Vintage Mastercraft Tools

[lbgradwell]

Vintage Craftsman tools enjoy a great reputation and are almost revered by collectors.

Has it ever occurred to anyone (mostly fellow Canadians, I guess) why Mastercraft tools are not similarly regarded? I mean, it's almost the exact same business model - high-quality tools sourced from respected manufacturers and re-badged with the retailer's private label.

Older Gray-produced Mastercraft mechanics tools should be common as dirt in Canada, but I very raely see them, and never hear anyone really speak very highly of them.

I wonder why?

If any of you have any older Mastercraft ratchets that you want to sell, please let me know!

 

[caper]

I've often wondered the same thing.For all the old style Mastercraft stuff that was sold I very rarely ever see it at yard sales or flea markets.Didn't Husky used to be one of their suppliers?I seem to remember something about taking back broken Husky tools and getting Mastercraft as replacements.I think the only older mastercraft I have is a 5/8 wrench.And funny I think I have two of them.

 

[ironfist]

Older Gray-produced Mastercraft mechanics tools should be common as dirt in Canada, but I very raely see them, and never hear anyone really speak very highly of them

My Grandfather and Father have some old Gray wrenches , and some sockets . Some of my Dad's sockets are beat to **** , but they still look nice . And the wrenches are roughly made too .
I've found some Gray sockets in yard sales before , just a few in a big pile . Your right they are pretty hard to find

 

[VSERIES]

lbgradwell,

What would be your cut off point year wise for vintage Mastercraft?

 

[lbgradwell]

lbgradwell,

What would be your cut off point year wise for vintage Mastercraft?

I'm not certain, since I've seen so few older models. If I had to guess, I'd say mid-70s...

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

I have a set of the "Dog Bone" wrench's from mastercraft some were.

They look like this one, i am not sure of the year of them though

 

[lbgradwell]

I have a set of the "Dog Bone" wrench's from mastercraft some were.

...i am not sure of the year of them though

Post up! I'd like to see them!

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

Next time i am out to the farm i will see if i can find them and snap a few pictures.

 

[lbgradwell]

Thank you. Please do!

 

[niss]

Bump!

I got a bunch of old Mastercraft Wrenches from my grandfather and am curious of the vintage, does anyone have any idea of the logo progression for mastercraft? Perhaps an old catalogue?

 

[HandyManny]

Maybe has something to do with the difference between Americans and everyone else. Don't know. Seems to me like guys from anywhere would have a hard-on for tools. Maybe that's not the case.

Maybe Canadians simply regard tools as tools and value or worship the stuff they use their tools on instead. Who knows?

 

[canuckian]

most of my tools are older Mastercraft stuff, mostly from the 80's and 90's but some from the 70's. the "Professional Series" stuff is, in my opinion very nicely made and I've never had a problem with any of their stuff. In fact, I think the professional ratchets are 80 tooth ratchets. Their warranty had always been great as well but as with anything, when you bring something in for warranty, they now hand you back the cheap "Mastercraft Maximum" junk so if I break something now, I return it and the replacement tool and the set it came from goes into the "loan out to neighbours" box. As I'm doing this, I'm stocking my main box with higher end stuff.

 

[rocco]

Most of my first tool purchases where done in the early 90's and it was mostly Mastercraft Professional series product - full polish wrench set, Socket set and ratchets among other things. I still use them today and after 17 years of use and abuse they are still in good shape and work fine. Can't ask for a better bang for the buck.

 

[Gtamazing]

I got a mastercraft top box from a yard sale a few months ago it's pretty old and I have a mastercraft 3/8 ratchet that came from my father and it's atleast 20 years old.

On a side note the maximum series tools from CT who are they made by. I know some stuff was made by Gray is that still the case.

 

[Arne73]

What, no pictures?

 

[canuckian]

On a side note the maximum series tools from CT who are they made by. I know some stuff was made by Gray is that still the case.

they're made in China . I think it was the older tools and some of the "professional series" stuff that was made by Gray.

the Maximum ratcheting wrenches are made by GearWrench.

 

[matthew]

I suspect there's several reasons:

1) Before Craftsman went to **** in Canada, it was also quite common and was highly regarded. I expect the Mastercraft brand was still being built at that time, so people didn't value it as much.

2) Because the brand developed a bit later, much of that is still in service and not moving into the secondhand market.

3) Marketing. It's been marketed differently from Craftsman - I don't think they were ever sold as tools for enthusiasts (except, perhaps, for the Professional Series) but rather as practical tools.


Also, has CanTire always sold them as Mastercraft? My father has a pair of pliers marked CTC 58-xxxx (sorry, can't remember the exact part number). I'd say they're from the '70's, they still say West Germany on them. But they're not Mastercraft branded (unless it wore off), just marked CTC and the part number. So when did they actually start concentrating on Mastercraft branding?

 

[PCO6]

Most of my first tool purchases where done in the early 90's and it was mostly Mastercraft Professional series product - full polish wrench set, Socket set and ratchets among other things. I still use them today and after 17 years of use and abuse they are still in good shape and work fine. Can't ask for a better bang for the buck.

Here are some of my Gray unpolished wrenches that I bought from Canadian Tire in the 70's. The large wrench at the top is a Mastercraft and I'm sure they were from the same supplier. They are good wrenches and I wish I had sprung for the polished ones way back when.

 

[Paco Pena]

I have and use several of the Mastercraft Maximum products on a regular basis. I bought a set of the Maximum metric stubbies combination wrenches on sale for about 13 bucks for use on my dirtbike and a couple older Toyotas. Good fit, nice chrome. Its not like your going to put a lot of torque on a stubbie. I have long and standard wrenches but the short ones come in handy. I wouldn't pay the big bucks for such an occasional use tool.

Paco

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Here are some of my Gray unpolished wrenches that I bought from Canadian Tire in the 70's. The large wrench at the top is a Mastercraft and I'm sure they were from the same supplier. They are good wrenches and I wish I had sprung for the polished ones way back when.

I have a set of the Gray wrenches I got from Crappy Tire in the early 80's From 1/4" to 1 1/4". Mine have the same dull finish as yours.

 

[HandyManny]

3) Marketing. It's been marketed differently from Craftsman - I don't think they were ever sold as tools for enthusiasts (except, perhaps, for the Professional Series) but rather as practical tools.

This is one element that all tool brands should have in their marketing if you ask me. Tools as practical tools?? Brilliant!! What an idea??

 

[caper]

Here are some of my Gray unpolished wrenches that I bought from Canadian Tire in the 70's. The large wrench at the top is a Mastercraft and I'm sure they were from the same supplier. They are good wrenches and I wish I had sprung for the polished ones way back when.

That style was known as the Maple Leaf series.It was Gray's lower end line.Still great tools just not polished and finished as nice as their full chrome line.I have a few Mastercraft branded ones like yours as well.Mastercraft has really gone downhill in the last 30 yrs.The new wrenches are nowhere near the strength of the old Gray manufactured ones.I spread the open ends on the Maximum series fairly easily on hydraulic fittings but the old style is still as tight as when they were new.Still,for about a buck a wrench when they're on sale,the Maximum series is a great buy.

 

[thetreshon]

I suspect there's several reasons:

1) Before Craftsman went to **** in Canada, it was also quite common and was highly regarded. I expect the Mastercraft brand was still being built at that time, so people didn't value it as much.

I live in Canada, across the border from Michigan. This brings up one of my questions. I've been aquiring at pawn shops a lot of U.S. made Craftsman tools. Not sure how old they all are, but was there a point where all of Sears Canada tools were the same as sold in the U.S. (i.e. made in USA)?

I'm not sure if I'm finding these because I live across the border and the previous owners shopped in the U.S. or because we actually sold U.S. made ratchets and sockets here at some point.

Now, except maybe 1 or 2 items, all of Sears Canada Craftsman tools are overseas made.

 

[Teken]

Have to agree with Caper in the last few years since migrating to the Maxxium branded logo quality has gone to **** . . .

All of my Professional Series tools from CT have continued to perform flawlessly over 30 years . . .

Getting warranty from CT is a whole other ball game how ever!

Canadian Tire will not see a dime from this Beaver Eater, ever!

You want warranty from them, you better have a good connection to God . . .

 

[niss]

So no one has any info on old Mastercraft? Logo history anything?

 

[matthew]

Not sure how old they all are, but was there a point where all of Sears Canada tools were the same as sold in the U.S. (i.e. made in USA)?

Not sure about all but most Craftsman in Canada, more than about 20 years ago, was the same as Sears in the US. If you get anything that has labels printed on cases or packages still you'll see something to the effect of "sold by Sears Roebuck & Co., Chicago, IL., Simpson-Sears Ltd., Toronto, ON."

 

[matthew]

Getting warranty from CT is a whole other ball game how ever!

I think it depends on the store to some extent. I had no problem whatsoever getting a pair of pliers warrantied a month or so ago.

 

[Gtamazing]

Have to agree with Caper in the last few years since migrating to the Maxxium branded logo quality has gone to **** . . .

All of my Professional Series tools from CT have continued to perform flawlessly over 30 years . . .

Getting warranty from CT is a whole other ball game how ever!

Canadian Tire will not see a dime from this Beaver Eater, ever!

You want warranty from them, you better have a good connection to God . . .

I never had a problem getting stuff under warranty from CT. It has been a few years since I've tried.

 

[PCO6]

Getting warranty from CT is a whole other ball game how ever!

You want warranty from them, you better have a good connection to God . . .

The few things I have had to have replaced over the years have been done pretty much without question.

 

[Teken]

I should snap a picture from the stores around here: They are called the Neon Nazi's here!

Why??

Because they have neon signs indicating every reason they will not honor warranty on specific items . . .

Tools, compressors, pressure washers, etc . . .

 

[thetreshon]

Not sure about all but most Craftsman in Canada, more than about 20 years ago, was the same as Sears in the US. If you get anything that has labels printed on cases or packages still you'll see something to the effect of "sold by Sears Roebuck & Co., Chicago, IL., Simpson-Sears Ltd., Toronto, ON."

Cool - thanks so much for the info!

 

[niss]

Does anyone recognize this CTC socket set case? I wanted a case to hold my grandfathers 3/4 stuff and I saw this at a pawn shop and thought it was pretty neat.

Any idea of a time?

 

[CouchSpring]

I bought a 1/4'' socket set,has the same mastercraft logo that PCO6 has on his wrench.
mine says Coast To Coast Stores. driver is marked P-49, sockets are all P-marked.
Driver looks like plomb or proto,logo is a man forging a swoard.

 

[lbgradwell]

Does anyone recognize this CTC socket set case? I wanted a case to hold my grandfathers 3/4 stuff and I saw this at a pawn shop and thought it was pretty neat.

Any idea of a time?

Don't hold me to this, but that looks like 1980s to me; can't recall when they stopped using that orange. They also used to have blue metal cases...

(The stuff in that case can't possibly be 3/4"!!!)

 

[niss]

Whoops. Brain fart. Meant to say 3/8.

 

[lbgradwell]

I bought a 1/4'' socket set,has the same mastercraft logo that PCO6 has on his wrench.
mine says Coast To Coast Stores. driver is marked P-49, sockets are all P-marked.
Driver looks like plomb or proto,logo is a man forging a swoard.

Roger, you're in Iowa, right?

Coast-to-Coast was one of the retailers that morphed into True Value and is somehow tangentially-related to V&S in Canada.

Your 1/4" set is marked Mastercraft and Coast-to-Coast?! Can you please post some photos? PC06's set is made by Gray without question...

 

[CouchSpring]

PM me and I could E-mail you a pic?
There was a store in Harlen ia. in the 80s,I found this set in Omaha Neb.

 

[CouchSpring]

pics sent. hope it worked.
I've got to get better at posting!

 

[Dieselinjected]

Does anyone here (possibly Caper) have a picture of the Mastercraft ratchet with the ctc symbol on the forward/reverse lever? I had one in a 3/8dr years ago but warrantied it. Kinda wish I had of kept it cause I thought it looked cool. I cant find a picture anywhere so I hope you understand what I mean.

 

[matthew]

Does anyone here (possibly Caper) have a picture of the Mastercraft ratchet with the ctc symbol on the forward/reverse lever? I had one in a 3/8dr years ago but warrantied it. Kinda wish I had of kept it cause I thought it looked cool. I cant find a picture anywhere so I hope you understand what I mean.

I've got one from the mid-'90's with the logo on the selector. Have to get a photo when I get a chance.