[BDFan1981]

Q: Could anyone who'd been familiar with Sears Craftsman power tools in the 1978-83 period please help me as to what the first year that Sears put the Craftsman name on rebadged Black & Decker and Skil drills, saws and other stuff?

Prior to this, Sears had a longstanding relationship with the Diehl Motor Products Division of the Singer Sewing Machine Company (the Diehl division was sold to Ryobi in 1988, under whom the relationship still stands today). Before and after the sale of Diehl to Ryobi, the manufacturer's code of 315 is always there (973 was on the side on a few tools).

For lack of better sources I can say the relationships with B&D and Skil both date to about 1980. I know Sears did sell a rebadged Skilsaw 576 as their model 135.108000 (catalog #9-1080) in 1982, but it was short-lived and likely did not return for 1983. Sears also sold a rebadged B&D 7300 "5-1/2er" circular saw as their model 900.10890 (catalog #9-1089) as early as about 1981. Both were home-use models.

The industrial side of rebadged B&D and Skil power tools began for Sears in 1982 or 1983.

Again, if anyone who'd worked at Sears back in 1983, as manager of hardware sales, can clarify any of this information, please do so.

Thank you,

Ben

 

[BDFan1981]

I want to let you know that I found a picture of a Sears Craftsman Industrial 2-speed reciprocating saw using the older, pre-1984 design. I want help, though, as to determining whether or not this pre-'84 saw also assumed the catalog number #9-27122.

Picture:

(This version was based on the prior B&D 3102-09, with the 3-wire cord set)

The saws like the one in the picture above are becoming rarer because most of the Sears-branded B&D reciprocating saws used the M-series design, as exemplified in the picture below:

~Ben