Craftsman =v= series wrench variations???

[ts_hunter]

I have a partial set of Craftsman combination SAE wrenches that my dad bought in the 60's. They are marked with =v=. The other day I acquired a complete set of 10 wrenches to fill in the holes in my current set.

I noticed that the set I bought has wider handles than my existing wrenches and on one wrench (the 3/4"), the 'v' mark is different.

Here is a pic of the 3/4" wrenches. The top one is the one I recently bought and the bottom one is from the set my dad bought. Notice how the 'v' mark is different?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MuoMFS9cU8bhg2qx1

Here is a pic of the 1/2". Again, the top one is the one I recently bought and the bottom one is from the set my dad bought. Notice how the handle of the top one is wider?
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOp8KY78347Ccrleksc9istl_OvyXEwJtESRRSUQGFfCxRTHrA8gM6i-10fPDRVrQ?key=UGg4UEtCa2ttdUlocDk3TGcwalVZOGIwTTM3aUJ3

 

[Stevenn1]

Many different companies had the contract to make Craftsman tools throughout the years. For example, Craftsman Professional was mostly made by SK or Armstrong. Your probably seeing the variation between 2 different companies products.

 

[four.cycle]

You'll run into instances where the =V= shows up on the tool as =V or =V, and in some cases space limitations make it appear as :V: - it is nonetheless still considered as falling into the =V= category.

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

^ This is pretty much considered the definitive list.

The differences in fonts used on those wrenches is probably just a minor design change that occurred at some point - one was made earlier than the other.
Manufacturers change stuff like that without notice or explanation - it's possible to buy brand new sets of sockets or wrenches and find that all the pieces are not exact matches.
The primary objective was achieved: you were able to get onto that 1/2" hex nut and complete a task, small details on the wrench notwithstanding.

... and welcome to the site.

 

[four.cycle]

On the width of the shanks:
It has been suggested here (by other members) that the narrower profile shanks found on earlier production wrenches were replaced with wider shanks due to compromises made in the alloy steels used in the manufacturing process.
I am not a metallurgist, and I have seen no empirical evidence to support such a claim myself.
I only present that as one possible explanation, and make no claims regarding its validity.

 

[leg17]

On the width of the shanks:
It has been suggested here (by other members) that the narrower profile shanks found on earlier production wrenches were replaced with wider shanks due to compromises made in the alloy steels used in the manufacturing process.
I am not a metallurgist, and I have seen no empirical evidence to support such a claim myself.
I only present that as one possible explanation, and make no claims regarding its validity.

This may be true.
I have three different beam thickness on =V= wrenches, with the thinnest being the oldest and the thickest being the newest.
All likely by the same vendor but different contracts.

Another possibility is adding material for strength to keep up with the Craftsman guarantee.

 

[ts_hunter]

Thanks for the info.

 

[DadsTools]

I can confirm that the earlier =v= (Moore Drop Forging) models have a thinner handle. As to why that's so, the answer at this point is nothing better than speculation. Perhaps there was a change in the alloy. Perhaps they had to be beefed up for greater strength. Perhaps it was merely a design improvement to provide a better grip on the tool and to make the feel more consistent with the post-war Lectrolite/SK Defiance design that ultimately became the standard for many raised panel wrenches thereafter (you'll notice that the Japanese, Taiwan China and India as well as some USA raised panels starting in the 1960s forward follow the SK model more than the Craftsman). Unless someone can interview a person still living that worked for Moore at the time and was privy to the reason behind this change, we'll probably never know. All we can do is make note of the variations and try to place them correctly in historical context.

 

[RubiconJK]

I've just begun sorting through a bunch of Craftsman wrenches I've had for many years. Am I correct in what I've seen that MDF made the =v= marked tools and Easco made the -v- tools? Thanks.

 

[jakemac]

The answers are Yes, and sort of.
Moore Drop Forge was always the factory that produced the =V= and -V- sockets and wrenches, but in 1967 (IIRC) MDF became part of the Easco family (or Danaher, I get the timeline confused). The same can be said of anything listed as being made by the Danaher Group. No matter who's name was on the building, it was one big family, but the tools still came out of the same buildings.

 

[RubiconJK]

The answers are Yes, and sort of.
Moore Drop Forge was always the factory that produced the =V= and -V- sockets and wrenches, but in 1967 (IIRC) MDF became part of the Easco family (or Danaher, I get the timeline confused). The same can be said of anything listed as being made by the Danaher Group. No matter who's name was on the building, it was one big family, but the tools still came out of the same buildings.

Thanks Jake. So =v= marked wrenches are pre-1968 then correct?

 

[jakemac]

Thanks Jake. So =v= marked wrenches are pre-1968 then correct?

For the most part, yes.
Some members have noted that the =V= mark may have popped up briefly in the 1970's as an anomaly. But AFAIK the changeover began in 1967.

The problem with dating Craftsman tools is that Sears/Craftsman has been no help at all. What we know has come to us through a lot of observation and hard work (not by me) done by others and passed on in forums like this one.

It seems that there will always be anomalies and exceptions that may go unsolved.

 

[RubiconJK]

For the most part, yes.
Some members have noted that the =V= mark may have popped up briefly in the 1970's as an anomaly. But AFAIK the changeover began in 1967.

The problem with dating Craftsman tools is that Sears/Craftsman has been no help at all. What we know has come to us through a lot of observation and hard work (not by me) done by others and passed on in forums like this one.

It seems that there will always be anomalies and exceptions that may go unsolved.

Thanks again.

 

[DadsTools]

For the most part, yes.
Some members have noted that the =V= mark may have popped up briefly in the 1970's as an anomaly. But AFAIK the changeover began in 1967.

The problem with dating Craftsman tools is that Sears/Craftsman has been no help at all. What we know has come to us through a lot of observation and hard work (not by me) done by others and passed on in forums like this one.

It seems that there will always be anomalies and exceptions that may go unsolved.

I believe that Garage Journal and the like should petition SBD for Full Disclosure on past contract mfrs and their marks, like the UFO groups are always petitioning the government.

 

[motorhead12]

I believe that Garage Journal and the like should petition SBD for Full Disclosure on past contract mfrs and their marks, like the UFO groups are always petitioning the government.

I wonder if all this info is in some neglected and dusty file somewhere...