I have a weird fascination with cheap tool sets like this. I bought a rivet stamped ratchet at a second had store, then tried to complete the set. Now I have 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch sets with hex drives. I doubt I will ever use the sets but it reminds me of my early days before I could afford descent tools. A bad tool is better than no tool. I enjoyed your video.
Interesting history of this Sears hex drive wrench/socket set and thanks for sharing! These tools were originally sold under Sear's discount tool brand, Dunlap (named after a Mr. Dunlap who was apparently head of tool sales at Sears probably going back to the 1930s or so). The Dunlap name disappeared in the early 1960s and replaced simply with the Sears name for pretty much the same tools as seen in your video. Indestro Tools of Chicago (Duro/Indestro) made similar hex drive tool sets for years under its own name and also for Western Auto and Montgomery Ward. I'm curious if Duro/Indestro also made these tools for Sears. I have a complete Dunlap Whitworth hex drive set I purchased earlier this year for $10.00 at an antique shop in Waukesha, WI.
Thanks for watching. I remember looking up a bunch of Industro sets when making the video, but couldn't find a direct match. Nice score finding the Whitworth set!
Sears made many tools they had two levels of quality. Sears brand was sub par while Craftsman was their higher end. It's a bit nostalgic even seeing the name Sears today.
Craftsman used to make 'aviation snips' which had chromed blades, and when they got dull or chipped we'd go trade them in for new ones. They were actually really good snips, then they quit making them. After that when you traded in a Craftsman pair they give you Sears brand in exchange, never telling you those didn't have a lifetime warranty. You found that out the hard way when you wanted to get dull or broken ones replaced, and since you didn't have the Craftsman ones anymore you couldn't convince them to replace them. After that 'switcheroo' BS I never bought another new Craftsman or Sears tool, and darn few used ones.
Back then they used steel for other things and also went through some very odd stages,and square nuts were very common. Also tools were very different and kinda basic.
I had something like this when I was 12 or 14 yrs. old, 1975 roughly. The sockets all split, one by one, as I tried to undo stubborn bolts. Absolutely awful, as bad as Sears Craftsman riding mowers.
Great stuff man, I think back when I was a kid, my grandmother had one of these locking around her house. I remember playing with something like this back then.
I have to go look in a tool box I keep in my storage building . I think there is a set like this in that box . Generally speaking I believe that USA did manufacture crap aka entry level tools back then .Stop and think about it.... back then we made just about EVERYTHING HERE .... even junky stuff . How else can you explain a Dodge Dart ? I remember my at my Grandfather's combination Gun Shop / General Store in the 60's he always had tools on display and they weren't Starrett's . I remember Millers Falls & Globemaster but there were others also .
Yeah there was tons of 'junk' manufactured here. I think a lot of people don't remember it, since that stuff didn't survive and got thrown away over the years.
I have a weird fascination with cheap tool sets like this. I bought a rivet stamped ratchet at a second had store, then tried to complete the set. Now I have 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch sets with hex drives. I doubt I will ever use the sets but it reminds me of my early days before I could afford descent tools. A bad tool is better than no tool. I enjoyed your video.
Same here. Thanks for watching!
Interesting history of this Sears hex drive wrench/socket set and thanks for sharing! These tools were originally sold under Sear's discount tool brand, Dunlap (named after a Mr. Dunlap who was apparently head of tool sales at Sears probably going back to the 1930s or so). The Dunlap name disappeared in the early 1960s and replaced simply with the Sears name for pretty much the same tools as seen in your video. Indestro Tools of Chicago (Duro/Indestro) made similar hex drive tool sets for years under its own name and also for Western Auto and Montgomery Ward. I'm curious if Duro/Indestro also made these tools for Sears. I have a complete Dunlap Whitworth hex drive set I purchased earlier this year for $10.00 at an antique shop in Waukesha, WI.
Thanks for watching. I remember looking up a bunch of Industro sets when making the video, but couldn't find a direct match. Nice score finding the Whitworth set!
Sears made many tools they had two levels of quality. Sears brand was sub par while Craftsman was their higher end. It's a bit nostalgic even seeing the name Sears today.
Yeah, I noticed in the catalog they went out of their way to mention that it was "Not a Craftsman"
Exactly, they had two levels.
Sears and Craftman only Craftman had lifetime warranty.
Craftsman used to make 'aviation snips' which had chromed blades, and when they got dull or chipped we'd go trade them in for new ones. They were actually really good snips, then they quit making them. After that when you traded in a Craftsman pair they give you Sears brand in exchange, never telling you those didn't have a lifetime warranty. You found that out the hard way when you wanted to get dull or broken ones replaced, and since you didn't have the Craftsman ones anymore you couldn't convince them to replace them. After that 'switcheroo' BS I never bought another new Craftsman or Sears tool, and darn few used ones.
Back then they used steel for other things and also went through some very odd stages,and square nuts were very common. Also tools were very different and kinda basic.
Thanks for watching. I plan to do a video on square nuts sometime in the future.
I had a Sears claw hammer. Never liked it. Finally gave it to a guy at work.
He took it home because it was better than anything he owned .
I remember seeing the same thing under other brands back in the 60'sand 70's. I think one was "Great Neck" but I can't be sure. Beginner level tools.
I suspect there was one factory somewhere that just kept cranking them out through the '70's.
I had something like this when I was 12 or 14 yrs. old, 1975 roughly. The sockets all split, one by one, as I tried to undo stubborn bolts. Absolutely awful, as bad as Sears Craftsman riding mowers.
Doesn't surprise me. They probably used a steel that got brittle after heat treatment.
I've got the Whitworth set. Probably a collector's item now😂
@@vc9743 I suspect the Whitworth ones are rare. I looked through a bunch of old Sears catalogs, and only saw it mentioned in that one ad.
Only reason I kept it was to work on British bikes. Didn't realize the quality was that bad.
I was just a basic economy socket set for light duty use. They sold thousands, very collectible today
Great stuff man, I think back when I was a kid, my grandmother had one of these locking around her house. I remember playing with something like this back then.
Thanks. I bet there were a lot of these sets hanging out in kitchen drawers back in the day.
Great find!
Thanks!
That's incredibly cool and incredibly terrible! 😂
Yes! I have this same set. It's just a display at this point. They are just as bad as advertised.
Yeah, mine are just going to sit on a shelf somewhere.
I have one of these set somewhere in my shop. Probably got it at an auction. Not a very impressive set.
Yeah, a pretty low point for socket manufacturing.
I have to go look in a tool box I keep in my storage building . I think there is a set like this in that box . Generally speaking I believe that USA did manufacture crap aka entry level tools back then .Stop and think about it.... back then we made just about EVERYTHING HERE .... even junky stuff . How else can you explain a Dodge Dart ? I remember my at my Grandfather's combination Gun Shop / General Store in the 60's he always had tools on display and they weren't Starrett's . I remember Millers Falls & Globemaster but there were others also .
Yeah there was tons of 'junk' manufactured here. I think a lot of people don't remember it, since that stuff didn't survive and got thrown away over the years.