Help identifying this Craftsman set

[geo_08]

I am looking for the part number from the set pictured below. I formerly had one similar to it, and loved the layout of the case, and the extra storage. It was what we always took with us as a family for road trips when I was a kid.

I am feeling nostalgic and would like to track another set down or at least that case for my car kit. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[Htscheg]

I just took one to the dump! Sorry

 

[geo_08]

I just took one to the dump! Sorry

ha, that exact one? Don't suppose you remember the year it was or anything? I can then search the interwebs for the catalog.

 

[jacked_72]

I bought my first Craftsman set in 1991 and it had a similar case. I don't think its the same set as I don't recall having all the bits. Seeing the ratchet tops and the markings on the sockets would give you a better idea of the age.

 

[tube_guy]

A friend of mine received a similar set from his old man when he graduated high school. I don't remember if it was identical, but it was very close. That was back in 1989.

 

[thooks]

I think I have that set, but the case, I doubt it.

I remember the 'door' not staying closed much and I finally learned to keep my stuff in a permanent tool box.

I do carry some tools with me, very few sockets, some wrenches, mainly bigger/better tools to change a tire. I'm older, wiser and I ain't fixing something on the side of the road. I'll either limp to a parking lot, buy some cheap tools at HF or the parts store to get me by or have a shop fix it.

 

[Skylarkgp]

That looks like one that I bought circa 99-01. I remember that the door wouldn't stay closed and my stuff kept popping out until I shoved a deck screw through some cotter pins and screwed them through the lid. A twist of the cotter pin to the side kept the lid in place.

 

[DFB]

I has something similar once but it had screwdriver bits and handle too

 

[wait4me]

I had a similar set as well from the early 90s. The case is probably at my mom's house. I'll take a look next time I'm over there.

 

[geo_08]

I think I have that set, but the case, I doubt it.

I remember the 'door' not staying closed much and I finally learned to keep my stuff in a permanent tool box.

I do carry some tools with me, very few sockets, some wrenches, mainly bigger/better tools to change a tire. I'm older, wiser and I ain't fixing something on the side of the road. I'll either limp to a parking lot, buy some cheap tools at HF or the parts store to get me by or have a shop fix it.

My house unfortunately doesn't have a garage, so all of my tools get kept in the basement ( I have about 4 sets with their own purpose now, bicycle tools, house tools, mechanics tools, and loaners), so unfortunately every time I go to work on a project I have to lug everything upstairs. I would want this case back as I could pack it. I always tend to prefer these blown molded case with individual socket sets than a toolbox full of socket racks.

Daily driving my tool kit is a very small set of screwdrivers, flashlight, jumpers, and depending on which car a small set of wrenches and sockets that I know are common bolts on the car. This would be a road trip set.

I had a similar set as well from the early 90s. The case is probably at my mom's house. I'll take a look next time I'm over there.

I think it is mid nineties, I found an image with the ratchet laying on the ground and it was a VG stamped ratchet.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I used to have a set like that, I had to put a rag in the box or it wouldn't stay latched and would come open at the worst times.

 

[DadsTools]

Whay's the mfr letter code on the tools? That could give you a good idea on its age. Then you can poke around the internet for a Craftsman catalog from that era (they're out there) and try to find the model number that way.

 

[geo_08]

Whay's the mfr letter code on the tools? That could give you a good idea on its age. Then you can poke around the internet for a Craftsman catalog from that era (they're out there) and try to find the model number that way.

Yeah VG stamped ratchets and g stamped sockets. So Mid nineties.

 

[Coach James]

I just took one to the dump! Sorry

Why would you take a set of tools and throw them in the dump?

Coach

 

[wait4me]

Found mine. Similar, but not quite the same.

 

[Vantastic]

I am looking for the part number from the set pictured below. I formerly had one similar to it, and loved the layout of the case, and the extra storage. It was what we always took with us as a family for road trips when I was a kid.

I am feeling nostalgic and would like to track another set down or at least that case for my car kit. Anybody have any ideas?

This was my first real socket set!

 

[Bob P1]

I had that exact set, early 1990's. Just threw away the plastic case last summer, the latches finally gave out

 

[jalind]

Tracking down the exact same set today, complete and in decent condition, 25 years later, will be difficult at best, especially with a large set. Changes to their sets were relatively frequent compared to open stock. You might find it easier to go after similar one or more similar smaller sets, especially of the sockets, that augment each other to recreate the one in the photo.

The Craftsman socket and wrench sets from this era in blow molded cases spanning the very late 1970's to mid-1990's are quite good. The plastic blow molded cases though don't have quite the long term durability of the tools inside them. I have my father's 1/4" SAE set in blow molded from the very late 1970's - early 1980's. One of the two case latches failed long ago and the other is about to give out even though it's not been used in the past 25 years. I've been considering replacing the case, not with another blow molded though, or using pop rivets to replace the thin snap fit latches with different ones. I'm not a big fan of blow molded cases for other than things like torque wrenches.

If you're Jonesing for one of these sets, find a vintage catalog circa 1992 and get a Sears stock number from it. You may have to drop back to one circa 1985 as well. Use that in Google to seek the stock number which will be similar to format currently used. Some of your competition will be Craftsman tool collectors scouring the countryside for USA made Craftsman.

In the back of your mind, though, if your primary goal is a usable set like that one for the car trunk, consider what's currently out there from other companies. Current Craftsman are decent tools, but they're not what they were from that era and they're overpriced for what you get.

John

 

[geo_08]

Tracking down the exact same set today, complete and in decent condition, 25 years later, will be difficult at best, especially with a large set. Changes to their sets were relatively frequent compared to open stock. You might find it easier to go after similar one or more similar smaller sets, especially of the sockets, that augment each other to recreate the one in the photo.

The Craftsman socket and wrench sets from this era in blow molded cases spanning the very late 1970's to mid-1990's are quite good. The plastic blow molded cases though don't have quite the long term durability of the tools inside them. I have my father's 1/4" SAE set in blow molded from the very late 1970's - early 1980's. One of the two case latches failed long ago and the other is about to give out even though it's not been used in the past 25 years. I've been considering replacing the case, not with another blow molded though, or using pop rivets to replace the thin snap fit latches with different ones. I'm not a big fan of blow molded cases for other than things like torque wrenches.

If you're Jonesing for one of these sets, find a vintage catalog circa 1992 and get a Sears stock number from it. You may have to drop back to one circa 1985 as well. Use that in Google to seek the stock number which will be similar to format currently used. Some of your competition will be Craftsman tool collectors scouring the countryside for USA made Craftsman.

In the back of your mind, though, if your primary goal is a usable set like that one for the car trunk, consider what's currently out there from other companies. Current Craftsman are decent tools, but they're not what they were from that era and they're overpriced for what you get.

John

Actually I found one very similar. Lots of ebaying.

 

[jalind]

Actually I found one very similar. Lots of ebaying.

I kinda figured that's where you would most likely find one close enough to what you were seeking.

John

 

[kball]

Looks like the same set I have in the garage now. I think the sockets are USA made, marked G2 which most on here would consider worse than the new Chinese stuff.