gearhound
Lunatic Member
50 years ago.....they were as numerous.....as grains of sand.
Affordable.....grains of sand.
NO China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc. labels to be seen on a wrench or ratchet?
Japanese tools were just starting to come into the country.....and receiving almost universal disdain.
My first American-made tools.....were SEARS brand!
As a high-school kid.....I could NOT afford the more "upscale" Craftsman line.
While many people today.....complain about the slip in quality of the current Craftsman line.
Earlier Craftsman tools.....had a pretty good pedigree.
The New Britain Tool Company provided some of the earliest stock......followed later by Easco/K-D.
The list of American tool makers.....that followed the dinosaur into extinction.....is long and impressive.
Who today remembers Walden, Indestro, Penens, Herbrand, Dunlop, Par-X, Plomb, Tru Fit, Billings, Utica,..............................
MAYBE.....if you're over 50.....you do?
A few of those companies survived.....by selling out to a larger corporation.....or moving their production facilities overseas.
The few remaining American tool manufactures (Snap-On, MAC, Matco).....have turned their attention (and marketing).....to the "Professional" mechanic sector.
Large vans will visit your work-site......and for half your paycheck.....will sell you a socket or wrench set.
If you still want to "Buy American".....without taking out a bank loan.....American-made S-K, Wright, Proto, & Klein .....are still reasonably affordable (Wright less so).
STILL out their.....IF you can find them.....are NOS American tools from such manufacturers as Easco, Allen, KAL, and K-D.
These fine American-made tools.....do to their lack of name recognition.....often tend to fly WAY under the radar.....and used, are virtually given away at flea markets/yard sales.
I've spent most of my adult life.....working with my hands.....and my tools.
Shame the next generation.....will know only.....MADE IN CHINA.
Steve :tears:
Affordable.....grains of sand.
NO China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc. labels to be seen on a wrench or ratchet?
Japanese tools were just starting to come into the country.....and receiving almost universal disdain.
My first American-made tools.....were SEARS brand!
As a high-school kid.....I could NOT afford the more "upscale" Craftsman line.
While many people today.....complain about the slip in quality of the current Craftsman line.
Earlier Craftsman tools.....had a pretty good pedigree.
The New Britain Tool Company provided some of the earliest stock......followed later by Easco/K-D.
The list of American tool makers.....that followed the dinosaur into extinction.....is long and impressive.
Who today remembers Walden, Indestro, Penens, Herbrand, Dunlop, Par-X, Plomb, Tru Fit, Billings, Utica,..............................
MAYBE.....if you're over 50.....you do?
A few of those companies survived.....by selling out to a larger corporation.....or moving their production facilities overseas.
The few remaining American tool manufactures (Snap-On, MAC, Matco).....have turned their attention (and marketing).....to the "Professional" mechanic sector.
Large vans will visit your work-site......and for half your paycheck.....will sell you a socket or wrench set.
If you still want to "Buy American".....without taking out a bank loan.....American-made S-K, Wright, Proto, & Klein .....are still reasonably affordable (Wright less so).
STILL out their.....IF you can find them.....are NOS American tools from such manufacturers as Easco, Allen, KAL, and K-D.
These fine American-made tools.....do to their lack of name recognition.....often tend to fly WAY under the radar.....and used, are virtually given away at flea markets/yard sales.
I've spent most of my adult life.....working with my hands.....and my tools.
Shame the next generation.....will know only.....MADE IN CHINA.
Steve :tears:
and stomping on it to loosen a nut, expecting the ratchet to give up and die. Still works fine, poor thing, in spite of its Daddy being mean to it. 
