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Vintage Craftsman Air Compressor?

ekegelmann

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Hi, this is up for grabs in a local auction and Im wondering if anyone knows the year this may be from and value it may hold? Any help would be great because I do love Craftsman tools and especially oddities. Thanks!
 

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ekegelmann

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So, if I could get it for under 10 it may be worth it, not much value here. I am just curious on the year etc stuff like that. Its a cool looking piece.
 

Outlawmws

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Mid thirties to mod forties based on the Long C Craftsman logo.

I'd lean to early 40's as the styling is similar to the DP's they had in 42-43:

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While it's technically a compressor, its probably a constant pressure feed for a paint sprayer.

Don't over spend but if you can get a deal on it it would be a fun restore to have around.
 

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bluebolt

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I have that same compressor. Model # is 283.1850. Mine has the motor like the OP's. The Craigslist one has the correct sheetmetal base.
 

bluebolt

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Mid thirties to mod forties based on the Long C Craftsman logo.

I'd lean to early 40's as the styling is similar to the DP's they had in 42-43:

attachment.php


While it's technically a compressor, its probably a constant pressure feed for a paint sprayer.

Don't over spend but if you can get a deal on it it would be a fun restore to have around.

I think they are post WWII. None of the paint sprayers look like that in the 1937-1942 catalogs and the post war Craftsman Power tool catalogs have NO paint sprayers.
 

Outlawmws

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There have been quite a few small compressors this size that don't show in any catalogs I have. I don't think they necessarily listed them all. (possibly in the Big full Sears catalogs?) None of my post war catalogs had anything like this, and the styling is Art Deco; then there is the Long C Logo which for the most part was 35 to 45.
 
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nine4gmc

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I'd like to find one for cheap and mount it on a small horizontal tank for air brushing.
 
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bluebolt

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There have been quite a few small compressors this size that don't show in any catalogs I have. I don't think they necessarily listed them all. (possibly in the Big full Sears catalogs?) None of my post war catalogs had anything like this, and the styling is Art Deco; then there is the Long C Logo which for the most part was 35 to 45.

Based on Mfg numbers and motor numbers I think late 40's early 50's.

Mine Mfg number 1048 motor K1 48
If these are dates 1048 is October 1948 and motor is October 1st 1948 assuming K is the month. Most times when using letters for months "I" is skipped making "K" the tenth month.

Craigslist one above, Mfg number not visible, motor has E 51 on it. May 1951?

Past Ebay one Mfg # 249. Feb 1949? Motor plate not visible.

One on yahoo groups Mfg number 548 May 1948?
 

Outlawmws

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Are those motor or pump date codes? Many, if not most power tools "back in the day" came with or without motors, and those were added by the user. Many reused old washing machine motors for the purpose, and often those were swapped out later (because the Washing machine motors were open frame and loaded up with ****) when the motor died. So motor dating isn't always a reliable indicator for the tool.
 

bluebolt

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Mfg number is the number that is on the red data plate on the steel base. The one above has a makeshift wood base and no plate.

Yes I know the ones in the 1942 catalog come either as complete or without motor. Of the 4 I have actually seen a picture of including mine 3 have a motor like in the OP's post including mine. This is a Packard motor. the Craigslist one has a Craftsman appliance motor.

I wonder if there is another Craftsman catalog out there in the late 40's early fifties besides the power tools and hand tools where the compressors and jacks and other auto tools are. Or maybe they are only in the big book.
 

bluebolt

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Besides the 283.1850 like mine there is also a 283.1854. The compressor looks the same as far as I can tell.

Ebay Mfg number 548 no motor tag visible. The motor looks like my Packard but doesn't have the capacitor looking thing on top.

JLA forums Mfg number 948 no picture

Ebay Mfg number 549 Craftsman Appliance Motor model no 283.18541
 

softailgarage

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I'm with Outlaw on this one, pre WWII. Craftsman really didn't or wasn't selling tg the public during the war until 1947, at that point the design of Craftsman tools including the logo had moved away from the "Art Deco" style. 1947-1953 was a bit of a "Modern" stye and then 1954-1964 they were on a "Space Age" design.
BTW, I probably wouldn't pay more than $50.00 for that, although it is pretty cool. How is the noise level of these?
 
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nine4gmc

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The compressors may be in the big sears and roebuck catalogs, I have a reprint of the 1927 edition and there are all kinds of things in it including compressed air sprayers, kit homes, fur trading etc. I'd bet they would be in the full catalogs from their period.

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