Craftsman =V= series

[ajchien]

I see a number of posts referencing Craftsman =V= series. Are these ratchets and sockets different or special in any way from the stuff currently made?

 

[Rickster]

Yes, the old-school Craftsman tools are of a better quality with stronger materials. I believe pretty much all the raised panel ratchets have gone to plastic selectors.

 

[4x4gearhead]

The V series is pretty sought after, I just sold a 1/2" 71 tooth ratchet on ebay for about $40 which is more than the cost of the current 1/2" ratchets sold at sears brand new. Like many things they just dont make them like they used to.

 

[trout]

The ratchets are much nicer.

The few V series sockets I have left are losing their chrome but still functional.

Ebay people are crazy though. A 3/8" rhft flex handle V series ratchet went for $120+shipping a couple days ago on ebay, more than a new dual 80.

 

[jon619]

Ebay people are crazy though. A 3/8" rhft flex handle V series ratchet went for $120+shipping a couple days ago on ebay, more than a new dual 80.

I was tracking this and was planning to bid ~$40, but not even close. I've only seen 3 CM RHFT ratchets at the swapmeets and have bought every one.

 

[ajchien]

So the ratchets are much better... Any more opinions about the sockets?

 

[MalibuLX3]

What is a RHFT ratchet? I've seen that term all over the place, but I don't know what it means.

 

[lbgradwell]

What is a RHFT ratchet?

Round Head Fine Tooth

 

[billymade]

"Round Head Fine Tooth"

We need a acronym "dictionary" of sorts in the FAQ section!

Example on Sears website:
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00943187000P

 

[lbgradwell]

I just sold a 1/2" 71 tooth ratchet on ebay...

Do you mean a 41-tooth ratchet? I am quite certain Craftsman never had a 71-tooth model...

 

[MalibuLX3]

Round Head Fine Tooth

Ah, that makes sense now. Thanks for the quick response.

 

[DRhodes]

The V series sockets are better as well, but its hard finding any that are in good condition.

 

[spongerich]

The =v= wrenches were pretty well made too. I've got an almost complete set with a metal rack and they're my go to wrenches in the rare occasions when I'm using SAE open ends.

 

[Quiksilver]

Are the tools marked with a V or is it the == markings on the handle that distinguish them?

 

[Scooterfish]

You will see =V= and I think some are -V-

 

[trout]

and some really old wrenches will just have a V by the box end.

 

[4x4gearhead]

Do you mean a 41-tooth ratchet? I am quite certain Craftsman never had a 71-tooth model...

I could be wrong, though it did seem finer than 41 teeth.

 

[north]

Probably 41 teeth but with two pawls so you get 82 clicks.

V series tools are believed to be produced from 1945 to 1986. The -V- stamp (as opposed to =V=) was used 1970-1975 (ish).

 

[bonneyman]

What is a RHFT ratchet? I've seen that term all over the place, but I don't know what it means.

The RHFT have two separate pawls that click back and forth to engage the gear teeth for a practical doubling of the action.

 

[KEH]

Thanks for the pics, Bonneyman.

The teadrop ratchet in the last pic is not a old style pushbutton even though it has double lines. It is, however, one of the older new styles. It is distinguished by having a metal selector lever rather than a plastic one like the current models do. I strongly suspect more attention was paid to machining in the older models. I have a similar 3/8 drive that I got in the early 1980s as an exchange on an old style that I have bought new and broke(gloom). It has not given any trouble. I recently found a new style 1/2 drive with a split ball in the drive holder as well as being locked up. I planned to try to swap for a low profile but decided it looked so nice I wasen't going to let it go so I took it apart, cleaned it up(worked fine then) and had it rebuilt while I watched being sure they put the metal selector back in. It has a different feel thanm the new ones.

Re =v= sockets, I have accumulated a complete set of them in all except 3/4 drive with appropriate ratchets. They are thinner than current sockets.

KEH

 

[bonneyman]

Thanks for the pics, Bonneyman.

The teadrop ratchet in the last pic is not a old style pushbutton even though it has double lines. It is, however, one of the older new styles. It is distinguished by having a metal selector lever rather than a plastic one like the current models do. I strongly suspect more attention was paid to machining in the older models. ....KEH

Yes, the figure-8 plate rat is a VG, which puts it pretty close to the beginning of the Danaher run of rats (early 90's). Gear is in very good shape, and the selector is metal. I believe - C-man gurus can correct this - the black figure-8 plate signifies early production, too. Newer ones are silver.

 

[KEH]

My observation agrees with this. The regular 3/8 ratchet otained new by me in the 1980s has the black backing plate with metal selector and the 1990s 3/8 flex head with plastic selector has silver backing plate. Both are somewhat tighter than current production.

KEH

 

[touchdowntodd]

ive got some =V= metric sockets id gladly trade for a decent 3/8 ratchet.. might have some matching wrenches in metric as well

 

[woodcrazed]

Hello everyone! I have to admit I am really new at this - like - this is my first introduction to a forum.
I see a lot of discussion regarding different manufacture marks on Craftsman tools, but what if there is nothing at all? I have a 1/2 inch breaker bar, that only has the Craftsman name, and 'Forged in U.S.A., but nothing else. Anybody have any clue as to how old this is? Thanks!!

 

[Pumpman1968]

Hello everyone! I have to admit I am really new at this - like - this is my first introduction to a forum.
I see a lot of discussion regarding different manufacture marks on Craftsman tools, but what if there is nothing at all? I have a 1/2 inch breaker bar, that only has the Craftsman name, and 'Forged in U.S.A., but nothing else. Anybody have any clue as to how old this is? Thanks!!

There are more than a few threads on Craftsman dates and manufacturers on here. Take a few and check them out. You should also check out http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/ as there is quite a bit of info on Craftsman.........as well as MOST manufactures.

And....welcome to GJ. I see you are in Port Chester............I used to work for a company out of Pleasantville so I know there area well. Enjoy!

 

[GSMotorrad]

There are more than a few threads on Craftsman dates and manufacturers on here. Take a few and check them out. You should also check out http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/ as there is quite a bit of info on Craftsman.........as well as MOST manufactures.

That link no longer works, "Sorry, we couldn’t find that page.
The page you are looking for may have been moved, updated or deleted." Does anyone know of the new URL?

 

[four.cycle]

Craftsman hand tools production codes and date ranges:

http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=867.0

see also:

Alloy-Artifacts.org

theGarageGazette.com

papawswrench.com

ToolArchives.com

or just ask here... somebody will know.

 

[GSMotorrad]

Thank you, four.cycle.

 

[four.cycle]

no problem.
the Craftsman =V= series stuff has been discussed here ad nauseum.
Ebay (being the 800-pound gorilla) has unfortunately become the de facto "guideline" for setting of prices on tools, and for reasons which are not readily understandable the " =V= " series stuff seems to command higher prices than earlier "BE" or "circle H" stuff, its being far more abundant notwithstanding.

there were a couple points raised above about =V= stuff so I may as well chime in:

the sockets (at least the 1/4" drive sockets) are for the most part pretty top-notch quality. certainly not on a par with, say, a Snap-on or Indestro or S-K or Proto, but in most cases more nicely finished than a Thorsen or Giller or Walden from the same era.

the older " =V= " open-end wrenches have narrower shanks than their later counterparts. whether that's an advantage I suppose depends upon how it feels in ones hand. personally I'm fairly happy with them.

I have not been overly impressed with any of the -V- or =V= 1/4" drive ratchets that I own, but then my litmus test is a #2875 Indestro, which is arguably the finest 1/4" ratchet ever made. (and yes, I have a little Snap-on, a few Protos, at least two S-K's, and at least one each Challenger, Walden, Herbrand, Thorsen, Giller, and probably some others I've forgotten.)

 

[Bdgjr215]

no problem.
the Craftsman =V= series stuff has been discussed here ad nauseum.
Ebay (being the 800-pound gorilla) has unfortunately become the de facto "guideline" for setting of prices on tools, and for reasons which are not readily understandable the " =V= " series stuff seems to command higher prices than earlier "BE" or "circle H" stuff, its being far more abundant notwithstanding.

I think most people buying the much older BE and Circle H sets on e bay are
Collecting tools and not necessarily using them
=v= sets are very good finish quality and can be had in metric sizes and i think
Are being used as tools.
Also,people are nostalgic and want what they had when they were young,fixing
Stuff in the driveway with there dads tools are what people are after.
Not many people around anymore from that much older stuff out there buying to
Use those sets.just cool for the collector.
Just my two cents.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I'm sure that is probably true. There's no way I would use my "BE" or "circle H" working on some greasy machine, if at all. I have plenty of other stuff I can use. No reason to risk damaging something that might be impossible (or very expensive) to replace.
The aspect of it that makes no sense, however, is that the later (and certainly more abundant) =V= stuff commands prices comparable to, if not greater than, the earlier vintage stuff.

 

[four.cycle]

^ let me add to that:
What really makes no sense to me is that a Craftsman =V= set on Ebay will command a much higher selling price than a comparable set made by another manufacturer that would unquestionably be far more rare, as well as (in some cases) being of better quality - i.e., Indestro, Duro Chrome, S-K, Walden, Herbrand, Giller, Thorsen, etc..
There's absolutely no making sense of it. But then, there's no making sense of Ebay buyers, either.

 

[Bdgjr215]

^ let me add to that:
What really makes no sense to me is that a Craftsman =V= set on Ebay will command a much higher selling price than a comparable set made by another manufacturer that would unquestionably be far more rare, as well as (in some cases) being of better quality - i.e., Indestro, Duro Chrome, S-K, Walden, Herbrand, Giller, Thorsen, etc..
There's absolutely no making sense of it. But then, there's no making sense of Ebay buyers, either.

Yeah ,no question those other american brands are great quality but some
Were regionally strong not nationally ,so maybe a broader audience interested
In them?

 

[four.cycle]

yeah.... that and the "these are the same tools Dad used" thing I'm sure plays into it.
just makes me wonder, but consumers aren't always the most logical creatures.

 

[gdocktor3]

Odd you asked this question. I was sorting through some 1/4" sockets a little while ago and put together a set of all V series. As I was searching for the V series 11/32" I found a G and G2 series, so lined them up and took a picture. I just came inside and saw this thread. So here ya go. The V series is thinner and the broach is deeper, however the G series seem to have better looking points.

 

[four.cycle]

this is a " =V= ", not a " -V- " as shown above. it's a 6-point, which was the first one I found. I'm sure I have a 12-point around here somewhere.

Craftsman 1/4" drive 11/32" 6 pt =V= socket 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Craftsman 1/4" drive 11/32" 6 pt =V= socket 02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Craftsman 1/4" drive 11/32" 6 pt =V= socket 03 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Height: .875"
Diameter at drive end: .54"
Diameter at broach end: .475"

 

[gdocktor3]

Not only are there =V= and -V- but there are also those sockets with and with out the ring around the drive end.

 

[Wakefield]

That link no longer works, "Sorry, we couldn’t find that page.
The page you are looking for may have been moved, updated or deleted." Does anyone know of the new URL?

alloy-artifacts.org

 

[four.cycle]

Not only are there =V= and -V- but there are also those sockets with and with out the ring around the drive end.

^ yes. plain " V " without the " - " or " = "

believe I have a few of those too.... think my 1/2" drive deep-wells are " V "

 

[gdocktor3]

I couldn't help myself I had to go down to the garage and check....

And the plot thickens. As I was saying there are -V- with and without the ring as well as =V= with or with out the ring. Then I found -VV- sockets also. As far as I can tell, the location of the ring helps determine metric from sae? On all my sockets, the metric ring is on the drive end while the sae ring is on the open end. The normal etching to determine metric is the grooved ring around the open end of the socket, but the -VV- series has the grooved ring along the drive end.

Then there is the \//\ wrench that I though was a mistake when I first saw it, but then found more and more...