Question about COO for two tools, Ratchet and Locking Pliers.

[balane]

I picked up these pliers from an estate sale.

Pair of Craftsman Locking Pliers. They are really polished up and work/feel nice. No COO but it does say US Patent No. Re. 24465 9" long.

They came in an old tool box with mostly junk. Thanks for any info.

.

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

The ratchet looks like it has PowerKraft stamped on it, if my eyes are correct then it's USA mode. That was Montgomery Ward's tool line when they were around and sold tools.

The Craftsman locking pliers were made by Irwin/ViseGrip.

Look on the adjustment knob, it it has a hole in the middle that a hex key will fit into, it's either assembled in the USA from domestic and global components, or it may well be a new China produced item.

If it doesn't have the hex key hole, then it's old USA made stock. Judging from chrome finish on it though, it appears to me that it could be the old USA made stock. Irwin's newer line has a more satin appearance to their pliers.

 

[balane]

The locking pliers have nothing but a smooth adjustment knob with no hex hole or any type of hole in it. They are in really nice shape, both tools are, for being older. Looks like a keeper then.

Thanks for the good info!

 

[Monte]

the release lever of that craftsman vice grip looks "wrong"... If they are vise grips then they are older i guess ?

 

[PowderKeg]

That ratchet was sourced from Thorsen. For whatever reason, it seems Monkey Wards either didn't request or didn't care about COO getting stamped on ratchets (at least ratchets is all I know about). None of the PowrKraft ratchets I have, sourced from Thorsen and Wright, have COO on them.

 

[crewchief888]

the release lever of that craftsman vice grip looks "wrong"... If they are vise grips then they are older i guess ?

i have a coupler pair of older CM "visegrips" laying around somewhere. the release lever is very different.

 

[balane]

The release lever seems to be easier to trigger than my Vise Grip brand USA pliers. In fact, I need to get used to it because I seem to be springing it open unintentionally more often.

 

[Monte]

after checking ebay.com for vintage craftsman locking pliers it seems they are not made by vise grip because of the complete different construction

 

[MN Falcon]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117594#post1753504

twillers claims that the I-Circle is made by Parker 1957-1986, maybe this will help track down the locking pliers?

A quick google turned up this Parker ebay ad, some similarities in the back frame and the jaws, differences could easily be due to age?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAP...GQebb7LGW%2BPYeLHuve0%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[B17E1943]

The "I-Circle" on the pliers looks suspiciously like the Duro-Indestro "X-Circle" or "DC" marking to me, http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/duro-indestro-p2.html#x-circle but these eyes ain't what they used to be.

 

[MN Falcon]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84807

Sorry the experts have spoken, I looked here first but stopped looking at the early Craftsman because of all the circle codes in the earlies.

Gary says the I-Circle is Parker.