I have some doubts about stamps or craftool

[Sheilajeanne]

15 hours ago, fredk said:

yes and no. Craftool is Tandy, but there are many, many copies available with Craftool on them but they are not from Tandy

 

yes, Tandy originated the name Craftool,  but see above.

Early Craftools seem to be all steel & brass, newer ones are a cast alloy. Cheap copies are an aluminium alloy or low grade steel with alloy heads (the stamping part) To hide the low quality they chrome plate the tool and the plating fills in the detailing of the stamp.

Its a lottery out there whether you get a good tool or not. I have 'Craftool' stamps from Tandy, some are good and some are rubbish. I also have cheap ones from Taiwan and China which also say 'Craftool', again some are good and some are rubbish.

Fred, that's exactly what I found when I got that large batch of used tools last year! Some of the older Craftool stamps were good, some were rubbish, perhaps due to age, and being used a lot. Some of the 'Made in Taiwan' stamps were good, some were not. There was no way I could generalize and say, Oh, this one is from XYZ manufacturer, so it must be better and I'm keeping it. EACH stamp had to be tested before I could decide whether to keep it or not.

[kgg]

15 hours ago, fredk said:

yes, Tandy originated the name Craftool,  but see above.

From the info I have seen Dick McGahen founded the Craftool company in 1947 in South California and later sold too Tandy in 1959 with some Craftool's still being made in the USA until about 1999. After that they are made in Asia somewhere. Maybe not all the stamps are being made in the same factory so that may explain why some are good while others not so much. With the invent of the CNC machines, 3d printers and computer design programs one would think the stamps could / should be of superior quality to the originals. 

kgg

[Rhale]

I collect stamping tools, about 800 to date, the older craftool that just say craftool co. And a # without a letter in front of the # are the best ones under the craftool name, then comes the ones stamped the same except there is # and letter.  You will also find some withou # or letter.  Most all of these are good stamps, they are earlier stamps made in USA. After that they are stamped craftool co. USA, these are as a whole good stamps also.  In 1999 all there stamps were being imported and from then to date you are not getting the quality they use to be.  If you want good quality stamps get the USA made ones or better yet buy Barry King,  Robert Beard, Hackbarth, Clay Miller and a few other custom made stamps! They are more money but the difference in the quality and crispness of the stamps are undeniable.  Hope this helps! Rodney 

[Hardrada]

Another option would be GoodsJapan.com. All the items I've ordered from them are made in Japan and of good quality. They look mundane (maybe because many are hand-made) but once you put them to leather they're very good.

They have stamps too: https://www.goodsjapan.com/leathercraft-items/leathercraft-stamps?items=100

[D2G]

WOW!!

Many information, it is appreciated... "or not to my english understund "  i'm kidding,  so i'm go to read em with help of translator and after i'll can answer.

In advance: many stores here in spain like curtidos cabezas buy in Ivanleather "china" and after sold to the beginners spanish craftmans/craftgirls.  It's no good to beginners.

Edit: All right, thanks to all for the information. Finally i'll buy some ones in tandy Jerez Spain to can do Sheridan styles. I think I can't found here in Spain an craftman stamper to make it, anothers stamps like the Bulgarian guy are lovely but is for others details, so i'll buy that i'll need to can do sheridan style in tandy and do some right things.
Buy in Japan to send in after in a transatlantic boat that burn 400 galons gas to minute in my opinion is a bad bad idea.

Thanks to all.

 

 

Edited December 6, 2019 by D2G