Craftsman Combo Square

[HeelSpur]

Haven't had any luck on trying to find the age of this. It doesn't have any logo that I can see just the name and number. Its in real nice shape and is a brownish looking color. Got squat from a google search.

[Bill Houghton]

The notch in the end of the rule, to allow scribing with a pencil, was, I believe, a relatively recent (as in 60s and up) innovation, although I could easily be wrong.  If the head is iron, that would argue for not too recent; I believe all their recentish (like 70s and newer?) combo squares, except the machinist's tools, use aluminum heads.

Good luck.

[HeelSpur]

The notch in the end of the rule, to allow scribing with a pencil, was, I believe, a relatively recent (as in 60s and up) innovation, although I could easily be wrong.  If the head is iron, that would argue for not too recent; I believe all their recentish (like 70s and newer?) combo squares, except the machinist's tools, use aluminum heads.

Good luck.

I was thinking 60's/70's but just wasn't sure. Haven't put a magnet on it to see if its aluminum or not, but don't believe it is, has a little weight to it.

[Bill Houghton]

Looks iron from here, but it may be the distance.

[lauver]

HeelSpur,

Can you repost your photo's?  What is the part number?

Between the photo's and the part number, I may be able to find it in the old Sears/Crafty catalogs.

[HeelSpur]

HeelSpur,

Can you repost your photo's?  What is the part number?

Between the photo's and the part number, I may be able to find it in the old Sears/Crafty catalogs.

Give me a few minutes.

[HeelSpur]

The last pic has a 6 or 9 on it.

[Bill Houghton]

That's looking like an iron head - a good thing indeed!

[lbgradwell]

I'd say made by Millers Falls mid-1960s or later...

[HeelSpur]

[lauver]

HeelSpur,

I'm not seeing a 6 or 9 in the last photo... just saying.

Ok, here's what the catalogs reveal:

Model number 39542 runs 1963 - 1976, but there were two variations during this run:

a) one with a "semi-steel" (pot metal?) head (i.e. the part with the level, scribe, and tightening wheel in it), 1963 - 1970  and,

b) one with a "cast iron" head, 1971 - 1976.

In 1977, the model number changed to 39543 and there were minor design changes.

So, your job is to determine the composition of the head... I can't tell from the photo's.

In either case, you've got a nice vintage Crafty square.

[HeelSpur]

Thanks for all the info Lauver, I do believe it is the steel version, has a good bit of weight to it.

[rusty]

> one with a "semi-steel" (pot metal?

semi steel was cast with the carbon content modified closer to steel, it is castable, and less brittle than cast, but not quite really steel in the strict sense...

It was popular for a short while, but there isn't much advantage after steel itself becomes dirt cheap, then you just cast actual steel instead...