Craftsman tool logo history...
 

I was going through my grandfather's tools, and in addition to finding two complete Stanley No. 45 planes with all irons, I found a slightly rusty plane with guide that I was able to later ID as a Craftsman by the logo on the iron.

This particular plane was japanned, finished on both sides, as well as bottom, has two spots to place the iron, as well as two places to mount the guide.

The Craftsman logo appears to be the same that was used when the first logo appeared in 1927. My search for information on Bing has left me wanting...does anyone know of a site that has all of the Craftsman logos shown so that I can compare to get a closer approximation of the year span that it was made?

As for the No. 45 planes...one is a Stanley, and the other was made by Stanley for Montgomery Ward. The difference is the omission of the Stanley name, and a bit rougher cast finish. Both are nickel plated instead of japanned, so that makes it a little bit easier to date them. I'm sure I'll have them properly dated within a few weeks of digging online.

Does this help
Craftsman - Logopedia, the logo and branding site

Some, but not enough to give me exact years. It also seems to be missing many of the other designs they've used over the years.

I have tools that show at least 4 or 5 different logos used in the past.

There is at least one other logo that didn't show among those three.

In my deceased Dad's garage is a Craftsman three drawer box with top and cover that folds down with a different logo. I need to bring all this tools to my shop, but I have no room for them. When I do I will post a picture.

The box I describe he bought very shortly after World War II.

Larry, is this the logo? 1948-1963 or so. This is the tool box logo. Power tools had a slightly different logo.

Attachment 113306

Yes, that's the one. There is a metal tag just like that on the front of the toolbox. Part of the tag is folded up and I'm worried that it will break from work hardening when I straighten it. If it does, maybe it will be possible to get a replacement.

The Craftsman top box is setting on a three drawer, locking panel Mac brand roll away. I'm planning on trying to restore both of those toolboxes in my Dad's honor.

My opinion on restoring them is "don't". EVERY one of those scratches tells a story. You may not know how those gouges got put in the box but your father did.

Clean it, oil it and wax it is the most I'd do.

You haven't seen them. They have REALLY been used.

He had a top Mac box that went with the old Mac rollaway, but it got stolen along with his brand new truck ca. 1980 or so. He then got a large Craftsman roll away and a Mac top box. Most of the tool in hand part of his career had past at that point, so those boxes are in really nice shape.

The old box set has nothing but special tools that he made over the years and various junk items.

I know what you mean by being "used". I've got an old machinist's box of my Dad's. It's a beat up Kennedy. He used it when he was a pattern maker at the IH foundry. I don't think there's a square inch of undamaged surface on it. Between the foundry soot, various oils, chemicals and daily abuse I'm surprised the drawers open and the tools don't fall through the bottom.

What is this?
 

I know it's a Craftsman, I just don't know what it is

I have one of the old wooden tool boxes used by machinests back in the old days. It has a bit of wear but I don't plan on ever restoring it.

It was used by a guy at the Boeing plant in Wichita. Now my wife uses it for her sewing hobby.

It's a shame that all the craftsman tools are now made in China. I was kind of hoping Stanley or someone would pick the brand up and bring it back to USA. I don't buy craftsman anymore for that specific treason.

There's a bit of a back story to the wooden tool boxes. Machinists joke that all the young guys have Kennedy's because they're easier to carry from job to job and all the old guys have the Gerstner's because they're done switching jobs.

Gerstners are the Cadillac of the machinist's boxes. I bought my last brand new one back in 2004 and paid over $800 for it...the model 52XL Pro in Walnut.

The wood helps keep the rust off the fine instruments kept in them...but the Kennedy is the workhorse of toolboxes.

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What is the material? Is it a sharpening stone?

It's an old carborundum stone used to rough in edges on tools. Far from a knife stone/hone, but does a decent enough job on scythes and sickles. Very little value to it other than something to show off to grandkids. I have a couple like it that I inherited in my grandfather's tools.

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I think for sharpening lawnmower blades, , , ,
Mine is much longer & kinda trapezoid shaped.