I've run across quite a few Japanese manufactured (and stamped) tools, but saw an odd one this week. It was a "Japan" marked Craftsman crescent wrench, and was in very good condition. How rare or common are Japanese manufactured Craftsman tools?
"Japan" marked Craftsman tools?
- Thread starter Jason280
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i acquired a 7/8 rp cman wrench marked "Japan" a while back, so i did some research...turns out they're not all that rare...they ran them for a few years and sold a lot of them...
and, so far as i can tell, the quality is just as good as the us made rp wrenches
they also say cr mb on them, or cr mo(hell, might even be another one, i forget), instead of just "forged" like the us ones do
and, so far as i can tell, the quality is just as good as the us made rp wrenches
they also say cr mb on them, or cr mo(hell, might even be another one, i forget), instead of just "forged" like the us ones do
Jay H 237
Well-known member
I think they are from the early 80's. My father has a set of metric combo wrenches marked Japan and he bought them around 1983 or 84. These look like a regular Cman wrench otherwise.
I picked up a 16 & 18mm to complete a set in the mid-80's. They were common for singles then, I think they were made by KTC. They are somewhat common, there have been discussions here a while back.
They said MOLYBDENUM and the stamping was lighter than the USA ones but they are otherwise the same, and pretty nice.
They said MOLYBDENUM and the stamping was lighter than the USA ones but they are otherwise the same, and pretty nice.
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woody 73
Well-known member
Yes early 80's somewhere I have some marked France and others from Taiwan maybe very late 80's early 90's.
I picked up a 16 & 18mm to complete a set in the mid-80's. They were common for singles then, I think they were made by KTC. They are somewhat common, there have been discussions here a while back.
They said MOLYBDENUM and the stamping was lighter than the USA ones but they are otherwise the same, and pretty nice.
yup, i knew they said something haha, thanks for the pic kind sir
davethorik
Well-known member
not a wrench, but I have a set of Craftsman 6" vernier calipers that are Japan-made. They have the crown-top logo. What is unusual about them is you depress a spring loaded button where the thumbwheel is usually at on dial calipers to make them slide. if you let go of the button, the slide is held in place by spring tension and has a fairly firm "lock." I took them apart for cleaning and the mechanism is fairly simple, but clever. I wanted a set of vernier calipers to use around the house and brush up on my vernier reading every so often.
edit: forgot they read in both metric and inch. and there is also a fraction chart on the back side. they also have a depth stem.
edit: forgot they read in both metric and inch. and there is also a fraction chart on the back side. they also have a depth stem.
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pauls_workshop
Well-known member
I also have several "Sears" wrenches made in Japan from the 80's without the Craftsman label at all. Those are high quality but did tend to have surface rust easier than the US Craftsman wrenches I have of the same era. I never had or even knew about the Craftsman Japan ones. - Paul
sonvolt
Well-known member
I have some red handled cutting pliers from the mid 80s that are Craftsman Japan
wafrederick
Well-known member
I have a 9/16 Craftsman combo wrench with Japan on it.
4xdog
Well-known member
I have a full set of Craftsman/Japan RP wrenches, bought 'em new circa 1983-85. At the time I was kinda pissed at their non-USA COO, but times change and Japan is probably a real plus point now! They really are good quality. There were a number of makers during that time. One of the good Craftsman decoders on someones sticky thread here has most of the details.
It was a big set, something like 1/4" to 1-1/4 -- by far my widest size ranges of any combination wrenches I've accumulated over the years, and they still have a place in my drawer for thst reason.
It was a big set, something like 1/4" to 1-1/4 -- by far my widest size ranges of any combination wrenches I've accumulated over the years, and they still have a place in my drawer for thst reason.
Bill Ramsey
Well-known member
I picked up a 16 & 18mm to complete a set in the mid-80's. They were common for singles then, I think they were made by KTC. They are somewhat common, there have been discussions here a while
They said MOLYBDENUM and the stamping was lighter than the USA ones but they are otherwise the same, and pretty nice.
Yep I still have a 7 through 18 set of these wrenches, purchased new in 1986. They were only made in the 1980's, and I've only ever seen metric sizes. I've never run across any others since, so for my money they are fairly rare (however you want to define that word).
Bill Ramsey
Well-known member
OK, then. I've learned my new thing for today - they were made in SAE sizes.
4xdog
Well-known member
Agree on the timing. Inch-sized Craftsman/Japan combo wrenches were definitely made. I bought two sets back then, one for my old lab, where they're still probably in use, and the other in my tool drawer still.
Bill Ramsey
Well-known member
Tinner
Well-known member
I bought 2 sets of the Craftsman Japan wrenches in the early '80s to replace some that were stolen. They were combo wrenches, 3/8-1" sets. About ten of them were so brittle they broke on first or second use with very little force applied. A few of the replacements were the same. The ones that didn't break seemed stronger than any other Craftsman wrenches I've owned.
I still have most of one set in my work box as backups.
I still have most of one set in my work box as backups.
chris142
Well-known member
i had a set of metrics i got in the late 80's.i upgraded to so and donated them to a friend that had his tools stolen.
ArtDeco
Well-known member
Most of the 'Sears' tools in the 70's-80's? were mostly Japan, also. I guess the Japanese economy made them less cost effective as time went on.
MagnumForce
Well-known member
Remember when we used to think Japan was the devil and they were going to take over the US?
slip knot
Well-known member
yes, they were the China for the USA back in 60's 70's and early 80's....
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
True, but by the late 70s and into the 80s, their quality was quite good !
There are some decent tools coming out of China. They tend to be name brand because the generic stuff id meant to be the lowest cost. If you know how to spec your product and have good quality control in place and quality assurance people who visit regularly, you can get good stuff from China.
bpjr
Well-known member
I have a few sae wrenches with Sears and BF Japan stamped on them but no markings with Craftsman. If memory is right I purchased a set of them in the late 60s or early 70s. Still used them...one end is open and the other box.
d42jeep
Well-known member
To my knowledge, the first use of a Japan mfr for wrenches by Sears came around 1962-64, when Symington-Wayne, who had purchased both SK and Lectrolite Corp in 1962, apparently decided to kill the LC name and its Tru-Fit budget tools that were being sold to numerous companies under contract, including Sears. This would have included recessed handle end wrenches sold under the SEARS brand name (and Dunlap in the earlier 1950s), as well as pliers and adjustable wrenches, and no doubt others. To my knowledge, the only CRAFTSMAN branded tools LC was making at the time were some adjustable wrenches and pliers. It was then that Sears turned to a Japan maker for the end wrenches, which were an exact duplicate of the LC design. These all have the BF maker's mark. Soon, Sears started having BF make all kinds of tools for them, including some Craftsman vises. They were apparently pretty good quality. BF Sears tools were made into the early 1980s, when most importers started turning to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, then eventually to you-know-where.
DonglordActual
Well-known member
They also sold Japanese tools under the Companion brand that appeared and disappeared multiple times.
Y00PER
Well-known member
I found the exact same ones recently. They were together at a garage sale with some Diamond pliers, $1 for the pair, so I grabbed them. Only when I got home did I see the "Japan" on the Craftsman ones
DonglordActual
Well-known member
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
I've got a few Craftsman made in Japan hex sockets that were handed down to me. My uncle claimed he never had any issues with them.
sberry
Banned
I bought Cman in the early 80's. It was USA then and busted a 3/4 drive socket right off, the replacement came from Taiwan. I thought oh **** then.