drink
Well-known member
I've found some really good deals on NOS made in USA Craftsman hand tools.
Craftsman NOS tool prices
- Thread starter PoorOwner
- Start date
Fair enuff i really could care less as i dont have a dog in this fight..but if you can please help on some history it would be appreciated..
I have some =v=
I have some -v-
And i have some what appeares to be G marked
Truth is all of this stuff is old metric stuff for working on my vintage dirt bikes , hodaka and the like..it is high polish and really nice old stuff from years ago..i have some inch stuff in there as well but mostly old snap on sets...i forgot when i bought it and well i never gave a rats **** about a letter on a socket..felt good in my hand..was metric so i bought it...may be i should lock this stuff up in a safe..
I have some =v=
I have some -v-
And i have some what appeares to be G marked
Truth is all of this stuff is old metric stuff for working on my vintage dirt bikes , hodaka and the like..it is high polish and really nice old stuff from years ago..i have some inch stuff in there as well but mostly old snap on sets...i forgot when i bought it and well i never gave a rats **** about a letter on a socket..felt good in my hand..was metric so i bought it...may be i should lock this stuff up in a safe..
Thank you.. even my G stuff is some really nice stuff..dang i never thought that stuff would ever be worth anything but to me..ive wrentched on a lot of bikes with that stuff
fatfillup
Well-known member
I have never sold anything on ebay and doubt I will sell any Cman unless its some real old stuff there.
I have some John Deere tools, some Chrysler gold plated sets, lots of Snappy and other items that don't interest my customer base. Just going to try to widen my audience and see if stuff will sell.
warmpancakes
Well-known member
made in USA John deere stuff esp the bonney stuff $$$$$$
Gold plated chrysler tools not much demand unless its the odd ball stuff
fatfillup
Well-known member
^^^^^exactly^^^^
But the gold will sell for enough for me to make a few $'s and so far it hasn't sold in my store. Just need to widen my audience to move some things and to get decent money for the tools some folks collect. The JD will sell well and I have some Snappy stuff that will move that I haven't sold here. One example is I have 3 sets of Snappy hook and or pin spanners that haven't sold and I think they will move on ebay for 1/2 of retail which is what I typically sell for. Just an additional marketing tool I have yet to use.
But the gold will sell for enough for me to make a few $'s and so far it hasn't sold in my store. Just need to widen my audience to move some things and to get decent money for the tools some folks collect. The JD will sell well and I have some Snappy stuff that will move that I haven't sold here. One example is I have 3 sets of Snappy hook and or pin spanners that haven't sold and I think they will move on ebay for 1/2 of retail which is what I typically sell for. Just an additional marketing tool I have yet to use.
byoungblood
Well-known member
Craftsman was a good value when they were still US made, and before their quality started slipping post K-Mart acquisition of Sears. I think the reason why some are willing to pay a premium is because they have big name recognition unlike S-K, Wright, Proto, Armstrong, etc., so there are a lot of people who think they're a "premium" brand based on that alone.
That said, I'm certainly not going to pay any premium for them, particularly used, just because they're US made. Most of the pawn shops around here have started jumping on the US Craftsman bandwagon lately, segregating them out of the rest of their sockets and wrenches and charging 2-3 times what they were going for a year ago. Works for me, I'll just grab the S-K wrench or ratchet sitting in the next bin for $1.
That said, I'm certainly not going to pay any premium for them, particularly used, just because they're US made. Most of the pawn shops around here have started jumping on the US Craftsman bandwagon lately, segregating them out of the rest of their sockets and wrenches and charging 2-3 times what they were going for a year ago. Works for me, I'll just grab the S-K wrench or ratchet sitting in the next bin for $1.
I could give a **** less what people sell their property for on Ebay. There is enough turnover of Craftsman stuff on Ebay that you will eventually find what you want for a decent price and not get **** hurt over someone not selling for what you want it at that time.
Everybody is a capitalist with their stuff at selling and a socialist when they are looking to buy.
Everybody is a capitalist with their stuff at selling and a socialist when they are looking to buy.
Well said!
logical
Well-known member
When did selling stuff for what someone is willing to pay become "greedy"? Are there auctions I don't know about where things get sold to the first bidder and not the highest bidder?
ganymede
Well-known member
One thing I don't get about the list, is it when tools were made or when they were last sold ?
.
logical
Well-known member
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logical
Well-known member
There is all the info you'd ever want on the net, but here is a partial basic list that covers this discussion:
V = Moore Drop Forge, ca. 1946 - 1967
V (continued) = Easco, ca. 1968 - 1986 perhaps as late as 1991 as NOS
VE = Danaher, ca. ? - ?
VF = Danaher, ca. likely early 1990's
VG = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1995
VH = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1997
VJ = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 2008
VK = Danaher, ca. 1996 - ?
VL = Danaher, ca. 1995
VM = Vermont American, 1959 - 1989 (found on tap & die sets & circular law blades)
VM = Danaher, ca. 1998 - ?
VN = Danaher, ca. 1999 - 2001
VP = Danaher, ca. 2000 - ?
VQ = Danaher, ca. 2001 - 2004
VR = Danaher, ca. 2002
VS = Danaher, ca. 1995 - 2003 (Ratchets only)
VT = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2006
VU = Danaher, ca. 2005 (Ratchets only)
VV = Easco, ca. 1974 - 1989
VV continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011
VW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2009
V^(2nd V inverted) = Danaher, Armstrong Division, ca. 1992 - 2012
^V(1st V inverted) = Danaher, ca. 2010 - ?
VVH = Danaher, ca. 1997 - ?
VVL = Danaher, ca. 2000 - ?
VVM = Danaher, ca. ? - ? (Ratchets only)
VVN = Danaher, ca. 2005
VVS = Danaher, ca. 2003
VVT = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2005
VVV = Danaher, ca. 2008 (Ratchets only)
VVW = Danaher, ca. 2008
VVX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, possibly earlier
VVY = Danaher, ca. 2009 - 2009
VVZ = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011
VVAA = Danaher, ca. 2011 -2012
VVAC = Apex Group, ca. 2010 - ? (Ratchet only)
V = Moore Drop Forge, ca. 1946 - 1967
V (continued) = Easco, ca. 1968 - 1986 perhaps as late as 1991 as NOS
VE = Danaher, ca. ? - ?
VF = Danaher, ca. likely early 1990's
VG = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1995
VH = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1997
VJ = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 2008
VK = Danaher, ca. 1996 - ?
VL = Danaher, ca. 1995
VM = Vermont American, 1959 - 1989 (found on tap & die sets & circular law blades)
VM = Danaher, ca. 1998 - ?
VN = Danaher, ca. 1999 - 2001
VP = Danaher, ca. 2000 - ?
VQ = Danaher, ca. 2001 - 2004
VR = Danaher, ca. 2002
VS = Danaher, ca. 1995 - 2003 (Ratchets only)
VT = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2006
VU = Danaher, ca. 2005 (Ratchets only)
VV = Easco, ca. 1974 - 1989
VV continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011
VW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2009
V^(2nd V inverted) = Danaher, Armstrong Division, ca. 1992 - 2012
^V(1st V inverted) = Danaher, ca. 2010 - ?
VVH = Danaher, ca. 1997 - ?
VVL = Danaher, ca. 2000 - ?
VVM = Danaher, ca. ? - ? (Ratchets only)
VVN = Danaher, ca. 2005
VVS = Danaher, ca. 2003
VVT = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2005
VVV = Danaher, ca. 2008 (Ratchets only)
VVW = Danaher, ca. 2008
VVX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, possibly earlier
VVY = Danaher, ca. 2009 - 2009
VVZ = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011
VVAA = Danaher, ca. 2011 -2012
VVAC = Apex Group, ca. 2010 - ? (Ratchet only)
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Considering the stock market makes you money when you get in low and sell high, I'd say that's the way it's supposed to work. I'm sure if you have an investment, you'd better hope that's the way it rolls.
drink
Well-known member
I have a socket set with VV on them from the 1970's. Another set has GK on the sockets, H or G on the extensions, and T2V on the ratchet. My G series should be made by Danaher. I wonder how much my sets are worth.
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thesilverone
Well-known member
10 bucks max
drink
Well-known member
How much are yours worth? Will you post some pictures of them?
Vantastic
Well-known member
Ok. It's worth $200. You feel better now.
Were talking tools, not financial planning. But I get the loose relation point you are trying to make.
Profit is profit. If you're the investor, you want profit. If you're the tool maker, you want profit. If you're the tool user, you want value.
Depending on which side of the fence you're on shapes your opinion. If you're both a tool user and a share holder of that company, you ride both sides of the fence.
To the right buyer, perhaps it is. You'd be suprised what people will pay just to push the button and have it show up without having to do the leg work.
When I was on the Craftsman forum, there was a fellow that was willing to pay just about anything for the old style zipper case tool set he had that he misplaced. He posted about it for years. I hope he found it.
I mean there are folks on this forum that will trip over just about anything for (insert) brand and I think you'd be nuts, so how is a Cman fan any different? We all like what we like.
inline five
Well-known member
I was fortunate that when I was in the market to purchase the vast majority of my hand tools, I had the extra money to purchase Craftsman vs. Harbor Freight and also Craftsman was still USA made. I bought new, in store or online, between 2010-2012:
- 300+ piece socket set
- Large 1/2" impact socket set (50? pc)
- Ridiculous amount of extensions, from regular to locking to wobble
- That big set of swivel sockets, 1/4" and 3/8" SAE and MM
- Huge set of RP wrenches (hence sold off most, replaced with Industrial polished see below)
- Double box RP wrenches (also sold off)
- Pick set
- Pro pick set
- Decent selection of screw drivers (are these still USA or have they moved on too?)
- Thin profile wrench set (I hope these never break, they are amazing)
- Pro 5 pc prybar set
- Industrial polished wrench set when they went on major clearance at the outlets
- Professional polished double box deep offset wrench set
- Professional 3 pc snap ring pliers set
- Cold punches/chisels set
- Two larger adjustable wrenches
- Oil filter wrench thingy
- Magnetic pickup tool (USA, believe it or not)
- Old school torque wrench with the bendable needle (amazingly accurate for the $$)
If I were shopping now I'd be buying online and buying foreign most likely, probably some Harbor Freight thrown in for good measure.
I will say I had some quality control issues with some things. The vast majority of items were flawless, but there were some that needed to be replaced. They were either shipped out by Apex to me directly or exchanged in the store, no questions asked. It's too bad Sears went this way with the Craftsman brand, but they had no choice, they are trying to squeeze blood from a turnip. I hope SK can continue to ramp up, I might be replacing my sockets for theirs in the future. I really like their chroming.
- 300+ piece socket set
- Large 1/2" impact socket set (50? pc)
- Ridiculous amount of extensions, from regular to locking to wobble
- That big set of swivel sockets, 1/4" and 3/8" SAE and MM
- Huge set of RP wrenches (hence sold off most, replaced with Industrial polished see below)
- Double box RP wrenches (also sold off)
- Pick set
- Pro pick set
- Decent selection of screw drivers (are these still USA or have they moved on too?)
- Thin profile wrench set (I hope these never break, they are amazing)
- Pro 5 pc prybar set
- Industrial polished wrench set when they went on major clearance at the outlets
- Professional polished double box deep offset wrench set
- Professional 3 pc snap ring pliers set
- Cold punches/chisels set
- Two larger adjustable wrenches
- Oil filter wrench thingy
- Magnetic pickup tool (USA, believe it or not)
- Old school torque wrench with the bendable needle (amazingly accurate for the $$)
If I were shopping now I'd be buying online and buying foreign most likely, probably some Harbor Freight thrown in for good measure.
I will say I had some quality control issues with some things. The vast majority of items were flawless, but there were some that needed to be replaced. They were either shipped out by Apex to me directly or exchanged in the store, no questions asked. It's too bad Sears went this way with the Craftsman brand, but they had no choice, they are trying to squeeze blood from a turnip. I hope SK can continue to ramp up, I might be replacing my sockets for theirs in the future. I really like their chroming.
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