Black & Decker Workmate
- Thread starter abstamaria
- Start date
You didn't say what model your Workmate is, but I'll guess that it's a 79-001. Original replacements are no longer available, but you can modify a handle from a newer model to work. See my web page about how to do this:
https://h-frame.weebly.com/handle-replacement.html
Ereplacement parts has had any parts I’ve needed for my 30 year old model
The 79-001 is now a 44-to-52-year-old model; no parts available.
txlonghorn1989
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2017
- Messages
- 2,786
Yes, it is a 79-001. I've got a type E, type 6 and the type 7.
Hooked
Well-known member
Well, ya'll made me finally pull out my old WM to see what I have. I haven't used it in many years, primarily because I stored out of the way and got hidden when I stored other things around it, and forgotten how useful it can be.
At any rate it's a 400 that my wife gave me for Christmas back in the early 80s. Looking at Wolf's website it was manufactured beginning in '82 and I'm thinking that's around the time I got it. If there are any identifying numbers, etc on it I didn't find any. However, I had to replace the top pieces somewhere along the line as it got soaked and the top crumbled due to being particle board.
At any rate it's a 400 that my wife gave me for Christmas back in the early 80s. Looking at Wolf's website it was manufactured beginning in '82 and I'm thinking that's around the time I got it. If there are any identifying numbers, etc on it I didn't find any. However, I had to replace the top pieces somewhere along the line as it got soaked and the top crumbled due to being particle board.
As detailed in my post on the Garage Sale thread, I found a 79-001 Type 6 Workmate at an estate sale today, with clamps, for $10! 
Left-hand collapse lever is broken, but I'm well pleased with the condition otherwise!
Left-hand collapse lever is broken, but I'm well pleased with the condition otherwise!
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Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
This one just popped up on Mp. I’ve never seen a blue one before.
The blue metal frame goes all the way back to the first Workmates made by Ron Hickman's Mate Tools Company, before Black & Decker bought the rights.
https://h-frame.weebly.com/mate-tools-workmate.html
Most of the UK Workmates from Black & Decker continued with the blue frames into the 1980's.
The 79-034 Workmate 400 was the third of three blue-framed U.S. Workmates that I know of. You can see it here in the 1983 B&D catalog where it was introduced.
https://h-frame.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/0/4/130458025/black_decker_catalog_excerpt_1983.pdf
The 400 was changed to black after just a few years. The 79-001 Type 3 from 1976 and Type 5 from 1977 were the two earlier blue ones, actually UK WM625 Workmates that were imported and relabeled for the U.S.
https://h-frame.weebly.com/mate-tools-workmate.html
Most of the UK Workmates from Black & Decker continued with the blue frames into the 1980's.
The 79-034 Workmate 400 was the third of three blue-framed U.S. Workmates that I know of. You can see it here in the 1983 B&D catalog where it was introduced.
https://h-frame.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/0/4/130458025/black_decker_catalog_excerpt_1983.pdf
The 400 was changed to black after just a few years. The 79-001 Type 3 from 1976 and Type 5 from 1977 were the two earlier blue ones, actually UK WM625 Workmates that were imported and relabeled for the U.S.
captain14
Well-known member
@wolfcj
The B&D Stowaway Step Stool
When we were closing down my parents house last fall, I brought this folding B&D folding step stool home. It was probably manufactured during the same time frame the Workmates were coming out. If I remember correctly my mother asked me about this along with a Workmate for a Xmas gift for my father.
The B&D Stowaway Step Stool
When we were closing down my parents house last fall, I brought this folding B&D folding step stool home. It was probably manufactured during the same time frame the Workmates were coming out. If I remember correctly my mother asked me about this along with a Workmate for a Xmas gift for my father.
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The Stowaway Step stool was introduced in 1979, produced by their Housewares division, along with Dustbusters, clothes irons, and the like, not the Tools Division, so there was no relation to the Workmate that I know of. It was on the market until the mid-1980's.
However, in 1995 they also applied the Stowaway name to a Workmate accessory, the Workmate Stowaway Project Organizer 79-014, a plastic shelf/tray/drawer that fits across the H-frames of a Workmate. Notice how its catalog number 79-014 fits in with the numbers of the Workmates and their accessories from 15 to 20 years earlier. I think it was only on the market for a year or two.
However, in 1995 they also applied the Stowaway name to a Workmate accessory, the Workmate Stowaway Project Organizer 79-014, a plastic shelf/tray/drawer that fits across the H-frames of a Workmate. Notice how its catalog number 79-014 fits in with the numbers of the Workmates and their accessories from 15 to 20 years earlier. I think it was only on the market for a year or two.
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It occurred to me today that this might be in one of my vintage catalogs, and, sure enough, here it is in the 1982 Consumer Products catalog. I also realized today that B&D didn't have a specific housewares division until a few years later when they purchased the Housewares Division of General Electric in 1984.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Modern Garage
Well-known member
I use my trash-picked Stowaway stool at least once a week.
Guess I'll have to start wearing my high school bell bottoms, too...
Joe
Guess I'll have to start wearing my high school bell bottoms, too...
Joe
driftpin
Well-known member
And be sure to switch-on the amplifiers on your car stereo MindBlowers when you're headed to the mall to buy a '60's/'70's wall poster or two.
Hi Bud!
If you can name all three of these guys in 10 seconds or less, you were there (living in the 1970's).
Modern Garage
Well-known member
I watched that movie enough times, I see those guys in my sleep.
After reading all these post about the B&D WB, etc......it definitely has gotten my interest in possibly buying one.
It could possibly come in handy for usage and limited space availability.
I remember seeing them on commercial advertisements on tv from back in the day (70's).
It could possibly come in handy for usage and limited space availability.
I remember seeing them on commercial advertisements on tv from back in the day (70's).
y'sguy
Well-known member
they do come in handy, I did the same as you by reading these posts and I have two of the earlier aluminum/steel versions.
I have extra if you wanted to buy one?
Depends on where you are of course.
maybe you should put your location in your ID thingamajig.
I have extra if you wanted to buy one?
Depends on where you are of course.
maybe you should put your location in your ID thingamajig.
paulsomlo
Well-known member
For many years, I wrote them off as consumer grade gadgetry, on the level of Popeil's Pocket Fisherman. Then, someone gave me one - now I have three. They're incredibly useful and well built - not only do they make great temporary workstations, but I've pressed two into service as mobile machine bases, on top of a platform with casters.After reading all these post about the B&D WB, etc......it definitely has gotten my interest in possibly buying one.
It could possibly come in handy for usage and limited space availability.
I remember seeing them on commercial advertisements on tv from back in the day (70's).
Outlawmws
Well-known member
For many years, I wrote them off as consumer grade gadgetry, on the level of Popeil's Pocket Fisherman. Then, someone gave me one - now I have three. They're incredibly useful and well built - not only do they make great temporary workstations, but I've pressed two into service as mobile machine bases, on top of a platform with casters.
Definitely not a gimmick. The better ones (non TV tray type) are great tools and much better that the old saw horse standby almost always.
paulsomlo
Well-known member
Yep - and they typically go for cheap on the used market. So much so, that it's not worth building machine bases for the price these can be had.