When did Craftsman Metric Tools Appear?

[Virgil Cain]

Can anyone tell me when Craftsman first began to sell sockets and wrenches in metric sizes? I searched the forums but no luck.

Thanks,

 

[skulldrinker]

I bought the 2nd largest tool kit back in like 1977/8. The first largest included 3/4 drive and mine did not. There was no metric. I bought add on metric kits after that maybe early 80's. Same with tap and die set got my metric set around early 1980's give or take. That's the best i can remember.

 

[lbgradwell]

1959

 

[Virgil Cain]

1959

That early? Didn't realize.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

1959

Why? Seriously? I think a little history lesson is due, if you guys don't mind. What products were here that used metric in those years?

I think European Automobiles are a safe assumption. Was the US importing much else then? Household items, tools, construction, kitchen equip, fishing, camping???

 

[Conductor562]

I didn't think metric automobile fasteners started showing up until the middle/late 1970's. Am I wrong? Now you've went and made me curious. I guess it's plausible that Craftsman was available in other countries prior to that which would make it stand to reason that they could have made metric tools in the 50's and just not included them in master sets intended for the American market until much later. Someone will know.

 

[Harwinton]

The U. S. was importing many European cars back in the 1950's, so I wouldn't be surprised if they came out then.

 

[lbgradwell]

Ad from 1959:

 

[fatfillup]

My Dad got some Cman metrics in early 70's when he bought a 72 Honda 350

 

[Steevo]

I still have the set of Craftsman double-end metric box wrenches that I bought in the 1960's with my paper-route money, to work on my Yamaha 80 of the same vintage.
There were a lot of metric fasteners on motorcycles and imported cars by the late 1950's and early 1960's.

 

[KEH]

As I posted on an earlier thread, I purchased Craftsman metric sockets in the late 1960s. I also came across recently some 3/8 drive metric sockets with the double line V markings and I believe they would have been made 1965 or before.

KEH

 

[KEH]

As I posted earler, I bought a set of 1/2 drive metric sockets in the late 1960s. I recently got a set of 3/8 drive metric sockets with the double line V markings which would make them 1965 or earlier, AFIK.

KEH

 

[Gort the giant robot]

Remember alot of import cars were from England. Alot of those cars/trucks/motorcycles used Whitworth sized nuts and bolts. Toyota sold their first vehicle here in 1958 if i remember right.


Gort.

 

[billymade]

Without a doubt VW's were being imported to the USA in the 50s and other cars as well.

Here is a interesting Snapon sticker I found on my early 70's vintage toolbox I bought awhile back! The 1970's gas crunch; definitely brought import cars to the USA in a major way; the future was metric!

 

[GarageDan]

I remember growing up when we found a nut or bolt that didn't quite fit our SAE stuff my uncle would mumble, must be metric. Just be careful not to round it off.

 

[nine4gmc]

Ad from 1959:

Thanks for posting, that a cool ad!!

 

[87Pomona]

I can never find any old Craftsman Metric stuff at garage sales, estate sales etc.

 

[Bwana]

Ad from 1959:

WHITWORTH!!! Wonder how much that would be worth today? Either a fortune or nothing at all. I'll buy one if somebody has one, I've got a BSA 650Hornet that's all Whitworth

 

[Steevo]

I think I have one Craftsman whitworth/BS wrench.

 

[lbgradwell]

The Whitworth stuff is rare, but it's out there...

Mickey O's wrench set:

And Swan's socket set:

 

[Major Ramifications]

My Dad got some Cman metrics in early 70's when he bought a 72 Honda 350

Hey, my dad had a Honda CB 350, I think it was a '71 (or was it a '72?)

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The sockets, the double box ends and all of the double open ends except the black one, are Craftsman Whitworth. The Combination wrenches are Dowdat. I have added to my Whitworth collection since this pic, but this is still most of it.

 

[Conductor562]

I think I was thinking about when metric fasteners started showing up on American cars. I may still be wrong. Great info and picks though.

 

[Scooterfish]

I don`t think it so much when they 1st appeared as when they started to appear in volume. My guess is in the 70s when we had a gas shortage and import cars stared to appear in the USA in volume.

 

[Hootbro]

Just to give some perspective on that Sears ad. $32.95 would be about $250 in today's dollars adjusted for inflation.

 

[woody 73]

I remember growing up when we found a nut or bolt that didn't quite fit our SAE stuff my uncle would mumble, must be metric. Just be careful not to round it off.

only instead of my Uncle it was my Father that would mumble it must be Metric.

 

[Swan]

lbgradwell, thanks for posting my BSW Craftsman set. I have a weird "Sears" metric wrench set. http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2828784#post2828784