Vintage Craftsman Long-C Tools

 

Craftsman tools sporting the distinctive Long-C Trademark logo are among the most collectible of old tools. Here’s the story…

Collectors also refer to the “Long-C” as “Underline-C” for obvious reasons. If it isn’t obvious to you, observe that the bottom of the C extends under the whole name. This trademark was used on Craftsman tools made between 1934 and 1944.

The five little tube packages with the Underline-C logo in the picture above contain torch tips. Here’s an excerpt from the 1936 Craftsman tool catalog showing the “complete industrial welding outfit” that could be purchased for only $39.90.

Individual welding tips in that picture are described as “one piece solid drawn pure copper.” They could be purchased individually for $1.45 each. Here’s a picture of one of the tips, showing the Underline-C trademark…

I found those tubes with tips at an estate sale in the barn workshop. I’m a bottom feeder at such sales. I look deep. When there are drawers, I open and look in every drawer. Here are two bottom feeder tips…

1. Have a small hands-free flashlight (click here to see the flashlight I use).
2. Open the drawer all the way so you can see what is in the back. Very few people do that.

The torch tips were found in a metal drawer cabinet. There were 35 drawers about 12” deep. They were crammed with old nuts and bolts and other hardware. In a bottom drawer, all the way in the back, the torch tips were safely boxed. No doubt, they had been there for decades.

Adding them to my big L.L. Bean canvas bag was a no-brainer. Not for the torch tips but for the old packaging in such good condition. Knowing that Craftsman Long-C is so collectible, I figured the little tubes would have a buyer. And they did.…