Old Tool Ads

[stokester]

I had posted a topic about the tool ads I found in old magazines with some scans but I think it was lost on the old site.

So here we go again.

More to come.  Feel free to contribute.

[Uncle Buck]

Tons of ads like that in the old issues of Mechanics Illustrated. All sorts, hand tools and machine tools, both woodworking and metalworking.

[muddy]

Old I'll love this thread I love old advertising (tool and otherwise) Mind if I add some?

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[stokester]

Old I'll love this thread I love old advertising (tool and otherwise) Mind if I add some?

Sent from my Twisted Mind Of The Mudman

The more the merrier!  I modified the original post to encourage participation.

[stokester]

more from 1955...

[goodfellow]

Tons of ads like that in the old issues of Mechanics Illustrated. All sorts, hand tools and machine tools, both woodworking and metalworking.

... and who can forget all the old Belsaw sharpener and Foley/Belsaw key machine ads that touted the idea of setting up your own business as a secondary form of income. Those ads were a staple in DIY magazines of the day.

[stokester]

... and who can forget all the old Belsaw sharpener and Foley/Belsaw key machine ads that touted the idea of setting up your own business as a secondary form of income. Those ads were a staple in DIY magazines of the day.

Like these?

[john k]

I ran across a Proto all angle drill,  and brought it home.  Thought it was a curiosity, but the thing is mostly stainless steel.  Was developed for the aircraft industry in WWII.  When it was discovered the bulky electric drills would not fit into cramped aircraft spaces. 

[goodfellow]

... and who can forget all the old Belsaw sharpener and Foley/Belsaw key machine ads that touted the idea of setting up your own business as a secondary form of income. Those ads were a staple in DIY magazines of the day.

Like these?

Yup - As a kid I knew a few dads in the neighborhood who did that kind of work using Foley/Belsaw equipment.

My dad was always the neighborhood electronics repair guy, and quick fix welder. He was a HAM radio and car guy, and got me into both hobbies at an early age.

Dad had an O/A torch and an AC buzz box welder, and made quite a few bucks on the side in the 1960s.


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[stokester]

one from Crescent...

[muddy]

Not really old. But to me it is. This is the era catalog I would look at for hours circling things I thought I'd need or want as a mechanic some day!


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[muddy]

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[goodfellow]

Not really old. But to me it is. This is the era catalog I would look at for hours circling things I thought I'd need or want as a mechanic some day!


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Even us older guys used to read the catalogs until the pages were worn and "dog-eared". Those were the days!

[stokester]

Not really old. But to me it is. This is the era catalog I would look at for hours circling things I thought I'd need or want as a mechanic some day!

Sent from my Twisted Mind Of The Mudman

Even us older guys used to read the catalogs until the pages were worn and "dog-eared". Those were the days!

Here too.  Lots of value in those package deals.

[Uncle Buck]

That was one of the last catalogs. The real beauties were those from years ago!

[jeffmoss26]

Not really old. But to me it is. This is the era catalog I would look at for hours circling things I thought I'd need or want as a mechanic some day!


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Even us older guys used to read the catalogs until the pages were worn and "dog-eared". Those were the days!

the tool catalogs of my childhood!!

[stokester]

a few more...

[goodfellow]

That Blackhawk toolset ad reminds me of the first professional tool truck set that I ever purchased with my own meager service station helper earnings. It was a MAC Apprentice mechanics set that the MAC tool representative gave me a good deal on. My boss also kicked in a few bucks at the time - in the early 1970s. I thought I had purchased “gold”. I cleaned it after every shift. A proud moment in my life, and the memory has endured for over half a century.

Seemingly insignificant things in life often have the most enduring impact.


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[muddy]

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[muddy]

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[Rural53]

I've got one of those Weller soldering irons stashed away somewhere.

[goodfellow]

Wow! Mickey Mantle my childhood hero advertising for Weller. How weird is that?
That said, I'm still using my dad's Weller soldering gun that was purchased in that late 50s or early 60s time frame.

[Rural53]

I've always liked the old Ridgid Ads.

[Rural53]

Old Ridgid Ads

[Rural53]

Old Ridgid Ads

[goodfellow]

Who doesn't like the old "Cheesecake" inspired tool ads. Those were great marketing strategies. Every shop worth its salt had them hanging on the walls.

[fatfillup]

Didn't know Weller made tools other than soldering irons. 

As to their quality, they almost always work and I have a customer in the 2 way radio business that loves a certain model of the older ones

[geneg]

The soldering irons & guns always work.  The other power tools that I have seen are household DIY at best.  I think I even have that sander somewhere.  Still great to see Mickey Mantle in his prime.

[Lookin4_67GalaxieConv]

Not really old. But to me it is. This is the era catalog I would look at for hours circling things I thought I'd need or want as a mechanic some day!


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I think I had that same catalog.  May even still have it.  Got my first box, a new Craftsman nine drawer, in October '94.

[stokester]

From Automotive News - Feb 1946

[Elroy]

Old Ridgid Ads

Nearly 50 years ago, Elroy was employed by Emmerson Electric. They owned the Ridge Tool Company, builder of Ridgid Pipe tools. Some of the more seasoned personnel, suggested that sales should use the phrase:

"Every Home Should Have a Ridgid Tool" 

Management didn't like the idea. 

[goodfellow]

Old Ridgid Ads

Nearly 50 years ago, Elroy was employed by Emmerson Electric. They owned the Ridge Tool Company, builder of Ridgid Pipe tools. Some of the more seasoned personnel, suggested that sales should use the phrase:

"Every Home Should Have a Ridgid Tool" 

Management didn't like the idea. 

Great ad idea! What's not to like -- 

Emerson Electric was a great company. Sears sourced from Emerson some of their best products ever.

[Uncle Buck]

Old Ridgid Ads

Some years ago I found a bunch of those old Ridgid tool calendars like that and printed off the lot of them. I hole punched and bound them all at the top then hung them in my shop where they remain to this day. My prize cheesecake calendar is an original 1946 Alberto Vargas. By the time I got it the pages were all there but the original comb binding was long gone.

[muddy]

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[muddy]

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[goodfellow]

Cadmium plated --- they used the "good stuff". --- LOL

[Elroy]

What would one give for these ? Real POS

[stokester]

I don't remember many ads from Easco...

[Uncle Buck]

I don't remember many ads from Easco...

I  remember their ads. So many brands they made tools for too! Good stuff, I have quite a bit of their stuff from that era. No complaints from me.

[goodfellow]

Yeah, you could always tell an EASCO product, no matter who sold it or whose name was on it. NAPA was a big customer at the time, and I still have a few of the NAPA EASCO tools in my go-box.

[muddy]

Besides Napa who else were easco rebrands?

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[muddy]

A few bucks a week..... For the next 2000 weeks


Was there a big difference in price for snap on compared to the others as it is today?



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[Uncle Buck]

Besides Napa who else were easco rebrands?

Sent from my twisted mind of the mudman

Craftsman,  True Value Hdw Master Mechanic likely a number of others, but those two are the ones I was familiar with.

[goodfellow]

A few bucks a week..... For the next 2000 weeks


Was there a big difference in price for snap on compared to the others as it is today?



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Sent from my twisted mind of the mudman

Can’t say much for Snap-On, but in the early 70’s I purchased a MAC apprentice tool kit off the truck. My first professional toolset that I payed for with my meager earnings. The set was slightly higher in price than the Craftsman equivalent at the time (if you had purchased the C-Man stuff at full retail).

Good tools were expensive, but relatively still affordable compared to other high quality items at the time. Plus in those days all you needed was SAE sizes. Metric stuff was still in the specialized category.


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[Uncle Buck]

A few bucks a week..... For the next 2000 weeks


Was there a big difference in price for snap on compared to the others as it is today?



pic hosting

Sent from my twisted mind of the mudman

Can’t say much for Snap-On, but in the early 70’s I purchased a MAC apprentice tool kit off the truck. My first professional toolset that I payed for with my meager earnings. The set was slightly higher in price than the Craftsman equivalent at the time (if you had purchased the C-Man stuff at full retail).

Good tools were expensive, but relatively still affordable compared to other high quality items at the time. Plus in those days all you needed was SAE sizes. Metric stuff was still in the specialized category.


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Plus choices in Metric were much more limited.

[slip knot]

A few bucks a week..... For the next 2000 weeks


Was there a big difference in price for snap on compared to the others as it is today?



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Yeah you paid a premium for Snap On. But they offered a big variety of specialty tools that you needed to complete certain jobs and they would finance it for you so you could complete the job without paying 100% out of pocket for the tooling. I never bought sets off the trucks unless they were really marked down. I mostly got specialty tools.
When the 6.2 GM diesel came out it crapped out head gaskets regularly. The headbolts were 18MM. I think I paid $20 for that one socket off the Snappy truck but they had it.

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[Uncle Buck]

I love truck brand tools. I have a few sets I did buy new when I was younger and single. Most, I bought either used, or in pawn shops. Buying off the truck works great for guys on their routes. However,  if you just a home wrench, getting warranty from SO in particular not so hot. In fact, worse than any other brand I ever needed to turn in broken.  With a couple of exceptions that happened with Sears during those last years as they were dieing, the use to be about the best. SK was equally good and so was Proto. The very best warranty service I ever got was with the specialty tool company Lisle.

The worst experience was with SO years ago when I had my pop turn in a 1/2" drive flex head I had bought new and SO actually charged him something like $10-15 to warranty the tool! Man, you don't forget it when you get screwed like that, even for a small amount. It was just the principle of the thing you know.