Show your "Long C" Craftsman!

[Rileysan]

Do you know the OEM/supplier?

It's interesting I suggested the same dates...

...but completely different source (Ted's machinist chest site) than you, because Union was making the oak versions with the same configuration and pulls.

Is that enough for us to reasonably infer Union made the Fabricoids?

Even without an official source, I think years of collecting has trained you (us) to recognize tool manufacturing eras quickly and accurately. I have never attempted to research the manufacturer, so can't offer an opinion on who made it.

Edit: I misread the meaning behind you comment.

I looked up Fabricoid (also "Fabrikoid") on Google and it is apparently a 3M product.

 

[Cruzan80]

I just realized ... you paid full retail price for your box!

Nah, overpaid by a nickel! (What was the tax rate in 1943 again...?)

 

[Rileysan]

This is my Dunlap box, which matches the catalog illustration.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's possible that Sears was having Union make the oaken chests in 1943 and 1944, and having another mfgr make the Fabricoid-clad plywood and sheet metal chests at the same time, but they look so much alike that it just seems like the most plausible explanation. I'm still hoping Ted sees this conversation eventually.

 

[Outlawmws]

It's possible that Sears was having Union make the oaken chests in 1943 and 1944, and having another mfgr make the Fabricoid-clad plywood and sheet metal chests at the same time, but they look so much alike that it just seems like the most plausible explanation. I'm still hoping Ted sees this conversation eventually.

I just went through the "'The' Guide for 20th Century Wooden Machinist Tool Chests" site in detail and the 20X9X13 5/2 box was easily the most common configuration. if there was a Mfg "smoking gun". I missed it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm not claiming a smoking gun. I'm just saying the fact that Union was already making the wooden ones for Sears, with the same pulls, in the exact same time frame (43-44, and switched to sheet metal formed pulls in 45), lends alot of Occam credence for me.

 

[Mintgrun]

I drug home four crusty C-SERIES 1/2" drive sockets and a ---C-93--- hinge handle with the diagonalized driver detail.



The hinge handle had significant rust too and removing it left a bit of pitting, so I went at it with fine files, followed by emery cloth. The sockets are still in as-found condition. On the bright side, there are no owners marks!

 

[d42jeep]

My one long C find from yesterday’s tool sale. A circle H 3/8” drive 3/4” socket
-Don

 

[alinc100]

Found this Nest of Saws at a sale today. So far the first catalog I looked at 1948 had them in it. Will look forward and back and see if I can pin down a date. EDIT TO ADD: switched to a "new'' plastic handle in 1952 . Ran in catalogs until 1968. I stopped looking when it didn't appear in the 69 catalog. Very possible it was resurrected later.

 

[d42jeep]

Some long C longnoses that I cleaned up.
Before.
After.
-Don

 

[JonahBrown]

Some long C longnoses that I cleaned up.
Before.
After.
-Don

And you did an excellent job as always! =]

 

[d42jeep]

A long C DBE wrench I found at a yard sale recently and cleaned up.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

Ignore the more modern stuff in this photo, or don't because it does relate...

Long c speed wrench c-92 (1/2 drive made by snap on!)
Long c pliers (not a set I have)
long c 1/2 ratchet with pass through plug.

The sears cross country glass bottle (top of the photo) is for "all fords prior to 1932" as it was used to fill up friction shocks. It was too cool to leave behind for $5

 

[Beerhippie]

****--when was the last time I checked my shock absorber fluid?

 

[Smokeshow69]

****--when was the last time I checked my shock absorber fluid?

well rip van winkle, due to modern innovations, we don't have to do that any more ...

 

[Beerhippie]

well rip van winkle, due to modern innovations, we don't have to do that any more ...

Oh, yeah, that's why!

 

[Outlawmws]

****--when was the last time I checked my shock absorber fluid?

You probably haven't checked the muffler bearings or rotated the air in your tires recently either...

 

[Beerhippie]

You probably haven't checked the muffler bearings or rotated the air in your tires recently either...

No, but I checked and filled the blinker fluid yesterday!

 

[d42jeep]

Yesterday’s estate sale find. It may be my second one of these. They are nice and light to work with.
Craftsman Long C aluminum framing square.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice find Don! I think I have 2 also.

 

[alinc100]

I wrote this on a Facebook group in response to an inquiry:
Quick synopsis the duralumin square was introduced in the 1949 catalog. After 1958 the zero was dropped in the part number 03963 so I am speculating that your square was 1949-1958. The duralumin square continued with the dropped zero 3963. Duralumin is not mentioned after 1969. The catalog illustrations 1960-1969 are a bit fuzzy but I would speculate the logos MAY be crown-top versus underline C but that is only speculation. 1949 catalog: 1958 catalog:

 

[d42jeep]

I found some pictures of my first one. The part number starts with a 0 as well
-Don

 

[firstyearchevelle]

Marketplace find. The only amber handled ratchet that I have ever seen in person. Missing the drive plug. A very welcome addition to my long C collection.

 

[JonahBrown]

Marketplace find. The only amber handled ratchet that I have ever seen in person. Missing the drive plug. A very welcome addition to my long C collection.

You actually need two drive plugs for that one: 1) 1/4 to 1/4 and 1/4 to 3/8. It was used in the 1939 deluxe set and the 1942 set used the reversible 3/8 amber ratchet and the open BE 1/4” ratchet instead.

 

[firstyearchevelle]

You actually need two drive plugs for that one: 1) 1/4 to 1/4 and 1/4 to 3/8. It was used in the 1939 deluxe set and the 1942 set used the reversible 3/8 amber ratchet and the open BE 1/4” ratchet instead.

Great, I need to find not one but two drive plugs. Those things are like hens teeth lol. Thanks for the info.

 

[four.cycle]

^ you can order nice shiny new chrome ones from KC Tool - Hazet or Heyco - almost impossible to find originals, particularly the 1/4 x 3/8

 

[JonahBrown]

^ you can order nice shiny new chrome ones from KC Tool - Hazet or Heyco - almost impossible to find originals, particularly the 1/4 x 3/8

I found a midget set missing a ratchet I had shipped from Canada one time, but yes 3/8 is impossible usually.

 

[d42jeep]

I hang onto ratchet drive plugs as if they are gold. If I see one at a sale I buy it no matter the brand.
-Don
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

You made me take a closer look. The 3/8" drive sets from the 1930s were called "Fit-Mor" by Sears.

"These wrenches with their slender handles and short thin walled sockets, will Fit-Mor tight places than any other style within its range of sizes"

As you no doubt are already aware, the illustrations in the Craftsman catalogs leave much to be desired. The 1939 catalog shows the updated version of that socket box - which is the best illustration available. The earlier catalogs have very poor illustrations. The big difference between the socket boxes is the slots and dividers for all the tools.

Here are illustrations from 1938 & 1939.

Here's a closer look at the socket set, along with another 3/8" Fit-Mor box for comparison. I also took photos of the BE ratchet from that early set next to a later Circle-H ratchet. Notice how the early ratchet has a narrower head.

Re: Show your "Long C" Craftsman!

Here are my new level and 3/8" ratchet (I have been looking for one for a few months now). I picked up the ratchet for $10 and the seller said, "That's the ratchet Fred Flinstone used, ya know!".

Sent from my SM-G973U using The Garage Journal mobile app

My 3/8 set and box came in. Happy I have a matching box with the 1/2 drive, but I will be looking for a better 3/8 d 3/8 socket. This one is used up. On the little 1/4 set I’m disappointed no sockets will fit on the breaker bar just up the the ball. They’re all BE and they all go on the ratchet fine, and there doesn’t appear to be any damage at all to the breaker bar...

Here is a BE 3/8” drive ratchet. I’m hoping that it will respond to clean up efforts.
-Don

A Seller selling Brand New tools had this really cool BE ratchet in his Craftsman bin

I don't know why I stopped to see what he had for sale....
...mostly new shiny stuff, for which I have zero interest

I cleaned and regreased this 3/8dr BE ratchet this morning (dropping the ball bearing in gravel only once). But putting it back together, I started to wonder about which end the drive should stick out. I put it on opposite of the way I found it, and I think the direction switch is a little awkward this way.
AA’s BE and NB rats that are similar are shown both ways. So are ones on this thread. The most convincing image is the catalog illustration posted by Rileysan, but it’s still just an illustration, and I’ve seen those with brand names in odd locations just to make them visible. EDIT - I take it back - that is a catalog photograph, so it must be right.
Opinions?

 

[LesserSon]

I decided on this option. It most resembles the catalog image. It joined some other BE 3/8dr & 1/4dr pieces.

 

[d42jeep]

Interestingly, Craftsman versions of the NB made ratchets are assembled opposite their New Britain branded counterparts. I’ve never really understood why.
-Don

 

[JonahBrown]

A C-series set recently completed: I felt it was a nice place to put my C-98 ratchet. The box is much heavier gauge steel than any other Craftsman box I have seen. It has a full 9/32 midget set and then 1/2” sockets ranging from 1/2” to 1”. The finish is original and behaves exactly like the japanning Stanley used on their hand planes, so it is most likely asphaltic. With the box being black, my best guess is this set was offered in late 1934 or sometime in 1935.

 

[JonahBrown]

Interestingly, Craftsman versions of the NB made ratchets are assembled opposite their New Britain branded counterparts. I’ve never really understood why.
-Don

Probably for the same reason that General Electric always did everything opposite of Westinghouse. All I will say is that Westinghouse’s AC was easily proven superior to General Electric‘s DC.

 

[Beerhippie]

All I will say is that Westinghouse’s AC was easily proven superior to General Electric‘s DC.

Well, yeah, other than its propensity for killing elephants.

 

[JonahBrown]

Well, yeah, other than its propensity for killing elephants

AC was proven superior for killing elephants.

 

[Beerhippie]

AC was proven superior for killing elephants.

I get confused sometimes--maybe a consequence of having been high in a tree most all day. Edison was rooting for DC while Tesla was AC. Got it.

 

[JonahBrown]

I get confused sometimes--maybe a consequence of having been high in a tree most all day. Edison was rooting for DC while Tesla was AC. Got it.

AC allowed power transmission over longer distances, smaller less-complicated equipment for the same power output, cheaper motors, and worked great for killing elephants.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a Circle H 1/2” drive speeder I found at a garage sale today.
-Don

 

[JonahBrown]

Here is a Circle H 1/2” drive speeder I found at a garage sale today.
-Don

Handyset I’m working on

 

[Etchase]

Wrong thread