Tool Talk

Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Topic started by: Jim C. on January 26, 2019, 04:22:56 PM

Title: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on January 26, 2019, 04:22:56 PM
About two months ago I added a post in this forum regarding Sears Craftsman Whitworth tools.  I mentioned that I had been using the 1960 Craftsman hand tool catalog as my guide in terms of determining what tools were in the set and when the tools were offered by Sears.  If one were to revisit the thread, I wrote that Sears offered Craftsman branded Whitworth tools between 1960 and 1962.  Well, right around that same time, Sears first offered Craftsman branded metric sized tools.  Essentially, there were six metric DOE wrenches, six metric DBE wrenches and seven metric sockets.  The set also included several 1/2" drive tools (ratchet, extensions, etc.) that were identical to those found in the Whitworth set.  Just like the Whitworth tools, the metric tools could be purchased individually, one at a time, or in smaller tool specific sets.  The tool specific metric wrench sets were sold in black colored plastic tool rolls.  (Recall that the Whitworth wrench sets were sold in green colored plastic tool rolls.)  Anyway, as I was collecting the Whitworth tools, I also started on the metric set as well.

For whatever reason, perhaps only because metric tools went on to be widely manufactured and purchased in the USA and all over the world, I guess that translated to me thinking this early set of Craftsman branded metric tools would be easy to collect.  I can say for sure that it was equally as difficult to collect as was the Whitworth set.  Putting aside the tool box, the ratchet, and the T-handle for the breaker bar, all of which I knew would be hard to find, those early metric tools were also tough.  Again, I was looking for those with a pointed letter "A" in the word CR"A"FTSM"A"N and a =V= manufacturer's code.  Much like the Whitworth tools, it was my experience that the DBE wrenches were more difficult to find than were the DOE wrenches and the seven sockets were scarce as well.  It took me a long time to finally find the 22mm socket.  It was a challenging set to complete, just like the Whitworth set.

Jim C.           
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Yadda on January 26, 2019, 04:35:39 PM
Another great set! impressive condition for almost 60 years old!
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on January 26, 2019, 04:44:49 PM
Not too long after the initial Craftsman branded metric tools were offered by Sears, they started to expand the metric sizes that were available.  If you take a look at the catalog description in the initial post, you'll see that 13mm and 15mm wrenches and sockets were not available at first.  While I was collecting the set, I came across a 13mm x 15mm DOE wrench with a pointed letter "A" and a =V= manufacturer's mark.  Well, that got me thinking that there must also be a corresponding DBE wrench and sockets as well.  I was correct.  What I found was that early Craftsman branded 13mm and 15mm tools are somewhat scarce.  Finding the examples with the pointed letter "A" in the word CR"A"FTSM"A"N is tricky to say the least.  And again, just based on my experience, of the four tools depicted below, the DBE wrench was really the most difficult to track down and acquire.  I found the example below on eBay a few months ago.  Well, two other bidders also recognized its scarcity.....  All I can say is that it was a costly tool.   :shocked:

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on January 26, 2019, 05:00:09 PM
Another great set! impressive condition for almost 60 years old!

Thanks Yadda.  It was a tough set to collect, and while I didn't think it would be at first, it was EVERY bit as hard as the Whitworth set.  Besides the metric tools themselves, some of the common stuff, like the correct tool box for instance, makes it more difficult.  When I came across the tool box for the Whitworth set, I was very happy with its condition.  Well, finding a second one for the metric set proved to be a challenge.  When I finally found one on eBay, I had to duke it out with someone else who really wanted it.  Like I said, this was a tough set to pull together.

Jim C.   
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: coolford on January 26, 2019, 05:36:32 PM
Gee Jim, you just don't like to make things easy on yourself.  Good job putting that set together!!
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on January 26, 2019, 06:53:27 PM
Gee Jim, you just don't like to make things easy on yourself.  Good job putting that set together!!

I really thought it would be easier than it was.  But I’m going to bet not nearly as hard as some of those sets you’ve been posting recently!

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: p_toad on January 27, 2019, 01:14:08 PM
between those and the walden sets i'm going to have to dry out my keyboard.   :embarrassed:
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on January 27, 2019, 03:33:18 PM
Hey Peter,

I really appreciate getting mentioned along with coolford’s Walden sets, but there’s no comparison.  You’ve pretty much seen what I have.  Coolford on the other hand, might very well be sandbagging us.  I think he’s got a lot more sets to show us.  Thanks for checking out my Sears/Craftsman metric set.

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: amecks on January 27, 2019, 04:47:32 PM
Nice work Jim!  A piece of tool history in the flesh (or uh iron).
Al
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on January 27, 2019, 08:04:30 PM
Nice work Jim!  A piece of tool history in the flesh (or uh iron).
Al

Thanks Al.  I really didn’t think of the set in those terms.  I guess it does represent a small speck of tool history.  When one considers the availability of metric tools today, and the overwhelming abundance of Craftsman tools for sale on the used tool market, it’s at least interesting to see the earliest metric set offered by Sears. 

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Bill Houghton on February 24, 2019, 05:27:24 PM
American mechanics, except those relatively rare few who worked on them dang furrin cars, resisted metric tools for a long, long time.  Even in the late 1960s, you were slightly suspect to a lot of mechanics if you had a full set of metric tools, while others, more cosmopolitan on the subject, thought you were a true pro.  I was raised in a family that liked them dang furrin cars, so, when I started working on stuff, I started with metric, adding fractional (SAE/inch/however you want to say it) tools only later, as money permitted.

Nice project, and a real achievement!
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on February 25, 2019, 11:40:02 AM
Thanks Bill.  It was a sort of challenging set to collect.  For a tool retailer as large as Sears was back in the day, it’s interesting to see just how limited their initial metric tool offerings were.  Like the Whitworth set I posted from the same era in another thread, Sears also offered an early metric tap and die set.  I’ve only seen the set once and it was missing a few tools and the black plastic case was in really rough shape.  As a result, I passed on it.  Anyway, if you’ve got any old Craftsman metric tools from the early 1960s, they might be more scarce than you think. 

Jim C. 
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: d42jeep on March 03, 2019, 10:25:07 AM
I checked my Craftsman =V= stash yesterday and these are all I have.
-Don
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on March 03, 2019, 01:36:36 PM
Hi Don,

Nice wrenches.  I think the metric combo wrenches started showing up in the Craftsman lineup within a couple years of the metric DBE and DOE wrenches.  If your wrenches all have a pointed letter “A” in the word CR”A”FTSM”A”N, then I’d say they’re among some of the earliest offered by Sears.  I noticed you have a 13mm x 15mm DBE wrench in your collection.  If that one has a pointed letter “A” then I’d also say you have a very desirable wrench.  A little back I got into an eBay bidding war for one of those. While I was happy to have won the wrench, I don’t even want to think about what I paid for it. 

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: d42jeep on March 03, 2019, 05:15:58 PM
Jim,
Here is the other side of the wrenches. The top two look to be pointed A but the 17 x 19 is round. The combos are a little hard to tell. Maybe you can tell me.
-Don
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on March 03, 2019, 07:42:46 PM
Hey Don, I’m not sure about the combos, but that 13mm x 15mm DBE wrench definitely has a pointed “A.”  That’s a collectible tool.  Like I said earlier, I paid good money for mine.  I’d offer to buy it from you but I don’t think I can afford it twice.

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: d42jeep on March 03, 2019, 11:22:16 PM
Jim,
I’d be happy to let them all go. Just send me a PM and we’ll discuss them.
-Don
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: skipskip on March 04, 2019, 11:35:21 AM
Only have 2 that fit this post

12mm combo and 13/15 DOE

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7884/40315972733_15730467c2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24qzU7a)DSCF9983 (https://flic.kr/p/24qzU7a) by Skip Albright (https://www.flickr.com/photos/skipskip/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7852/40315972483_dce23f4a93_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24qzU2R)DSCF9985 (https://flic.kr/p/24qzU2R) by Skip Albright (https://www.flickr.com/photos/skipskip/), on Flickr

Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: d42jeep on August 12, 2019, 05:14:10 AM
An old friend passed these combos along to me a few days ago. He had them for a while but is getting rid of his tools in anticipation of a move to New York City.
-Don
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on August 12, 2019, 05:51:57 PM
Wow Don!  Those are definitely early Craftsman metric combos!  Notice the pointed letter “A” in the CR”A”FTSM”A”N stamp.   Nice!   I’m envious....

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: d42jeep on August 16, 2019, 08:37:12 AM
Jim,
If you’d like to add them to your collection, we could do something similar to our deal on the metric DBE wrenches. Just send me an email or PM.
-Don
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on August 17, 2019, 08:27:43 AM
Hey Don,

PM sent. Thanks.

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: d42jeep on December 16, 2019, 02:19:28 PM
I found a carry box and some metric =v= wrenches at a recent estate sale. I threw the rest of my =v= metric tools in the box to keep them all together and added a few drive tools. If anyone needs one to complete a set they are available for trade.
-Don
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on December 16, 2019, 08:43:09 PM
Hey Don,

Looks like some good stuff in that box!

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: bonneyman on December 17, 2019, 10:03:40 AM
Nice stuff, guys!

I have also found metric tools to be hard to find before the 1970's. My Bonney search to find metric wrenches was also a long and wearying journey, with the 13 x 15 very elusive. I guess being two of the most used sizes those tools wore out sooner than others and that's maybe why they are so hard to find. Just my guess though.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Downwindtracker2 on December 17, 2019, 11:56:18 AM
The 13mm yes, in the '70 15mm was an odd ball.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on December 29, 2019, 09:44:13 AM
Nice stuff, guys!

I have also found metric tools to be hard to find before the 1970's. My Bonney search to find metric wrenches was also a long and wearying journey, with the 13 x 15 very elusive. I guess being two of the most used sizes those tools wore out sooner than others and that's maybe why they are so hard to find. Just my guess though.

Hey bonneyman,

I had a similar experience.  After I finished the first Craftsman metric set shown above, I started looking for the Craftsman 13mm and 15mm sockets and wrenches.  They weren’t initially offered in 1960 and didn’t make it into the Sears catalog until a couple years later.  I had some trouble finding the earliest 13mm and 15mm tools.  In particular, the 13mm x 15mm DBE wrench was the hardest to find. 

Jim C.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Bill Houghton on December 31, 2019, 10:35:28 AM
Very interesting.  By the time I started working on cars myself (1969), Sears had a pretty comprehensive selection of metric tools, individually and in sets.  I got by for years with a 3/8" flex handle and a set of sockets, plus, when I could afford it, a set of combination wrenches.  Craftsman were my standard tools: affordable, high quality, and, back then, they took their lifetime warranty seriously.  I can't tell you how many flex handles and sockets I replaced, broken trying to remove the lug bolts on a VW bus.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Yadda on December 31, 2019, 03:39:55 PM
Very interesting.  By the time I started working on cars myself (1969), Sears had a pretty comprehensive selection of metric tools, individually and in sets.  I got by for years with a 3/8" flex handle and a set of sockets, plus, when I could afford it, a set of combination wrenches.  Craftsman were my standard tools: affordable, high quality, and, back then, they took their lifetime warranty seriously.  I can't tell you how many flex handles and sockets I replaced, broken trying to remove the lug bolts on a VW bus.

My dad told similar stories of replacing ratchets and sockets at the Sears store. They were all broken removing lug nuts.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Bill Houghton on January 04, 2020, 12:07:27 PM
I think the two foot length of pipe I used as a cheater, combined with my standing on the pipe and bouncing to loosen the bolts, could maybe have contributed to the breakage.  Just maybe.  A little bit.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: papadan on January 04, 2020, 10:04:44 PM
Back about 79, I had some stuck lugs on a Hyster forklift. The only strong arm I had at the time was a Craftsman round bar with the sliding head. With a cheater I got the lugs loose but bent the strong arm in half. Took it to Sears and this little guy working there said he had never seen one like it. He gave me a new one. The next day I had to remove the other wheel on the same fork truck. When I walked in and laid the bent tool down on his counter, he squealed like a little girl and called me a beast. Me and a couple other people liked to die laughing when he handed me one of the heavy flex head bars and dared me to bend it. I still have that 18" craftsman bar.
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: d42jeep on January 05, 2020, 10:10:32 AM
I think the two foot length of pipe I used as a cheater, combined with my standing on the pipe and bouncing to loosen the bolts, could maybe have contributed to the breakage.  Just maybe.  A little bit.
Cuz Bill,
Here is one of my early (‘57) VW Buses from the ‘70s. I think the most expensive one was $75.00! The lug bolts were a breeze compared to that rear axle nut.
Cuz Don Houghton
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Bill Houghton on January 05, 2020, 10:48:54 AM
Cuz Bill,
Here is one of my early (‘57) VW Buses from the ‘70s. I think the most expensive one was $75.00! The lug bolts were a breeze compared to that rear axle nut.
Cuz Don Houghton
Nice bus.  My sweetie (officially my sweetie of 50 years last October; my bride of 48 years since last June) had a '62 bus, with the far more powerful* 40 hp engine than your 1957 example, which probably has the 36 hp motor.

And yes, the rear axle nut was a challenge, but I had to remove the lug bolts far more often.
----------
*I can type that with a straight face, but I'm not sure I could have said it with a straight face.  She, and later we, lived on the North side of the Golden Gate Bridge, and she worked in San Francisco (on the South side of the bridge, for those not conversant with SF Bay Area geography).  It was the late 60s, so of course we picked up hitchhikers.  Normal speed going up the Waldo Grade approach to the bridge with the two of us and three to four hitchhikers plus a dog or two was 15 mph in first gear, motor whirling away like a Cuisinart accidentally plugged into a 220 volt outlet (though with slightly longer life expectancy).
Title: Re: Sears/Craftsman Metric Tool Set
Post by: Jim C. on May 22, 2020, 07:59:22 AM
Early on, Sears offered smaller, tool specific Craftsman branded metric sets, versus the entire set shown above, so I think I should at least show you an example.  Depicted below is the six piece DOE wrench set in its original black plastic tool roll.  (Just to be sure, the wrenches depicted below are not the same wrenches shown in the complete set above.)  Since I started collecting Craftsman metric tools, I've come across a few DOE wrench sets in their black plastic tool rolls.  As you may expect, after about 55 years or so, the plastic has become somewhat stiff and brittle.  It can crack if you're not careful.  Sears/Craftsman also offered a six wrench DBE set in a black plastic tool roll.  For whatever reason, and with absolutely no data other than my personal experience, it seems that the DBE wrenches individually and in sets are more difficult to find than are their DOE counterparts.  Anyway, here’s a look at the DOE set.

Jim C.