maddawg1952
Well-known member
yep ,12 or 14 gauge wire. I can't take credit for it. I learned it from GJ in a former thread. Lots of smarter than me folks in here.
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The Craftsman 44985 Ratchet
- Thread starter cruiser808
- Start date
maddawg1952
Well-known member
it's a date code and a mfgr's code ,so according to some lists I have seen you can identify the year and maker of that ratchet. From an earlier post on GJ, From lauver
Senior Member
lauver's Avatar
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Belton, TX
Posts: 1,368 Default Craftsman Hand Tool Manufacturers & Date Ranges
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Last Updated: 10/19/13
(Note-- items in red are the latest updates)
Early Craftsman Series (generally pre-1947, some exceptions):
A-circle = Empire, ca. 1935 -1973
B-circle = Wilde, ca. 1949-1958
BC = unknown U.S. manufacturer, ca. ?
BE = New Britain, ca. 1931 - 1947
BM = S-K, ca. 1939 - 1951
BT = Vlchek/New Britain, ca. 1936 - 1938
Cxx = Probably New Britain or Hinsdale, ca. 1932 - 1936
CI = unknown U.S manu., ca. 1930 - 1945
CF or C-F = Probably Herbrand, ca. 1934 - 1939
CK = Unknown U.S. manu., ca. 1939 - 1943
Craftsman Vanadium = unknown U.S. Manu, ca. 1931 - 1941
C8 = JP Danielson, ca. 1930 -1936
F-circle = Miller Falls, ca. 1949 - 1964
G-circle = possibly Lectrolite, ca. 1949 - 1964
H-circle = New Britain, ca. 1931 - 1947
K-circle = SK, ca. 1939 - 1951 perhaps later
N-square = unknown U.S. manu., ca ? - ?
P-circle = Wilde, ca. 1945 - 1973
S-circle = Kastar, ca. 1960 - 2008, perhaps earlier
V-circle = unknown U.S. manu., ca. ? - 1985
U-circle = Plomb/Penens, ca. 1944 - 1948
Y-circle = possibly Ridge Tool, ca. ? - ?
Z-circle = Mayhew, ca. 1957 - 1969
Modern Craftsman Series (generally 1947 and later, some exceptions):
AZ-circle = J.H. Williams & Co, ca. 1955 - 1967
BF = probably Daido, possibly KTC, Japanese made, ca 1969 - 1987
C = likely Crescent division of Cooper Industries, ca. 1964 - 1973
C = Stanley Works, Taiwanese made, ca. ? - ?
(note--Canadian Craftsman series code)
CG = unknown U.S. manu., ca. 2001 - 2005
D = Kington, Chinese made, ca. 1992 - 2008
DAA = Danaher, Chinese made, ca. 2011-?
DJ = Mitutoyo, Japanese made, ca. 1968 perhaps earlier & later
E/EE = National Hand Tools/later Stanley Works-NHT division, Taiwanese made, ca. 1982 - 1991
EEE/EEC/EE7 = Stanley Works, Taiwanese made, ca. 1988 - 2009
(note-- may be Canadian Craftsman series codes)
F = Danaher/possibly K-D division, ca. ? - 2008
G = Easco, ca. 1980 - 1989 perhaps as early as 1979
G continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011
G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000 - 2004
G2 = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2008
G2D = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2011
GD = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009
GK = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 2003 - 2011
GK-A = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 1999 - 2003
GK-F = Danaher/Kinsley Tools, ca. 2007 - 2008
GK-G = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 2007 - 2008
GK-X = Danaher/Kinsley Tools, ca. ? - 2008
H = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. 1994 - 2011
HZ = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. ? - 2008
HZ O = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. 2008 - 2009
HZ OO = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. 2008 - 2009
I-circle = Parker Mfg Co, ca. 1962 - 1986
JW = J.H. Williams & Co, ca. 1968 - 1972
K = SK division of Facom, ca. 1985 - 2004, could still be NOS
K = Danaher, ca. 2009 - 2010
K1W = Danaher, ca. 2007
K3V = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008
K3X = Danaher, ca. 2007 -2008
K0Z = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011
K2Z = Danaher, ca. ? - ?
K6Z = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011
K7Z = Danaher, ca. 2010 - ?
K4W = Danaher, ca. 2007 - ?
K9W = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009
KAA = Danaher, ca. 2011 - ?
KR = Danaher, ca. 2005 - 2008
KU = Danaher, ca. 1992 - 2005
KV = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008
KW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, probably earlier
KX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, probably earlier
KY = Danaher, ca. 2009 - 2011
KZ = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011
L1X = Danaher, ca. 2008 - ?
LC = probably Lectrolite, ca. ? - 1964
L SI = Simonds International, ca. 2008 - 2011
LZ = Danaher, Made in Taiwan, ca. 2010 - ?
M6W = Dahaher, ca. 2007 - 2008
M6Y = Dahaher, ca. 2009 - 2009
M7Y = Danaher, ca, ? - ?
MG = MG Spa, Italy, ca. 1970 - 1973 (note-found on vernier calipers)
N = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2009
OA = Unknown U.S. manu., ca. ? - ?
P = Wilde, ca. 2008 - 2011, perhaps earlier
Q = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2006
R = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2006
PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2009
Q PR = Pratt Read, ca. ? - ?
S PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2008
T PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2008
U PR1-3 = Pratt Read, ca. 2008
V PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2008
W PR = Pratt Read, ca 2007 - 2009
X PR = Pratt Read, ca 2009 - 2009
ST = Stanley Works, likely Taiwanese made, ca. 2007 - 2009
(note- this is a Canadian Craftsman series code)
T1V = Danaher, ca. 2006 - 2007
T2W = Danaher, ca. 2008
T3W = Danaher, ca. 2008
T3Y = Danaher, ca. 2004
T4Z = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011
T5V = Danaher, ca. 2008
T5W = Danaher, ca. 2008
T1X = Danaher, ca. ? - 2007
T2X = Danaher, ca. ? - 2007
T5X = Danaher, ca. 2008
T-hex (T inside hex outline) = Milbar, ca. 2010 - 2011
V = Moore Drop Forge, ca. 1946 - 1967
V (continued) = Easco, ca. 1968 - 1986 perhaps as late as 1991 as NOS
VE = Danaher, ca. ? - ?
VF = Danaher, ca. likely early 1990's
VG = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1995
VH = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1997
VJ = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 2008
VK = Danaher, ca. 1996 - ?
VL = Danaher, ca. 1995
VM = Danaher, ca. 1998 - ?
VN = Danaher, ca. 1999 - 2001
VP = Danaher, ca. 2000 - ?
VQ = Danaher, ca. 2001 - 2004
VR = Danaher, ca. 2002 - ?
VS = Danaher, ca. 1995 - 2003
VT = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2006
VU = Danaher, ca. 2005
VV = Easco, ca. 1974 - 1989
VV continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011
VW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2009
V^(2nd V inverted) = Danaher, Armstrong Division, ca. 1992 - 2012
^V(1st V inverted) = Danaher, ca. 2010 - ?
VVH = Danaher, ca. 1997 - ?
VVL = Danaher, ca. 2000 - ?
VVN = Danaher, ca. 2005
VVS = Danaher, ca. 2003
VVT = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2005
VVV = Danaher, ca. 2008
VVW = Danaher, ca. 2008
VVX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, possibly earlier
VVY = Danaher, ca. 2009 - 2009
VVZ = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011
W = SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2005 - 2008
WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - 2011
WF ll = Western Forge, ca. 1969 - ?
WF D = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
WF J = Western Forge, ca. 1991 - ?
WF K = Western Forge, ca. ?
WF L = Western Forge, ca. ? - 2009
WF R = Western Forge, ca. ?
WF U = Western Forge, ca. 2008
WF V = Western Forge, ca. 2008 - 2011
WF W = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009
WF X = Western Forge, ca. 2008 - 2009
WF Y = Western Forge, ca. 2009 - 2011
WF Z = Western Forge, ca. 2010 - 2011
A WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
B WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
C WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
D WF = Western Forge, ca. 1993 - 2000
E WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
F WF = Western Forge, ca. 2003
G WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
H WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
J WF = Western Forge, ca. 1995
K WF = Western Forge, ca. 1995
L WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
M WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
N WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
O WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
P WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
Q WF = Western Forge, ca. 1990 - 1995
R WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
S WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - 2009
T WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009
U WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
V WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009
W WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009
X WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - 2009
Y WF = Western Forge, ca. 2009 - 2011
Z WF = Western Forge, ca. 2010 - 2011
+ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ?
* WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ?
> WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
|| WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
∆ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1966 - ?
□ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ?
7 WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?
X = SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2008 - 2009
X = Mayhew, ca. 2010 - 2011
Y = Danaher, Made in China, ca. 2009 - 2010
Z = Mayhew, ca. 1957 - 2011
3 = Kastar, ca. 1991
4 = Kastar, ca. 1992
7 = Easco, ca. 1987 - 1991 (SS & Lifetime ratchets)
[ = Kastar, ca. 2002 - 2009 possibly earlier
Hex-Line = Kastar, ca. 2009 - ?
.(Dot) = SK, ca. 2008 - 2009
__________________
Gary Lauver
When my wife leaves me, my dog dies, and they repo my house, I'll still have my tools.
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Last edited by lauver; 10-23-2013 at 09:18 PM. Reason: updates
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Old 12-20-2010, 01:19 PM
n earlier post on GJ.....
jonathan75
Well-known member
You can try this guy.
Item: Craftsman Ratchet Repair Kits
URL: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=300841644963&alt=web
Yeah, I was emailing back and forth with him yesterday. The kit I need is one of the few he doesn't have. Bummer...
dpaton
Well-known member
I've been hunting for one for almost a year. I missed one auction because of a meeting at work that ran long. It killed me. Not that I need it, grandpa's 44985 still works great after a rebuild, but I want to have parts on hand for when my son inherits it.
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Cdstahlman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2014
- Messages
- 141
I have a brand new non used one, I also have the 3/8 and 1/4" versions. PM me if you're interested.
Mr_P
Well-known member
drink
Well-known member
Of all the Craftsman ratchets made, the one I like the best are the -V- LLTD. I finally found a 1/4" and 3/8" in decent shape, and installed some new rebuild kits I had in storage. They should last me a long time.
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rockkkkher
New member
difference in pawl between v 44985 and vf 44985, anyone know the year of each ?
wifetrained
Member
I have several of this pattern in all drives, 1/4-3/8-1/2 inch and love them all. Even though they have less teeth than modern ones they are certainly stouter and can handle more torque. When checking reviews on the current 1/2" drive CMMT81749, almost 1/3 are bad. Even worse is the 3/8" drive model. The more teeth in the gear the worse they seem to get.
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