Pawn shop find....

[U5512]

I was browsing through a local pawn shop when I spotted this Craftsman vintage box on the shelf with a $35 orange sticker on it. I was very curious and asked a teenage kid working there to let me look at it. I was very surprised to see a nice vintage sabre (jig) saw inside the box. I asked if he could plug it in to see if the thing work and it did. The kid told me he could give me a good deal on it, $30, and I said $25 bucks OTD. He agreed. I now have a cool vintage Craftsman all stainless steel housing jig saw and I love it!!! I found more stuff in the box when I got home (original manual, brackets, and blades) and by judging the steel box I think it's from the '40's or '50s, but if anyone knows more about it please post here. Thanks!!!
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[cnyeco1]

Some old guy took very good care of that. Or used it very little. Great find.

 

[wyndycity]

Very clean and very nice! Take care of it for the next generation.

 

[hguerrero]

i hate you and the kid who sold it to you....nice find...

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

That is very impressive! I want one!

Adam

 

[wyndycity]

By itself, I probably wouldn't give it a second look, but it came loaded with old stock case, blades and packaging so that was definitely a steal. It's like time capsule.

BTW, It's gotta be pretty old if it only has 4 digit serial number.

 

[Packard V8]

a cool vintage Craftsman all stainless steel housing

Nice find. Check the housing and you'll find it is cast aluminum.

thnx, jack vines

 

[petty4243]

i found this on rose tol site... 1959 pg 45... the sabre saw is the same as yours, but the box is different... the next earliest catalog they had up loaded was 1956.... pg40 had a sabre saw(believe craftsmans first)... again different box, and saw is slightly different..... so my conclusion is that yours is 1959- early 60's... site only had hand tools listed for the 60's.... still a very nice vintage find

http://rosetools.bizland.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/craftsman1959.pdf

 

[lbgradwell]

I found more stuff in the box when I got home (original manual, brackets, and blades) and by judging the steel box I think it's from the '40's or '50s, but if anyone knows more about it please post here. Thanks!!!

That's a very cool old find...

I agree with petty4243's estimate. Assuming the box is original, the tool can't be earlier than some time in 1958 as that is when that "crown" logo was introduced.

It was made by the Diehl Manufacturing Co. either in New Jersey or Pickens County, SC (where they moved in 1959). Diehl made all the electric motors for the Singer sewing machines and fans, and was actually eventually aquired by Singer. In addition, Diehl made small electric power tools for Sears.

The Motor Products Division of the company was bought in 1988 by Ryobi when they set up US operations as Ryobi Motor Products Corporation, and that is why Diehl and Ryobi (the manufacturer of most smaller Craftsman power tools since the late 1980s) share the same manufacturer code at Sears - 315.

 

[petty4243]

That's a very cool old find...

I agree with petty4243's estimate. Assuming the box is original, the tool can't be earlier than some time in 1958 as that is when that "crown" logo was introduced.

It was made by the Diehl Manufacturing Co. either in New Jersey or Pickens County, SC (where they moved in 1959). Diehl made all the electric motors for the Singer sewing machines and fans, and was actually eventually aquired by Singer. In addition, Diehl made small electric power tools for Sears.

The Motor Products Division of the company was bought in 1988 by Ryobi when they set up US operations as Ryobi Motor Products Corporation, and that is why Diehl and Ryobi (the manufacturer of Craftsman drills since the late 1980s) share the same manufacturer code at Sears - 315.

interesting, did not realize there was a connection between ryobi and craftsman

 

[old salvage]

Thats a great saw in beautiful condition.

i hate you and the kid who sold it to you....nice find...

 

[lbgradwell]

interesting, did not realize there was a connection between ryobi and craftsman

Oh yes!

In fact, if you've purchased a hand-held power tool from Sears in the past 20 years, it's very likely made by Ryobi...

 

[superautobacs]

Oh yes!

In fact, if you've purchased a hand-held power tool from Sears in the past 20 years, it's very likely made by Ryobi...

Interesting; does the same apply for Sears in Canada?

 

[lbgradwell]

Interesting; does the same apply for Sears in Canada?

It certainly did. I haven't been to a Sears for a while so I can't say for certain it's still the case, but the next time you go you should check for the 315 code.