Alloy Artifacts |
In an earlier article we reviewed the Early Craftsman Tools of the late 1920s through mid 1940s, and a separate article covered the Craftsman "BE" and H-Circle line of sockets in greater depth.
In this page we'll look at the Craftsman "Modern Era" that began around 1945, with a particular emphasis on the manufacturer of the Craftsman "V" series tools. But before revealing the identity of Maker "V", we want to offer some thoughts on the origin and intent of the Modern Era tools.
By the early 1940s the Craftsman brand was about 15 years old and had become highly successful. The Craftsman line included a full range of mechanics' hand tools by this time, from sockets and drive tools to wrenches and pliers, as well as a broad range of woodworking tools and power tools. And the tools had an excellent reputation for quality — from the beginning, the Craftsman line had been built by selecting tools from leading makers, ensuring their quality and functionality.
But something was missing. If you could have looked into the toolbox of someone who had purchased exclusively Craftsman tools during the 1930s, you would have seen a hodge-podge of styles and designs of tools, all of fine quality but without much in common except for the stamped Craftsman name.
If we now look forward to the Craftsman Modern Era, the most striking change to be seen is that, for the first time, Craftsman tools had a common design to serve as a brand identity. All of the tools with anything like a handle had polished raised panels stamped with the Craftsman logo, and everything had a polished chrome finish.
From this obvious change we can infer that giving the tools a common design was one of the priorities when Sears started planning their next generation tools. But how did they achieve this? Did they search for a maker with an existing broad line of suitable tools? It would seem that Sears had three choices:
Of these alternatives, we can easily rule out the first. Existing makers with a full line, such as Bonney, Herbrand, Plomb, or Snap-on, would have been concerned about maintaining their own (higher margin) brand identity. In addition, we know from experience that there weren't any other tools in the 1940s matching the Craftsman "V" style: before finding the actual maker, we conducted an extensive and fruitless search for other brands of tools matching the Craftsman models.
Alternative (2) would seem reasonable, though there's a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem here. Existing makers asked to provide prototypes or samples, but without a firm contract in hand, would be likely to offer tools they already made, to avoid the cost of developing new dies and tooling. And if the maker already produced both forged wrenches and socket tools, they were already full-line manufacturers and would have been concerned about diluting their own brands.
The last alternative is intriguing and may seem even a bit radical. A company that designs and specifies a product is already more than half way to being a manufacturer, and Sears has always been considered as just a buyer and retailer, not a manufacturer. However, Sears had long operated a highly-regarded product testing laboratory, and a company that can test to spec is well equipped to write a spec. And by the early 1940s the Sears hardware department knew a lot about tools.
Based on the evidence collected so far, we believe that Sears chose alternative (3). More specifically, they developed the design and specifications for the Modern Era tools, then "auditioned" multiple companies (at least two) to produce tools to the specification. Furthermore, the initial production runs were not mere prototypes, but were actually sold to the public!
The evidence for this seems clear enough. In researching the early production of the Modern Era, we were able to collect a number of examples believed to be from around 1945. Multiple tools were found that could be attributed to different makers, but which were basically identical in design and dimensions. The only reasonable conclusion is that both makers were following the same spec, which logically would have to been provided by Sears. We'll present the evidence in the section Prelude to the Modern Style.
Then after this audition process, Sears evaluated the results and chose Maker "V" as their primary contract manufacturer. And that brings us neatly to the next section, where we will finally get to meet Maker "V".
Since we've made the "V" series tools the centerpiece of this article, we'll begin by establishing the identity of the manufacturer of the "V" series. The "V" series tools were made by Moore Drop Forging of Springfield, Massachusetts, a company with operations going back to the early 20th century. Moore Drop Forging was later reorganized as the Easco Corporation, and then still later became part of the Danaher conglomerate. (See our article on Moore Drop Forging for more information.)
Although Moore Drop Forging was well known as a tool maker in the early to mid 20th century, most of their tool output was contract production for automobile toolkits, items that were generally cheaply made and roughly finished. Without any apparent examples of high quality tools with chrome plated finishes produced by Moore, some readers might be surprised or even skeptical that Moore was really the maker behind the Craftsman "V" series. Thus we'll outline the evidence found to establish Moore Drop Forging as Maker "V", in roughly the order that the clues were discovered.
The first break in identifying Maker "V" came via the patent notice on a "V" series ratchet, specifically for the Haznar 1969 patent #3,467,231. This patent describes the ratchet mechanism used in the Craftsman dual-pawl fine-tooth ratchets and has an explicit assignment to Moore Drop Forging, providing a clear link between Moore and the "V" series line.
Our next clue also came from a patent document, this time for design patent #D185,651, issued to R.W. Vose in 1959 with assignment to Moore Drop Forging. This patent describes and illustrates a distinctive "V"-shaped shift lever for ratchets, and an example of a ratchet with the patented shift lever can be seen as the Craftsman Ratchet with "V"-Shaped Shifter. These popular and familiar ratchets were sold beginning in 1959 and continuing into the early 1960s.
The next clue was found in a court document for the case Peter M. ROBERTS v. SEARS, ROEBUCK AND COMPANY litigation arising from the patent for the well-known quick-release mechanism on Craftsman ratchets. [Thanks to a diligent reader for the refreshed link to this important case!] In the court transcript Moore Drop Forging is described as the "custom manufacturer of wrenches" for Sears.
Another patent clue was found on the metal holder for a Dunlap Wrench Set. The bottom of the holder was stamped with patent #2,181,764, issued in 1939 to A.T. Murray with assignment to Moore Drop Forging. This patent identifies Moore as the contract maker for the tools, and shows that the company was already working with Sears in the late 1930s.
More direct evidence was found in the book Springfield, Volume II by Ginger Cruikshank (Arcadia Publishing 2000), a collection of photographs and essays related to Springfield, Massachusetts. Moore Drop Forging was included as one of the important businesses in the Springfield area, and the book provides a quick history of the company, noting that Moore began making hand tools for Sears in 1938.
Cruikshank's book includes a photograph of the large modern factory built by Moore in Springfield to support its Craftsman contract, and photographs of the factory and operations can be found beginning on page 52. (In earlier versions of this article we were able to provide links to photographs via Google Books, which unfortunately are no longer offered; however, a preview of the book is still available at Google Books.) The book credits the Danaher Corporation (the later corporate parent of Moore Drop Forging) for several of the photographs, so the information on Moore is presumed to be accurate.
We hope that by now our readers are convinced of the identity of Maker "V", but if not, perhaps one further bit of evidence will help. Patent #2,944,452 describes a chain pipe wrench and was issued to R.W. Vose in 1960, again with assignment to Moore Drop Forging. An example of this patent can be seen as the Craftsman "V" Chain Pipe Wrench.
After establishing the identity of the most dominant production partner for Sears, in this section we'll look at some of the important events for the company's tool business during the Modern Era.
In 1953 Sears began offering tongue-and-groove pliers after the "Channellock" patent had expired. Sears coined the brand "Arc-Joint" for the pliers, and the primary production partner was Wilde Tool.
In 1965 the Western Forge Company was established to produce tools for Sears, and in 1966 the company opened a forging plant in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Western Forge became a major supplier of tools such as screwdrivers, chisels, punches, and pliers.
Western Forge marked its tools with a stamped or forged-in "WF" code.
In the mid 1960s the Sears catalogs began recognizing certain products with a special "Craftsman Commercial" designation to indicate exceptional quality. In 1966 it was applied to only two power saws, but by 1969 had been extended to a wider variety of products, including some hand tools.
The scan in Fig. 1 shows a catalog sidebar explaining the "Craftsman Commercial" designation, as published on page 4 of the 1970 Craftsman Power and Hand Tools catalog.
The "Craftsman Commercial" tag appears to have been more commonly applied to power tools, but has been noted for some hand tools as well, including planes, levels, saws, and hacksaws.
When the "Craftsman Commercial" logo was displayed on a white background, it resembled the Craftsman "Crown" logo used for some tool boxes in the 1950s to 1970s time frame.
Tools that had received this special designation were allowed to use a special marking. For example, we have a Craftsman electric drill from the early 1970s with "Craftsman Commercial" cast into the metal housing and marked with a riveted tag.
In the case of hand tools, the Craftsman 93558 Hacksaw was designated as "Craftsman Commercial" in 1969 and 1970, and our example has a "Crown" logo instead of the expected "=Craftsman=" logo.
Prior to the 1970s Sears generally did not require that its suppliers mark tools with the catalog number, although some manufacturers did add model numbers.
This policy changed sometime around 1970, and Sears began requiring that tools be marked with the model number. The exact date of the change is not known and may have varied depending on the supplier and tool type. We estimated the 1970 date from patent markings on ratchets from maker "V".
Patent No. | Inventor | Filed | Issued | Notes and Examples |
---|---|---|---|---|
2,112,840 | F.A. Haist | 05/08/1935 | 04/05/1938 | Method of Making Adjustable Wrenches
Assigned to J.H. Williams. Craftsman Locking Adjustable Wrench |
2,181,764 | A.T. Murray | 11/23/1938 | 11/28/1939 | Wrench Set Holder
Assigned to Moore Drop Forging. |
2,430,368 | J.J. Rearden | 04/12/1946 | 11/04/1947 | Method for Broaching Sockets
Assigned to Moore Drop Forging. |
2,719,449 | W.J. Johnson | 07/27/1953 | 10/04/1955 | Adjustable Wrench Locking Mechanism
Assigned to J.H. Williams. Craftsman Locking Adjustable Wrench |
D185,651 | R.W. Vose | 02/19/1959 | 07/07/1959 | Design for Ratchet Shift Lever
Assigned to Moore Drop Forging. Craftsman "V" Ratchet with "V"-Shaped Shifter |
D186,188 | R.W. Vose | 04/06/1959 | 09/22/1959 | Design for Ratchet Shift Lever |
2,944,252 | R.W. Vose | 04/10/1959 | 07/12/1960 | Chain Pipe Wrench
Assigned to Moore Drop Forging. Craftsman "V" Chain Pipe Wrench |
3,208,318 | P.M. Roberts | 04/24/1964 | 09/28/1965 | Quick Release Mechanism
Craftsman "V" Quick-Release Ratchet |
3,467,231 | H.J. Haznar | 02/12/1968 | 09/16/1969 | Pawl Reversing Mechanism
Assigned to Moore Drop Forging. Craftsman 43788 "V" Quick-Release Dual-Pawl Ratchet |
3,532,013 | H.J. Haznar | 05/01/1968 | 10/06/1970 | Quick Release Mechanism
Assigned to Moore Drop Forging. Craftsman 43788 "V" Quick-Release Dual-Pawl Ratchet |
Although Maker "V" was the dominant producer of Craftsman tools during this era, many other companies supplied tools as well. This table shows the manufacturer's codes known to have been used from the mid 1940s through 1970s or later.
A more complete table of Craftsman Manufacturer's codes can be seen in the section on Craftsman Manufacturer's Codes: 1930s to 1970s.
Code | Description | Manufacturer | Usage Period | Examples and Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
AZ-Circle | J.H. Williams | 1950s to 1960s | "AZ" in a circle.
Found on Craftsman Locking Adjustable Wrench. |
|
B-Circle | Unknown | 1940s to 1960s? | "B" in a circle, typically stamped.
Found on Craftsman 4507 Combination Pliers. Found on Craftsman 4476 Battery Pliers. |
|
BF | Block Letters | Daido Corporation | 1960s to 1980s? | Stamped or forged.
Found on wrenches, adjustable wrenches, and pliers, usually with "Japan". Found on screwdrivers, not marked for Japan. |
D.I. | Block Letters | Duro/Indestro | 1950s to 1970s? | Found on ratcheting box wrenches with raised "=Craftsman=" panel,
e.g. Craftsman Ratcheting Box Wrench. |
G-Circle | Unknown | 1950s to 1960s? | "G" in a circle, typically stamped.
Found on Craftsman Star Drill. |
|
I-Circle | Parker Manufacturing Co. | 1940s to 1980s? | "I" in a circle, typically stamped.
Supplied screwdrivers, hacksaws, "Lever Jaw" locking pliers. Supplied ratcheting box wrenches from 1970s onward. Craftsman 10 Inch Locking Pliers |
|
JW | Block Letters | J.H. Williams | 1960s to 1970s | Stamped marking on adjustable wrenches.
e.g. Craftsman Adjustable Wrench. |
LC | Block Letters | J.P. Danielson | 1930s to 1960s? | Stamped code observed on primarily on pliers.
e.g. Combination Pliers. Usage appears to overlap with "A.0." code. e.g. Dunlap Combination Pliers. |
LC | Block Letters | Lectrolite | 1950s | Forged-in code observed on economy wrenches.
Dunlap Offset Box Wrench. |
N-Square | Unknown | 1930s to 1940s? | "N" in a square, typically stamped.
Found on chisels and punches. Craftsman Punch Also noted on Craftsman 4-Position Waterpump Pliers. |
|
P-Circle | Wilde Tool | 1940s to 1960s | "P" in a circle, stamped or forged.
Often noted on pliers, e.g. Craftsman Angle-Nose Pliers. Less commonly observed on wrenches. |
|
V | Block Letters | Moore Drop Forging | 1938 Onward | Generally stamped, but may be forged on early tools. |
WF | Block Letters | Western Forge | 1965 Onward | Forged or stamped.
Found on screwdrivers, chisels, punches, pliers, other tools. Craftsman "WF" 45381 9.5 Inch "Arc-Joint" Pliers |
W-Circle | Unknown | 1950s? | "W" in a circle, forged or stamped.
Currently known only on Dunlap pliers. Possibly an alternate code for McKaig-Hatch, based on handle pattern. |
|
Y-Circle | McKaig-Hatch | 1950s | "Y" in a circle, usually forged, may be stamped.
Found on adjustable wrenches, pipe wrenches, pliers, and tire irons. Found on both Dunlap and Craftsman brands. Craftsman 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench. |
The manufacturer associated with the "Y-Circle" code was a mystery for a long time, although there was some of evidence pointing to McKaig-Hatch as the likely candidate. We recently (2024) decided to pull together the known evidence and present it in this section, and along the way we found some important additional information that had been overlooked.
McKaig-Hatch was a drop-forge operator and tool maker operating in Buffalo, New York, and during the 1950s the company offered a line of tools that included all of the types known to have been marked with the "Y-Circle" code. Many of these "Y-Circle" tools have forged-in markings, and as a merchant drop-forger, McKaig-Hatch would have been adept at creating the dies needed for custom forging.
A 1950s era catalog for McKaig-Hatch is available for Download [External Link] from ITCL and will be useful for anyone wanting to compare Y-Circle tools with the McKaig-Hatch counterparts.
Adjustable Wrenches. These are probably the most commonly observed tool with a Y-Circle mark, and are usually found with a distinctive interior hanging hole, as seen in the Craftsman 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench. Craftsman adjustable wrenches with the interior hole were first offered in the 1952 catalog, published late in 1951.
The Y-Circle mark has also been observed on adjustable wrenches with a more conventional ringed hole at the end of the shank. See for example the Dunlap 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench in a later figure.
One construction detail noted for Y-Circle adjustable wrenches is that the screw pin is threaded on the outside (slotted) end, the type of pin generally used by Danielson, Utica, and J.H. Williams. In contrast, Crescent and Diamond used a screw pin threaded on the inside end.
Pliers. Dunlap pliers in combination and "Arc-Joint" (tongue-and-groove) styles have been observed with a Y-Circle mark. We don't have any examples here, but we've seen photos of the pliers showing a distinctive rectangular grid gripping pattern. In addition, we have seen photos of pliers marked for McKaig-Hatch with the same rectangular grid pattern.
The rectangular grid gripping pattern can be seen on the Dunlap Arc-Joint Pliers illustrated on page 25 of the 1953 Craftsman catalog.
The gripping pattern on the Y-Circle pliers is not the standard pattern used by McKaig-Hatch, which consisted of two or three chevrons bracketed by parallel lines. (An illustration of the McKaig-Hatch pattern can be seen on page 12 of the catalog noted previously.) This leaves open the possibility that an unknown third party might have made the pliers for both Dunlap and McKaig-Hatch.
However, it's possible that McKaig-Hatch may have used different gripping patterns over time, as we have only sparse catalog information for the company.
The "Arc-Joint" brand was first used by Sears in 1953, and the company later filed a trademark for "ARC JOINT". The mid 1950s McKaig-Hatch catalog also used "Arc-Joint" for its tongue-and-groove pliers, which provides a strong hint that the company was working with Sears at that time.
Stillson-Pattern Pipe Wrenches. Dunlap Stillson-pattern pipe wrenches have been observed with the Y-Circle code, with forged-in markings for "Dunlap" and "Dependable Quality". The 1953 Craftsman catalog offered Dunlap pipe wrenches in sizes 8, 10, 14, 18, and 24 inches.
McKaig-Hatch offered this type of wrench in sizes 8, 10, 14, 18, and 24 inches.
We've seen reports of Dunlap pipe wrenches with McKaig-Hatch jaws, but this could be a case of a damaged jaw being replaced by another.
Heavy-Duty Pipe Wrenches. In addition to the familiar Stillson-pattern pipe wrenches, Sears also offered heavy-duty pipe wrenches in the familiar Ridgid design. While researching this style, we ran across a photo on a well-known online marketplace showing a Craftsman 10 inch "Heavy Duty" pipe wrench in the Ridgid style, and stamped with a "Y-Circle" code. (We don't own the photo and so can't show it here.)
The wrench included a simple but unusual production feature in the form of four finger depressions on the side of the handle, making a more natural grip for the hand. We have a number of examples of Ridgid-pattern pipe wrenches from various makers, and all of them have a smooth handle without finger-grips. However, McKaig-Hatch is known to have produced heavy-duty pipe wrenches with finger-grip handles, and this offers the most compelling evidence so far for McKaig-Hatch as the "Y-Circle" maker.
A catalog listing of the McKaig-Hatch Heavy-Duty Pipe Wrenches includes an illustration with the finger-grips plainly visible on the handle, and the illustration on page 12 of the 1954 Craftsman catalog shows the same style of pipe wrench with finger-grips on the handle.
The finger-grip handle is an example of a quirky or distinctive feature that can sometimes serve to identify otherwise anonymous contract production. We knew of the McKaig-Hatch catalog but had overlooked this feature on the pipe wrenches.
Tire Irons. During the 1950s McKaig-Hatch offered a distinctive tire iron or spoon, and a very similar tool is known to have been offered under the Craftsman brand with a Y-Circle marking.
Craftsman tire irons closely resembling the McKaig-Hatch models were listed in the 1955 catalog, also coincidentally on page 19. The length was specified as 19.5 inches, and both a flat and curved spoon were available.
A catalog listing of the McKaig-Hatch Tire Irons provides an illustration of these tools.
The composite scan in Fig. 2 shows a catalog listing for Dunlap "Arc-Joint" pliers, as published on page 25 of the 1953 Craftsman catalog. (We overlaid the description into the illustration to make a compact presentation.)
The illustration on the left (labeled "E") shows the tongue-and-groove ribs of the pliers, and the handles show a rectangular grid gripping pattern. This gripping pattern has also been observed on McKaig-Hatch Arc-Joint pliers.
The scan in Fig. 3 shows a catalog listing for Craftsman pipe wrenches, as published on page 12 of the 1954 Craftsman catalog.
Note that the wrench on the left in the illustration (labeled "A") includes "finger-grips" on the handle, an unusual ergonomic feature for this type of wrench.
The description below identifies this as model 5566 and states that it is "Professional Quality" with a one-piece frame and handle, the characteristic of Ridgid-style pipe wrenches.
We don't have an example of this wrench model, but have seen a photograph of a Craftsman pipe wrench with model "5566" forged into the shank, and with four finger-grips on the handle. The wrench was stamped with a "Y-Circle" manufacturer's code.
In summary, we think that the evidence presented above makes a convincing case for McKaig-Hatch as the maker of "Y-Circle" tools. The strongest evidence is provided by the unusual "finger-grip" feature on McKaig-Hatch heavy-duty pipe wrenches, which has been observed on a Craftsman pipe wrench marked with the "Y-Circle" code.
The distinctive tire irons also offer strong evidence, as the Craftsman catalog offered both the flat and curved spoons, and the tools match in style and dimensions.
The remaining evidence supports the case for McKaig-Hatch, and no obvious contradictory evidence is known at this point.
The "BF" manufacturer's code is unusual in several ways. It was used for a rather disparate variety of tools, including wrenches, adjustable wrenches, specialty tools such as distributor wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers. It was also marked on multiple Sears brands spanning a range of price-points, from Craftsman at the high end to "Companion" and the Sears brand at the low end.
In addition, the "BF" marking was almost always paired with "JAPAN", at a time when most tools sold by Sears were made in the United States. (The use of "almost" here is important, and we'll come back to that shortly.)
The combination of the wide variety of products and sourcing from Japan means that there is really only one plausible candidate for maker "BF", which is the Daido Corporation. Daido was the US subsidiary of a major Japanese import-export distribution and marketing company, and it worked with a wide variety of Japanese manufacturers who wanted access to export markets. Daido even offered its own line of tools under the "Truecraft" brand, which in many ways was like a mini-Craftsman, with high-quality tools sourced from multiple manufacturers and offered at attractive prices. Truecraft operated from the early 1960s until around 2000.
The key to understanding why Daido fits well as maker "BF" is that it could source products from a wide variety of Japanese manufacturing partners. If the customer wanted high-quality forged alloy steel wrenches with raised panels and a polished chrome finish, Daido knew who could make them. And if the customer needed decent quality forged wrenches to meet a much lower price-point, Daido knew who could make those as well.
So far we've seen reasons why Daido is a plausible and possibly unique candidate as maker "BF", but that's not quite at the level of proof. One additional case will help make the argument more convincing.
Maker "BF" is known to have supplied screwdrivers to Sears, for both the "Sears" and "Craftsman" brands. We observed a number of photographs of these tools, and all of them had an unusual feature — they were not marked for Japan. Sears was generally careful about marking tools of foreign origin, so we can assume that the omission of the Japan marking was intentional.
Although Daido was primarily a distributor, if we check the history of the company's operations, it turns out that it did have some manufacturing of its own. Daido's first US factory was a facility in New Jersey purchased in 1976 from Vari-Plex, with the intention of manufacturing screwdrivers. We think it's likely that this factory was the source of the "BF" screwdrivers supplied to Sears.
With the addition of the likely sourcing for screwdrivers, we think that the accumulated evidence makes a convincing case for Daido as maker (or supplier) "BF". Note though that since Daido represented many Japanese manufacturers, further narrowing the source of a tool to a specific manufacturer may be difficult.
The Craftsman Modern Era extends for many decades from its start in the mid 1940s, and the design of the tools has remained relatively unchanged over this span. With few production changes to rely on, it's therefore difficult to estimate the production date for many of the tools from this period.
One change that did occur though was the addition of model number markings to the tools. The Sears catalogs had long used model numbers in their listings, but these were not actually marked on tools (with a few exceptions) until sometime between 1968 and 1970.
Even this date itself was hard to estimate — the catalogs just use the same model numbers from year to year, and the illustrations don't actually show model number markings. We were able to make an estimate based on observations of Craftsman ratchets with patent pending markings for known patents.
We will try to develop some guidelines for estimating production dates in the Modern Era.
Photographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in the Alloy Artifacts collection.
We have fairly extensive catalog coverage for the Craftsman post-war production, as summarized in the table below.
Year | Format | Notes |
---|---|---|
1947 | Full | No copyright, dated "11.47" for November, 1947. 44 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Cover shows vertical open-end wrenches with streamlined train. Full selection of modern style tools. Some older "BE" socket sets still listed. Lists four-position water pump pliers. |
1949 | Half | Copyright 1949. 52 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. No "BE" socket sets, but scattered illustrations of "BE" style sockets. |
1951 | Half | Copyright 1951, dated September 21, 1951. 52 pages.
Cover shows "Mechanics' Tools" and "Latest 1952 Models". Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists Craftsman adjustable wrenches with interior hanging hole. |
1952 | Half | Lists combination wrenches in 10 sizes from 3/8 to 1 inch. |
1953 | Half | Copyright 1953, dated January 30, 1953. 48 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists "Arc-joint" T&G pliers in Craftsman and Dunlap brands. Rear cover shows "Arc-joint" Craftsman pliers with P-Circle code. |
1954 | Full | Copyright 1954, dated May 27, 1954. 28 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists Craftsman pipe wrenches with "finger-grip" handles. Notes 1/2 and 3/4-drive sockets are hot-forged. Lists Craftsman 8-In-1 ("Dogbone") wrench. |
1955 | Full | Copyright 1955, dated July 11, 1955. 28 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists Craftsman pipe wrenches with "finger-grip" handles. |
1957 | Full | Copyright 1957, dated January 25, 1957. 36 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists combination wrenches in 12 sizes from 5/16 to 1 inch. Lists Craftsman 8-In-1 wrench, Craftsman locking adjustable wrenches. Lists Craftsman adjustable wrenches with interior hanging hole. Lists Craftsman flex-box combination wrenches, six sizes 3/8 to 3/4. |
1960 | Full | Copyright 1960. 52 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists combination wrenches in 18 sizes from 1/4 to 1-5/16. Lists Craftsman 8-In-1 wrench, Craftsman locking adjustable wrenches. Illustration shows Craftsman ratchet with "V" shifter. No adjustable wrenches with interior hanging hole. |
1962? | Full | No copyright, undated.
Dunlap brand tools still listed. |
1964 | Full | Copyright 1964. 52 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. No references to Dunlap brand found. Lists Craftsman 8-In-1 wrench, no locking adjustable wrenches. Illustration shows Craftsman ratchet with "V" shifter. |
1966 | Full | Copyright 1966. 100 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Craftsman power and hand tools. Lists two circular saws as "Craftsman Commercial". |
1968 | Full | Copyright 1968. 100 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Craftsman power and hand tools. |
1969 | Full | Copyright 1968, dated 1969 on cover. 100 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Craftsman power and hand tools. Lists ratcheting box wrenches with raised panel clam-shell case. Lists 93358 hacksaw as "Craftsman Commercial". |
1970 | Full | Copyright 1969, dated 1970 on cover. 116 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Craftsman power and hand tools. Lists 93358 hacksaw as "Craftsman Commercial". |
1971 | Full | Copyright 1970, dated 1971 on cover. 116 pages.
Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Craftsman power and hand tools. Lists ratcheting box wrenches with flat top, laminated construction. |
In this section we'll look at some early examples of Craftsman Modern Era tools that we believe were actually part of an "audition" process leading to the selection of the contract manufacturer. This process would have taken place in the late WWII and early post-war period, when limitations on tool sales to consumers were being lifted.
The examples found so far can be attributed to two different manufacturers, but this raises the question of whether additional manufacturers might have participated. We suspect that there might have been at least one other, but are not ready to present evidence.
Fig. 4 shows a Craftsman 3/4x7/8 open-end wrench with raised panels, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side panel.
The back side also has a "V" code forged into the shank.
The overall length is 9.2 inches, and wrench appears to have a thin plated finish.
The faces of this wrench have traces of grinding or milling operations, suggesting production during the wartime period.
Fig. 5 shows a Craftsman "V" series 1/2 combination wrench, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side panel. The shank also has a "V" code forged into the back side, as shown in the inset.
The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 6 shows a Craftsman "V" series 5/8 combination wrench, marked "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side. As with the previous figure, the raised panels show the double-line logo, and a raised-letter "V" code is forged into the shank.
The overall length is 7.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 7 shows a Craftsman 11/16 combination wrench in the paneled style, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the front, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side.
The overall length is 8.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Although this wrench is very similar to the other "V" series examples, no manufacturer's marking was found.
Fig. 8 shows an early Craftsman 5/8x3/4 offset box wrench in the paneled style, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo and fractional sizes on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and the fractional sizes on the back side panel.
The shank has a forged-in "V" code visible at the right.
The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating, with extensive losses due to wear.
The cadmium finish suggests a manufacturing date in 1945.
Fig. 9 shows a Craftsman 3/4x7/8 offset box wrench in the paneled style, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side panel.
The shank has a forged-in "V" code visible at the right.
The overall length is 12.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The chrome finish with a forged "V" (rather than stamped) suggests a manufacturing date in the early post-war years.
Fig. 10 shows a Craftsman 15/16x1 offset box wrench in the paneled style, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side panel.
The shank has a forged-in "V" code visible at the right.
The overall length is 13.6 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.
The cadmium finish suggests a manufacturing date in 1945.
The next several figures show examples of modern raised-panel wrenches marked with a "P-Circle" manufacturer's code, rather than the more common "V" code. We believe that these examples are highly significant, as they prove that Sears had contracted with multiple makers in the early part of the Modern Era, before selecting Maker "V" as the primary contractor.
The "P-Circle" mark is the manufacturer's code for Wilde Tools, a maker known today primarily for their pliers, but a full-line tool maker in the 1930s and 1940s. Examples of their production can be seen in our article on Wilde Tools.
Fig. 11 shows a Craftsman 19/32x25/32 offset box wrench, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the raised panel, and with a P-Circle mark forged into the shank.
The back side is stamped "Forged in U.S.A." on the panel with an "N4" code forged into the shank.
The overall length is 10.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel with traces of cadmium plating.
Fig. 12 shows a Craftsman 5/8x3/4 offset box wrench, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the raised panel, and with a P-Circle mark forged into the shank.
The back side is stamped "Forged in U.S.A." with a "2" forged into the shank.
The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 13 shows a Craftsman 3/8x7/16 open-end wrench, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side panel. The back side is also marked with an "N4" code and a P-Circle mark forged into the shank.
The overall length is 5.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 14 shows a Craftsman 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench with raised panels, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the back panel.
The back side is also marked with an "N4" code and a P-Circle mark forged into the shank.
The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with extensive pitting due to rust.
This wrench was used for the P-Circle logo image.
Fig. 15 shows a Craftsman 25/32x13/16 open-end wrench with raised panels, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side panel.
The back side is also marked with an "E3" code and a P-Circle mark forged into the shank.
The overall length is 8.5 inches, and the finish is cadmium (or possibly zinc) plating.
After the sneak preview in the previous section, we'll start reviewing the various wrench styles of the Modern Era.
The forged-in "V" code on the shank was soon replaced by a stamped code on the wrench panel, as the next example illustrates.
Fig. 16 shows an early example of the Craftsman "V" series, a Craftsman 1/2x9/16 open-end wrench with raised panels. The wrench is stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code stamped on the back side.
The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating with polished faces.
Fig. 17 shows a Craftsman "V" 17x19mm open-end wrench, marked with "=Craftsman=" stamped on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
As was standard for open-end wrenches, the sizes are stamped on the faces.
The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
Although less commonly found in the United States, Craftsman did offer wrenches in Whitworth (British Standard) sizes.
Fig. 18 shows an example of a Whitworth-sized wrench, a Craftsman 3/8Wx7/16W open-end wrench with raised panels. The wrench is marked with "=Craftsman=" stamped on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side.
The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The opening sizes were measured at 0.72 and 0.83 inches.
Although the "V" code is almost always associated with the Craftsman double-line ("=Craftsman=") logo, this next figure shows an example using the older underlined logo.
Fig. 19 shows a Craftsman "V" No. 3 5/8x11/16 tappet wrench, stamped with the Craftsman underline logo and "No. 3" on the left face, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "-V-" code on the right face. The back side faces are stamped with the fractional sizes.
The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The use of the "V" code with the Craftsman underline logo suggests that this is early production by Moore Drop Forging, or possibly a transitional form before the tappet wrench markings were updated to the double-line logo. (Later tappet wrenches weren't made with raised panels, so they continued to use the older face marking.)
Fig. 20 shows a Craftsman 44474 "V" 3/4x7/8 tappet wrench, stamped with "Craftsman" on the left face, with "U.S.A." and a "V" code plus the model number on the right face. The back side faces are stamped with the fractional sizes.
The overall length is 9.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
Fig. 21 shows a Craftsman 43919 "V" 1/4x5/16 box-end wrench with raised panels, marked with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional sizes stamped on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 6.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
Fig. 22 shows a Craftsman "V" 11/16x13/16 offset box-end wrench with raised panels, marked with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional sizes stamped on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 10.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
Fig. 23 shows a Craftsman "V" 5/8x11/16 offset box-end wrench with hexagon openings. The paneled shank is stamped with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional sizes on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
Fig. 24 shows a Craftsman "V" 5/8x3/4 short box-end wrench with raised panels, stamped with "Craftsman" and the fractional sizes on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 6.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The short panels on this wrench left no room for the standard "=Craftsman=" double-line logo.
Fig. 25 shows a Craftsman "V" 6x8mm offset box-end wrench with raised panels, stamped with "-Craftsman-" and the fractional sizes on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The absence of a model number suggests production in the 1960s, when metric sizes were becoming more popular.
The small size of this wrench has forced to Craftsman double-line logo to become a "single-line" logo.
Fig. 26 shows a Craftsman 42957 "V" 13x15mm box-end wrench with raised panels, marked with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional sizes on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." plus a "V" code and model number on the back side panel.
The overall length is 9.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
In the earlier era combination wrenches were limited to six models with sizes ranging from 7/16 to 3/4. This wrench style became increasingly popular in the Modern Era, and as combination wrenches replaced open-end and box-end wrenches, the range of sizes was increased substantially.
By 1952 four additional sizes — 3/8, 7/8, 15/16, and 1 inch — had been added, and by 1960 combination wrenches were available in 18 sizes from 1/4 to 1-5/16.
Fig. 27 shows a Craftsman "V" 3/8 combination wrench with raised panels, marked with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional size on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 4.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The absence of a model number indicates production up to 1969.
Fig. 28 shows a Craftsman 7/16 combination wrench with raised panels, stamped with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional size on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side panel.
The overall length is 5.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The absence of a marked "V" code on this example is unusual and somewhat puzzling — possibly there was an error in setting up the marking machine, and the "V" fell off the end of the panel.
Fig. 29 shows a Craftsman 44696 "V" 9/16 combination wrench with raised panels, marked with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional size on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." plus the "V" code and model number on the back side panel.
The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The marked model number indicates production in 1970 or later.
The demand for metric sizes increased during the 1960s as imported cars became more common.
Fig. 30 shows a Craftsman "V" 14mm combination wrench with raised panels, marked with "=Craftsman=" and the metric size on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 6.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The absence of a marked model number indicates production before 1970, and the metric sizing suggests 1960s production.
Although Maker "V" dominated the production of Craftsman tools in the Modern Era, some other manufacturers did produce Craftsman wrenches in the standard paneled design. This next example is from a Japanese maker using the "BF" manufacturer's code, although the specific manufacturer is not yet known.
Fig. 31 shows a Craftsman "BF" 5/8 combination wrench with raised panels, stamped with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional size on the front panel, with "Chrome Molybdenum" and "BF Japan" plus the fractional size on the back side panel.
The overall length is 7.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The top inset shows a side view of the wrench. Note the rounded and polished side of the open end, an extra finishing touch provided by this maker.
Flex-box combination wrenches are a variation of the standard combination wrench in which the box end is replaced by a socket attached with a flexible connection. The socket allows the wrench to reach recessed nuts that are inaccessible to a standard wrench, and the flexible connection allows operation at any angle, to help with avoiding obstacles.
Craftsman flex-box combination wrenches were offered in six sizes in the 1957 catalog and have remained as part of the Craftsman line since then.
Fig. 32 shows a Craftsman "V" 1/2 flex-box combination wrench, stamped with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional size on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length (fully extended) is 8.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 33 shows a Craftsman 42545 "V" 5/8 flex-box combination wrench, marked with "=Craftsman=" and the fractional size stamped on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." plus a "V" code and the model number on the back side panel.
The overall length (fully extended) is 9.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Fig. 34 shows a Craftsman "V" 9/16x5/8 box-end wrench for battery terminal service, marked with "Craftsman" and the fractional sizes forged into the shank, with a "V" code plus "Battery Wrench" and "U.S.A." forged into the back side.
The overall length is 6.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
We have an extensive collection of Craftsman "V" series sockets and drive tools and will be adding them to this section, as time permits.
Fig. 35 shows a Craftsman "V" 1/2-drive ratchet, stamped with the "Craftsman" double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel. (Note that the markings are oriented upside-down relative to later production.) The shank also has a forged-in "B" code near the head.
The overall length is 9.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
In 1959 the Craftsman ratchet line adopted a distinctive Vee-shaped shift lever based on design patent #D185,651, issued to R.W. Vose in 1959 with assignment to Moore Drop Forging.
Fig. 36 shows a Craftsman 1/2-drive ratchet with a "V"-shaped shifter, stamped with the "Craftsman" double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 10.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The ratchet head is fitted with an oil hole closed by a steel ball, as can be seen in the middle inset.
Although not marked with a patent notice, the design of the V-shaped shifter is described by patent #D185,651, issued to R.W. Vose in 1959 with assignment to Moore Drop Forging.
Fig. 37 shows a Craftsman 3/8-drive ratchet with a "V"-shaped shifter, stamped with the "Craftsman" double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 6.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Although not marked with a patent notice, the design of the V-shaped shifter is described by patent #D185,651, issued to R.W. Vose in 1959 with assignment to Moore Drop Forging.
Fig. 38 shows a Craftsman 1/4-drive ratchet with a "V"-shaped shifter, stamped with the "Craftsman" double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length is 5.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
Although not marked with a patent notice, the design of the V-shaped shifter is described by patent #D185,651, issued to R.W. Vose in 1959 with assignment to Moore Drop Forging.
In 1965 Sears began offering Craftsman ratchets with a convenient quick-release button, based on a design described by patent #3,208,318, filed by P.M. Roberts in 1964 and issued in 1965.
Fig. 39 shows a Craftsman 3/8-drive quick-release ratchet, stamped with the "Craftsman" double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code on the back side panel. The back side panel is also stamped with a "Pat. No. 3208318" patent notice.
The overall length is 6.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The patent notice refers to patent #3,208,318, filed by P.M. Roberts in 1964 and issued in 1965. This is the classic patent for the quick-release mechanism.
In the late 1960s Sears began offering Craftsman ratchets with a dual-pawl mechanism for ultra fine action, combined with a quick-release button for extra convenience. These ratchets were based on patents #3,467,231 and #3,532,013, issued to H.J. Haznar in 1969 and 1970 respectively, and assigned to the Moore Drop Forging Company.
Fig. 40 shows a 1/2-drive Craftsman quick-release ratchet with a dual-pawl mechanism, stamped with the "Craftsman" double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "=V=" code on the back side panel. The back side panel is also stamped with a "Patent Pending" notice.
The overall length is 10.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The pending status refers to patents #3,467,231 and #3,532,013, issued to H.J. Haznar in 1969 and 1970 respectively, with assignment to the Moore Drop Forging Company.
Note that this ratchet is not marked with a model number, but that a similar Craftsman 43187 "V" 1/4-Drive Ratchet also has a patent pending marking and is marked with the model number. These examples provide evidence that Craftsman model number markings were added in the 1968-1970 time frame.
Fig. 41 shows a Craftsman 43788 3/8-drive quick-release ratchet with a dual-pawl mechanism, stamped "Craftsman" on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "-V-" code on the back side panel. The back side panel is also stamped with "U.S. Pats. 3467231 3532013" and "Can. Patented 1971" patent notices.
The overall length is 6.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The first patent #3,467,231 was filed by H.J. Haznar in 1968 and issued in 1969, with assignment to the Moore Drop Forging Company. The describes a pawl-reversing mechanism for fine-tooth ratchets.
The second patent #3,532,013 was filed by H.J. Haznar in 1968 and issued in 1970, again with assignment to the Moore Drop Forging Company. This patent describes a quick-release mechanism adapted to fine-tooth ratchets.
Fig. 42 shows a Craftsman 43187 1/4-drive quick-release ratchet with a dual-pawl mechanism, stamped with the "Craftsman" double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "-V-" code on the back side panel. The back side panel is also stamped with a "Patent Pending" patent notice.
The overall length is 5.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The pending status refers to patents #3,467,231 and #3,532,013, issued to H.J. Haznar in 1969 and 1970 respectively, with assignment to the Moore Drop Forging Company.
Sears had offered a wide selection of pliers since well before the Craftsman era, and in the Modern Era continued to expand its selection.
Two new categories of pliers became available during this period: the "Lever-Jaw" pliers based on the "Vise-Grip" design, and "Arc-Joint" tongue-and-groove pliers based on the "Channellock" design.
As Craftsman tools entered the Modern Era, Sears adopted the "Nested Diamonds" pattern as their standard gripping pattern for pliers. This appears to have been an active decision on Sears' part, as even Wilde was forced to switch from their preferred and distinctive "Rope Banded" pattern to the Nested Diamonds pattern. By 1960 though Sears had relented, and Wilde production switched back to their traditional "Rope Banded" pattern.
Fig. 43 shows a pair of Craftsman 8 inch angle-nose gripping pliers, marked with a transitional form of the double-line logo resembling "== U.S.A. ==".
No manufacturer's code was found on these pliers.
The overall length is 8.0 inches.
The finish is polished steel with no plating, which together with the double-line logo suggests a manufacturing date around 1945.
The handle pattern closely resembles the "Nested Diamonds" pattern found on many Craftsman Vanadium pliers. (See our article on Early Craftsman Pliers for examples.) The design of the pliers resembles the Wilde Wrench Pliers shown on another page.
Fig. 44 shows a pair of Craftsman 4507 combination side-cutting pliers, stamped with "Craftsman" and a B-Circle manufacturer's code, with "4507" and "USA" below (see lower right inset).
The overall length is 7.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with scattered pitting due to rust.
Note that the rivet is flush with the surface on the cutting side, allowing the pliers to cut close to a surface.
A review of the Craftsman catalogs found that the 4507 pliers were first listed in 1947 under the Dunlap brand, and then offered in 1949 under the Craftsman brand. The 4507 pliers remained available at least through 1968, the current limit of our catalogs.
Fig. 45 shows a pair of Craftsman 4476 battery pliers with the Nested-Diamond handle pattern, stamped with "Craftsman" and "4476 USA", and with a B-Circle manufacturer's code.
The overall length is 7.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The upper inset shows the "Nested Diamonds" gripping pattern on the handles, which remained in use at least through the early 1960s.
These pliers are copies of the more familiar Wilde Battery Pliers, but were made with slightly different production and marking characteristics. Note that the parting line from the forging is visible through the impressed handle pattern.
Model 4476 battery pliers in this angle-nose style were listed in the 1947 Craftsman tool catalog, and this model continued to be offered through the 1962 catalog. Note though that the model number marking on these pliers is unusual for this era.
The manufacturer of the B-Circle code has not yet been identified.
Fig. 46 shows a pair of Craftsman 10 inch waterpump pliers with an unusual 4-position adjustment mechanism.
The pliers are stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the handle, with "Forged in U.S.A." and an N-Square manufacturer's code on the back side.
The overall length is 9.9 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating.
The distinctive adjustment mechanism uses a tabbed pivot post operating in slotted holes. To change the setting, the handles are opened wide to align the tabs with the slots, allowing the handles to be separated and then reinserted in the desired hole.
Other tools with the N-Square manufacturer's code include punches and chisels, but the manufacturer associated with the code is not yet known.
Currently our only catalog reference for these pliers is the 1947 Craftsman tools catalog. The catalog notes the advantage of the adjustment mechanism in preventing accidental changes of the setting.
The J.P. Danielson Company produced pliers for the Fulton, Merit, and Dunlap brands during the 1930s, and later produced at least some models for the Craftsman brand. After 1947 Danielson operated as a division of Plomb Tool (later Proto Tools).
The later production by Danielson was marked with an "LC" manufacturer's code.
Additional information can be found in our article on the J.P. Danielson Company.
Fig. 47 shows a pair of Craftsman 4732 8 inch slip-joint hose-clamp combination pliers, stamped with "Craftsman" and the model number to the right of the pivot, with an "LC" code and "USA" below. The handle also has a forged-in code "C35" faintly visible on the shoulder.
The overall length is 8.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The jaws of the pliers have a drilled recess and milled grooves to hold the ends of a hose-clamp spring (see middle inset), adding another useful feature to these otherwise conventional combination pliers.
The handles of these pliers have a double-chevron gripping pattern, similar to the older Herringbone pattern used by Danielson for a number of years. An example of this pattern on Proto production can be seen as the Proto 202 Combination Pliers. The forged-in "C35" is a Danielson date code probably indicates production in 1965, although a later decade may be possible.
The Wilde Tool Company was the dominant supplier of pliers for the Craftsman brand in the post-war era. Wilde production can be generally be recognized by the rope-banded gripping pattern on the handles, and by a P-Circle manufacturer's code stamped on (or forged into) the tools.
In the next several figures we'll look at some examples of Craftsman pliers made by Wilde Tool, including many examples with rope-banded patterns on the handles.
Additional information on Wilde can be found in our article on the Wilde Tool Company.
Fig. 48 shows a pair of Craftsman 6.5 inch slip-joint combination pliers with the rope-banded pattern, stamped with the double-line logo and a small "P" code near the pivot, and with "Alloy Steel" forged into the underside of the handles.
The overall length is 6.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The lower inset shows the forged-in "P" code on the underside of the handles, representing the P-Circle manufacturer's code for Wilde.
Fig. 49 shows a pair of Craftsman [4476] battery pliers with the Nested-Diamond handle pattern, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo and a P-Circle manufacturer's code.
The overall length is 7.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The upper inset shows the "Nested Diamonds" gripping pattern on the handles, which remained in use at least through the early 1960s.
Battery pliers in this angle-nose style were listed as model 4476 in the 1947 Craftsman tool catalog, and this model continued to be offered through the 1962 catalog. The P-Circle code identifies the maker as Wilde Tool, and similar but much earlier pliers made by Wilde can be seen as the Early Craftsman Battery Pliers.
Fig. 50 shows a fairly recent pair of Craftsman 11 inch waterpump pliers with the rope-banded handle pattern, marked with the Craftsman double-line logo but without a model number.
The pliers are also marked with a forged-in "P" code on the underside of the handles (not shown).
The overall length is 10.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The pliers are marked with the Craftsman double-line logo, but no model number is marked. Model numbers were generally marked on Craftsman tools after the late 1960s to early 70s, so these pliers were probably made in the 1960s.
The rope-banded handles and forged-in "P" code indicate production by Wilde.
In 1953 Sears offered its first models of "Arc-Joint" tongue-and-groove pliers based on the well-known "Channellock" design. The tongue-and-groove design dates back to the classic 1934 Manning patent 1,950,362 by the Champion De Arment (now Channellock) company. This patent expired in 1951, paving the way for competitors to make use of the design.
The earliest catalog offering "Arc-Joint" pliers was the 1953 Craftsman catalog. Most of the "Arc-Joint" pliers shown there were produced by Wilde Tool, and the rear cover of the catalog actually shows the P-Circle manufacturers code for Wilde on a pair of Craftsman "Arc-Joint" pliers. (It's rare for a Sears catalog to reveal the manufacturer.)
One additional maker is known, as Dunlap "Arc-Joint" pliers are known to have been made by McKaig-Hatch.
In 1970 Sears registered "ARC JOINT" as a trademark.
The next several figures show examples of Craftsman "Arc-Joint" tongue-and-groove pliers.
Fig. 51 shows an earlier pair of Craftsman 6 inch tongue-and-groove angle-nose pliers with the older "Nested Diamonds" geometric gripping pattern on the handles.
The pliers are stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo near the pivot, with a P-Circle logo below.
The overall length is 6.8 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating.
The stamped P-Circle code identifies the maker as Wilde, and the unusual (for Wilde) use of the geometric gripping pattern suggests transitional production.
The Craftsman tool catalog illustrations show that this "Nested Diamonds" gripping pattern remained in use on some pliers into the 1960s, but the tongue-and-groove models had switched to the rope-banded pattern by 1960.
Fig. 52 shows a later pair of Craftsman 6 inch tongue-and-groove angle-nose pliers with a rope-banded gripping pattern on the handles.
The pliers are stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo near the pivot, with a forged-in "P" code on the underside of the handles.
The overall length is 6.8 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating.
The forged-in "P" code on the underside of the handles represents the P-Circle manufacturer's code for Wilde. By 1960 the Craftsman tool catalogs had illustrations of these tongue-and-groove pliers with the rope-banded gripping pattern.
Fig. 53 shows a pair of Craftsman 10 inch "Arc-Joint" tongue-and-groove waterpump pliers with the rope-banded pattern, marked with the Craftsman double-line logo, but without a model number. The underside of the handles is also marked with a forged-in "P" code (see left inset), representing the P-Circle manufacturer's code for Wilde.
The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The rope-banded gripping pattern (the long-standing "house pattern" for Wilde) was used for Arc-Joint pliers after 1960. The lack of a model number marking suggests production before 1970 or so.
Fig. 54 shows a pair of Craftsman 45381 9.5 inch "Arc-Joint" (tongue-and-groove) waterpump pliers with black plastic hand grips, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo and "USA".
The overall length is 10.1 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating.
The pliers are also stamped with a "WF" code, indicating production by Western Forge.
The 1985 Craftsman catalog lists the model 45381 pliers and notes the vinyl hand grips.
In the mid 1940s Sears began offering "Lever-Jaw" locking pliers based on the well-known "Vise-Grip" design. The Vise-Grip design dates back to the 1924 Petersen patent 1,489,458 and had been produced by the Petersen Manufacturing Company since that time. This patent expired in 1941, paving the way for competitors to make use of the design.
The "Lever-Jaw" pliers were produced by Parker Manufacturing and possibly other makers.
The terminology for the locking pliers changed a bit over the years. From the 1940s to mid 1950s Sears referred to these tools as a "Lever-Jaw Wrench", but by 1959 they had become a "Locking Plier Wrench", and in the 1960s they became simply locking pliers.
Fig. 55 shows a pair of Craftsman 10 inch locking pliers with a release lever, stamped with "Craftsman" and an I-Circle code on the front, with "Made in U.S.A." on the back (not shown).
The overall length is 10.0 inches with the adjusting screw backed out, at which point the jaws could lock onto something about 1.3 inches wide. The finish is chrome plating with a matte finish.
These pliers are fitted with a release lever, a feature first offered in 1959.
The release lever indicates production in 1959 or later, and the absence of a model number marking suggests production before 1970.
The "I-Circle" code indicates production by Parker Manufacturing.
The 1966 Craftsman catalog listed locking pliers in two sizes, 7.5 and 10 inches, and the pliers were available with either straight or curved jaws. Our example is the 10 inch size with curved jaws, which was listed as model 45961.
In the post-war years Craftsman adjustable wrenches were supplied by McKaig-Hatch, J.H. Williams, and possibly other makers not yet identified.
The next two figures show examples of a series of adjustable wrenches offered during the 1950s, notable for the distinctive placement of the hanging hole in the interior of the shank, rather than at the extreme end. This style of adjustable wrench was illustrated in Craftsman catalogs from 1951 to 1957, but was not offered in 1960.
Fig. 56 shows a Craftsman 8 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "8 In." and the Craftsman double-line logo forged into the front, with a "Forged in U.S.A." and a Y-Circle logo forged into the back side.
The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the maximum opening is 0.9 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.47 inches.
The finish is plain steel with traces of plating, possibly zinc or cadmium.
Note that the hanging hole is located in the interior of the depressed panel, rather than at the extreme end.
Fig. 57 shows a Craftsman 12 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "12 In." and the Craftsman double-line logo forged into the front, with a "Forged in U.S.A." and a Y-Circle logo forged into the back side.
The overall length is 12.1 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.3 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.72 inches.
The wrench has a bright plated finish that resembles zinc, and the finish is soft enough to leave a mark on paper.
The upper inset shows a close-up of the Y-Circle logo forged into the shank.
The manufacturer associated with the Y-Circle code was recently (2024) identified as McKaig-Hatch, and discussion of the evidence for the attribution can be found in the section Tracking Maker "Y-Circle".
McKaig-Hatch also supplied Craftsman adjustable wrenches with a conventional ringed hanging hole.
The next several figures show examples of Williams adjustable wrenches produced for the Craftsman brand.
Fig. 58 shows a Craftsman 8 inch adjustable wrench with a locking pin, marked with "Patd in U.S.A." and the Craftsman double-line logo forged into the front, with "Made in U.S.A." and an AZ-Circle logo forged into the back side.
The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.47 inches.
The finish is chrome plating, with minor losses due to rust and wear.
The middle inset shows a close-up of the AZ-Circle logo forged into the shank.
The upper inset shows a side view of the wrench, illustrating the square shoulder used for the sliding jaw and keyway. The square shoulder is a feature patented by J.H. Williams in the 1930s (see patent #2,112,840) and is not known to have been used by any other manufacturers.
The patent notice refers to patent #2,719,449, filed by W.J. Johnson in 1953 and issued in 1955. This patent describes a locking mechanism for adjustable wrenches, actuated by pushing a locking pin (visible in the photograph) through the thumb knurl. An example of a Williams wrench with this locking mechanism can be seen as the Williams APL-6 Adjustable Wrench.
Fig. 59 shows a Craftsman 10 inch adjustable wrench with a locking pin, marked with "Patd in U.S.A." and the Craftsman double-line logo forged into the front, with "Made in U.S.A." and an AZ-Circle logo forged into the back side.
The overall length is 10.2 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.2 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.60 inches.
The finish is chrome plating, with some losses due to rust and pitting.
The middle inset shows a close-up of the AZ-Circle logo forged into the shank.
The upper inset shows a side view of the wrench, illustrating the square shoulder used for the sliding jaw and keyway. The square shoulder is a feature patented by J.H. Williams in the 1930s (see patent #2,112,840) and is not known to have been used by any other manufacturers.
The patent notice refers to patent #2,719,449, filed by W.J. Johnson in 1953 and issued in 1955. This patent describes a locking mechanism for adjustable wrenches, actuated by pushing a locking pin (visible in the photograph) through the thumb knurl. An example of a Williams wrench with this locking mechanism can be seen as the Williams APL-6 Adjustable Wrench.
Fig. 60 shows a Craftsman 8 inch adjustable wrench, stamped "Forged" on the front with "Made in U.S.A." and "JW - Alloy" on the back side. The back side shank also shows a forged-in code "L" next to the hole.
The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.50 inches.
The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The upper inset shows a side view of the wrench, and a close look shows the square shoulder for the sliding jaw and keyway. The square shoulder was a patented feature of the J.H. Williams adjustable wrenches, and is not known to have been used by any other manufacturers.
This wrench can be identified as Williams' production by the square-shouldered keyway, and the stamped "JW" code further confirms the maker. The forged-in "L" code has also been observed on J.H. Williams wrenches; see for example the Williams AP-8 "Superjustable" Wrench.
This particular wrench is believed to have been purchased new in the late 1960s to early 1970s, a time before Craftsman began marking model numbers on its tools. The next figure shows a similar wrench with a Craftsman model number.
Fig. 61 shows a somewhat later example of Williams' production, a Craftsman 44604 10 inch adjustable wrench. The shank is stamped with "-Craftsman-" and "Forged" on the front, with "Made in U.S.A." and "JW - Alloy" on the back side. A forged-in code "L" appears on the back side as well.
The overall length is 10.2 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.2 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.60 inches.
The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.
The upper inset shows a side view of the wrench, with the square shoulder visible on the sliding jaw and keyway.
Fig. 62 shows a Craftsman 3/16 pin punch, stamped with the double-line logo and an "N-Square" manufacturer's code.
The overall length is 6.1 inches.
The manufacturer associated with the "N-Square" code is not yet known. This code has also been noted on a Dunlap Punch shown in a later figure.
Fig. 63 shows a Craftsman 3/4 star drill, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo and a "G-Circle" manufacturer's code.
The overall length is 11.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The manufacturer associated with the "G-Circle" code is not yet known.
Fig. 64 shows a Craftsman 12 inch chain pipe wrench, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and "Pat. No. 2944452" plus a "V" code on the back side panel.
The overall length of the handle is 12.0 inches, and the length of the chain is 16.3 inches. The finish is chrome plating.
The patent notice refers to patent 2,944,452, filed by R.W. Vose in 1959 and issued in 1960, with assignment to Moore Drop Forging.
Fig. 65 shows a Craftsman 8-In-1 multi-socket wrench, marked with the Craftsman double-line logo on the raised panel, and with the fractional sizes and "Forged in U.S.A." on the back side panel.
The socket sizes are 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, and 19/32 on the small head, with 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, and 7/8 on the large head.
The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
A close comparison with the Williams No. 1999 Multi-Socket Wrench showed that the tools are virtually identical except for markings, confirming that Williams was the contract manufacturer for Sears for this tool. The small forged-in "T" code to the left of the panel is one of several forge codes used by Williams (the others include B, II, O, and V) and is not interpreted as a Craftsman manufacturer's code.
The Craftsman 8-In-1 wrench was first introduced in the 1954 catalog at a price of $3.98. By 1957 the price had been reduced to $2.98, and the 8-In-1 model remained available at least through 1968, with the price gradually rising to $3.99 in 1968.
Fig. 66 shows a pair of Craftsman snap-ring specialty pliers with rope-banded handles, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo and "USA", and with a small "P" in a circle code.
The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The lower inset shows the forged-in "P" code (in a circular depression) on the inside of the handles. The rope-banded handles and P-Circle code indicate production by Wilde.
Fig. 67 shows a pair of Craftsman brake spring pliers, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the upper jaw, with a small P-Circle code below.
The overall length is 13.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The P-Circle code indicates production by Wilde.
Fig. 68 shows a Craftsman 9 3558 adjustable hacksaw, stamped with the Craftsman "Crown" logo and "Made in USA" on the frame, with an I-Circle manufacturer's code at the right.
The overall length is 16.8 inches with a 10 inch blade installed. The finish is chrome plating.
The frame has two adjustment positions to accept 10 and 12 inch blades.
The I-Circle code indicates production by Parker Manufacturing.
We reviewed the Craftsman catalogs and found that the model 9 3558 hacksaw was listed from 1966 until at least 1977. Up through 1971 this model was considered as the top-of-the-line, with the descriptions typically noting "Professional" quality. The catalog illustrations all display the "=Craftsman=" logo on the frame.
The Craftsman "Crown" logo on our example is somewhat unusual, as this logo is more commonly found on tool boxes. In seeking to explain the unexpected logo, we noticed that the 1969 and 1970 catalogs had tagged the listing for the model 9 3558 hacksaw with "Craftsman Commercial" in a "Crown" logo. (An earlier section has an explanation of this Craftsman Commercial designation.)
Only a few of the tools in the catalog were tagged as "Craftsman Commercial", and our hypothesis is that tools receiving this special designation were allowed to use the "Crown" logo, or a full "Craftsman Commercial" tag in the case of power tools.
If this is the case, the unusual logo on our example here would indicate that it was produced in 1969 or 1970, and the model number marking then indicates production in 1970.
We reviewed a number of online photos of this style of Craftsman hacksaw and the observed markings seem support our hypothesis. The observed examples could be placed in four groups:
Sears first offered Craftsman ratcheting box wrenches in the 1949 catalog, where they were termed "Ratchet Wrenches". The wrenches were designed with a clam-shell case held together by rivets, with a raised panel in the center stamped "Craftsman". The catalog noted the use of alloy steel in the construction.
Beginning in the mid 1960s the terminology changed slightly and the tools were called "Ratcheting Box-End Wrenches". The wrenches continued to be offered through 1969.
Based on the known examples, these tools were made by Duro/Indestro. Some examples were stamped with a "D.I." code for Duro/Indestro, and the wrenches match the illustrations in the Duro and Indestro catalogs. (Oddly though, the ratcheting box wrenches were not listed in the Duro/Indestro catalogs until the 1960s.)
By 1973 Craftsman ratcheting box wrenches were again available, but in a different design made by Parker Manufacturing.
Fig. 69 shows a Craftsman 1/4x5/16 ratcheting box wrench with raised panels, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the panel. The body is stamped "Made U.S.A." at the left, with "Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." at the right.
The overall length is 4.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The construction of the wrench uses symmetrical stamped steel formed panels held together by rivets. The raised panel in the center of each half is a distinctive feature found in the Duro/Indestro production of ratcheting box wrenches.
Ratcheting box wrenches in this design were listed in the Craftsman tool catalogs as early as 1949.
Fig. 70 shows a Craftsman 3/8x7/16 ratcheting box wrench with raised panels, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the panel.
The body is stamped "Made U.S.A." at the left, with "Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." and a "D.I." code at the right.
The overall length is 6.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The construction of the wrench uses symmetrical stamped steel formed panels held together by rivets. The raised panel in the center of each half is a distinctive feature found in the Duro/Indestro production of ratcheting box wrenches, and the "D.I." code is believed to denote "Duro Indestro".
Fig. 71 shows a Craftsman 13/16x7/8 ratcheting box wrench with raised panels, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the panel. The body is stamped "Made U.S.A." at the left, with "Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." code at the right.
The overall length is 9.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The construction of the wrench uses symmetrical stamped steel formed panels held together by rivets. The raised panel in the center of each half is a distinctive feature found in the Duro/Indestro production of ratcheting box wrenches.
Note that this particular example is not marked with a "D.I." code seen in the previous figure.
Sears continued to use the Dunlap brand for economy tools into the early 1960s, but by 1964 the Craftsman catalog no longer included Dunlap tools.
Other brands used for tools during the Modern Era included "Companion" and the "Sears" name itself.
A wide variety of Dunlap brand economy tools were offered during the 1940s and 1950s, and the brand continued to be available until about 1963.
Fig. 72 shows a Dunlap 5/8 flat chisel, stamped with the Dunlap logo and "Made in U.S.A." with the fractional size on the square shank, and with an "N-Square" manufacturer's code.
The overall length is 6.4 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.
The top inset shows a side view of the chisel, illustrating the parting line on the edge of the tip, an indication of drop-forged construction.
Fig. 73 shows a Dunlap brand 3/8 center punch, stamped with the Dunlap logo and "U.S.A." on the square shank, and with an "N-Square" manufacturer's code.
The overall length is 4.8 inches.
Fig. 74 shows a Dunlap 3/8x7/16 offset box wrench with gently-sloped depressed panels, marked with "Dunlap" and the fractional sizes forged into the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and the fractional sizes forged into the back side.
The front panel also has a forged-in code "X" at the left and "LC" at the right end, seen as a close-up in the middle inset.
The overall length is 6.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The construction of this wrench closely resembles the Lectrolite "TruFit" wrenches produced in the late 1940s and 1950s, as for example the TruFit 3/4x25/32 Offset Box Wrench. Note in particular the gently-sloped depressed panels and the increased width of the shank after the offset. The forged-in "LC" code is believed to represent "Lectrolite Corporation".
Fig. 75 shows a Dunlap 5/8 combination wrench with depressed panels, marked with "Dunlap" and the fractional sizes forged into the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and the fractional sizes forged into the back side. The front panel also has a forged-in code "T" at the left and "LC" at the right, shown as a close-up in the middle inset.
The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The construction of this wrench closely resembles the Lectrolite "TruFit" combination wrenches produced in the late 1940s and 1950s, as for example the TruFit 9/16 Combination Wrench. Note in particular the gently-sloped depressed panels and the increased width of the shank at the junction with the box end. The forged-in "LC" code is believed to represent "Lectrolite Corporation".
Fig. 76 shows a Dunlap 10 inch adjustable wrench, marked with the Dunlap double-line logo and "Dependable Quality" forged into the shank, with "Forged in U.S.A." forged into the back side.
The shank is also marked with a forged-in Y-Circle logo, visible at the right near the hanging hole.
The overall length is 10.0 inches and the maximum opening is 1.1 inches. The finish is chrome plating.
On this wrench the pin securing the knurl is threaded on the outside (slotted) end, a detail also observed on other adjustable wrenches marked with the Y-Circle code.
The forged-in Y-Circle logo was recently (2024) identified as the manufacturer's code for McKaig-Hatch. The Y-Circle logo also appears on Craftsman adjustable wrenches, as for example the Craftsman "Y-Circle" 12 Inch Adjustable Wrench.
In more recent years Sears has used its own name for a line of economy tools, similar to the Dunlap tools of earlier years.
Fig. 77 shows a Sears 11/16 combination wrench with depressed panels, marked with "Sears" and the fractional sizes forged into the front panel, with "Drop Forged" and "BF Japan" plus the fractional sizes forged into the back side.
The overall length is 7.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.
The "BF" code indicates that the tool was supplied by the Daido Corporation, a distributor representing a number of Japanese manufacturers. The "BF" code can also be found on Craftsman wrenches, often with a marking for molybdenum alloy steel.
Fig. 78 shows a pair of Sears 3079 7 inch lineman's pliers, marked with "Sears" and the model number on the front, with "BF Japan" on the back side.
The overall length is 7.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The "BF" code indicates that the tool was supplied by the Daido Corporation, a distributor representing a number of Japanese manufacturers. The specific manufacturer may be the Three Peaks Giken Company, a Japanese maker known to have supplied pliers of this type for Daido's "Truecraft" brand.
The 1977 Craftsman catalog notes that the pliers were made of alloy steel with a polished head and plastic hand grips, and notes the Japanese origin. The 3079 pliers were listed at a $3.97 price, and the 8 inch model 3080 pliers were available at a $4.29 price.
We purchased these pliers new in the 1970s for a vehicle tool kit and they have provided good service over the years.
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