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Show Me Your Craftsman BE

J

jywilli69

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2014
Messages
317
Location
Raytown, Missouri 64133
Hey everyone, been a while since I have really posted anything in a while. So I started during the spring putting together Craftsman BE Socket Sets. I have completed the 1/2”drive set, so I started working on the 1/4 set. Before you know it, I have been able to complete 3 sets. I can say it has been fun. The first case upfront is all the spare sockets. I am also working on a 3/8 set as we speak. I have included a picture of my duplicates in case anyone needs some help. I also enjoy seeing what other people collect in Craftsman BE. So feel free to post some of your favorites.IMG_4602.jpeg
 

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d42jeep

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Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
16,441
Location
Northern California
Here are some pictures of my 1/4” drive BE sets over time, most recent pictures first.
-Don
My favorite setIMG_3740.jpeg

Small set with 6 and 8 point sockets
IMG_3736.jpegLarger set with 6, 12 and 8 point sockets.IMG_3734.jpeg
Small set with extra sliding teeIMG_3730.jpeg
Set with the latch on the bottom of the boxIMG_3696.jpeg
Earlier pictures.IMG_4535.jpegIMG_4945.jpegIMG_4914.jpeg
IMG_3583.jpeg
IMG_3582.jpeg
 
S

Skellyii

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Nov 13, 2021
Messages
1,697
Location
KC Area
jywilli69 said:
Hey everyone, been a while since I have really posted anything in a while. So I started during the spring putting together Craftsman BE Socket Sets. I have completed the 1/2”drive set, so I started working on the 1/4 set. Before you know it, I have been able to complete 3 sets. I can say it has been fun. The first case upfront is all the spare sockets. I am also working on a 3/8 set as we speak. I have included a picture of my duplicates in case anyone needs some help. I also enjoy seeing what other people collect in Craftsman BE. So feel free to post some of your favorites.IMG_4602.jpeg
Click to expand...
Wow!
You just started a few months ago and already have that much?

Are you finding them locally or using ebay?
 
M

Mintgrun

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 7, 2015
Messages
2,096
Location
Kingston, Wa.
BE marked tools were made for Sears by the New Britain Machine Company, starting in 1935.

After that, NB also made the Circle-H marked tools and Plomb made the Circle-U tools.

Examples of the different types can be found in the Craftsman Long-C and Heritage threads listed in the sticky.
 
O

Oregon Dave

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 16, 2023
Messages
298
d42jeep said:
Here are some pictures of my 1/4” drive BE sets over time, most recent pictures first.
-Don
My favorite setIMG_3740.jpeg

Small set with 6 and 8 point sockets
IMG_3736.jpegLarger set with 6, 12 and 8 point sockets.IMG_3734.jpeg
Small set with extra sliding teeIMG_3730.jpeg
Set with the latch on the bottom of the boxIMG_3696.jpeg
Earlier pictures.IMG_4535.jpegIMG_4945.jpegIMG_4914.jpeg
IMG_3583.jpeg
IMG_3582.jpeg
Click to expand...
Incredible collection and Incredible images; very appreciative of your effort.
 
OP
J

jywilli69

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2014
Messages
317
Location
Raytown, Missouri 64133
Skellyii said:
Wow!
You just started a few months ago and already have that much?

Are you finding them locally or using ebay?
Click to expand...
Yes, I found them on eBay. They were partial sets when I saw them. I just bought them because they were reasonably priced and I took my time finding the rest of stuff to complete the sets. I did the restoration on the cases because I wanted to preserve them after I am gone.
 
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J

jywilli69

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2014
Messages
317
Location
Raytown, Missouri 64133
d42jeep said:
Here are some pictures of my 1/4” drive BE sets over time, most recent pictures first.
-Don
My favorite setIMG_3740.jpeg

Small set with 6 and 8 point sockets
IMG_3736.jpegLarger set with 6, 12 and 8 point sockets.IMG_3734.jpeg
Small set with extra sliding teeIMG_3730.jpeg
Set with the latch on the bottom of the boxIMG_3696.jpeg
Earlier pictures.IMG_4535.jpegIMG_4945.jpegIMG_4914.jpeg
IMG_3583.jpeg
IMG_3582.jpeg
Click to expand...
You have a very nice collection of BE sets. Hopefully one day I can find a couple nut drivers like you have. I have only seen one one time in a picture on Facebook.
 
OP
J

jywilli69

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2014
Messages
317
Location
Raytown, Missouri 64133
Had more pieces that came in this week on my Craftsman BE 3/8”drive. I was able to complete 2 sets so far.
 

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Firebird1975

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Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Messages
56
Location
MA/NH Border
I may be a little late to this thread, but here is my Craftsman BE, with a few Circle H coded sockets. I believe that both codes were manufactured by New Britain Tools based in Connecticut. The drawer also contains some Craftsman CI coded wrenches that I believe were manufactured by Billings around the same time period. I also included a pic of the toolboxes that my vintage craftsman hand tools are stored. The top box is listed in the 1949 Craftsman catalog, and the lower tool cart is listed in the 1953 catalog. I picked up both boxes for $50 on eBay about 10 years ago. Shockingly, I was the only bidder. I'm sure it was due to local pick up only. I hit it a quick wire wheel to remove some excessive rust and quickly sprayed it with some 1957 Thunderbird turquoise that I had laying around to prevent the rust from returning, I'll do a real restoration on the box "Someday".
 

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S

scottybk

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 30, 2015
Messages
187
Location
frenchtown nj
I scored a 1/4 drive C'man BE breaker bar at the local flea last week. I soaked in the citric acid homebrew rust remover and would love to finish it up on the wire wheel, but are the BE stamped tools known to be cad plated? If so I'll just leave it, it's perfectly functional as it.

Also scored a circle H "long C" 3/8 breaker bar, that one I also fear might be cad plated.
 
D

d42jeep

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
16,441
Location
Northern California
I suggest that you treat the cleaning of the BE tools as if they are cad plated whether they are or not. I would suggest that the power wire wheel is very rarely appropriate for cleaning tools. I use evaporust on any rusty tool and after rinsing it off wipe dry with paper towels. Hopefully the tool will show whether it is dull (cad plated) or shiny (chrome). At this point if the tool is obviously chrome a wire toothbrush type hand brush or fine steel wool can be used for the final cleaning. If after de-rusting the tool appears dull I would just leave it as is. If made in 1942 to 1945 they could be cad plated due to the metal restrictions. IMG_7816.jpeg
-Don
 
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