Craftsman Tools: Maker "V" And The Modern Era [Under Construction]

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Origins of The Modern Style
• Wrenches
• Sockets and Drive Tools
• Pliers, Cutters, and Other Tools
• Dunlap Tools
• References and Resources
• What's New (Last Updated July 9, 2009)
  Recent changes to this page:

  • 07/09/2009: Added a Dunlap "V" 11/16x3/4 Offset Box Wrench.
  • 05/23/2009: Added a Craftsman Early "V" 3/4x7/8 Offset Box Wrench.
  • 05/19/2009: Added a Craftsman "P-Circle" 25/32x13/16 Open-End Wrench.
  • 04/10/2009: Added a Dunlap 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench.
  • 03/26/2009: Added Craftsman Waterpump Pliers with Rope-Banded Handles.
  • 10/05/2008: Updated discussion.
  • 08/09/2008: Added a Craftsman Early "V" 15/16x1 Offset Box Wrench.
  • 04/09/2008: Updated catalog resources.
  • 03/08/2008: Added a Craftsman 19/32x25/32 Offset Box Wrench.
  • 01/14/2008: Added a Craftsman 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench.
  • 12/17/2007: Added a Craftsman 11/16 Panelled Combination Wrench.
  • 12/10/2007: Added a Craftsman "V" 3/8Wx7/16W Whitworth Open-End Wrench.
  • 12/02/2007: Added a Craftsman "V" 1/2 Combination Wrench.
  • 11/30/2007: Added a Craftsman 5/8x3/4 Offset Box Wrench.
  • 10/22/2007: Added a Craftsman "V" 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench.
  • 10/11/2007: Page created, not much content yet.

Introduction

In an earlier article we reviewed the Early Craftsman Tools of the 1920s and 1930s, 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.

Company History

Origins of The Modern Style

In the 1920s and 1930s the Craftsman line was composed primarily by selecting tools from leading makers, with items selected for their quality and functionality.

Early "V" 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 1. Craftsman "V" 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 1 shows an early example of the Craftsman "V" series, a 3/4x7/8 open-end wrench marked with the Craftsman double-line logo. The reverse is stamped "Forged in U.S.A." on the raised panel, with a raised-letter "V" code forged into the shank.

The overall length is 9.2 inches.

Early "V" 1/2 Combination Wrench

Fig. 2. Craftsman "V" 1/2 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 2 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 reverse panel. The shank also has a "V" code forged into the reverse, as shown in the inset.

The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Early "V" 5/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 3. Craftsman "V" 5/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 3 shows a Craftsman "V" series 5/8 combination wrench, marked "Forged in U.S.A." on the reverse. 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.

Early 11/16 Panelled Combination Wrench

Fig. 4. Craftsman Early 11/16 Panelled Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 4 shows a Craftsman 11/16 combination wrench in the panelled style, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the front, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the reverse.

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.

Early "V" 3/4x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 5. Craftsman Early "V" 3/4x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. Late 1940s.

Fig. 5 shows a Craftsman 15/16x1 offset box wrench in the panelled style, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the reverse 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 thge eraly post-war years.

Early "V" 15/16x1 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 6. Craftsman Early "V" 15/16x1 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1945.

Fig. 6 shows a Craftsman 15/16x1 offset box wrench in the panelled style, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the front panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the reverse 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.

Craftsman "P-Circle" 19/32x25/32 Offset Box Wrench

The next several figures show very rare examples of modern raised-panel wrenches, but marked with a "P-Circle" manufacturer's code instead of the expected "V" code.

Fig. 7. Craftsman "P-Circle" 19/32x25/32 Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1945.

Fig. 7 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 reverse 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.

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.

Craftsman "P-Circle" Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 8. Craftsman "P-Circle" 5/8x3/4 Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1945.

Fig. 8 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 reverse 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.

Craftsman "P-Circle" 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 9. Craftsman "P-Circle" 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail, ca. 1945.

Fig. 9 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 reverse panel. The reverse 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.

Craftsman "P-Circle" 25/32x13/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 10. Craftsman "P-Circle" 25/32x13/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail, ca. 1945.

Fig. 10 shows a Craftsman 25/32x13/16 open-end wrench, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." on the reverse panel. The reverse 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.

Wrenches

Early "V" 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench

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. 11. Craftsman "V" 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail, ca. 1945.

Fig. 11 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 reverse.

The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating with polished faces.

Whitworth (British Standard) Tools

Although less commonly found in the United States, Craftsman did offer wrenches in Whitworth (British Standard) sizes.

3/8Wx7/16W Whitworth Open-End Wrench

Fig. 12. Craftsman "V" 3/8Wx7/16W Whitworth Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 12 shows an example of a Whitworth-sized wrench, a Craftsman 3/8Wx7/16W 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 reverse.

The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The opening sizes were measuered at 0.72 and 0.83 inches.

Sockets and Drive Tools

Pliers, Cutters, and Other Tools

Waterpump or Wrench Pliers

Fig. 13. Craftsman Waterpump or Wrench Pliers, with Insets for Handle and Marking Detail, ca. 1945.

Fig. 13 shows an unusual pair of Craftsman waterpump or wrench pliers, marked with a transitional form of the double-line logo resembling "== U.S.A. ==". The overall length is 7.0 inches.

The finish is polished steel with no plating, which together with the double-line logo suggests a manufacturing date around 1945.

Although the handle pattern closely resembles the Craftsman Vanadium pliers shown above, no C-Circle or other code was found on this tool. The design of the pliers resembles the Wilde Wrench Pliers shown on another page.

Pliers with Rope-Banded Handles

The next several figures show examples of Craftsman pliers with the rope banding pattern on the handles, all presumed to be contract production by Wilde.

Craftsman Waterpump Pliers with Rope-Banded Handles

Fig. 14. Craftsman Waterpump Pliers, with Inset for Handle Pattern, ca. 1960s.

Fig. 14 shows a fairly recent pair of Craftsman waterpump pliers with the rope-banded handle pattern, marked with the Craftsman double-line logo but without a model number. The handles of the pliers are also marked with a forged-in "P" code on the inside (not shown).

The overall length is 10.8 inches.

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.

Craftsman Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 15. Craftsman Tongue-and-Groove Pliers, with Insets for Handle Pattern and Marking Detail, ca. 1960s.

Fig. 15 shows a pair of Craftsman tongue-and-groove pliers with the rope banding pattern, The pliers are marked with the Craftsman double-line logo, but without a model number. The inside of the handles is also marked with a forged-in "P" code (see left inset), presumed to be the manufacturer's code for Wilde.

The overall length is 10.0 inches.

The tongue-and-groove design dates back to the classic 1934 patent #1,950,362 by the Champion DeArment (now Channellock) company.

Craftsman Slip-Joint Combination Pliers

Fig. 16. Craftsman Slip-Joint Combination Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail.

Fig. 16 shows a pair of Craftsman slip-joint combination pliers with the rope banding 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 inside of the handles, presumed to be the manufacturer's code for Wilde.

Craftsman Snap-Ring Pliers

Fig. 17. Craftsman Snap-Ring Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail.

Fig. 17 at the left 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 on the inside of the handles, presumed to be the manufacturer's code for Wilde.

Dunlap Tools

Sears continued to use the Dunlap brand for economy tools well into the 1950s.

Dunlap "V" 11/16x3/4 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 18. Dunlap V 11/16x3/4 Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 18 shows a Dunlap 11/16x3/4 offset box wrench with depressed panels, marked with the "Dunlap" and the fractional sizes forged into the panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "V" code forged into the reverse.

The overall length is 11.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Dunlap 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 19. Dunlap 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 19 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 reverse. The shank is also marked with a "Y" in a circle code, 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.

The forged-in Y-Circle code is likely the manufacturer's code, but the maker has not yet been identified.

References and Resources

Photographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in the Alloy Artifacts collection.

Catalog Coverage

We have fairly extensive catalog coverage for the Craftsman post-war production, as summarized in the table below.

Patents and Trademarks

Patent and trademark information was obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) uspto.gov web site. Patent documents were obtained from web sites offering free downloads, notably freepatentsonline.com.

Feedback

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