Conductor562 Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Early Craftsman Series (generally pre-1946, some exceptions): BC = unknown U.S. manufacturer, ca. ? - ? BE = New Britain and some Hinsdale, ca. 1931 - 1947 BT = unknown U.S. manufacturer, ca. 1936 - 1938 Cxx = New Britain and probably Hinsdale and Fulton, ca. 1930 - 1936 CI = probably Fulton, ca. 1930 - 1945 CF = Herbrand, ca. 1930 - 1936 C8 = JP Danielson, ca. 1930 -1936 F-circle = possibly Lectrolite, Miller Falls, or KD, ca. 1949 - 1964 G-circle = possibly Lectrolite, ca. 1949 - 1959 perhaps as late as 1964 H-circle = New Britain and some Hinsdale, ca. 1931 - 1947 K-circle = SK, ca. 1935 - 1949 perhaps as late as 1984 N-square = unknown U.S. manu., ca ? - ? P-circle = Wilde, ca. 1945 - 1960 S-circle = Kastar, ca. 1960 - 2008, perhaps earlier V-circle = unknown U.S. manu., ca. ? - 1985 U-circle = Plomb, ca. 1944-1948 The following section details what we currently know about the modern series codes. Much of the information for this section was taken from the personal tool inventory of Mr. Gary Lauver, consisting of approximately 450 Craftsman tools which were purchased between 1960 and 2008. As you can see, there is still much that we do not currently know. Modern Craftsman Series (generally 1946 and later, some exceptions): BF = probably Daido, possibly Hozan, Japanese made, ca 1969 - 1987 C = unknown U.S. manu., ca. 1991 D = unknown Chinese manu., ca. 2002-2008 DJ = Mitutoyo, Japanese made, ca. 1968 E & EE = Stanley Works, some U.S. made, some Taiwanese made, ca. 1982 - 1991 F = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008 G = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2008 G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000 G2 = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008 GD2 = Danaher, ca. 2008 - ? GK = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2003 - 2008 GK-A = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 1999 - 2003 GK-F = Danaher/Kinsley Tools Division, ca. 2007 - 2008 GK-G = Danaher/Kingsley Tools Division, ca. 2007 - 2008 GK-X = Danaher/Kinsley Tools Division, ca. ? - 2008 H = Danaher/Holo-Krome Division, ca. 1994 - 2008 HZ = likely Danaher, ca. ? - 2008 I-circle = Parker Mfg Co, ca. 1985 - 1986 K = SK division of Facom, ca. 1985 - 2004, could still be NOS on the shelves K1W = Danaher, ca. 2007 K3V = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008 K3X = Danaher, ca. 2007 -2008 KR = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008 KU = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008 KV = Danaher, ca. ? - 2008 KW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, probably earlier KX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, probably earlier L1X = Danaher, ca. 2008 - ? M6W = Dahaher, ca. 2007 - 2008 P = Wilde, ca. ? - 2008 PR = Pratt Read, ca. 2002 - 2008 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 - 2008 T1V = Danaher, ca. 2006 - 2007 T2W = Danaher, ca. 2008 T3W = Danaher, ca. 2008 T5V = Danaher, ca. 2008 T5W = Danaher, ca. 2008 T5X = Danaher, ca. 2008 V = Moore Drop Forge, ca. 1945 - 1968 perhaps earlier V (continued) = Easco, ca. 1969 - 1989, perhaps as late as 1991 VA = Armstrong division of Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, perhaps earlier 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. ? - ? VM = Danaher, ca. ? - ? VN = Danaher, ca. 1999 - 2001 VP = Danaher, ca. ? - ? VQ = Danaher, ca. 2001 - 2004 VR = Danaher, ca. 2002 VS = Danaher, ca. 1995 - 2003 VT = Danaher, ca. 2006 VU = Danaher, ca. 2005 VV = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2007, perhaps later VW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008 V^(2nd V inverted) = Danaher, ca. 1992 - 2008 VVN = Danaher, ca. 2005 VVS = Danaher, ca. 2003 VVT = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2005 VVV = Danaher, ca. 2008 VVW = Danaher, ca. 2008 VVX = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2008, possibly earlier W = probably SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2005 - 2008 WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - 2008 WF ll = Western Forge, ca. 1969 WF K = Western Forge, ca. ? WF L = Western Forge, ca. ? WF R = Western Forge, ca. ? WF U = Western Forge, ca. 2008 WF V = Western Forge, ca. 2008 WF W = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2008 B WF = Western Forge, ca. ? C WF = Western Forge, ca. ? D WF = Western Forge, ca. 1993 - 2000 E WF = Western Forge, ca. ? F WF = Western Forge, ca. 2003 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. ? Q WF = Western Forge, ca. 1990 - 1995 T WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2008 V WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2008 W WF = Western Forge, ca. 2002 - 2008 X WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - 2008 + WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ? * WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ? ∆ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1966 - ? □ WF = Western Forge, ca. 1965 - ? X = probably SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2008 - ? Z = Mayhew, ca. 1966 - 2008 3 = Kastar, ca. 1991 4 = Kastar, ca. 1992 [ = Kastar, ca. 2002 - 2008 possibly earlier .(Dot) = SK, ca. 2008 " " (Tools with no series code) = multiple U.S. manufacturer's including Allied Tool, American Tool, Danaher, Greenfield, Jore Corp, JS Technology, Kastar, KD, Lisle, Mayhew Steel, Midwest Snips, Milbar, Stanley Works, Stride Tool, Sturtevant Richmond, Ullman Devices, Vermont American, Western Forge, and Facom and other unknown foreign manufacturer's, ca. 1986 - 2008 Feel free to review, comment, and provide evidence of series codes, manufacturers, and/or dates not shown above. Post away! * Note-- items in red are recent updates.□∆+__________________Compiled by Gary Lauver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman2 Posted June 5, 2014 Report Share Posted June 5, 2014 Over at www.owwm.com / www.vintagemachinery.org they have an extensive list of manufacturers for Craftsman relating to the model numbers. It's an excellent site to determine what the age of your older tool is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conductor562 Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Thanks Toolman2. I'll check it out. I need to get some more info in this section, just haven't time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman2 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 I've also downloaded several manuals at www.owwm.com and over at www.hammerwall.com as I tend to buy older, all metal tools and manuals are scarce. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conductor562 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 Good info TC. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadlanthier Posted November 1, 2014 Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 This is a very interesting info. I think the bc code was Before Christ. Lol, sorry could not resist. I have a very old looking craftsman hammer drill. I'll have to check out the code. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conductor562 Posted November 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Gary has an updated version of this that I need to put up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmikecolton Posted March 28, 2020 Report Share Posted March 28, 2020 I have a big Craftsman tool set from 1992. Most of the sockets have a G stamped on them. A few have a upside down G. What does the upside down G stand for?? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfmurray Posted June 3, 2020 Report Share Posted June 3, 2020 Hi folks, I’m assuming that this conversation is about Craftsman date codes. I’ve been all over the net just looking at these forums. I believe that some are correct and some are wrong when they date their machines. My Craftsman table saw is a 113.298761, so it’s made by Emerson. The date code is 92211.0470. I have 5 numbers in front as opposed to only having 4. The number 9 is not for “89” or “99” as some would believe. The first 2 digits ate for the year “1992”. The next three digits are probably for “Feb. 11”. How did I deduce this? Because I bought the saw brand new in October of 1992 and I still have the original owner’s manual with the original receipt stapled inside. Also, the date on the owner’s manual (part no. SP5396) is 01/91. The date on the manual is the date the manual was printed not necessarily the model year of the saw. Think like it’s a car. They start putting out model 2020 cars in 2019. Probably the same for tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamplumber84 Posted August 13, 2020 Report Share Posted August 13, 2020 (edited) https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=401007 the link above is to a thread I started over at the GJ identifying the maker of the Craftsman circle-Y manufacturer, which looks to be McKaig-Hatch, hope this helps 👍 Edited August 13, 2020 by Iamplumber84 Incorrect link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric - TIA Posted September 14, 2020 Report Share Posted September 14, 2020 Awesome, thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip_Green Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexis731 Posted April 22, 2021 Report Share Posted April 22, 2021 What does the B stand for...? This is a first for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old NewGuy Posted February 27, 2022 Report Share Posted February 27, 2022 Does anyone have info on the Z-AL code seen on new Craftsman sockets from a couple of ebay sellers? image: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wVEAAOSwBIJh~uDs/s-l1600.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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