Craftsman "V" series question

[Sawdustmaker]

I've seen several posts about Craftsman tools with the "V" on them. I checked the Craftsman sockets, ratchets and accessories that I have. Some belonged to my dad and some I bought over the years. All of the pieces I own have a "V" on them.

What exactly is the significance of the "V" on these tools?

Tried searching this forum, but got more returns than i could look at.

Thanks.

 

[four.cycle]

The " V " is the production code.

For a list of the Craftsman hand tools production codes and date ranges see HERE:
http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=867.0

Your " V " sockets were made either by Moore Drop Forge or Easco, depending upon when they were manufactured.
There are a couple variants of the " V " code, the earliest being " =V= ", followed later by " -V- ", and then later with " VV " and " VΛ ".
There is no way to ascertain the exact year of manufacture. All you can do is make a best guess of vintage based on the production codes and other features that may be found on some items such as:
- part number stamped on item or no part number stamped on item
- patent number stamped on item or no patent number stamped on item
- oil hole in head of ratchet or no oil hole in head of ratchet
- shape of top of the " A " in the word " Craftsman " - the earlier product has a pointed " A ", the later product " A " more resembles a gambrel roof.

I'm not as well-versed as some others here and don't know the cut-off dates on those four features. Hopefully somebody else will chime in with some dates on those.

 

[jakemac]

Model numbers began to be stamped on the tools sometime in 1974 during the -V- series.
Oil holes disappeared on most ratchets around 1966/7 at the beginning of the -V- series, but occasionally show up on ratchets as late as the late-70's. IIRC. No rhyme or reason.

 

[LB-1911]

I've seen several posts about Craftsman tools with the "V" on them. I checked the Craftsman sockets, ratchets and accessories that I have. Some belonged to my dad and some I bought over the years. All of the pieces I own have a "V" on them.

What exactly is the significance of the "V" on these tools?

Tried searching this forum, but got more returns than i could look at.

Thanks.

Give this a look

Craftsman Tools: Maker "V" And The Modern Era
http://alloy-artifacts.org/craftsman-maker-v.html

 

[Jim C.]

Model numbers began to be stamped on the tools sometime in 1974 during the -V- series.
Oil holes disappeared on most ratchets around 1966/7 at the beginning of the -V- series, but occasionally show up on ratchets as late as the late-70's. IIRC. No rhyme or reason.

Right on Jake. The oil hole did disappear on 1/2" drive and 3/8" drive teardrop ratchets in the mid to late 1970s. It stayed with the 1/4" drive teardrop ratchets through the 1980s into the very early 1990s.

Jim C.

 

[DFB]

I honestly never paid any attention to any of this before with my Craftsman tool before came to GJ.

Just used to use them till chrome wore off.

Now that I'm looking and knowing something I see I only have one 1/4" drive ratchet with the oil hole. The other two ratchets 1/2" 3/8" that came with it in the same purchase neither have it. All are marked -v-.

Came as part of a SAE set I bought new in like around Dec 1980. Couldn't have been any sooner and certainly very not much later because I got a used HD SuperGlide that year.

The breaker bars from the same set are marked -v- for the 1/4" and 1/2" sizes and vv for the 3/8"

And one earlier fine tooth 3/8" is -v- I bought that separate not long after.


I have 3 other later maybe early 90's? coarse action ratchets black plate, black release button/ black reversing switch 2 are marked VL and one is VK. they were part of set that came a blow mold fitted case that's long been tossed

Kind of missing that storage box now.


And I did find an older circle H 1/4 T bar at flea mkt (along with a little 1/4 SK breaker bar)

I'm always looking now

 

[Sawdustmaker]

Much thanks to all of you for your responses. Taking a closer look at what I have and don't have. Thanks again.

 

[ssdave]

Like all collectors, Craftsman collectors focus on particular sets or era or markings. The V markings are one of the more desirable ones in the market today. Craftsman marking their stuff so many ways over the years has provided a fertile field for collectors to specialize in one thing or another that interests them.

 

[A E Numan]

I just bought a Craftsman Heritage tool box with early "V" tools. After reading that information about the"V" tools I know that they are early production buy the pointy A in Craftsman but what about the taper in the smallest three sockets in the set ? What would the time frame be for them.

 

[four.cycle]

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me, but I just checked the 1954, 1955, 1957, 1960, and 1964 catalogs, and the first four show tapered-barrel sockets in the smaller sizes on the 1/2" drive sets. The 1964 catalog appears to show sockets that have straight-wall sockets.

Somebody else should look at this and confirm it.

 

[A E Numan]

I just looked at the 1954 catalog and they are stepped not tapered like one's in my set. If I'm not mistaken some of the 1/4 inch socket's during or just after World War 2 were also tapered.

 

[A E Numan]

On further examination in the catalogs some of the sets did come with the tapered sockets.