Introduction

The Craftsman brand, launched by Sears, Roebuck & Co. in 1927, became one of the most recognizable tool lines in America. While Craftsman covered everything from wrenches to lawnmowers, it was their woodworking machinery that built a lasting reputation with home shops and small businesses. Crafted by various manufacturers but sold under the Sears Craftsman name, these tools gave countless Americans access to affordable, reliable woodworking machines from the 1930s through the 1970s.

---

History of Craftsman Tools at Sears

Craftsman was created during a time when Sears was the nation’s largest retailer. To appeal to the growing do-it-yourself and home workshop market, Sears introduced Craftsman as a house brand in 1927, positioning it as affordable but high-quality.

Key Historical Milestones:

• 1927 – Craftsman brand introduced by Sears, Roebuck & Co.
• 1930s – Early woodworking machinery sold under Craftsman name, manufactured by companies like Atlas Press Co., Walker-Turner, King-Seeley, and Emerson Electric.
• 1940s–1950s – Huge boom in the home workshop era; Sears catalogs made Craftsman woodworking machines widely available across America.
• 1960s–1970s – Craftsman woodworking tools became a staple in garages, schools, and basements nationwide.
• 1980s–2000s – Production shifts overseas; decline in heavy cast-iron tool lines.
• 2017 – Sears sold the Craftsman brand to Stanley Black & Decker, though Sears retained rights to continue selling some tools.

---

Products and Machinery

Unlike Powermatic or Delta, Sears itself never manufactured woodworking machinery. Instead, Craftsman machines were produced by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who sold to Sears under the Craftsman name.

Common Craftsman Woodworking Machines:

• Craftsman Table Saws – Often made by Emerson Electric or King-Seeley; many compact 8″ and 10″ saws.
• Craftsman Drill Presses – Atlas Press Co. and Walker-Turner supplied Sears with durable bench and floor models.
• Craftsman Band Saws – Produced by King-Seeley and later Emerson; smaller sizes aimed at home workshops.
• Wood Lathes – Atlas-built metal and wood lathes rebranded as Craftsman.
• Craftsman Jointers & Planers – Affordable cast-iron jointers and small planers, OEM-built.
• Sanders – Belt and disc sanders, often compact for garage shops.
• Combination Machines – Some multi-tool machines offered under Craftsman, especially during the 1940s–1950s.

Because of this OEM model, identifying a Craftsman tool often requires cross-referencing catalog numbers to determine the true manufacturer.

---

Catalogs, Manuals, and Advertising

Sears’ mail-order catalogs were the backbone of the Craftsman brand. These catalogs allowed customers anywhere in America to order affordable machinery delivered directly to their homes.

Key Resources:

• Craftsman Catalog Archive:
  Craftsman Catalogs
• Instruction Manuals & Parts Lists:
  Craftsman Publications
• Advertising & Articles:
  Craftsman Ads & Literature

These catalogs and manuals are a treasure trove for collectors, containing not just specs but also marketing slogans like “Craftsman: The Tools You Can Depend On.”

---

The Decline and Transition

By the late 20th century, Craftsman began shifting away from heavy cast-iron woodworking machines. Globalization and changing consumer demands led to lighter, less expensive tools being imported.

• 1980s–1990s – Sears began outsourcing more production overseas.
• 2000s – Decline in tool quality perception; Craftsman’s dominance began to fade.
• 2017 – Brand sold to Stanley Black & Decker, which continues to market Craftsman tools today.

While modern Craftsman tools are still sold, many woodworkers and collectors consider pre-1970s Craftsman machines the true golden era.

---

Collectibility and Legacy

Vintage Craftsman woodworking machines remain highly collectible today. They hold a special place in tool history because they:

• Brought woodworking to the masses – affordable tools via mail-order catalogs.
• Were made by respected OEMs – Atlas, King-Seeley, Walker-Turner, Emerson.
• Represent home workshop culture – many Americans’ first table saw or drill press was a Craftsman.
• Are still usable today – with restoration, many Craftsman machines remain shop-ready.

Collectors often look for Sears catalog numbers to trace who made a given machine, adding to the historical intrigue.

---

Final Thoughts

The Craftsman brand of Sears helped democratize woodworking. By offering affordable, well-made tools through catalogs, Sears put professional-grade machines into garages and basements across America. While Craftsman machines were made by several OEMs, the Sears name gave them nationwide reach and enduring recognition. Today, vintage Craftsman woodworking machinery represents both a golden era of American home workshops and a beloved piece of tool history.

---

Craftsman Woodworking Machine Links

Craftsman Woodworking Machines
Craftsman Band Saws
Craftsman Radial Arm Saws
Craftsman Scroll Saws
Craftsman Table Saws
Craftsman Drill Presses
Craftsman Jointers
Craftsman Planers
Craftsman Belt/Disc Sanders
Craftsman Wood Lathes
Craftsman Wood Shapers
Craftsman Tool Stands
Craftsman Rip Fences
Craftsman Miter Gauges

---

For years the Craftsman brand of woodworking tools, sold by the Sears, Roebuck and Co., have been used by amateur and professional woodworkers alike and had a reputation as a good quality American made tool.

Craftsman is the top of the line brand name for Sears tools. They’ve had other lesser quality brands including Champion, Dunlap, and Fulton. These were less expensive tools and not the quality of the tools sold under the Craftsman brand.

For years the Craftsman brand of woodworking tools, sold by the Sears, Roebuck and Co., have been used by amateur and professional woodworkers alike and had a reputation as a good quality American made tool.

Sears has had many other companies manufacture tools and machines under the Craftsman Brand. Once when I was working on a Craftsman router, I discovered that it was actually made by the Singer Sewing Machine Company. This was back in the day when Craftsman routers were all metal, not plastic. It was a great little router and I’ve still got it.

Other companies that have manufactured Craftsman tools include American Machine & Tool Co., Atlas Press, Belsaw Machinery, Central Specialty (aka King Sealy), Emerson Electric, Parks Woodworking Co., Walker Turner Co. just to name a few. The companies that manufactured tools for Craftsman can be identified by the first three digits of the tools model number. Most Craftsman table saws with model numbers that begin with 113.xxx for example, were made by the Emerson Electric Company.

This Craftsman Woodworking Tools section features many of the vintage Craftsman tools from the 1930’s through those sold in Sears stores today.

---

Vintage Craftsman Table Saws

Craftsman has been selling table saws for many years. They were manufactured by other companies such as the Emerson Electric Company and others and sold under the Sears Craftsman brand. Vintage Craftsman table saws were made of cast iron and had a reputation as being a very good quality table saw.

Craftsman 8″ Table Saw
Craftsman 100 10″ Tilting Arbor Bench Saw
Craftsman 10″ Tilting Arbor Table Saw Model 113.7520
Craftsman Table Saw Rip Fences
Craftsman Tool Stands and Benches

See all Craftsman Table Saws

Craftsman Band Saws

Craftsman 3-Wheel Band Saw (1952)
Craftsman “100” 12″ Band Saw Model No. 103.24260 (1952)
Craftsman “100” 18″ Band Saw (1952)

Craftsman Jointer Models

Craftsman 4″ Jointer-Planer
Craftsman 6 1/8″ Jointer-Planer (1966)

Craftsman Drill Press Models

Craftsman 15 1/2″ Drill Press (1966)

Craftsman Shaper Models

Craftsman High Speed Wood Shaper

Craftsman Belt and Disc Sanders

Craftsman 6 Inch Belt and Disc Sander

Craftsman Scroll Saws

Craftsman 18″ Scroll Saw

Craftsman Tool Accessories

Craftsman Tool Manuals
Craftsman Table Saws
Craftsman Tool Stands