Vintage Craftsman Handtools.......

[MoboMac]

Ok,I've been buying (and using) Craftman handtools since 1968 and started thinking of them as collectible about 5 years ago....Why do we need MORE than THREE ratchets?

I'm a "hobbyist"...so most of my stuff is in decent clean condition...my parents taught me to look after my "toys".

So what constitutes vintage?..........

My take would be anything PRIOR to when they started putting part #'s on wrenches...which was 1974,...I've heard from informed sources...

I'm NEW here on GJ and was very happy to find that are other "crazies" out there just like me.

I have some questions about Craftsman to post and thought I'd introduce myself at the same time.

Now that ALL Craftsman handtools come from china...I guess that changes everything....

What year did Craftsman originate in?

 

[jim1987]

Why do we need MORE than THREE ratchets?

Are you serious? That's a rhetorical question right? I'll reserve judgment until then.. lol

 

[jim1987]

Now that ALL Craftsman handtools come from china...

No they don't. Large part of in store new ones do, but also Taiwan and still nos USA stuff in store. And plenty of nos on eBay of USA craftsman. Plus here in the classifieds. Plus plus pro pry bars are USA, red handled pry bars are USA around me, screw drivers, and like I said, still some USA socket sets. But yes, they are trying they're damnest to switch it all out.

 

[beatcad]

So what constitutes vintage?..........

I think this question deserves it's own thread.
I was talking(bitching) about this same thing last week w/ my buddy.

there really needs to be a blue ribbon committee to set the perameters of the word "vintage" that EVERYONE must accept!
for example in my state(VA) a car is considered "vintage" if its 20 years old and it's "antique" if it's 25 years old. I accepted this 20 years ago, but now a mid 80s car is vintage?

there should be a hardline rule for what is vintage or antique. I don't care if your talking about cars, or tools, or bicycles, or toys, or anything.
how often do you see people selling something from the 80s or 90s and calling it vintage just to get a couple more bucks?

I would suggest anything pre 1970s is vintage.
and anything pre WWII(1941) is antique.

and to throw a wrench into the works, some people will argue that the word vintage should only apply to wine

yeah, this question needs it's own thread.

 

[zkling]

What year did Craftsman originate in?

IIRC they started in the late 20's. Something like 1927 or 28.

Technically "vintage" by definition itself doesn't designate any specific age. You could have something that is vintage 2005. However with that said, vintage has become a slang synonym for old or rare or even junk, most seem to think it adds value to the item (ex. go search ebay for vintage). I think the general rule for slang use is around 20 years or older.

 

[Outlawmws]

Most solid date I've been able to find for Craftsman branding by Sears is 1930-31. The Long C logos in 1933. Sears claims earlier, but I've seen nothing to justify it.

IMHO:

Vintage and antique vary depending on how long the class of item has been in existence. Furninture, art clothing, the old rules of 100 to be an antique apply. Tools? wha tkind? hand tools? power? diagnostic tools?... depends.

Antique cars = Pre wwII

Vintage - pre plastic interiors to Post WWII.

(Plastic was mainstream in the 70's how many 70's cars still exist? There are more 60's cars left, (see adny for sale ads...) and there were more 70's cars made... 80's are well on the way to the same oblivion... I saw the first Pinto (a wagon) I've seen in about 10 years today... 70-73 model)

Vintage hand tools I'd say at least 50 years old. antique 100. (Hand tools have always been with us...) Power tools probably half that...

I can't stand the overuse of vintage and antique, and the preposterous "It's a 100 YO vise!" I see constantly for a vise no more than WWII old, if that... (Even if it has more than enough rust to justify it...)

I have a LOT of tools, and a LOT of them are old. Damn few are over 100 years old...

That's MY opinion...

 

[Outlawmws]

SNIP Why do we need MORE than THREE ratchets?SNIP

Why do we need more than one of anything? Because we want to...

I have 75 different ratcheting tools, Almost 100 with dupes (And I'm far from having the most on GJ. MANY guys have more...). Some dupes live in different boxes for different uses. (like my road box...) some are spares because you cannot buy them anymore and soon enough even rebuild kits won't be available.

Then there are the flex heads, off set, stubby's palm ratchets... and that's not even getting to the stuff over the 1/2" drives...

The question is, how little work do you do with tools that you only need 3 ratchets?

 

[gm54210]

So what constitutes vintage?..........

That my son, depends on your age.

 

[MoboMac]

Why do we need more than one of anything? Because we want to...

I have 75 different ratcheting tools, Almost 100 with dupes (And I'm far from having the most on GJ. MANY guys have more...). Some dupes live in different boxes for different uses. (like my road box...) some are spares because you cannot buy them anymore and soon enough even rebuild kits won't be available.

Then there are the flex heads, off set, stubby's palm ratchets... and that's not even getting to the stuff over the 1/2" drives...

The question is, how little work for you do with tools that you only need 3 ratchets?

So NOW I suppose you want me to go count MY ratchets? (it may take a while)

But you know...it's funny.....a buddy of mine has restored 3 muscle cars...several 60's vintage motorbikes AND maintains his own 5 vehicles and 8 motorbikes with LESS tools than I have in my medium sized road box...

I just shake my head when I look at his tools...but he "gitserdone".....

 

[Outlawmws]

Yep, been there, done that, and hated fighting it when the right tool makes it a lot easier...

When I was in grade school my dad an I transplanted a Studebaker V* into a fifty something Willy's panel jeep. The tools my dad had all fit in a small carry box no more than 16 X 9 X 9 or so. Didn't have a 3/8 ratchet just the 1/2 and 1/4 and a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter...

My little kids are was the way we got into space's too tight to get to other wise...

Don't miss those days of never having the right tool at all...

 

[MoboMac]

Craftsman Vanadium offset box wrench.......

I seem to have a "fetish" for offset box wrenches and picked this one up at a swap meet a while back.

I'm guessing it's from the 40's...and appears to be polished...don't believe I've seen ANY Craftsman wrench of the era finished like this...

Anybody know the story/history?

 

[softailgarage]

Re: Craftsman Vanadium offset box wrench.......

I seem to have a "fetish" for offset box wrenches and picked this one up at a swap meet a while back.

I'm guessing it's from the 40's...and appears to be polished...don't believe I've seen ANY Craftsman wrench of the era finished like this...

Anybody know the story/history?

It has the long underlined "C' which puts it 30's -early 40's. You need to check out this site...http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/

 

[MoboMac]

Re: Craftsman Vanadium offset box wrench.......

It has the long underlined "C' which puts it 30's -early 40's. You need to check out this site...http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/

Good tip.......I went there and found it......vintage 1933/34 and finish IS polished chrome...I KNOW I'll like using it....Thanks.

 

[softailgarage]

Be careful, I seem to lose track of time there. I go to check on something and next thing I know it's 3 hours later....sort of like Garage Journal

BTW, you DO realize your screwed now...right?

 

[Jim C.]

Why do we need more than one of anything? Because we want to...

I have 75 different ratcheting tools, Almost 100 with dupes (And I'm far from having the most on GJ. MANY guys have more...). Some dupes live in different boxes for different uses. (like my road box...) some are spares because you cannot buy them anymore and soon enough even rebuild kits won't be available.

Then there are the flex heads, off set, stubby's palm ratchets... and that's not even getting to the stuff over the 1/2" drives...

The question is, how little work for you do with tools that you only need 3 ratchets?

For DECADES I had three Craftsman ratchets; a 1/4", a 3/8" and a 1/2". That was it. I got them in a small set of tools that my dad bought for me in the mid 1980s. Over the years I used them to restore and maintain several 1960s cars, and a few dozen old woodworking machines. I used them all the time and for everything without ever even considering buying another ratchet. When I broke the 1/2" torquing down a lag bolt, I bought a repair kit. I didn't start "needing" more ratchets until I discovered the GJ and guys like you made me see just how poorly equipped I was all these years. Now I've got about twenty ratchets and suspect that I'll buy more. For me it wasn't the amount of work I was or wasn't doing, it was the bad influence of this place that made want more. As for vintage Craftsman hand tools, I'm totally hooked on those that are pre-part number with the =V= manufacturer's mark on them.

Jim C.

 

[Outlawmws]

Mobo, I'm going got go out on a limb and say Plvmb made that offset DBE. It looks to have the mini pebble insets. Is there a U in a circle on it somewhere?

 

[jjjrmx5]

IIRC they started in the late 20's. Something like 1927 or 28.

Technically "vintage" by definition itself doesn't designate any specific age. You could have something that is vintage 2005. However with that said, vintage has become a slang synonym for old or rare or even junk, most seem to think it adds value to the item (ex. go search ebay for vintage). I think the general rule for slang use is around 20 years or older.

I agree with Mr. Z to a "T".

Vintage used to be used as a term to define something very old and/or rare.
Now hipsters and full time ebay trolls and "high brow" antique market and vintage sale resellers use it for almost anything in order to entice more money out of your wallet.

Every year that goes by means "vintage" and "antiqiue" applies to a one year newer item.

I love seeing fools at vintage sales selling beat to **** hammers needing handles as "vintage" and charging more than new for them.

You call it old tools, an it means little value. Add vintage and voila', x10's the value.
And they HATE being called out on it. HATE it.

I could never call a 1960's Craftsman or S-K ratchet in fine working condition "antique" . I doubt that I could call it vintage either. It's a functional usuable tool, even in today's world.

Pre 1950's to me MIGHT get you into vintage in my mind.

They used to be somewhat defined words. Now they have no meaning to most folks except those looking to profit by thier use.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

I picked up a box of c-series stuff a while back and those (from 32-35) are supposedly the first ones to carry the craftsman name (and were made by Snap-On).

More info here:
http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/craftsman-early-tools-p3.html

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

Anything not being made anymore would be an acceptable use of the term "vintage" imo....i.e., Proto Body Hammers, Craftsman V Series, etc. etc. To me buying older stuff is more about the quality of the tool and the steel used to make the tool. An example would be Proto Body Hammers,(late 60's and earlier) they are simply the best. The best feel, highest quality steel, best balance. Snap-On doesn't even come close. So for me they are vintage and collectable. (Although I only "collect" them to put them to work). That's what I equate in my head when I think of "Vintage".

 

[3baygarage]

Just going through some tools and came across this Craftsman double box wrench from the 30's that I rescued. Sizes 7/8 x 3/4.

Found this thread from not long ago and it's just like the OP'S only ugly, lol. Figured I'd post it up anyway.

 

[Cope]

Yep, been there, done that, and hated fighting it when the right tool makes it a lot easier...

When I was in grade school my dad an I transplanted a Studebaker V* into a fifty something Willy's panel jeep. The tools my dad had all fit in a small carry box no more than 16 X 9 X 9 or so. Didn't have a 3/8 ratchet just the 1/2 and 1/4 and a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter...

My little kids are was the way we got into space's too tight to get to other wise...

Don't miss those days of never having the right tool at all...

Something to remember, the car's were simpler back then and didn't need as many different tools as we need today.

 

[wild cowboy]

So NOW I suppose you want me to go count MY ratchets? (it may take a while)

don't even bother to get into a pissin contest on here about number of ratchets you own, I learned that when I reading a thread on here and someone was acting like they had way more ratchets than anyone else, and they opened up a tool drawer and they had like 75, and so someone else here 5 minutes lated posted photos of their ratchets in their drawers and they had over 600

 

[BK13]

Why do we need MORE than THREE RATCHETS?

I can seriously (and somewhat honestly) make a case for 12

1/4": standard, flex, roto
3/8": stubby, standard, flex, long, long flex, roto
1/2": standard, long, long flex

And that's assuming you don't work on anything big enough to require 3/4" or bigger stuff...