CRAFTSMAN spelled CRAFTZMAN???

[BuddyC01]

So.... I got this nice Craftsman Auger Bit set. It has the logo of the "long C" and the kind of pointy, zig-zag letters. I was checking out the logo on the bits and noticed a few say CRAFTSMAN and some say CRAFTZMAN. Otherwise they look the same.

Is this unusual?.... am I a millionaire?

Thanks.
BuddyC



[url=https://flic.kr/p/24VvjVn]

 

[notlob]

thatz crasy!

 

[alton1911]

New to me. I love Craftsman tools. Never seen that before. Maybe it’s not uncommon, but it’s very cool.
I was just putting together sets of open end wrenches and just on the V marked tools there are many variations.
I hope someone has seen this before, and has the answer.
Thanks
alton1911

 

[930dreamer]

My guess is an import knock off?

 

[markhm]

I have some old combo wrenches spelled that way.

 

[Username already in use]

Interesting. The metal auger bit cases are apparently rare to find. I have a similar box and bits, but my bits are marked CRAFTSMAN with an S. Maybe it was a different manufacturer and they put the wrong stamp into the die?

 

[DadsTools]

Never seen this before. Looks legit though. Great job if it isn't.

Are any of the "S" names inside a box like that? Are all the "Z" names inside a box?

 

[four.cycle]

My guess is an import knock off?

Are there ANY Craftsman hand tools from this era that are stamped "Vanadium" below the Craftsman name?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

thatz crasy!

Snerk.

My guess is an import knock off?

I second that. Some J.P. Danielson adjustables and "BM" code (S-K?) 3/4-inch drive tools have a very sharp geometric "S". So sharply geometric that it resembles a backwards "Z". It's almost as if a rogue copycat diemaker not well versed in English letters copied that backwards without even realizing it.

I have some old combo wrenches spelled that way.

Please post pics.

Are there ANY Craftsman hand tools from this era that are stamped "Vanadium" below the Craftsman name?

Good question.

 

[BuddyC01]

Looks like about 7 Z's and 6 S's .

I've seen other sets for sale/sold but no one else has commented on the issue, or didn't notice.

Looking through AAs archive there is a lot of variation in the letters on tools from the Vanadium era. I saw a couple of Z's just as jagged but not an exact match.

So the box looks like it's pretty well worn. The wood index looks old to me. Assuming knock offs, were they common 70-90 years ago? Or if not that old were knockoffers making knockoffs of wrenches from earlier years?

thanks for the responses

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I saw a couple of Z's just as jagged but not an exact match.

I went through pages and page of early Craftsman Vanadium pages on TA and AA and didn't see any Z's. Post pics of what you're seeing as a Z. I see plenty of jagged (geometric) S's (that look like backwards Z's). Those aren't Z's. Please post examples of Z's.

 

[BuddyC01]

Please post examples of Z's.

Please see the OP, that is an example of a Z. It can be hard to catch. I had to count the augers 3 times just because I kept getting confused

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Please see the OP, that is an example of a Z. It can be hard to catch.

I saw that one, Buddy. And I trust that there are apparently six (6) others in your set. I was referring to the other examples you said you spotted on AA. Did you copy the link or make note of what tools on what page in the early Craftsman section have that marking?

 

[BuddyC01]

Sorry, misunderstood.
I was just doing a quick scan to see if there was anything close between replies. I was on the Craftsman history article. http://alloy-artifacts.org/craftsman-early-tools-p2.html

There were a few wrenches that had pointy S's but where mine are made of 3 segments the ones I saw had more like 6 segments making up the letter.

My point was more that there seems to be a wide variety of "fonts" across the craftsman brand as opposed to more modern day standards.

As part of my misunderstanding I was also trying to capture an example of one of mine with an S

 

[Private Lugnutz]

There is definitely a wide variety of logos, especially among the 40's logos. Several variations of the short geometric C alone. But in every single one of these variations, the "S" is an "S", not a "Z".

So when you said...

I saw a couple of Z's just as jagged but not an exact match.

...you meant S's.

Thanks for clarifying.

Perhaps markhm will post photos of his combo wrenches with the CRAFTZMAN mark.

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks for sharing. That’s an old error tool alright!

 

[DadsTools]

Thanks for sharing. That’s an old error tool alright!

I would say this is what we're dealing with. Perhaps the engraver of that particular die was having a brief moment of dyslexia that day???? Probably just looked right to him, even though it wasn't. We've all been there.

Years ago, my wife used to produce the weekly program for Sunday service as part of her duties to a church. Right before a certain song was to be sung, it was supposed to read, "Let us all sing together." But she had dropped the G at the end of the word. Looked right as rain to her. Of course, there could have been a Freudian element to it.

Maybe the engraver had just watched the Wizard of Oz. The possible date of these tools could be right for that.

To think that these were bootleg copies by another company trying to change the name just enough to avoid infringement (which in this case wouldn't have worked legally because they're too close), then to have those counterfeits make their way into this set is quite a stretch for me.

 

[markhm]

There is definitely a wide variety of logos, especially among the 40's logos. Several variations of the short geometric C alone. But in every single one of these variations, the "S" is an "S", not a "Z".

So when you said...


...you meant S's.

Thanks for clarifying.

Perhaps markhm will post photos of his combo wrenches with the CRAFTZMAN mark.

I'm away now. Hope to get home Friday for a few hours and made myself a note to take some photos then.

 

[3baygarage]

I would say this is what we're dealing with. Perhaps the engraver of that particular die was having a brief moment of dyslexia that day???? Probably just looked right to him, even though it wasn't. We've all been there.

Years ago, my wife used to produce the weekly program for Sunday service as part of her duties to a church. Right before a certain song was to be sung, it was supposed to read, "Let us all sing together." But she had dropped the G at the end of the word. Looked right as rain to her. Of course, there could have been a Freudian element to it.

Maybe the engraver had just watched the Wizard of Oz. The possible date of these tools could be right for that.

To think that these were bootleg copies by another company trying to change the name just enough to avoid infringement (which in this case wouldn't have worked legally because they're too close), then to have those counterfeits make their way into this set is quite a stretch for me.

 

[BuddyC01]

So when you said...

...you meant S's.

Thanks for clarifying.

Perhaps markhm will post photos of his combo wrenches with the CRAFTZMAN mark.

Ohhh... Yes I did. See, it not only tricks the eye it messes with the brain looking at Zs that should be Ss. Sorry for missing that

 

[northwoods]

I have an 8" Blue Point adjustable with this spelling:. Wisconsen

I plan to take a world cruise when I sell it.

 

[markhm]

Just got back home and checked the old wrenches. They all have "S" facing "Z"s not "Z" facing "Z"s

 

[cybrdyke]

My guess is an import knock off?

Maybe the same company that made my Rolek watch.
CD

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Just got back home and checked the old wrenches. They all have "S" facing "Z"s not "Z" facing "Z"s

So, they have a logo that is spelled correctly, with an S, where the S is made with three straight lines rather than a single snaking line? If that's what you mean, these are legit. A well-known version of the Craftsman logo with an extremely geometric font.

 

[PugetDude]

So.... I got this nice Craftsman Auger Bit set. It has the logo of the "long C" and the kind of pointy, zig-zag letters. I was checking out the logo on the bits and noticed a few say CRAFTSMAN and some say CRAFTZMAN. Otherwise they look the same.

Is this unusual?.... am I a millionaire?

Thanks.
BuddyC

I have an 8" Blue Point adjustable with this spelling:. Wisconsen

I plan to take a world cruise when I sell it.

Slumdog Millionaires! Will you still remember the little people on the GJ when you cash in?

 

[BuddyC01]

Slumdog Millionaires! Will you still remember the little people on the GJ when you cash in?

Best folks on the internets

 

[markhm]

Yes, the wrench I thought had the Z was the well known variation you described. I know I have seen the Z somewhere and as I have time, I will continue to look thru some of my old stuff. I thought it was on a particular old 3/4" combo, but I was wrong. Maybe I've seen it on some old augers, like the OP. I just have to remember where they are stored and get the time to dig them out.