Vintage Craftsman Collectors Thread

[IRQVET]

Inspired by a FB Group I'm apart of, thought I'd start it here. Post your vintage Craftsman finds here:

My recent find, I know they older than these, but still a cool find.

 

[Cruzan80]

Just as a heads up, there are already threads for Long C, Heritage and Crowntop Craftsman. Personally, I don't consider 80's or younger to be "vintage", so those tend to work out for what I and others seem to need. There are also threads devoted to specific types of machines, such as drill presses.

Long C: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/show-your-long-c-craftsman.376433/
Heritage: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/show-your-heritage-logo-love.232878/
Crowntop: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/show-your-crowntop-craftsman.432664/

 

[IRQVET]

Just as a heads up, there are already threads for Long C, Heritage and Crowntop Craftsman.

Understood, just trying to make this a one stop shop for those who collect it all.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Define "vintage" ? 50 years old ?

Most of my tool box would be "vintage" in less than 10 years !

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Understood, just trying to make this a one stop shop for those who collect it all.

How popular is the 80's and later stuff on your FB Group? Is it a thing? A trend? Reason I ask is you might have better drawing power, and it might be more effective for all, if you tried to make a go of this thread with a "Craftsman Modern" or a "Craftsman Black Label" or a "Craftsman 80's and Later" edit or a so called Craftsman "Rectangular" [SEARS|CRAFTSMAN] logo moniker. If it really took off and got popular as a Craftsman thread for that era, I would add it to the Sticky. I'm constantly surprised that guys consider that era collectible, but I know they do for other brands (Bonney, SK, etc). Not my thing, but being fair, who knows, maybe we need one!



The various existing Craftsman threads you see in the Sticky Index above are what @Cruzan80 alluded to and linked. By the numbers, they are very active and long-standing threads. The "Long C" thread has been operating since 2017 and is a whopping 116 pages long. The "Heritage" thread has been operating since 2014 and is 35 pages long. There are actually two (2) "Crowntop" threads, one up on the General discussion board, operating since 2013 before the 'Great Divide' and 21 pages long, and the other down here on the Vintage board, started in 2019, and 12 pages long. Point being, that's where members are used to show n' telling their Crafty stuff now.

You can do what you want, of course. Anything could happen. But that's what you're up against with a catch-all thread this late in the game here.

Just trying to help.

 

[Etchase]

Might one thread for craftsman be too broad to find anything? The current system, breaking the discussion up into different time frames seems much more manageable, and established. I don’t think this thread would be compatible with the others, without much redundancy if at all.

 

[IRQVET]

Define "vintage" ? 50 years old ?

Most of my tool box would be "vintage" in less than 10 years !

50 Years old or older seems reasonable. . .

 

[theoldwizard1]

50 Years old or older seems reasonable. . .

Then probably at least 50% of my box is already "vintage". Some is over 55 years old ,!

 

[B Halverson]

I grew up using Craftsman sockets and wrenches in the 60s and 70s. They were reasonably priced and great quality back then and you could not beat the guarantee where if something broke you took it to Sears and they would replace it. I think I remember maybe in the late 70s or early 80s seeing Sears selling some Craftsman wrenches that were made in Japan, and that did not sit well with a few generations who saw them. In the 1990s when I was living in Detroit I bought a set of Craftsman sockets and also a set of their "professional" wrenches and kept them all in a black plastic case that the sockets came in, along with some Craftsman Allen drivers that fit the 3/8" ratchet and extensions. I have kept it in the trunk of whatever automobile I am driving ever since, over 25 years and the set has been great except the ratchet was not as good a quality as the 60s and 70s ones so I swapped it out for a "Wright" brand, and also added an old Snap-on 3/8" breaker bar to the case. I still have my old 60s/70s Craftsman wrenches and sockets and tool-boxes too that I have been using for a half-century or more and they still work fine. Also I always liked the Craftsman screwdrivers of the 60s-80s and used them a lot in the electrical construction trade, and still do. I am sure they will see me right into the grave.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I grew up using Craftsman sockets and wrenches in the 60s and 70s. They were reasonably priced and great quality back then and you could not beat the guarantee where if something broke you took it to Sears and they would replace it. I think I remember maybe in the late 70s or early 80s seeing Sears selling some Craftsman wrenches that were made in Japan, and that did not sit well with a few generations who saw them. In the 1990s when I was living in Detroit I bought a set of Craftsman sockets and also a set of their "professional" wrenches and kept them all in a black plastic case that the sockets came in, along with some Craftsman Allen drivers that fit the 3/8" ratchet and extensions. I have kept it in the trunk of whatever automobile I am driving ever since, over 25 years and the set has been great except the ratchet was not as good a quality as the 60s and 70s ones so I swapped it out for a "Wright" brand, and also added an old Snap-on 3/8" breaker bar to the case. I still have my old 60s/70s Craftsman wrenches and sockets and tool-boxes too that I have been using for a half-century or more and they still work fine. Also I always liked the Craftsman screwdrivers of the 60s-80s and used them a lot in the electrical construction trade, and still do. I am sure they will see me right into the grave.

I understand the change in US tool companies outsourcing their tools. But me and my friends were happy with anything coming from Japan. During Japanese motorcycle repairs. To this day, we would rather buy anything from Japan than from the US.

 

[IRQVET]

I understand the change in US tool companies outsourcing their tools. But me and my friends were happy with anything coming from Japan. During Japanese motorcycle repairs. To this day, we would rather buy anything from Japan than from the US.

Group I just started on FB for those collecting the Japanese BF stuff . . .

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

 

[GX460DIYguy]

I have fallen in love with the old silver craftsman punches, chisels, and prybars. Going through old toolboxes that belonged to my great grandfather and there’s quite a few craftsman chisels and punches that he acquired over the years. When I first saw these in the boxes I thought the rust had already made its way through the chrome and they weren’t worth saving, but man do they clean up great! Not sure how old they are, but these two are in great shape. I need to dig the rest out soon and clean them up.

 

[IRQVET]

I just ordered two sets of those.

 

[GX460DIYguy]

I just ordered two sets of those.

eBay? I come across them every so often second hand but always passed on them since they looked to be in pretty bad shape. Now that I took a chance on cleaning these I’ll definitely be picking up more.

 

[IRQVET]

My latest eBay haul arrived today . . . just a couple odds and ends.

1. CMAN Badge
2. Various punches
3. Draw pulls for a Kennedy (CMAN branded) machinist box.

 

[oscarsnapkin]

Anyone have any idea on how old this ratchet may be? Also, do rebuild kits exist for this? I bought it as a lot of 4 old ratchets on eBay for $10 that contained an old Snap On that I was interested in. I’m a fan of old Craftsman as well and I’d like to make this thing operational. Thanks!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Anyone have any idea on how old this ratchet may be? Also, do rebuild kits exist for this? I bought it as a lot of 4 old ratchets on eBay for $10 that contained an old Snap On that I was interested in. I’m a fan of old Craftsman as well and I’d like to make this thing operational. Thanks!

That ratchet was offered from ‘44 to ‘48 and is made by plomb. A lot of the Proto guts will fit but not the face plates. Did you take it apart to see what the issue is?

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I understand the change in US tool companies outsourcing their tools. But me and my friends were happy with anything coming from Japan. During Japanese motorcycle repairs. To this day, we would rather buy anything from Japan than from the US.

I meant dirt bikes, by the way.

 

[rustyedge1]

Trying to date this stamping on Craftsman == hammer, any info appreciated..

 

[rustyedge1]

That ratchet was offered from ‘44 to ‘48 and is made by plomb. A lot of the Proto guts will fit but not the face plates. Did you take it apart to see what the issue is?

Do not loose springs..

 

[Mintgrun]

Trying to date this stamping on Craftsman == hammer, any info appreciated..

I don't have any date information, but I do have ball peen hammers and a soft face hammer or two with the same logo and light green paint. The paint might help date them. Does anyone know when they used that shade of light green?