Craftsman G sockets inverted why and date

[bmills2]

Craftsman Inverted G socket time line and why?
G = Easco, ca. 1980 - 1989 perhaps as early as 1979 Was these inverted ? No?
Inverted started with the change from Easco to Danaher ?
G continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011 Was this when the inverted G started ? Yes ? was this the first Craftsman Head Lock socket? Headlock started 1990-1992? All 1990 G and newer are inverted G?

G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000 - 2004 The G1 was also inverted? After looking on Ebay all G1 are inverted

G2 = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2008 G2 was also inverted ? After looking on Ebay all G2 are inverted

G2D = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2011 G2D have there own new model number and was not inverted

 

[bmills2]

If you are a collector you may collect the =V= or the -V- or even the G 1980 -1989 turned the way it should be , But if you are a mechanic you need the upside down G 1990 and newer series with Headlock. Snap on had the patent until around 1990.

 

[Adri2771]

Craftsman Inverted G socket time line and why?
G = Easco, ca. 1980 - 1989 perhaps as early as 1979 Was these inverted ? No?
Inverted started with the change from Easco to Danaher ?
G continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011 Was this when the inverted G started ? Yes ? was this the first Craftsman Head Lock socket? Headlock started 1990-1992? All 1990 G and newer are inverted G?

G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000 - 2004 The G1 was also inverted? After looking on Ebay all G1 are inverted

G2 = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2008 G2 was also inverted ? After looking on Ebay all G2 are inverted

G2D = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2011 G2D have there own new model number and was not inverted

Who was the manufacturer for inverted series D2G sockets?

 

[four.cycle]

Hello there @Adri2771

Craftsman Hand Tool Manufacturers & Date Ranges

keep this link handy at all times

and this one too

Welcome to the site!

 

[Adri2771]

Hey thanks! I’ve been researching, cleaning/soaking in Evapo-Rust, sorting, inventorying and pricing a socket collection that includes S&K, Snap-On, Plomb, Craftsman, Cornwell, Proto and Thorsen. I’m gonna be sad to see them go because it’s been so fun reading about these companies and researching their products. I appreciate the resources!

 

[rbryantaz]

If you are a collector you may collect the =V= or the -V- or even the G 1980 -1989 turned the way it should be , But if you are a mechanic you need the upside down G 1990 and newer series with Headlock. Snap on had the patent until around 1990.

Great Post.

I had to go to my drawer and compare and sure enough you can see the headlock curve on the inverted G.

Here is a side by side picture of a 3/8" drive 15mm deep 6pts with inverted G on the top and G on the bottom.
The headlock arc is visible and you can feel it if you trace the socket with a small pick tool or screwdriver.

This post inspired me to swap out some of my G sockets for inverted G and G1. I originally had an inverted G set and had just bought a used G set not realizing the difference. I have more nostalgia for inverted G anyway so I am just going to sell the non headlock sets. I also have some G2's but the double detent supposedly isn't great for some ratchets (although mine seem fine with it).

 

[rbryantaz]

Great Post.

I had to go to my drawer and compare and sure enough you can see the headlock curve on the inverted G.

Here is a side by side picture of a 3/8" drive 15mm deep 6pts with inverted G on the top and G on the bottom.
The headlock arc is visible and you can feel it if you trace the socket with a small pick tool or screwdriver.

This post inspired me to swap out some of my G sockets for inverted G and G1. I originally had an inverted G set and had just bought a used G set not realizing the difference. I have more nostalgia for inverted G anyway so I am just going to sell the non headlock sets. I also have some G2's but the double detent supposedly isn't great for some ratchets (although mine seem fine with it).

Assuming that the tighter center of the socket is a giveaway headlock actually appears to be a running change in the regular G series... Some of mine have it and some don't... The socket pictured above is from a set that I have which is mixed V and G and they seem like they came in a set that way (probably late V and early G).

The 3/8 drive shallow metric 6pt regular G sockets that I have do appear to have headlock. I can measure the radius with a my calipers and on the 15mm socket it will range from 15.6mm on the outside to 15.3 in the middle. (one 15mm G1 socket which strangely is double detent is tighter at 15.46, 15.25). If I compare the 15mm deep G pictured in the previous post it is 15.3 straight across.

I then have a set of 3/8 drive shallow SAE 6pt G sockets and half of them seem to be straight cut and the other half seem to have the wider edges which seems to signify the headlock change.

-Rich