New Sears/Craftsman timeline chart

[Outlawmws]

IMO the most significant drop was when they started outsourcing to Asia. they started earlier with power tools, then progressed to hand tools in recent years.

Did they have their share of duds? Sure, but generally those were few and far between, and dominated by the "Xmas Specials"...

There is no defined date, as it was a progression, not a "Stop everything and do this other thing". Ten years or so ago you could buy an all US made st of mechanics tools for incredibly cheap, and rely on them for a life time of use in general. I bought a big set about then for my son's 18th. Those will server him well, with the possible exception of the ratchets. (dang plastic switches...)

 

[Bdgjr215]

I know there is a thread for some of this info http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84807, put up and maintained by Gary Lauver, but I made this up as a way to easily visualize both the Code on the hand tools for the first 50 years, as well as various non-Craftsman trademarks Sears used over the years (Dunlap, Companion etc.). Something you can keep handy in the shop or even take with you folded up in your pocket when Flea marketing and such.

A lot of info also came from the catalogs Rose antiques has made available, and I used that info liberally, BUT, it may not be 100% complete for spans as there are many gaps in the catalogs from 1931 -1973.

I may not go any newer, as this is the span I'm interested in, but I do plan on adding a page two (at least) for the model number prefix's of the power tools, and I may attempt to put that into time lines as well, and may include the power tool types. That one is a lot more work however, so I'll get to it when I get to it...


Please feel free to look it over, comment if you see any errata, and once this is finalized, I'll post it into Gary's thread as an add-on.

And thanks to Gary for posting the info used as well as Rose antiques.

Edit: added the Logo's pic, I don't trust the dates on the yellow logos entirely; that was what I got with them:
PDF updated to Rev 1 4/24/2012

Any body ever see this logo? It was on a drill press on craigslist i called about
Guy never returned my call.

 

[tool_scrounge]

The logo on that drill press is from the early 1940's when Atlas was supplying Craftsman drill presses (see below).

 

[Bdgjr215]

Yes but if you look closely it says master above craftsman (never seen that before)
And wondering if any one else has either

 

[Outlawmws]

Yes on the Master Question; I've seen it in the older catalogs.

 

[dlpitman]

Howdy. I don't know if the OP is still around, but thanks for the chart.

Also, I have a set of "VV" series tools that were purchased new in 1977. So the date range for this series in the chart is not correct. On my tools, the second V is not upside down. It is block "VV" with stamped part #s. If you need a pic, let me know.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Outlawmws]

By the chart you mean the horizontal Bar chart? Mine shows starting in 1974. Lt. Blue bar.

 

[dlpitman]

My apologies. I was looking at the item column. (1990-2011)

 

[Outlawmws]

That's the time span Danaher took over Easco. The business successions didn't always align with markings.

 

[dlpitman]

Gotcha, thanks!