Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: GMM on July 14, 2020, 06:54:28 PM

Title: Sears Tool
Post by: GMM on July 14, 2020, 06:54:28 PM

Trying to figure out what this is an its use. Only writing is SEARS on back of head. Probably cast iron. Grooved handle. 2 rolling interlocking teeth parts.

Thanks

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: Papaw on July 14, 2020, 06:58:51 PM

That is a common grinder stone dresser. One of the most often What's-its posted.

Grinding dressers are used to return a wheel to its original round shape (that is, to true it up), to expose fresh grains for renewed cutting action (including cleaning away clogged areas), or to make a different profile (cross-sectional shape) on the wheel's edge.

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: amecks on July 15, 2020, 06:32:35 AM

Interesting that it says Sears on it.  Very possibly a different Sears than the department store.

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: GMM on July 15, 2020, 09:57:46 AM

Thanks for the info.

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: lptools on July 15, 2020, 10:32:13 AM

Hello, Al. I found the same tool on ebay, owner says original box and instructions. It is also only marked SEARS, but the box is marked Sears, Roebuck, & Co.. I vaguely remember being in a Sears store and the salesperson telling me if it is only marked Sears, it could not be returned for warranty replacement. Only Craftsman marked ( hand) tools (mostly) were covered under warranty. The dresser, with expendable wheels, was probably an item they didn't want brought back to the store. Just my two cents, Lou

ebay item no.401735324177

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: amecks on July 15, 2020, 01:49:02 PM

I wonder how old it is.  Maybe it predates the Carftsman brand name.  I know they used the Sears name a lot on economy tools.  Just thinking this tool doesn't look like a cheaper tool, even though it does appear to have a rather narrow set of wheels. 

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: Bill Houghton on July 16, 2020, 11:32:59 AM

Quote from: amecks on July 15, 2020, 01:49:02 PM

I wonder how old it is.  Maybe it predates the Carftsman brand name.  I know they used the Sears name a lot on economy tools.  Just thinking this tool doesn't look like a cheaper tool, even though it does appear to have a rather narrow set of wheels.

The Craftsman name goes back to 1927.  I don't know how old star wheel dressers are, but it seems unlikely this could be a pre-Craftsman tool.

These were pretty utilitarian tools - I can easily imagine it not earning the "Craftsman" badge.

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: coolford on July 16, 2020, 05:25:13 PM

The Sears name is somewhat recent, probably in the 60's-70's.  Early on was Dunlap as I remember, before WW-2 and right after.  Then I think Sears, and later Companion.  Sears was the cheaper line as were the others.

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: leg17 on July 18, 2020, 10:30:39 AM

Was Fulton even before Dunlap?

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: coolford on July 18, 2020, 07:01:12 PM

That I don't know, maybe someone else will chime in with that information.

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: Yadda on July 18, 2020, 08:23:15 PM

Per Alloy Artifacts the Fulton brand was used by Sears starting as early as 1908. Dunlap was trademarked by Sears in 1938, but they started using it as early as 1937.

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: EVILDR235 on July 26, 2020, 06:40:18 PM

Poor Roebuck. Lost and forgotten.

EvilDr235

Title: Re: Sears Tool
Post by: d42jeep on July 27, 2020, 02:40:48 AM

Dunlap ended around 1960. Many of the same tools started being marketed as Sears after that.
-Don