I have a set of 3/4" drive sockets in the "--V--" style (not the double bar) that have part numbers. I was wondering about dates for those yesterday. Good timing with your question.
Okay, follow up question - when did Craftsman go from the long-C Craftsman logo on the sockets, to the =V= design (without the part numbers)? I'm guessing late 1940s but I could be wrong.
I don't know the exact month and year, but it was later than September 1945, because WWII collectors consider them - and anything marked with the =CRAFTSMAN= logo - to be post-war.
To add :
The single line V (—V—) began in 1967. (no model numbers until 1974)
The Butterfly selector on ratchets was first offered in 1960 and disappeared by the end of 1963.
I think the teardrop ratchet replaced the box head ratchet in 1960 as well, but it could have been as early as 1958 (???).
Catalog shows =Craftsman= on the cover of the '48. Not sure if it started the =V= series at the same time. I have some intermediate swivels marked with =Craftsman= and a Circle H code, same as the old Long-C makers.