Craftsman hand tool catalog

Sears, a local telegraph operator, who sold them to railway workers for a profit. Sears realized that there was a good market for this service, and started the R. Sears Watch Co. He relocated to Chicago in , and found a partner, watch repairman, Alvah C. In the company was renamed to Sears, Roebuck and Co. Sears, Roebuck expanded rapidly in the s because of their catalog sales, especially to farmers. In they opened their first retail store.

By they had stores. Barrows knew hardware and wanted to create a brand name for Sears hardware that distinguished it from other manufacturers. Dunlap immediately upgraded the quality of the tools. He threw out all the big, clumsy, cheap, cast-iron hammers and wrenches, and the soft screwdrivers that were hangovers from the days when farmers were the company's biggest customers.

Dunlap recognized that America had moved into the automobile age and that Sears needed a line of high quality tools to meet this new demand.

He decided to improve the look of Craftsman tools by adding chrome plate to improve the finish, color, and trim on wrenches and sockets, and high impact plastic handles on screwdrivers. Dunlap's old boss, Arthur Barrows did not think it made sense to chrome plate a tool that someone would "slug the hell out of" when using, but Dunlap's persistence paid off and sales of chrome plated tools increased six times the next year.

Craftsman full polish wrenches quickly became popular with mechanics because they were reliable, looked good, and were easy to clean. Parts and manuals are more readily available for Sears products than for most makes of woodworking machinery. Still, it may take some effort to track down what you are looking for, and if your machine is especially old pre-WWII or obscure then you may be unsuccessful.

The list below contains suggestions on where to look. Beginning in the mid s, Sears model numbers had a three-digit numeric prefix that identifies the true manufacturer. The following pages list Sears model number prefixes and the corresponding manufacturer who made the item for Sears. Sears model numbers with prefix "9-" were used on hand tools and accessories.

This prefix does not identify a manufacturer. Register :: Login. Home Page. Mission Submitting Content VintageMachinery. Classified Ads Vintage Machinery Store. Manufacturers Index - Sears Craftsman. Acme was used on post drills in the early s. Commander was used on some Sunlight -built electric motors and grinders in the s. Companion was an early brand name from or thereabouts for Sears Roebuck tools. Companion tools were less expensive than the contemporaneous Craftsman tools.

It was replaced by the Dunlap name in Interestingly, in Sears applied for a trademark on the Companion name, for use in on a vast list of products. Dunlap was a Sears brand used on their basic-feature machines. Some older Dunlap machines were still good quality, and remain very good values.

Fulton was used by the Sears hardware department on some basic-feature tools and electric motors. Kenmore is, of course, best known for household appliances, but the name was also used on some electric grinders and motors in the s.

Metalcraft was used on some lathes made by Atlas Press and sold by Sears. Power Chief was a name used on some early s motors. Samson was another predecessor to Dunlap, used on less expensive tools, and, especially, vises. Makers of Wood-working Machines, Metal-working Machines, and Stationary Engines for Sears The list below contains the known makers of the above-mentioned products only.

Here is a list of known North American-based makers of their machinery with their model-number prefixes some companies do not have a model-number prefix because they manufactured for Sears before they introduced the prefix system : American Floor Surfacing Machine Co.

Central Specialty later a division of King-Seeley Corp. Sears, Roebuck and Co. The story of the Craftsman name From the Sears Retirees web site "Historians do know the origin of the Craftsman brand name. Look under the "Publication Reprints" tab, above, for a manual. Our collection is not complete, but if you cannot find the exact manual you are looking for, look closely for similar products, as some machines with different model numbers were virtually the same except for the accessories or the motor.

Look under the entry corresponding to the manufacturer of your machine in the "Makers" section, above. More information is available in the Wiki , including information on Craftsman paint colors. You can find diagrams and parts list for some Craftsman machines from the Sears Web Site.

Just put in your model number into the search box and search. Copies of manuals for many vintage Craftsman machines are still available. Call the Sears Parts Line, , and have your model number ready. Emerson Electric is another contact for machines with source code or Emerson has recalled 3. This is completely free, including shipping. Sears, Roebuck Number Prefixes Beginning in the mid s, Sears model numbers had a three-digit numeric prefix that identifies the true manufacturer.

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For well over 80 years, Craftsman Tools have earned the trust of every kind of tool user. The home handyman, a knight in shining armor, ready to tackle any project, large or small. There's the dedicated home craftsman who takes his tools and his projects seriously. He knows the sense of security that comes from having the right tools for the job and shares a bond with them as they work together to get each the mechanic each knows his Craftsman tools will give him years of trouble-free service, will let him finish every job with pride and Your most recent searches Delete.

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