Craft C-18 Alloy 9/16 combo wrench (maker?)

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Picked up this wrench at a thrift store yesterday. Another thread mentioned this manufacturer with Japan stamped on the reverse of his. Mine doesn't have any country of origin.

Just curious who made these, perhaps some history? Seems pretty nice quality- wise.

 

[ecotec]

I have about 7 Craft wrenches, and most of them have Chrome loss.

All of mine say Japan on them.

 

[woody 73]

I can answer a few of the op's question so where to start...

Yes, indeed every Craft wrench I have seen were all stamped with made in Japan.

According to the AA website, if the wrench was stamped with the word Japan those were all sent for export to other Countries. If the wrench was not stamped with the Word Japan, then they they were import only.

Somehow someone carried your wrench along with other tools on a plane in Japan for parts unknown, in this case it made it to the USA.

What I cannot tell you is the History of the company that made your wrench, wish I could I bet it would make for an interesting story.

Woody

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

I can answer a few of the op's question so where to start...

Yes, indeed every Craft wrench I have seen were all stamped with made in Japan.

According to the AA website, if the wrench was stamped with the word Japan those were all sent for export to other Countries. If the wrench was not stamped with the Word Japan, then they they were import only.

Somehow someone carried your wrench along with other tools on a plane in Japan for parts unknown, in this case it made it to the USA.

What I cannot tell you is the History of the company that made your wrench, wish I could I bet it would make for an interesting story.

Woody

Woody, thanks. Curious as to where you found info inside Alloy Artifacts. I used their search engine and it didn't return anything on Craft

 

[bbrins]

Would this be the same "Craft" that was making knock-off SK ratchets and sockets? They were making socket sets in Japan in the 70's(?) stamped with part numbers that corresponded to SK's numbers. A quick look on eBay shows c-18 being the part number for an SK 9/16 wrench.

 

[woody 73]

Anything is possible with the Japanese knockoff theory. If you look under the Japanese section of AA the very last paragraph under a mystery wrench, not craft they talk about the import/export, idea.

Perhaps they were made for a car tool kit that they placed in some of their vehicle's???

Just not a lot of information about the Craft tool name to go on.

Funny in a way that I found a very special wrench that I had not seen in my 50 years of tool hunting, even a post story a few days ago I had no hits and that was for an American wrench, with information, go figure the GJ out?

 

[bbrins]

I seem to recall having some kind of brochure or catalog for Craft. I'll have to try and remember to dig it out and post it.

 

[bbrins]

These catalog pages don't have anything about your wrench, but maybe will shed some light on the company.

 

[woody 73]

Very interesting thank you for posting this bbrins.

 

[desertdog256]

Many, if not all of the tools in that catalog have model numbers that correspond to SK tools. I never knew there were such blatant knockoffs.

Interesting that the Craft Tool Company was listed as Philadelphia 30, Pa. This 1964 catalog was certainly designed and printed in 1963, the year that ZIP codes began. Probably the last catalog to use that ”30” in the address.

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

So, being this was an American company, perhaps they made their tools. Wondering if American tool companies in 1963/ 1964 imported tools? I'd like to think that since there's no foreign label affixed to my wrench it was made in the good ol' USA? I do have a small collection of Japan tools but my preference is US manufactured.

 

[bbrins]

On the catalog page with the "carded merchandise", if you zoom in and squint just right, you can just barely make out "MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN UNDER AMERICAN MANAGEMENT" on the packaging. I guess that doesn't necessarily mean that everything was made there though.

 

[desertdog256]

I was just a kid in the early 60s but didn’t “Made in Japan” have a negative connotation back then? Kind of like “Made in China” does today?

Some of that was quality related and I am sure that the generstion hat experienced Pearl Harbor wouldn’t have wanted anything Japanese.

 

[woody 73]

Interesting to note the following post, (now do not jump to any conclusions) about using the same sk numbering system.

How many companies did sk make tools for

How many companies did SK TOOLS make tools for ALL: I haven't started a thread in a while so thought i'd start one off a conversation that will soon be lost in the big SK thread for those of us that care to sort of keep track of. i'll start a list as I get the names from all of you and edit...

www.garagejournal.com

In the 1960's some people were jumping on the bandwagons to sell tools and they had them produced in Japan where the labor at that time was less expensive, I think that is the case with the craft name but I don't know for sure?

 

[bbrins]

At one point, when all I had was just a single example of a Craft 45170 ratchet to go on, I jumped to the conclusion that they were made by SK. Somewhere on here, you could probably dig up an old post or two reflecting that. Since acquiring a couple of their socket sets, and that catalog, I'd be surprised if there was any link to SK.

Here's a link showing my two socket sets right about the time I realized my error...

The Ratchet Collection Thread

Odinru, Your description is a little confusing. You say that the "attachment square" (which I am reading as "drive plug drive stud") is 9.85 mm, and that it "takes on sockets from the set only." But then you go on to say that the sockets "can be attached to any modern 3/8"dr. ratchet." 9.85mm...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[ecotec]

I was just a kid in the early 60s but didn’t “Made in Japan” have a negative connotation back then? Kind of like “Made in China” does today?

Some of that was quality related and I am sure that the generstion hat experienced Pearl Harbor wouldn’t have wanted anything Japanese.

I think that it was much worse than now… there was an anger behind it that I don’t think exists anymore.

I think that anger has lessened notably over the last 30ish years.

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

I was just a kid in the early 60s but didn’t “Made in Japan” have a negative connotation back then? Kind of like “Made in China” does today?

Some of that was quality related and I am sure that the generstion hat experienced Pearl Harbor wouldn’t have wanted anything Japanese.

Oh absolutely. I'm 58 but my dad was a WWII veteran. He held no love for anything Japan. I once showed him a WWII Era Japanese Arisaka rifle that one of my Soldiers sold to me dirt cheap...all he could say is "why the hell would you buy a damn Jap gun for"? I never had much understanding of what his generation went through due to the Pearl Harbor bombing...until, that fateful day of 9/11/01...since that day I totally understand what they went through back then.

 

[desertdog256]

I have never seen amy Craft branded tools in the wild down here in the south. I do go to estate sales, garage sales, and flea markets occasionally and I will be looking for an example.

 

[bbrins]

Here's a page from Chilton's Motor Age, December 1959, showing an ad for a "Nut-Cracker" using the same address. Depending on just how far down the rabbit hole you want to go, there is a name associated with the ad. That name also brings up a patent for a battery cleaning tool.

 

[dchawk81]

Maybe sman got rubbed out.