool set that I ever bought. Still use all the time.

philw · Feb 7, 2011

Builder302 said:
Did Wright make any of their stuff? Looks similar.

Wright seems to have supplied Wards at one point but I don't know the time period.

There was a thread somewhere that compared Wards/Powrkraft to Wright.

All of the Penneys/Penncraft ratchets I have seen look to be from New Britain.

dumb as a stump · Feb 7, 2011

Note that those prices was before the 3 c brand that we have now (Cheap Chinese ****) and even those cheap tools lasted for years. They weren't good for a pro but for the average homeowner they were great. Now many aren't any good for any purpose even the first time. Heck we used to complain about japan stuff but that was far better than now. And it's getting worse all the time because we accept and buy their **** and are willing to throw it away when it breaks.

Thumper · Feb 7, 2011

Those old ads are awesome !!.........Now pardon me gents while I go change the plugs in my Pacer while using my J.C. Penny tools and wearing my leisure suit......far out man.... :thumbup:

old salvage · Feb 7, 2011

dumb as a stump said:
... They weren't good for a pro but for the average homeowner they were great....

Actually I think the ratchets in the first pic were also sold by Mac.

pima67 · Feb 7, 2011

How about some pics of the real thing?

I bought them in the late '60's or early '70's. They still work.

Thumper · Feb 7, 2011

I was in Hobby Lobby the other day and those X-Acto knife sets are $26.95....the same one that is $14.99 in the ad.

Cougar67 · Feb 7, 2011

There are a bunch of old catalogs scanned and online at
http://www.wishbookweb.com
Hours of enjoyment.

zoomieport · Apr 15, 2012

The flip-vise is a "Wilton", I think.. I have one with the Wilton name on it anyway..

SILVERPLATE · Apr 15, 2012

My Power Karft wrenches. First tools I ever bought.

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