Show your "Long C" Craftsman!

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks. It wouldn't fit on top of that piece, like the only way the Circle-U speeder will fit, obviously. But, if it didn't have that rotating grip, I can see it fitting underneath that piece, and clipping in, like mine does, perhaps. But you're in a better position to eyeball that than I.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

If you bent the tab that could work

 

[Rileysan]

Changing the subject a little, here's my small collection of amber handled Craftsman Circle-I screwdrivers.

Brian

 

[Private Lugnutz]

If you bent the tab that could work

I'm not sure that would be necessary. Yours looks a little less curled than mine, but it has a distinct curl (or looks like it from here, anyway), as does the illustration in the 1948 catalog. Why is it curled? I would argue to accept the round shape of the swing arm shank. I don't believe mine has been molested. You can actually see the finish on my clip. And yours clearly hasn't been molested. Stretching the swing arm over the clip provides the tension.

This is just one of those minor seemingly insignificant details and dilemmas that will drive me crazy.

The bottom line, guys, is there's no way my clip has been bent, and there is no way for me to bend it to make my swing arm rest on top of it.

You would think that they made one box, including the speeder mounting pieces, to one set of specifications, and that the Circle-H, BE and Circle-U speeders would all fit. Only because it seems crazy to make a different box - or at least the same box with a different middle clip, for two different suppliers.

Let's move on for now. But put me down as 'still flustered and undecided'.

 

[Rileysan]

I'm not sure that would be necessary. Yours looks a little less curled than mine, but it has a distinct curl (or looks like it from here, anyway), as does the illustration in the 1948 catalog. Why is it curled? I would argue to accept the round shape of the swing arm shank. I don't believe mine has been molested. You can actually see the finish on my clip. And yours clearly hasn't been molested. Stretching the swing arm over the clip provides the tension.

This is just one of those minor seemingly insignificant details and dilemmas that will drive me crazy.

The bottom line, guys, is there's no way my clip has been bent, and there is no way for me to bend it to make my swing arm rest on top of it.

You would think that they made one box, including the speeder mounting pieces, to one set of specifications, and that the Circle-H, BE and Circle-U speeders would all fit. Only because it seems crazy to make a different box - or at least the same box with a different middle clip, for two different suppliers.

Let's move on for now. But put me down as 'still flustered and undecided'.

It's too late -You opened it!!!

But seriously, I think you're correct in that it came that way, and have yet another undocumented box. That makes at least 3 styles of Heritage era 1/2" drive socket boxes, and it wouldn't surprise me to learn there are more.

Brian

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Early snap on stuff used a similar set up to the circle u, with the clip over the speeder

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Both of my boxes have a two wing clip made of a continuous piece of metal. Seems to be a bit more secure of a way to secure the speeder.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Changing the subject a little, here's my small collection of amber handled Craftsman Circle-I screwdrivers.

Brian

Nice group shot. Those are incredibly difficult to find in my area.

 

[r_olson_06]

Nice group shot. Those are incredibly difficult to find in my area.

Changing the subject a little, here's my small collection of amber handled Craftsman Circle-I screwdrivers.

Brian

Have either of you seen this style? There is a very faint =Craftsman= stamping but cannot make out the OEM stamp. Very translucent yellow.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I'm guessing that screwdriver is from the early 50s. Post-amber handle, pre-red and clear handles. Every true amber handle I've seen in the flesh or pictures has the handle profile like the ones Brian posted up thread. Those "crystal clear" handles didn't stay so crystal clear over time. I know the later red/clear Super Tuffs had Super Tuff in cursive inscribed on the handles. Very hard to make out sometimes. No clue if the earlier crystal clear drivers had the Super Tuff logo or not.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think I own every one of those drivers in your pic, plus a few that aren't on there (like the full size handle stubby) Bought them all new back in the day, (and quit a few dupes over the years...

 

[Rileysan]

Have either of you seen this style? There is a very faint =Craftsman= stamping but cannot make out the OEM stamp. Very translucent yellow.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

Can you see the words "Super-Tuff" anywhere on it?

I have a clear handle version, which was introduced in the 1951 catalog

The 1949 & 50 catalogs show the Super-Tuff amber handle screwdrivers but but they are the earlier design. Perhaps yours is from the transition?

Here are captures from the 49 and 52 catalogs for reference.

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

I think I own every one of those drivers in your pic, plus a few that aren't on there (like the full size handle stubby) Bought them all new back in the day, (and quit a few dupes over the years...

Just how old are you?!?

 

[Rileysan]

I'm guessing that screwdriver is from the early 50s. Post-amber handle, pre-red and clear handles. Every true amber handle I've seen in the flesh or pictures has the handle profile like the ones Brian posted up thread. Those "crystal clear" handles didn't stay so crystal clear over time. I know the later red/clear Super Tuffs had Super Tuff in cursive inscribed on the handles. Very hard to make out sometimes. No clue if the earlier crystal clear drivers had the Super Tuff logo or not.

I don't think they were 100% see-through clear. I think they were clear plastic with red & blue paint, like the one I just posted.

Brian

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I don't think they were 100% see-through clear. I think they were clear plastic with red & blue paint, like the one I just posted.

Brian

Ah OK. I've got a couple that have zero red left on them. Must have just worn off.

 

[Rileysan]

Ah OK. I've got a couple that have zero red left on them. Must have just worn off.

Worn off just like the amber handle screwdriver posted by R_Olson. His has been polished clean!

 

[Rileysan]

Changing the subject yet again. BTW - It's nice finally having a weekend off to play with tools!

Craftsman Vanadium Model 4518, 7" amber handle lineman's pliers.

These are proving to be a tough nut to crack. I haven't been able to locate any mention of amber handles in the catalogs. Anybody have a clue?

Brian

 

[Outlawmws]

Don't forget the red/blue drivers were sold for many decades - I started buying Craftsman tools at 15-16 years old with paper route $$.

 

[Rileysan]

Don't forget the red/blue drivers were sold for many decades - I started buying Craftsman tools at 15-16 years old with paper route $$.

But I posted screwdrivers that ceased production in the late 1940s. The amber color aside, the big difference is in the top of the screwdriver handle; there's no round nob on top of the early ones. Still, if you have a full set of the "Super-Tuff" screwdrivers from the 50s, that's an impressive collection!

 

[Outlawmws]

Maybe I'm not seeing it clearly but these look to have the Western Forge red/Blue with knob?

 

[Rileysan]

Maybe I'm not seeing it clearly but these look to have the Western Forge red/Blue with knob?

Correct color scheme but mine is marked with a circle-F which, according to the chart, is supposed to be Miller Falls. The amber screwdrivers were all Circle-I, which is not mentioned in the chart.

Brian

 

[d42jeep]

I have found some amber handle screwdrivers over the years. Usually they ended up in Tin Medics Craftsman collection.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

This one is a circle-G.

 

[Mintgrun]

I found a little one today.

No writing left on it though.

The other day I picked up a 1/4" chisel and gave it a handle.


The previous owner must have grabbed it in Vise Grips. Right on top of the mark, of course.


The handle in the middle chisel is marked CRAFTSMAN and I think the C used to be long, before it wore off. Maybe not....

 

[RyanTN]

Here’s a recent find. A wartime finish #1 tappet wrench, 7/16 x 17/32.

 

[d42jeep]

I was looking at this pipe wrench today. What do you guys think this label looked like originally?
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I was looking at this pipe wrench today. What do you guys think this label looked like originally?
-Don

Looks a bit like a condensed version of this one Don. Without "Tools". I'd suspect that's a pre-Long C oldie. EDIT" Although yours does have the geometric "S".

 

[Rileysan]

I was looking at this pipe wrench today. What do you guys think this label looked like originally?
-Don

I believe that is an early Heritage logo (ca. 1945). The color schemes were not consistent just after the war and even this color blind collector has noticed a few different ones.

Brian

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I believe that is an early Heritage logo (ca. 1945). The color schemes were not consistent just after the war and even this color blind collector has noticed a few different ones.

Brian

Yet another thing I've never seen!

 

[Rileysan]

Yet another thing I've never seen!

I'll wager there's a lot more you and I haven't seen yet. That's part of what makes this so much fun!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, guys. It does seem to be a match to the logo Brian posted. The writing and color look to be the same. Do you think that there is a range of years that they were using that one? Is it earlier or later than this one?
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I agree with Brian on this one. Early Heritage, post-Long C. I've seen several of the reverse color Heritage badges (predominately blue) but never one like the logo he posted.

 

[Rileysan]

Thanks, guys. It does seem to be a match to the logo Brian posted. The writing and color look to be the same. Do you think that there is a range of years that they were using that one? Is it earlier or later than this one?
-Don

The one I posted is after the long-c logo on your 1/4" drive set.

Brian

 

[bmwrd0]

speaking of screwdrivers, I dug this little guy out of a bin at a Restore:

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool find!

 

[3baygarage]

That has a nice logo. They can be hard to find with logo still visible. Years back I collected quite a few of them at estate sales, many are faint.

These little guys and the bigger one were picked up over the last 2 years. Only a couple are readable.


Not sure of the make on the tiniest. The yellow one second from bottom is the most recent I think, actually a RYAN brand!

4 different lengths on the 1/8 Craftsman, counting the screwholder.

 

[dangerRuss]

Found this lone 'Long C' (BE) socket in my tub of mismatched sockets. I figured a vintage socket needs a matching vintage ratchet. Got this circle H ratchet off of ebay. A couple days later I found this set of BE sockets mixed in a lot of **** tools at a thrift store.
- Russ

 

[JoCoSawdust]

That's a nice thrift store find Russ and welcome to the group.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. Always exciting to find stuff like that cheap!

 

[outofbounds]

Please forgive me for "overshooting" my load, but found all this Craftsman in a basement sale where the lovely widow indicated to me that "lots" of nice men had already been through and left all this behind somehow......Not all is "Long C" but I was genuinely surprised how much was sitting in plain sight, and an overall major bargain......in fact I sold a pressure washer on FB that paid for the entire haul!