Older Craftsman Sockets

[chopper1]

This has probably been discussed before, but I haven't found it.
On the CM sockets, what does the 'G', 'G2' and 'V' stand for?

 

[Mickey O]

George
George II
Victor



I believe it indicates who the manufacturer was and can give you an idea of their vintage, there's a thread here and on other boards that have the specifics. Found the ljnk:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14107&highlight=craftsman+letter+codes

 

[Mickey O]

Here's some info I found on my hard drive that I copied and pasted from somewhere:

To everyone following this thread,

I invite all of you to review this material and post your comments, suggestions, and any new evidence you have concerning the series codes, manufacturers, and especially the date ranges.


Last Updated: 10/09/09
(Note-- items in red are the latest updates)


Early Craftsman Series (generally pre-1947, some exceptions):

BC = unknown U.S. manufacturer, ca. ? - ?

BE = New Britain, ca. 1931 - 1947

BM = S-K, ca. 1939 - 1951

BT = unknown U.S. manufacturer, ca. 1936 - 1938

Cxx = Probably New Britain or Hinsdale, ca. 1930 - 1936

CI = unknown U.S manu., ca. 1930 - 1945

CF or C-F = Herbrand, ca. 1934 - 1939

Craftsman Vanadium = unknown U.S. Manu, ca. 1931 - 1941

C8 = JP Danielson, ca. 1930 -1936

F-circle = Miller Falls, ca. 1949 - 1964

G-circle = possibly Lectrolite, ca. 1949 - 1964

H-circle = New Britain, ca. 1931 - 1947

K-circle = SK, ca. 1939 - 1951 perhaps later

N-square = unknown U.S. manu., ca ? - ?

P-circle = Wilde, ca. 1945 - 1960

S-circle = Kastar, ca. 1960 - 2008, perhaps earlier

V-circle = unknown U.S. manu., ca. ? - 1985

U-circle = Plomb, ca. 1944 - 1948

Z-circle = Mayhew, ca. 1957 - 1969


Modern Craftsman Series (generally 1947 and later, some exceptions):

BF = probably Daido, possibly Hozan, Japanese made, ca 1969 - 1987

C = unknown U.S. manu., ca. 1991

C = Stanley Works, Taiwanese made, ca. ? - ?
(note--this is a Canadian Craftsman series code)

CG = unknown U.S. manu., ca. 2001 - 2005

D = Kington, Chinese made, ca. 1992 - 2008

DJ = Mitutoyo, Japanese made, ca. 1968 perhaps earlier & later

E/EE = National Hand Tools/later Stanley Works-NHT division, some USA made, most Taiwanese made, ca. 1982 - 1991

EEE/EEC/EE7 = Stanley Works, Taiwanese made, ca. 1988 - 2009
(note--these are Canadian Craftsman series codes)

F = Danaher/possibly K-D division, ca. ? - 2008

G = Easco, ca. 1980 - 1989 perhaps as early as 1979 when Easco acquired the Gastonia plant

G continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2009

G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000

G2 = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008

G2D = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009

GD = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009

GK = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2003 - 2008

GK-A = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 1999 - 2003

GK-F = Danaher/Kinsley Tools Division, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-G = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-X = Danaher/Kinsley Tools Division, ca. ? - 2008

H = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. 1994 - 2009

HZ = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. ? - 2008

HZ O = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. 2008 - 2009

HZ OO = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. 2008 - 2009

I-circle = Parker Mfg Co, ca. 1962 - 1986

JW = J.H. Williams & Co, ca. 1954 - 1972

K = SK division of Facom, ca. 1985 - 2004, could still be NOS

K1W = Danaher, ca. 2007

K3V = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008

K3X = Danaher, ca. 2007 -2008

K9W = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009

KR = Danaher, ca. 2005 - 2008

KU = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008

KV = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008

KW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, probably earlier

KX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, probably earlier

L1X = Danaher, ca. 2008 - ?

LC = probably Lectrolite, ca. ? - 1964

L SI = Simmonds International, ca. 2008 - 2009

M6W = Dahaher, ca. 2007 - 2008

M6Y = Dahaher, ca. 2009 - 2009

N = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2009

OA = Unknown U.S. manu., ca. ? - ?

P = Wilde, ca. 2008 - 2009, perhaps earlier

Q = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2006

R = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2006

PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2009

Q PR = Pratt Read, ca. ? - ?

S PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2008

T PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2008

U PR1-3 = Pratt Read, ca. 2008

V PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2008

W PR = Pratt Read, ca 2007 - 2009

X PR = Pratt Read, ca 2009 - 2009

ST = Stanley Works, likely Taiwanese made, ca. 2007 - 2009
(note- this is a Canadian Craftsman series code)

T1V = Danaher, ca. 2006 - 2007

T2W = Danaher, ca. 2008

T3W = Danaher, ca. 2008

T5V = Danaher, ca. 2008

T5W = Danaher, ca. 2008

T5X = Danaher, ca. 2008

V = Moore Drop Forge, ca. 1938 - 1967

V (continued) = Easco, ca. 1968 - 1986 perhaps as late as 1991 as NOS

VF = Danaher, ca. likely early 1990's

VG = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1995

VH = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1997

VJ = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 2008

VK = Danaher, ca. 1996 - ?

VL = Danaher, ca. ? - ?

VM = Danaher, ca. ? - ?

VN = Danaher, ca. 1999 - 2001

VP = Danaher, ca. ? - ?

VQ = Danaher, ca. 2001 - 2004

VR = Danaher, ca. 2002

VS = Danaher, ca. 1995 - 2003

VT = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2006

VU = Danaher, ca. 2005

VV = Easco, ca. 1978 - 1989

VV continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2009

VW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008

V^(2nd V inverted) = Danaher, Armstrong Division, ca. 1992 - 2008

VVL = Danaher, ca. 2000 - ?

VVN = Danaher, ca. 2005

VVS = Danaher, ca. 2003

VVT = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2005

VVV = Danaher, ca. 2008

VVW = Danaher, ca. 2008

VVX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, possibly earlier

W = SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2005 - 2008

WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - 2008

WF ll = Western Forge, ca. 1969 - ?

WF D = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

WF J = Western Forge, ca. 1991 - ?

WF K = Western Forge, ca. ?

WF L = Western Forge, ca. ? - 2009

WF R = Western Forge, ca. ?

WF U = Western Forge, ca. 2008

WF V = Western Forge, ca. 2008 - 2009

WF W = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009

WF X = Western Forge, ca. 2008 - 2009

WF Y = Western Forge, ca. 2009 - 2009

A WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

B WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

C WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

D WF = Western Forge, ca. 1993 - 2000

E WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

F WF = Western Forge, ca. 2003

G WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

H WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

J WF = Western Forge, ca. 1995

K WF = Western Forge, ca. 1995

L WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

M WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

N WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

O WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

P WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

Q WF = Western Forge, ca. 1990 - 1995

S WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - 2009

T WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009

U WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

V WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009

W WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009

X WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - 2009

Y WF= Western Forge, ca. ? - 2009

+ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ?

* WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ?

> WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

|| WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

∆ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1966 - ?

□ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ?

7 WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

X = SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2008 - 2009

Y = Danaher, Made in China, ca. 2009 - 2009

Z = Mayhew, ca. 1957 - 2008

3 = Kastar, ca. 1991

4 = Kastar, ca. 1992

7 = Easco, ca. 1987 - 1988 possibly 1984 - 1991

[ = Kastar, ca. 2002 - 2009 possibly earlier

.(Dot) = SK, ca. 2008 - 2009

" " (Tools with no series code) = multiple U.S. manufacturer's including Allied Tool, American Tool, Danaher, Greenfield, Jore Corp, JS Technology, Kastar, KD, Lisle, Mayhew Steel, Midwest Snips, Milbar, Stanley Works, Stride Tool, Sturtevant Richmond, Ullman Devices, Vermont American, Western Forge, and Facom and other unknown foreign manufacturer's, ca. 1986 - 2008


Again, feel free to review, comment, and provide evidence of series codes, manufacturers, and/or dates not shown above. Post away!

 

[chopper1]

Thanks Mickey, I knew you'd come through.

 

[rockkkkher]

Great info Mickey and thanks !!! As of JAN. 1 2019,
Western forge (Ideal corp.) and APex (now Bain capital) both cancelled craftsmans contracts due to thinking craftsman was not trusted to pay due to market projection. Big hit to Craftsman/ Stanley and a cold knife in back after all the years. Stanley has to pull drastic measures and dont look for sockets or wrenches to bear USA anymore. Hopefully Stanley will bring all craftsman manufacturing back to USA.
SAD BUT TRUE rockkkkher --- U.S. --- 3%er --- U.S.---

 

[Y00PER]

Unless I missed something, sounds like they stopped a year and a half ago already

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/08/sears-sues-second-craftsman-supplier-western-forge.html

 

[rockkkkher]

Unless I missed something, sounds like they stopped a year and a half ago already



Yes, you are correct, Western forge was the last and happened in 2017, i dated it current so people could see my reply date better. As of now though someone would have to find out if Stanley will ever bring man. back to USA, IT WAS NOT THERE FAULT ANYWAYS. ITS WESTERN FORGE SHADY PROFIT ONLY MENTALITY. but craftsman USA is no more as of now.

 

[hangfirew8]

A lot of confusion here. WF pulled the plug on Sears, not Stanley. Sears was already behind on payments. Stanley came in later. Remember Sears can continue to sell Craftsman named tools under their agreement with Stanley.

-HF

 

[montanafordman]

Unless I missed something, sounds like they stopped a year and a half ago already



Yes, you are correct, Western forge was the last and happened in 2017, i dated it current so people could see my reply date better. As of now though someone would have to find out if Stanley will ever bring man. back to USA, IT WAS NOT THERE FAULT ANYWAYS. ITS WESTERN FORGE SHADY PROFIT ONLY MENTALITY. but craftsman USA is no more as of now.

Don't you mean that was Sear's decision? Western Forge had nothing to do with that other than they needed more money than Sears was willing to pay to manufacture for them - and sears started missing payments. I would stop doing service for someone if they stopped paying me too. Western Forge still manufactures tools in the USA for other brands and is owned by Ideal Industries and primarily makes tools under the SK brand. Ideal industries has put a lot of effort in keeping jobs and manufacturing here in the USA. Western Forge hasn't gone anywhere.

 

[bonneyman]

I assembled a set of G code sockets when I heard Sears was heading into the crapper, and from what I could glean they were the last series that was a nice quality. V were good, but older and harder to complete a set. Two digit codes starting with V were Danaher and I felt I couldn't trust that they wouldn't slip some foreign into the lines.
I snagged a 3/8" rat with a VE code, and I'm thinking it's one of the last LLTD Craftsman offered (1993ish) before dropping the style in favor of the new figure-8 plate rats. So I tossed it in with the G code sockets.