To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Show your "Long C" Craftsman!

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

3baygarage

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 1, 2013
Messages
11,946
Location
SW Florida/from Buffalo,NY
I think the hammer was a good buy. Cool to see the old label on the handle.

Since this was right next to me, figured why not post it. I figure someone put a short handle on it. Not sure what the # in the box is all about.
 

Attachments

  • C91B28BB-4CE4-492F-9CF9-64724E3F9C27.jpg
    C91B28BB-4CE4-492F-9CF9-64724E3F9C27.jpg
    143.4 KB · Views: 50
  • 40715FDB-A27E-42E6-8990-F93E3B26DC2C.jpg
    40715FDB-A27E-42E6-8990-F93E3B26DC2C.jpg
    130.4 KB · Views: 39
  • 0D78B065-9515-475B-96DF-0C9E88139BFE.jpg
    0D78B065-9515-475B-96DF-0C9E88139BFE.jpg
    143.1 KB · Views: 42

Rileysan

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
4,298
Location
Milwaukie, Oregon
I think the hammer was a good buy. Cool to see the old label on the handle.

Since this was right next to me, figured why not post it. I figure someone put a short handle on it. Not sure what the # in the box is all about.

I can't quite read the number. Does it look like it could be the weight (in oz.) of the head?
 

Rileysan

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
4,298
Location
Milwaukie, Oregon
The last post is a good segue for me, as it relates to hammers.

This is a recent eBay acquisition. I paid quite a bit for these ($25/hammer, BIN) but I think that is well below market. Either way, they were well worth it to me.

This set of body hammers is interesting because the style is that of those shown in the 1942 catalog, but the 1942 catalog only shows 4 different hammers in that set, and I have 6 hammers.

After the war, the hammers that are depicted in the catalogs have round handles, not the hex sided handles shown here, and some of the pre-war hammers were no longer listed in 1947 - the first year after the war this set was listed.

I have all four pre-war hammers, as shown in the 42 catalog. Two other hammers pictured here were not listed until 1947, but have the pre-war style handles. I don't know what it all means but I'm delighted to have them!

Now to find the rest of the body tools in that set!

Brian
 

Attachments

  • Body Hammer1.jpg
    Body Hammer1.jpg
    145.2 KB · Views: 30
  • 1947 body tools.jpg
    1947 body tools.jpg
    155.7 KB · Views: 29
  • 1942 body set.jpg
    1942 body set.jpg
    122.9 KB · Views: 33
  • Body Hammer7.jpg
    Body Hammer7.jpg
    97.1 KB · Views: 36
  • Body Hammer6.jpg
    Body Hammer6.jpg
    94.1 KB · Views: 38
  • body Hammer5.jpg
    body Hammer5.jpg
    95.4 KB · Views: 41

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,532
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
Rileysan:

Wow! Nice acquisition one-fell-swooping those body hammers.

Having gone through a very similar exercise with some Blue-Point body hammers I found a few years ago that seemed to exhibit a few different production eras, also wartime, by the way, I was curious enough to dip into the Craftsman catalogs, initially, just to see if I could follow what you're saying.

For what it's worth to you in your attempt to identify and date your hammers, I am following you about the shape of the handles being hexagonal in 1942 and round in 1947. But, I don't see any type of body hammer in your photos that wasn't offered in 1942. I do see one issue/anomaly.

Let me start with this.

In the 1942 catalog, page 43, a page after your Pic 4, note that the heads of the hammers are all the same: they all have a pronounced square knuckle for the handle, with the various business faces/tips (bumping, pecking, etc) ends forged on the ends of steel necks flaring out much thinner than that from there.

I don't have the 1947 catalog, but your Pic 5 looks identical to page 13 in the 1948 catalog. Note that there is no pronounced square knuckle. They all have that more curvaceous head with the eye for the handle simply bored in the middle.

All of your hammer heads have the 1942 or earlier style shape - except one: the light bumping hammer, 4th down from the top in Pic 1. But, I don't think that makes it postwar.

Here's where the anomaly (or what appears to be an anomaly to me) comes in. That light bumping hammer is shown on page 43, item (D), 4550, with a pronounced square eye knuckle. But, it is shown on page 42, in the mixed set, without being identified by name and part number unfortunately, with a more curvaceous head like all the postwar hammers.

Now go back and look at the 1941 catalog. The fender and body set on page 42 is only 11-pc (as opposed to 14-pc in 1942) and the figure is not showing a light bumping hammer. The light bumping hammer on page 43 has a pronounced square eye knuckle, just like it does in 1942.

Maybe, just maybe, they started updating the shape/style of their body hammer heads in 1942, and, by 1947, all the heads were rounded, as well as the handles. They used the same page 43 from the 1941 catalog in the 1942 catalog, but when they had to create a different figure for the larger mixed set on page 42, they rendered it with the newer style head. Again, it's the only head that looks like that (no square eye knuckle) on any body hammer on page 42 or page 43 in the 1942 catalog.

FWIW, I think what you have (using Pic 1, top down), all 1942 (or, at least pre-1947) is:

4580 Pecking Hammer (7 oz)
4556 Moulding Hammer
4552 Ding Hammer
4550 Light Bumping Hammer (10 oz)
4557 Pecking Hammer (15 oz)
4551 General Purpose Bumping Hammer (14 oz)

I could be wrong. Just trying to help. Again, terrific acquisition.
 
Last edited:
OP
O

Outlawmws

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,190
Location
The Badlands
Riley, Nice find!

I'm also seeing all the hammers in the 42 catalog, if not in the set, on the next page for individual hammers I'm also seeing 10 possible hammers/sizes (Not counting the rubber and Bumping hammers):

attachment.php


attachment.php


attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • 42 Body 3.JPG
    42 Body 3.JPG
    69.2 KB · Views: 137
  • 42 Body 2.JPG
    42 Body 2.JPG
    63.7 KB · Views: 136
  • 42 Body 1.JPG
    42 Body 1.JPG
    72.9 KB · Views: 142

3baygarage

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 1, 2013
Messages
11,946
Location
SW Florida/from Buffalo,NY
Neat set.

I can't quite read the number. Does it look like it could be the weight (in oz.) of the head?

Does it look like a replacement through the head? Or did someone just cut it shorter at the ****?
The number...375? 3751? 275? 2751?

Probably an owner mark. It does look like 3751. Maybe the last 4 of a social. The handle’s a short replacement, not an exact fit and not cut off.
 
OP
O

Outlawmws

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,190
Location
The Badlands
I don't recall seeing vendor codes on hammers, at least not early ones... Vaughn made many if not most of the claw Hammers IIR. BP's also? Lug's knows...
 

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,532
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
Lugz, I think one of the ding hammers you listed is actually the 4564 finishing hammer on the top right?
We could be talking about two different hammers. The finishing hammer is tiny (5 ozs) and has a square face and a round face. The third hammer down from the top is the one I think is the dinger.

I don't recall seeing vendor codes on hammers, at least not early ones... Vaughn made many if not most of the claw Hammers IIR. BP's also? Lug's knows...
I believe the bp’s are vlcheck made???
Yes, they are.
 

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,532
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
Could be. I thought it was a light bumping hammer (4550), but they are very similar. Rileysan weighing them would help distinguish those two possibilities. EDIT: Disregard. I concur with you. In comparing it dimensionally to the heads near it and what they weigh, it's not big enough to be the light bumping hammer.
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Rileysan

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
4,298
Location
Milwaukie, Oregon
Rileysan- what is the vendor code on these?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

No vendor codes present!


Riley, Nice find!

I'm also seeing all the hammers in the 42 catalog, if not in the set, on the next page for individual hammers I'm also seeing 10 possible hammers/sizes (Not counting the rubber and Bumping hammers):

I'm a little embarrassed I didn't continue on to the next page of the 42 catalog. I clearly missed the obvious! Thanks for the correction.

Brian
 

Rileysan

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
4,298
Location
Milwaukie, Oregon
I took some time to photograph each hammer independently. I also dug out a few post-war (heritage) hammers to use as a comparison.

First up is a 4557 Picking hammer. Head length is 8-1/4" long, a round face diameter of 1-7/8", and a pecking length of 5"

hammer21.jpg

hammer23.jpg

hammer22.jpg

Second up is the 4580 Picking hammer. Head length is 5-1/2" long, a round face diameter of 1-3/8", and pecking length of 3"

hammer25.jpg

hammer24.jpg

Brian
 
Last edited:

Rileysan

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
4,298
Location
Milwaukie, Oregon
The next hammer in line is the 4556 Moulding hammer.

hammer18.jpg

hammer20.jpg


Next in line is the 4554 Finishing hammer, which I measured carefully so as to not confuse it with the Bumping hammers.

hammer13.jpg

hammer8.jpg

Last hammer on this post is a 4550 Bumping hammer.

hammer19.jpg

hammer17.jpg

Brian
 

Rileysan

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
4,298
Location
Milwaukie, Oregon
Final hammer from the 1942 catalog is a 4552 Ding hammer.

hammer15.jpg

hammer14.jpg

Just for fun, I took a photo of 4 different post war hammers - 3, of which, and heritage era hammers. The are clearly different manufacturers and also do not have any maker's marks.

Pictured are: 4550 Light Bumping hammer; 4551 General purpose Bumping hammer; 4552 Cross Pein hammer; and a 4556 Combination Pick & Finishing hammer.

Also note the photo of the bottom of the hammer handles: Craftsman put the model number on them, which makes it much easier to identify them!


hammer7.jpg

hammer10.jpg

hammer9.jpg

hammer4.jpg

I put together the picking hammers from both eras so you can see the differences together. Aside from the shape, the overall sizes and weights are very different!

hammer3.jpg

Brian
 

Rileysan

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
4,298
Location
Milwaukie, Oregon
One final hammer that I have not yet posted. This, too, was an eBay find. It was not advertised but was rather a part of a lot of used hammers I bought for $10. Model 3820 7 oz Riveting hammer.

hammer12.jpg

hammer5.jpg

hammer1.jpg

1942 Riveting hammer.jpg

Brian
 

Tbucit

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
116
Location
East of Atlanta
Have gotten back to reading this site after a while. It was always very good just not in my sights for a while. I have been trying to collect Craftsman "BE" tools for a while now. This is a few of what I have' the first is a pretty good set of the amber tools and the other pic is extras I have added.

Randall
 

Attachments

  • DSC_0069.jpg
    DSC_0069.jpg
    149 KB · Views: 81
  • DSC_0068.jpg
    DSC_0068.jpg
    150.8 KB · Views: 80

GalaxyRat

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2018
Messages
386
Location
Florida
Have gotten back to reading this site after a while. It was always very good just not in my sights for a while. I have been trying to collect Craftsman "BE" tools for a while now. This is a few of what I have' the first is a pretty good set of the amber tools and the other pic is extras I have added.

Randall
Holy cow!!! That's a beautiful set you have collected, I'm very jealous.

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

Smokeshow69

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 7, 2012
Messages
8,368
Location
Pacific Northwest
Have gotten back to reading this site after a while. It was always very good just not in my sights for a while. I have been trying to collect Craftsman "BE" tools for a while now. This is a few of what I have' the first is a pretty good set of the amber tools and the other pic is extras I have added.



Randall



That is a fantastic set and extremely hard to come by. Very nice work!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
 

JoCoSawdust

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 19, 2018
Messages
2,416
Location
Eastern NC
Have gotten back to reading this site after a while. It was always very good just not in my sights for a while. I have been trying to collect Craftsman "BE" tools for a while now. This is a few of what I have' the first is a pretty good set of the amber tools and the other pic is extras I have added.

Randall

Incredible amber line up and you even have the proper box!!!
 

JoCoSawdust

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 19, 2018
Messages
2,416
Location
Eastern NC
Thanks to fellow GJ members Don and Roy (thank you!) I was able to complete the 100pc Master Socket Set from 1939. This would be the first year of a Craftsman branded top chest and the first year they offered a comprehensive tool set which would be a staple of Sears marketing for decades to come. If the catalogs are correct, they offered the 100 pc set in 39 and 40. In 1941 the 3/4d items were dropped from this set. All of the holes are filled now, I'll keep looking for items to swap out some of the pieces that are in lesser quality condition. This has been fun putting together.

IMG_6985.jpg IMG_6980.jpg

IMG_6981.jpg IMG_6983.jpg

1939 100 pc Set.jpg
 
Last edited:

JoCoSawdust

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 19, 2018
Messages
2,416
Location
Eastern NC
Thanks gents. OTG, Circle K on the 3/4d stuff. I have to admit to cheating a bit on those as a few of the 3/4d stuff has later logo on it. They're keeping the places warm until I can find the proper Long C logo.
 

Oldtuleguy

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 4, 2017
Messages
10,459
Just curious as I have been told they were sold simultaneously, so either may be correct?
 

JoCoSawdust

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 19, 2018
Messages
2,416
Location
Eastern NC
Not sure OTG. I'd actually like to put together a BM set for this box so the Circle K pieces can join some other stuff I have for a larger 3/4d set. Might take a while but I'll get there. I don't run across it much in my haunts.
 
OP
O

Outlawmws

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,190
Location
The Badlands
Totally Cool JoCo! Well done!

It also makes me wonder how close I could come to something like that. Dead certain not complete, but other than the top box, all my stuff has been local, Cl, YS, Fleas and the like. No Eprey...
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom