MikeRock Report post Posted February 19, 2020 My wife has 80 or 90 Tandy stamps from 1974. They are in storage right now, so I am wondering, are these the good 'old style' tools, or 'new'. She never had an issue with plating chipping or any rusting. So....good or not? God bless Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billybopp Report post Posted February 19, 2020 By all accounts, better than the ones you're likely to get today! It's my understanding that the best ones are from the 50's and 60's but quality didn't begin serious decline until the 80s and 90s. Break 'em out and use 'em! They aren't doing any good in storage. - Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted February 19, 2020 I'm no expert on this matter. However what I've learnt is that the older tools were quality steel, both handle and head. Then they went to steel handles and a zinc alloy cast head, with good chrome plating over all. Then they went to zinc alloy handles and zinc alloy cast heads, again with good quality chrome plating. The latest tools are a lower quality zinc alloy handle, zinc alloy cast head and a lower quality chrome plating. Also, with the earlier tools the pattern in the head is much more sharply defined. The later chroming softens the definition as does worn out moulds making them. eg, a patterned backgrounder, A104, has a fine pattern on it. On the latest tools the worn moulding and chrome makes this almost smooth, smooth enough that the pattern hardly shows in the leather. I have an old A104, bought 20 years ago, and it was old 2nd-hand then and the pattern is more distinct Take a magnet to the tools and see which parts are steel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TSes Report post Posted February 19, 2020 I think fredk pretty well explained the physical differences. You can tell the age by how the tool is stamped. If the marking is Craftool USA followed by the tool number, it was made in 1970 or later. Earlier tools didn't have USA on them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tugadude Report post Posted February 19, 2020 This might be of interest... https://www.tandyleather.com/media/downloads/CraftoolConversionChart.pdf If it doesn't open by clicking on it, simply copy and paste in your browser. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeRock Report post Posted February 19, 2020 Many thanks to you all. Dug them out and they are 100% steel, only a few have the USA marking. God bless still sorting.......there were another couple hundred Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vikefan Report post Posted February 20, 2020 Tugadude Thank you for that link and information... Vikefan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
