Sears selling Craftsman

I'll join the group that would be sad to see Craftsman sold off and cheapened (further?). Started out with a 1/4 inch set and a 3/8 inch set from Thorsen in the late 60s that have held up great - had to disassemble the 3/8 ratchet a couple times to remove hardened grease. Then switched to Craftsman other than a couple forays with HF for something that I figured I would only use once every 10 years. I guess I didn't realized Craftsman had shipped a lot of production overseas but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

My theory on Sears is they took the path of trying to compete with sellers of inferior products rather than hold the ground and reputation of 'the best for the money'. If I were in charge of Sears' future, I'd keep my best products in house and protected and try to live off the fact that 'Sears will not sell inferior products'. In fact, my tool advertisements might say something like "...we don't compete with Harbor Freight, and we are proud of that fact...". I'd give all employees a performance sales bonus plan so they will get off their butts and service the customers, warranty DieHard products for twice the norm, and do a Lee Iacocca with Kenmore: 5 years parts and labor warranty on any new Kenmore appliance.
The MBAs of the world would say I'd just sink the company and not compete, but I believe Americans are ready to return to the days of buying products that are not inferior. Now that EVERYBODY sells cheap junk, having a choice of buying good stuff might just work?

coloradodave said:

Come on ski, Sears was going downhill long before Barry got into office...and as far as China, we wouldn't have this problem if consumers would quit buying products based solely on how cheap it is. If there was no demand for cheap crap it wouldn't exist...

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Coloradodave is 100% correct. Consumer demand for cheap crap controls the market. I'm in the retail hardware business. My hand tools sales are 95% chinese crap and 5% quality American or German tools. Most customers will not spend $20 for a real Channel lock pliers or $40 for a Knipex pliers when they can buy a $8 pliers made in China (which also has a lifetime warranty, by the way, although most people just throw them out when they break).

khryslerkid said:

ACE Hardware has been selling Craftstman for awhile now.

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I am a True Value hardware store. About 5 years ago, Ace was trying to get us to switch over to them. One of their sales pitches was that they have Craftsman tools. The quality of Craftsman was already downhill by then. One of the reasons we didn't switch over to Ace was that we were required to buy $20k worth of Craftsman tools to make the switch. Thanks but no thanks. Glad we didn't !!!!

I don't know the history of the infiltration of Chinese products in Sears, but here in Canada Sears (then known as Simpsons-Sears) was the first large retailer to start bringing in Chinese products...in 1968. I remember the first time I saw a jean jacket that was made in China, I actually thought it was a novelty because it seemed so unusual back then.

In many cases I don't think you can blame corporate greed for moving supply to China. I used to work for an auto parts company. The first competition we saw from China was called a "short line". Typically it was a very limited number of part numbers used in only the highest volumes. At first our customers still bought mostly our premium product. As time went on the Chinese suppliers added more and more part numbers. Eventually they were producing literally every part number that ever existed. As demand for premium US produced product tanked we had no choice but to offer Chinese produced economy line. Eventually we closed all but one US plant and continued to offer US produced premium product from that plant. However, demand for US produced products continued to fall and fell so low we couldn't keep in one very small plant running profitably. You can blame the demand for cheap goods on the American consumers. Cheap sells. If you don't believe that take a ride by WalMart.

I totally agree with Rick62. You can drive through a Wal-Mart parking lot and see Cadillacs, Lincolns, Mercedes etc. It doesn't make sense to me that people will pay for what they consider a premium car, but they won't shell out a few extra bucks for any other "premium" consumer product. They buy the cheapest crap they can find and then bitch about the poor quality. It's getting to the point that you have to really search out quality products anymore because the marketplace for consumer goods is flooded with low quality crap. JMHFO.

No different than the many, many members who buy 440 source gear that is low end Chinese made because of the price point.
Think about it. It's all relative.

Stanley hand tools are made near me in Cheraw SC. Wife worked there in HR for 20 years.

Funship32 said:

Not that there wasn't a whole lot keeping it alive anyway as Sears has been horribly mis-managed since they were taken over by K-mart holdings back in 2002.

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Funny you mention.
K-Mart is in its death throws as well. Heard they're closing 100 more stores.

There haven't been any K-Mart stores in Canada since the last century.

I know....I've had a set of Snap-ON. I actually made money reselling them without using them.

Craftsman does have a product line of hand tools now made in the USA. It's their Industrial version which is very limited release and very pricey. Also most of their screwdriver and plier lines are still made in USA.

Beekeeper said:

This correct, It don't matter who you buy it from they will honor the guarantee

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That is probably one of the reasons they are priced so high,, future warrantee replacement.
Craftsman tools must have been made by several tool makers. I took in for warrantee, a nice ratchet smoothe chrome , and got a piece of crap one in exchange...................................MO

Cheap stuff leads to throw away , and throw away comes from no one to service-repair. Catch 22... There is so much cheap, throw away, that we don't know what the good stuff is, or where to get it... I don't mind paying a little more for quality , but I hate paying quality prices for inferior stuff........MO

Craftsman Tool Manufactures Decoder Ring which I lifted from another forum
As you can see there was many manufactures over the years.
Early Craftsman Series (generally pre-1947, with some exceptions):
rr
A-circle = Empire, ca. 1954 - 1986 (note- based solely on torpedo level 3983)

AC = J.P. Danielson, ca. 1930's - 1960's

AD = Bemis & Call, ca. 1930's - 1940's (note- found on Fulton monkey wrench, only known example)

AF = Billings & Spencer, ca. 1934 - 1938 (primarily flat wrenches)

A.O.= J.P. Danielson, ca. 1933-1938

BB = Stanley, ca. 1939 - 1950 (This code only found on amber handled flat blade style screwdrivers, and a block plane; phillips screwdrivers of this same style and time period were found to have the I-circle code)

BC = Vlcheck, ca. 1935 - 1941 (based on striking tools only)

BE = New Britain, ca. 1931 - 1947

BM = S-K, ca. 1939 - 1951

BT = Vlchek, ca. 1936 - 1938

C-nn = Snap-on, ca. 1932 - 1936

CI = Moore Drop Forge, ca. 1935 - 1944 (currently applies to Craftsman underline Vanadium wrenches only)

CF or C-F = Herbrand, ca. 1934 - 1939

CK = unknown U.S. manu., ca. 1939 -1943

Craftsman Vanadium = Hinsdale, ca. 1933 - 1934

C-circle = Likely Crescent possibly Channellock, ca. 1935 - 1941 (note- based on one Craftsman-underline Vanadium linesman plier)

C8 = JP Danielson, ca. 1930 -1936

D-circle = possibly Irwin or Vermont American, ca. 1951 - 1969 (only known tool is 14 piece set of auger bits in plastic case)

F-circle = Miller Falls, ca. 1949 - 1964

G-circle = unknown U.S. manu. ca. 1949 - 1964 (as late as 1973 on ripping chisels)

H-circle = New Britain, ca. 1931 - 1947

J-circle = Reed Manu, ca. 1939 - 1982 (note- pipe tools)

JW = J.H. Williams, ca. 1960's - 1970's

K-circle = SK, ca. 1939 - 1951 perhaps later

N-square = McPherson-Huff Co, ca. 1946 - 1964

P-circle = Wilde, ca. 1945 - 1979, perhaps later (mainly pliers & ign. tools)

S-circle = Kastar, ca. 1960 - 2008, perhaps earlier

T-circle = NYE Tool Co., ca. 1947 - 1953 (based on pipe wrenches only)

V-circle = unknown U.S. manu., ca. ? - 1985

U-circle = Plomb/Penens, ca. 1944 - 1948

Z-circle = Mayhew, ca. 1957 - 1969


Modern Craftsman Series (generally 1947 and later, with some exceptions):

AZ-circle = J. H. Williams & Co., ca. 1955 - 1967

BF = probably Daido, possibly KTC, some USA made but predominantly Japanese made, ca. 1969 - 1987

C = likely Crescent/Cooper Industries, ca. 1964 - 1973 & 1977 - 1993 (currently only applies to pliers)

C = Stanley Works, Taiwanese made, ca. ? - ?(note--this is a Canadian Craftsman series code)

CG = unknown U.S. manu., ca. 2001 - 2005

D = Kington, Chinese made, ca. 1992 - 2008

DAA = Danaher, Chinese made, ca. 2010 (Ratchet only)

DAC = Danaher, Chinese made, ca. 2012 (Ratchet only)

DD = Stanley, ca. 1971 - 1988 (note- found on push drill)

DJ = Mitutoyo, Japanese made, ca. 1968 perhaps earlier & later (note- found on vernier calipers)

DL = Unknown U.S. Manu., ca. 1995+ (found on demolition chisel)

E/EE = National Hand Tools/later Stanley Works-NHT division, some USA made, most Taiwanese made, ca. 1982 - 1991 (Based on sockets, extensions, & Tri-wing ratchets only)

EEE/EEC/EE7 = Stanley Works, Taiwanese made, ca. 1987 - 1991 (based on sockets, extensions, & Quick Clean ratchets only)

F = Danaher/possibly K-D division, ca. ? - 2008

G = Easco, ca. 1980 - 1989 perhaps as early as 1979 when Easco acquired the Gastonia plant

G continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011

G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000 - 2004

G2 = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2008

G2D = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2011

GD = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009

GK = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2003 - 2011

GK-A = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 1999 - 2003

GK-F = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-G = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-X = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. ? - 2008

GK-Z = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2010

H = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. 1994 - 2011

HZ = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. ? - 2008

HZ O = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. 2009-2009

HZ OO = Danaher/Holo-Krome, ca. 2008 - 2009

I-circle = Parker Mfg Co, ca. 1939 - 1950, 1957 - 1986, & 1970 - 1996 (note- the 1st period represents amber/blue handled screwdrivers; the 2nd period represents locking pliers; the 3rd period represents laminated RBE wrenches)

J SD = Simonds International, ca. 1995 - 2006 (Files only)

JW = J.H. Williams & Co, ca. 1954 - 1972

K = SK division of Facom, ca. 1985 - 2004, could still be NOS

K = Danaher, ca. 2010 - ?

K0AA = Danaher, ca. 2011 - 2012 (Ratchets only)

K1AA = Danaher, ca. 2011 - 2012(Ratchets only)

K1W = Danaher, ca. 2007 (Ratchets only)

K2AA = Danaher, ca. 2011 - 2012 (Ratchets only)

K3AA = Danaher, ca. 2011 - 2012 (Ratchets only)

K3V = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008 (Ratchets only)

K3X = Danaher, ca. 2007 -2008 (Ratchets only)

K0Z = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011(Ratchets only)

K2Z = Danaher, ca. ? (Ratchets only)

K4AA = Danaher, ca. 2011 - 2012 (Ratchets only)

K6AA = Danaher, ca. 2011 - 2012 (Ratchets only)

K6Z = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011 (Ratchets only)

K7Z = Danaher, ca. 2010 - ? (Ratchets only)

K4W = Danaher, ca. 2007 - ? (Ratchets only)

K9W = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009 (Ratchets only)

KAA = Danaher, ca. 2011 - ? (Ratchets only)

KR = Danaher, ca. 2005 - 2008 (Ratchets only)

KU = Danaher, ca. 1992 - 2005 (Ratchets only)

KV = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008 (Ratchets only)

KW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, probably earlier (Ratchets only)

KX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, probably earlier (Ratchets only)

KY = Danaher, ca. 2009 - 2010 (Ratchets only)

KZ = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011 (Ratchets only)

LC = J.P. Danielson, ca. 1930's - 1960's

L1X = Danaher, ca. 2008 - ?

L1Y = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011

LAA = Danaher, Taiwanese made, ca. 2011 - ?

L SI = Simonds International, ca. 2001 - 2006, perhaps as late as 2012 as NOS in stores. (Files only)

LZ = Danaher, made in Taiwan, ca. 2010 - ?

M = Vaughan, ca. ? - 2012 (note- found on striking & prying tools)

M6W = Dahaher, ca. 2007 - 2008

M6Y = Danaher, ca. 2009 - 2010

M7Y = Danaher, ca. ?

MG = MG Spa, Italy, ca. 1970-1973 (note- found on vernier calipers)

N = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2009

OA = Unknown U.S. manu., ca. ? - ?

P = Wilde, ca. 2005 - 2015 (mainly hooks, picks, scrapers, & prybars)

Q = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2006

R = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2006

PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2009

Q PR = Pratt Read, ca. ? - ?

S PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2008

T PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2008

U PR1-3 = Pratt Read, ca. 2008

V PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2008

W PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2007 - 2009

X PR = Pratt Reed, ca. 2009 - 2009

S-AA = likely Danaher, ca. 2012 - ?, China made, Impact Sockets

ST = Stanley Works, likely Taiwanese made, ca. 2007 - 2009
(note- this is a Canadian Craftsman series code)

T-hex = Milbar, ca. 2010 - 2013 (perhaps earlier)

T1X = Danaher, ca. ?- 2007 (Ratchets only)

T2X = Danaher, ca. ? - 2007 (Ratchets only)

T1V = Danaher, ca. 2006 - 2007 (Ratchets only)

T1W = Danaher, ca. 2007 (Ratchets only)

T2W = Danaher, ca. 2008 (Ratchets only)

T3W = Danaher, ca. 2008 (Ratchets only)

T3Y = Danaher, ca. 2009 - 2009 (Ratchets only)

T4Z = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011 (Ratchets only)

T4W= Danaher, ca. 2008 (Ratchets only)

T5V = Danaher, ca. 2008 (Ratchets only)

T5W = Danaher, ca. 2008 (Ratchets only)

T5X = Danaher, ca. 2008 (Ratchets only)

V = Moore Drop Forge, ca. 1946 - 1967

V (continued) = Easco, ca. 1968 - 1986 perhaps as late as 1991 as NOS

VE = Danaher, ca. ? - ?

VF = Danaher, ca. likely early 1990's

VG = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1995

VH = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 1997

VJ = Danaher, ca. 1994 - 2008

VK = Danaher, ca. 1996 - ?

VL = Danaher, ca. 1995

VM = Vermont American, 1959 - 1989 (found on tap & die sets & circular law blades)

VM = Danaher, ca. 1998 - ?

VN = Danaher, ca. 1999 - 2001

VP = Danaher, ca. 2000 - ?

VQ = Danaher, ca. 2001 - 2004

VR = Danaher, ca. 2002

VS = Danaher, ca. 1995 - 2003 (Ratchets only)

VT = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2006

VU = Danaher, ca. 2005 (Ratchets only)

VV = Easco, ca. 1974 - 1989

VV continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011

VW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2009

V^(2nd V inverted) = Danaher, Armstrong Division, ca. 1992 - 2012

^V(1st V inverted) = Danaher, ca. 2010 - ?

VVH = Danaher, ca. 1997 - ?

VVL = Danaher, ca. 2000 - ?

VVM = Danaher, ca. ? - ? (Ratchets only)

VVN = Danaher, ca. 2005

VVS = Danaher, ca. 2003

VVT = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2005

VVV = Danaher, ca. 2008 (Ratchets only)

VVW = Danaher, ca. 2008

VVX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, possibly earlier

VVY = Danaher, ca. 2009 - 2009

VVZ = Danaher, ca. 2010 - 2011

VVAA = Danaher, ca. 2011 -2012

VVAC = Apex Group, ca. 2010 - ? (Ratchet only)

W = SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2005 - 2008

WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - 2011

WF ll = Western Forge, ca. 1969

WF D = Western Forge, ca. ?

WF J = Western Forge, ca. 1991 - ?

WF K = Western Forge, ca. ?

WF L = Western Forge, ca. ? - 2009

WF R = Western Forge, ca. ?

WF T = Western Forge, ca. 2005-2005 (note, this applies to screwdriver set 41412 only)

WF U = Western Forge, ca. 2008

WF V = Western Forge, ca. 2008 - 2011

WF W = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009

WF X = Western Forge, ca. 2008 - 2009

WF Y = Western Forge, ca. 2009 - 2011

WF Z = Western Forge, ca. 2010 - 2011

WF AA = Western Forge/Ideal, ca. 2011 - 2012

A WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

B WF = Western Forge, ca. 1989 - 1991

C WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

D WF = Western Forge, ca. 1993 - 2000

E WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

F WF = Western Forge, ca. 2003

G WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

H WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

J WF = Western Forge, ca. 1995

K WF = Western Forge, ca. 1995

L WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

M WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

N WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

O WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

P WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

Q WF = Western Forge, ca. 1990 - 1995

R WF = Western Forge, ca. ? - ?

S WF = Western Forge, ca. 2009

T WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009

U WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

V WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009

W WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2009

X WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - 2009

Y WF = Western Forge, ca. 2009 - 2011

Z WF = Western Forge, ca. 2010 - 2011

+ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ?

* WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ?

> WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

|| WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

∆ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1966 - ?

□ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ?

7 WF = Western Forge, ca. ?

X = SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2008 - 2009

X = Mayhew, ca. 2010 - 2011

-X- = Danaher, Made in China, ca. 2011 - ?

-Y- = Danaher, Made in China, ca. 2009 -2010

Y-circle = Unk. U.S Manu., ca. 1950's-1960's

Z = Mayhew, ca. 1957 - 2011

-Z- = Danaher, Made in China, ca. 2011 - ?

3 = Kastar, ca. 1991

4 = Kastar, ca. 1992

7 = Easco, ca. 1987 - 1991 (SS & Lifetime ratchets)

8 = Kaster, ca. 1994 - ?

Hex-Line = Kastar, ca 2009 - 2009

[ = Kastar, ca. 2002 - 2009 possibly earlier

.(Dot) = SK, ca. 2008 - 200

snakeoil24 said:

Stanley tool is no longer an American Company! They moved their HQ to the Bahamas to avoid taxes.

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Did they move into one of Trumps Buildings? Trump does not pay income tax either.