Show your "Long C" Craftsman!

[Private Lugnutz]

Great acquisition, Brian.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Sticking with the early 30s theme, this interesting drill index popped up on eBay a short time ago. I had to do some digging but it shows up in a very small image in the 1932 catalog. Cast aluminum body, steel handle, and bakelite knob. The upper band appears to be a decal while the lower band is brass. This is for the 29 bit set. The catalog also lists a 60pc set on a stand as well. It's interesting that the 60pc set is 85 cents cheaper than the 29pc set.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That would make a cool pencil holder for an office desk. Not to dismiss its original intent or its coolness factor as a drill index, I will hasten to add.

 

[Joe Huld]

Sticking with the early 30s theme, this interesting drill index popped up on eBay a short time ago. I had to do some digging but it shows up in a very small image in the 1932 catalog. Cast aluminum body, steel handle, and bakelite knob. The upper band appears to be a decal while the lower band is brass. This is for the 29 bit set. The catalog also lists a 60pc set on a stand as well. It's interesting that the 60pc set is 85 cents cheaper than the 29pc set.

The 60 pc. set was for wire gauge drills 1-60; the price differential was due to the lower cost of the small diameter drills. I know I have one of those drill indexes, I'll haveto dig it out to see which one.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Thanks Joe, that's good to know. I have a pre-war wire gauge box. It's the typical hinged door, swing-out racks for bits that they sold for decades. With this advertisement stating that the bits are "on stand", I'm wondering if the 60pc set came on a stand similar to the one I posted.

Lugz: I had to spirit this thing out to the shop as my wife had designs on it for the exact reason you stated. It now resides comfortably with the pre-war DPs.

 

[Provincial]

JoCo, you need to post that in the Vintage Drill Bit Indexes thread here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268241

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Thanks Provincial. I knew there was an index thread but was too lazy to hunt it down this AM.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The Index in the Sticky is your friend, guys! No hunting necessary! No copy pasting necessary!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Yeah I use the Sticky all the time Lugz. Didn't think the index thread would be there. The Sticky has it all!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Actually, it is in bad need of an update. Lots of old threads missing, some new ones to add. And believe it or not, I catch myself forgetting to use it sometimes, too. Old habits die hard. But yeah, that one is there.

 

[Old Radar]

Just bumping my questions from last week regarding the odd font and lack of "Made in USA" on my Craftsman micrometer.



Do any of the experts have a vector for me?

Details and specifics are in my post number 2672

Thanks.

 

[Rileysan]

Just bumping my questions from last week regarding the odd font and lack of "Made in USA" on my Craftsman micrometer.



Do any of the experts have a vector for me?

Details and specifics are in my post number 2672

Thanks.

That's a tough one, OR. I know that Sears used different manufacturers for their machinists tools over the years but I have never seen anyone try to create a timeline for them. If I were to take a guess, I'd say yours was an European manufacturer some time in the 50s or 60s.

 

[Old Radar]

Thanks for your reply, Rileysan!

I'm not so much interested in a manufacturer timeline per se; Lauver and Outlawmws have paved that road. I'm more interested in where the particular font on my micrometer falls in the logo timeline.

Using Outlaw's bar graphs in his work View attachment Sears Tool Timeline r1.pdf, I see the Long C period went from the early 30's to 1950 +/-. The Heritage logo pick up late 40's and started disappearing in the early 60's while the Crown logo started in 1960.

The 0-1" micrometer in the Craftsman line was depicted like mine (narrow knurled speeder on the end of the barrel and a short cut out at the anvil end) in catalogs from at least 1939 to 1960 and I have found pictures of examples with the "short" Long C logo. After 1960, the micrometer design changed. I therefore conclude mine falls somewhere before the Crown era--possibly in the transition years between Long C and Heritage eras, but also possibly pre-Long C. Since I have not seen a catalog earlier than 1939, I cannot personally verify this, which is why I hoped someone here could say yea or nay.

Lacking the Made in U.S.A. stamp, I agree a European manufacturer is a distinct possibility. What I cannot imagine is Sears having any manufacturer change the logo from one of the established Craftsman styles to the san serif, italicized version on mine in mid-production. I can imagine a manufacturer being brought in line mid-production by Sears to conform to a newly established logo style. Since there are examples of the "short" Long C on eBay, and lacking any examples of either an earlier style on a mic or a pre-1939 catalog, I lean toward mine being a pre-Long C production. Either that or this is the Heritage style font for items that don't have the oval.

Standing by for holes to be poked in my theory!

............My Mic...................Closeup of Logo....................Ebay Example

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...I lean toward mine being a pre-Long C production. Either that or this is the Heritage style font for items that don't have the oval.

OR, I was equally flummoxed by this 6” tempered No. 4 steel rule. The size markings were etched in a style I do not typically associate with 1950's rules, bearing the same logo. They used a rather plain sans serif logo on some pre-war socket set tools (namely, C-series), but it wasn't italicized. Has anyone seen this logo on a tool not associated with measuring things? Maybe it is a production type thing, not a production era thing, reserved for machinists tools. Although that's probably a stretch. In the end, I settled on Heritage.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

While I have absolutely nothing to back it up, that script screams 1950s to me. Looking through catalogs to identify scripts is a fool's errand (but I did it anyhow with no success). I did find that they were importing micrometers as early as 1932 (shown in the catalog clip). Neither of the mics in that clip match the profile of your mic OR but it is an interesting, very early example of an imported tool sold through Sears.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmmm the import is less than half the cost of a US made mic. 32 is deep in the depression, and that hit Germany harder than anyone post WWI.

The three countries that come to mind for precision stuff pre WWI are Germany, the Swiss, and England.

 

[Old Radar]

The sticking point for me in the import/USA discussion for these mics is mine (no USA marking) and the eBay (Made in U.S.A.) are virtually identical--the only difference I can detect is a slight variation on the placement of the decimal equivalents tables.

To me, this screams Same Manufacturer. That means if one was made overseas, they later opened a factory in the US; they licensed production to a US firm; or they were a US firm to begin with and didn't stamp the USA on their early product.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Note that my rule with the same logo is Made in U.S.A.

 

[d42jeep]

My estate sale find speed indicator presents the same problem. Although one is shown in the ‘42 catalog, I doubt that it’s that old. I’m just not sure how to tell for certain.
-Don

 

[lafester]

I found a few pieces today. These were mixed in with a lot of junk.
I can see why you guys like long c tools, they seem to be heavy duty.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yessir! New Britain made.

 

[TimA]

Hi all, I've picked a few Long C over the past couple of months.

 

[TimA]

A couple more

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hi Tim. Welcome to GJ. I really like that soldering iron. I don't recall seeing one here before, but I may have missed it. If so, I am sure JoCo or someone will be along shortly to correct me!

 

[TimA]

Thanks, Lugz. I've been lurking for years and since COVID hit I started building up my tool collection and I finally have some stuff to post. The soldering iron was in a $6 auction lot that I wanted because it had 3 hand drills. I was surprised that it was a Craftsman. It's now hanging on the wall with my hand drills.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Hi all, I've picked a few Long C over the past couple of months.

Awesome tools those are in great shape.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Catfishdan]

The good news is I picked up a craftsman c-97 ratchet at the flea this morning for 50 cents.
The bad news is it looks like this. It’s soaking in the evaporate now. Interested to see if I can get it moving.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Tim, that's a really nice specimen of a pre-war soldering iron. Even the cloth covered cord is in great shape! I'm particularly interested in the logo on that hand drill. There's a few different examples of what I call the "Long Heritage" logo as Sears was apparently experimenting with what their logo would look like after the war.

Catfishdan: Alright now, this is your test. As fantastic as your other stuff looks, let's see what you can do with that barnacle!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

... that barnacle!

Haha. I was going to describe it as half returned to its earthly elemental properties. The thing with the crusty ones isn't so much the rust. Evaporust will wipe that right out. It's the staining underneath that is hard to get rid of without grinding, in my experience.

 

[Catfishdan]

Well it’ll never be pretty again, but a few hours in the juice and a hammer blow or two freed it right up. Works perfect. Even the friction balls move. I’d like to see a modern craftsman ratchet try that!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Good save.

 

[bmwrd0]

Doesn't look bad to me Dan. And any save of something that rare is good.

 

[Shelbylex]

Nice save, Dan. It's always great to see something saved from the melter!

 

[Outlawmws]

Well Done Dan!

 

[Catfishdan]

Thanks guys!

 

[Username already in use]

Well it’ll never be pretty again,

I think it turned out pretty nice, but you can make it pretty again with some radial bristle discs. I bought these on Amazon, they go on the end of a dremel tool. You can start with a higher grit and work your way down to a mirror finish. They're cheap and work really well. Give em a go if you're inclined.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LD9LJ2C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Rileysan]

I think it turned out pretty nice, but you can make it pretty again with some radial bristle discs. I bought these on Amazon, they go on the end of a dremel tool. You can start with a higher grit and work your way down to a mirror finish. They're cheap and work really well. Give em a go if you're inclined.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LD9LJ2C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Well I'm convinced - especially at that price! My order is placed ...

 

[Username already in use]

Well I'm convinced - especially at that price! My order is placed ...

Wear a dust mask when you're using them. Who knows what is coming off those old tools.

I stack about 3 discs together to get a wider coverage. They work really well. Let me know how they work for you.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Wear a dust mask when you're using them. Who knows what is coming off those old tools.

I stack about 3 discs together to get a wider coverage. They work really well. Let me know how they work for you.

Good call! We know they are not cad plated but who knows what other harmful chemicals were used in their construction... that is probably why they lasted so long

Catfishdan- great find! I say that earns a you **** in my book!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Nice save Dan.