Show your “Crowntop” Craftsman

[d42jeep]

Thanks to JoCo‘s 1967 catalog clip, I had a good idea of how to proceed with the Crown set I picked up yesterday. I spent the morning cleaning the box and the tools. I then went through my Craftsman spares and came as close as I could to duplicating that set. I feel like I was able to come pretty close. I’ll repost the image as a basis for comparison.
-Don
1967 catalog image
I cleaned up the box and tray
Here are all of the tools that match the catalog listing.
Next I added in the extras that the previous owner included in the toolbox
Everything in the box.

There are some minor issues. The hex keys weren’t listed so I gave it a shot. I’m missing one tiny combo wrench and the 13/16” 1/2” drive socket has rounded As rather than pointed.

 

[four.cycle]

^ really nice score on that set, Don.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Well that didn't take long! Nice work Don. Always nice to see a set come together.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for your help. That catalog listing made filling the set out much easier. I’ve had that hacksaw and those blades sitting around for a while. I was glad to finally have a use for them.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks for your help. That catalog listing made filling the set out much easier. I’ve had that hacksaw and those blades sitting around for a while. I was glad to finally have a use for them.
-Don

That was quick work of assembling a good set nice work!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for the positive comments, guys. I added one more wrench today that needed some time in the evaporust. It came out looking much better.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up a Crown soldering gun kit in the original box at a Tahoe yard sale this morning.
-Don

 

[consti2tion]

Thanks to JoCo‘s 1967 catalog clip, I had a good idea of how to proceed with the Crown set I picked up yesterday. I spent the morning cleaning the box and the tools. I then went through my Craftsman spares and came as close as I could to duplicating that set. I feel like I was able to come pretty close. I’ll repost the image as a basis for comparison.
-Don
1967 catalog image
I cleaned up the box and tray
Here are all of the tools that match the catalog listing.

Dang this is motivating me to see if I can't complete or nearly complete this kit. I believe I have 75% of the pieces to this puzzle. I'll have to find one of the 1/4" cases at the very least. Looks great d42!

 

[gearhead1960]

Saturday’s Estate Sale got me a new (to me) tool box! Been hoping to pick up one of these for awhile.

 

[TexTJ209]

Technically, this big beast qualifies. Craftsman/Parks 18" bandsaw I just snagged off FBMP with a period correct Crowntop General Purpose TEFC 1HP motor. Got lucky and this one also has the optional metal cutting gearbox. Unfortunately about half of the machine was spray painted over in black (can see the overspray on the logo), so I'll probably end up doing a full external repaint if I can get a good matching paint. Any of the good paint that's left has a lot of old glue drops that take the paint with them and just leave bare metal.

Other than that, the interior is in wonderful shape, the tires are good, and even the paint is nice inside. It runs great and cuts fantastic. So a little paint, de-rust the table, a more suitable vintage industrial switch and all new wiring she's ready to work. It'll replace the 1973 113 bandsaw that's my general purpose saw now.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Technically, this big beast qualifies. Craftsman/Parks 18" bandsaw I just snagged off FBMP with a period correct Crowntop General Purpose TEFC 1HP motor. Got lucky and this one also has the optional metal cutting gearbox. Unfortunately about half of the machine was spray painted over in black (can see the overspray on the logo), so I'll probably end up doing a full external repaint if I can get a good matching paint. Any of the good paint that's left has a lot of old glue drops that take the paint with them and just leave bare metal.

Other than that, the interior is in wonderful shape, the tires are good, and even the paint is nice inside. It runs great and cuts fantastic. So a little paint, de-rust the table, a more suitable vintage industrial switch and all new wiring she's ready to work. It'll replace the 1973 113 bandsaw that's my general purpose saw now.

Holy **** . That’s a rare beast! Most people have never seen one in person. I have only seen one and it’s a tank. Very cool find!

 

[Cruzan80]

I also have on in.the "to-be-restored" pile. But I think mine was originally a Heritage model...

When you get a chance, can you measure the pulley on the metal gearbox? Mine has the gearbox, but missing the pulley (shaft stub is there).

 

[ecotec]

The set on the left is a crowntop Kromedge set. It is still in cellophane. The price tag on the box says $39.99. It was, obviously, on sale as the receipt says that it was bought for$19.99+tax on 8/6/1975. I paid $10 for it at an estate sale years ago.

 

[TexTJ209]

I also have on in.the "to-be-restored" pile. But I think mine was originally a Heritage model...

When you get a chance, can you measure the pulley on the metal gearbox? Mine has the gearbox, but missing the pulley (shaft stub is there).

Largest sheave is 5", then 4.5", then 4". Body is 2" deep.

On yours, is the blade tension knob a polished chrome one like the rest of the control knobs, or is it a rougher cast aluminum part.

Trying to determine if the knob on mine is original, some blurry pictures on VM make me think maybe...but there are some with nicer chome matching knobs clearly shown as well.

Honestly the rest of the control knobs seem like they got them straight from King Seeley's 103 bandsaws, ha.

 

[Cruzan80]

All of my knobs have been painted over, so no help there.

 

[TexTJ209]

All of my knobs have been painted over, so no help there.

Bummer! Does the tension control knob have the decorative "fluting" or whatever you want to call it, on it? Or is it smooth around the perimeter?

 

[gearhead1960]

A couple of weeks ago I found a nice Crown Top tool box at an Estate Sale. I had posted a picture with my find prior to clean-up. A couple of questions for the Crown Top experts. Age? What might have it come with, if anything. Here's the pics........

It measures 20" long, 6" wide, and 3 1/2" at it's tallest. There's a little bit of corrosion on the inside. Suggestions for fixing or preserving?

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Contained a 1/2d socket set. The plastic handle puts it in the 70s. Here's a clip from the 73 catalog. Also shown is an earlier version of the same set. Somebody added the metric socket rack (and apparently never used the tool set). I'd hit the rust spot with some 0000 steel wool and WD40. I like Fluid Film as prevention. Have fun filling her up!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Damn...I missed you posting that Parks Tex. Nice find!!

 

[gearhead1960]

@JoCoSawdust Thanks for posting that!

 

[WisJim]

You guys make me feel old. Many of my tools are Craftsman crowntop, bought new at the Sears store in downtown Chicago in 1969 and 1970. I think that I still have all the originals, including the tool box (now rather rough) and a 1/2" drill.

 

[JEFinCLE]

You guys make me feel old. Many of my tools are Craftsman crowntop, bought new at the Sears store in downtown Chicago in 1969 and 1970. I think that I still have all the originals, including the tool box (now rather rough) and a 1/2" drill.

I was thinking the same thing last night. A trip to the Sears in downtown Springfield, Missouri (about 50 miles from where we lived) was a thing of magic. That's where my Toughskin jeans came from and no trip was complete without hot, fresh roasted mixed nuts in a greasy waxed paper bag. When we got separated, Mom always knew where to find me...the tool department. My birthday is late November. In 1974 I got a car for my birthday and a month later a "crowntop" box full of tools for Christmas. Kept that car going until I was 22. 105,000 miles at a time when reaching 100,000 was a major accomplishment for anyone, much less a kid doing his own maintenance for the first time. Still have the vast majority of the sockets and wrenches. I backed over the box when I was about 28, but I knocked the dents out and kept using it for another 14 or 15 years until I bought a rolling stack from...you guessed it...Sears.

 

[RTM]

Here is a fun little find, an almost complete set of number drills in a nifty fold out box. I like how the size tags fold in to place as it opens.


will go will go poking about to try to decipher a year, any clues as to the maker?







The size index folds out as shown here.

 

[Cruzan80]

General made it for Sears. Have one that is fractional drill bits.

 

[RTM]

General made it for Sears. Have one that is fractional drill bits.

Thanks, now that you say that, I can easily see the General logo fitting into the recessed logo.

 

[Jim C.]

A couple weeks ago, I went to my parents house in an effort to help them start downsizing. As we were going through the garage, I came across a few small Craftsman gems that my dad bought in the 1960s. According to my dad, back in the day, the local Sears department store had a “Monday Only Special“ in the tool department. As he recalled, every Monday the tool department manager would offer a non powered hand tool or tool accessory for 10% off. It could be anything….. a hammer, a set of wood chisels, a pair of pliers, a set of drill bits, etc. etc. You never knew what the sale tool would be until Monday morning. Well, my dad stopped by most Mondays and bought the sale item. These are a few of the Monday Only Special tools that he picked up along the way.

Jim C.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Nice tools Jim and a good way to remember your dad and the Craftsman tool department that was back when a visit was memorable. Here is a Craftsman commercial branded rivet gun that I haven't seen before. It works but takes several easy squeezes to pop the rivet. Olny have the nose piece for 1/8" rivets. Pulled off the cheap table at a swap meet. Ed.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a $1.00 Crown inch pound torque wrench at a garage sale this morning.
-Don

 

[FrankLee]

A couple hall-wangers and a self-*******.



The belts are no longer usable.

The can has a few dents, but in pretty nice shape. It was half full of what looked like used motor oil. I emptied it and cleaned it out the best I could.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Franklee- looks like auto correct got ahold of your post. . ( the shelf destined oil can)

But I certainly like those belts! Nice find

 

[Mintgrun]

The belts are no longer usable.

Craftsman =V= belts?

 

[Ricky Joe]

I saw a crown vacuum base vise today. It was at an antique store for $12. I didn’t get it, but will if anyone wants it. Looked in excellent unused condition. I couldn’t think where I could use it, either.

 

[Farmall450]

eBay gold - =V= set in immaculate shape.

 

[Jim C.]

Contained a 1/2d socket set. The plastic handle puts it in the 70s. Here's a clip from the 73 catalog. Also shown is an earlier version of the same set. Somebody added the metric socket rack (and apparently never used the tool set). I'd hit the rust spot with some 0000 steel wool and WD40. I like Fluid Film as prevention. Have fun filling her up!

Nice!

 

[Jim C.]

JoCo,

Here’s the 1960 version of that set. I really like those boxes. There was a 3/8” set as well. The box was slightly smaller in size. It’s my opinion that the smaller box is a little bit harder to find.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

Here’s the 1960 Whitworth and metric sets.

Jim C.

 

[d42jeep]

Found a Crown box cutter yesterday at an estate sale. I decided to clean up the blade that it came with even though it had a packaged spare blade inside.
-Don

 

[whitesco]

Here are a couple more Crown socket sets that have come and gone.
-Don

I have one of these but the red plastic insert is looooong disintegrated- holds all my 1/4” drive extensions and stuff now.

 

[whitesco]

Thanks to JoCo‘s 1967 catalog clip, I had a good idea of how to proceed with the Crown set I picked up yesterday. I spent the morning cleaning the box and the tools. I then went through my Craftsman spares and came as close as I could to duplicating that set. I feel like I was able to come pretty close. I’ll repost the image as a basis for comparison.
-Don
1967 catalog image
I cleaned up the box and tray
Here are all of the tools that match the catalog listing.
Next I added in the extras that the previous owner included in the toolbox
Everything in the box.

There are some minor issues. The hex keys weren’t listed so I gave it a shot. I’m missing one tiny combo wrench and the 13/16” 1/2” drive socket has rounded As rather than pointed.

I inherited a set similar to this from my grandfather, or what was left of it. I got the box and several of the tools (it’s been so long I don’t remember the details). He carried a lot of them in his truck box. He had a stroke coming home one evening and I guess the tow company stole everything from it. As a kid I used to play with those socket magnets all the time. Waves of nostalgia when I saw your pic - thanks for the memories!

 

[whitesco]

Can I join the club?