Tool Manufacturers [Archive] - The Garage Journal Board

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kartracer55

12-21-2005, 10:54 PM

It seems like these companies are constantly changing hands lately and I'm having trouble keeping track of who makes what where. I'm starting this thread as a list of all of the tool manufacturers in alphabetical order along with what company owns them and where they make the majority of their tools.

I am including the makers of common hand tools, power tools, tool boxes, and air compressors.

*Please feel free to post any pertinant info and I will continuously edit this thread to keep it up to date.

A&E
Agatech - construction grade laser levels
Ajax
Allen (Danaher)
Allied -somewhere in asia (typically junky)
Baldor - top notch grinders - USA
Baltimore - USA
Beta - (used by team ferarri) Italy ... Happy Ed? lol
Black and Decker - All over the place, China, Mexico, one or two USA Own DeWalt
Blackhawk - "Blackhawk by Proto" (stanley)USA
Blue Line - USA
Blue Point - USA, Taiwan
Bondus - (Balldriver, ProGaurd,Gorilla Gripuses "protanium" steel) USA (top notch)
Bosch- China, USA, Switzerland
Bostitch - (Stanley) Country of origin under review
C.K.
Cen-Tech
Central Pneumatic - China
Champion - Compressor, USA
Channellock (Channellock)- USA
Chesco (American Tool)
Chicago Electric - China
CIP- Insulated(electrical) sockets + wrenches- USA
Cooper - Makes Cresent, Campbell, USA, as Well as all over asia
Cornwell - USA (ohio I believe)
Chicago Pneumatic (tools)- Mainly Japan, USA, Possibly China.
Craftsman - Handtools USA, One or two from Germany
Crescent (Cooper)
CSPS - Tool boxes for Costco, Sams Club, Taiwan
Dewalt - China, Mexico, USA(owned by black and Decker)
Dotco (Cooper)- Air tools
Dremel - USA
Drill Master
Easco* - Formerly Moore Drop Forge, then Bough By Danaher -> allen USA
Eaton - compressor, USA, China
Eklind - allen wrenches & torx- USA
Emerson - Western forge, Rigid
Enderes - USA
Enkay-small precision style hand tools and accessories- mainly made in China
Facom - France
Fiskars - USA/Finland
Florida Pneumatic - Air tools - Japan
Foygelb
Fuji Pneumatic - Air tools - Japan
Gaurdian (Baltimore)
Gear Wrench- By KD(Danaher) Taiwan
Gedore - Germany
Grey pneumatic - Impact sockets - Taiwan
Gripper (Baltimore)
Hanson (American Tool) -USA
Herbrand (*) Canada, USA
Hezel - Mechanics tools - Germany
Hitachi
Hi-Tech (A&E)
Husky- Mostly Taiwan, Formerly by New Britain In NB, Conecticut
Ideal
International - Toolboxes for SK, Sears Canada, High End Canada, Low end China
IR, Ingersoll Rand (air tools) - High End, USA,others Japan, Regular line China
Irwin (American Tool)- Mostly USA
Ivy Classic- Powertool accessories (bits & blades) made in US, Hand tools in China
Jack (American Tool)
Jet
Joran (American Tool)
Kalamazoo - Metal sanders and chop saws- USA
Kastar (A&E) - USA (ratcheting box wrenches for Snap on, Craftsman, SK,others)
KD - (Danaher) USA, Taiwan
Kennedy - Toolboxes - USA
Klein- USA, one or Two from Japan
Knipex - Germany
Kobalt - USA, China
Lindstrom (Bahco)
Lista - USA
Lufkin (Cooper) - General purpose measuring - USA
Mac (Stanley) - Mostly USA (exceptions: micro tought ratchets, Taiwan)
Makita - "USA"(id like to know what though) Japan, China
Marathon (American Tool)
Marples (American Tool)
Martin Tool and Forge - USA, Others? Specialty tools (servo wrenches, Body tools)
Matco - (Danaher) USA, China, Taiwan
Mayhew - Punches, Chisels (possibly for craftsman) USA, Taiwan?
Meritool
Metabo - China, Germany
Milbar- Snap ring, saftey wire pliers - USA
Milwaukee - Corded Mostly USA, Cordless... all over
Moore Drop Forge* - Originally making Craftsman, Changed to Easco (see easco)
Oldeforge Tools
OTC - USA for Heavy duty Equipment, Most other stuff is Taiwan
Panasonic - Japan, China
Paslode
Pittsburgh - Asia
Plomb*- Name changed to proto in early 50s
PLS - Contstruction grade laser levels
Plumb (Cooper)
Powerpress (American Tool)
Pratt Read - USA
Pro-Craft (Baltimore)
ProSnip (American Tool)
Proto (Stanley) - USA, Formerly Plomb, over years name owned by IR and others.
Quick Grip (American Tool)
Record (American Tool)
Red Devil
Reed
Ridge- see ridgid
Ridgid- (emerson) USA, Elsewhere
Robert Schroder- German Made Woodworking hand tools, screwdrivers
Robotoolz- construction grade laser levels
Ryobi - Formerly USA Made* (back in the Day) Now Asia
SE
SK- USA, one or two from France
Skil - USA and China
Skyo
Sioux (Snap On)
Snap-It (Baltimore)
Snap-On - USA
Speedbor (American Tool) (irwin?)- USA
Stahlwille (Germany)
Stanley (Stanley) - USA for woodworking/construction - Asia For hand tools
Straitline (American Tool)
Stride
Surtek
Tajima - Made in China. Construction tools, tape measures, utility knives
Toptul- Made in Taiwan, claim to be the best "value" out there
Turbomax (American Tool)
Unibit (American Tool) (irwin?) USA
Urrea- Mexican Proto (no kidding, many tools share designs, formerly affiliated)
USAG - Italy
US General - Asia (probably china with a name like that)
Utica* - Pliers, torque wrenches, adjustables - Utica New York, USA
Utica (Cooper) - Currently Makes torque wrenches- Cant find out where from
Viking- Mostly USA, a Few from South america, Drill presses from Europe+ Taiwan
Vise Grip - Currently Irwin, TraditionalVisegrip USA, New line of Cutters- Taiwan
Waterloo - (makes boxes for Kobalt, Craftsman, possibly Armstrong+matco) USA
Weller (Cooper)- Soldering Irons & such
Wera - Germany
Western Forge (Emerson)- Screwdrivers, pliers, + other stuff for Craftsman, Rigid
Wiha - Germany
Wilde - USA
Wiss (Cooper)
Witco - USA
Witte - Germany
Wright - USA 100%
X-acto
Xcelite (Cooper)
Xuron
Yorkcraft
Zephyr

(*) = No longer being made.

Aside from posts on Garage Junkies, the second main source of information was from the Hand Tools Institute. (http://ww3.hti.org/0410HTIDirectory.htm)

eschoendorff

12-21-2005, 11:02 PM

Beware... the new pliers that bear the Irwin Vise-Grip logo are made in Taiwan!

Also, you forgot Beta tools (It?)

I will post more criticism as it comes to me... :lol:

Seriously, though :thumbup:

Luckydevil

12-21-2005, 11:11 PM

From the other thread... Cornwell, Eaton, CSPS Toolboxes (China), Knipex, Hezel, Whira, Witte, Stahlwille,

JeeperAZ- "You need to add Mayhew(at least some made in Taiwan) and Knipex (Germany) to the master list."

MarkH- "I did not see Cornwell. US made items similar to the other truck vendors."

KartRacer55- "Well For air tools I want to Add Florida Pneumatic, fuji Pneumatic, Dotco, IR, CP, Snap On/Blue point, and Suiox. Suiox is a Snap On Brand, made here as well. IR makes stuff here (higher end 3/4 and 1inch guns) and The Titanium/composite guns. The Other stuff like composite ratchets are made in Japan, Most of the regular line of impacts comes from China. Fugi and Florida are Japanese, and Im not sure about Dotco. CP stuff comes from USA, Japan, and Probably China too.

I thought of a few more for the list...
Grey Pneumatic -impact sockets- taiwan
CID- Insulated Sockets+ ratchets, Limited Info on them, but USA made
Bostitch (stanley)"

Also Gedore (German) and Makita.

Coach James

12-22-2005, 12:55 AM

The Allen line of hand tools are made by Danaher.

If the "Baltimore" line is baltimore Tool Works, they are USA made and still made in the Baltimore area I believe.

The Eklind hex wrenches I have are USA made.

Enderes makes their tools in Minnesota. I've got some of their screw sdrivers and pry bars and they are top notch.

Pratt Read is also still USA made.

Wilde and Witco are USA made. Their stuff is A+.

Ingersoll Rand makes some of their stuff in the USA as they have a manufacturing facility about 7 miles from my house(Southern Pines NC).
James

Thumper

12-22-2005, 04:47 PM

Stahlwille........Germany.......good stuff

stupidjet

12-22-2005, 05:01 PM

csps boxes are made in TAIWAN....at least mine was....

JeeperAz

12-22-2005, 07:19 PM

Knipex made in Germany, not Japan.

Also, Witte is the maker of Matco's "Torque II" screwdrivers.

kartracer55

12-22-2005, 07:22 PM

Knipex made in Germany, not Japan.

Also, Witte is the maker of Matco's "Torque II" screwdrivers.

I knew this, advertised in catalogs, but Luckydevil must have seen proof otherwise to edit this, which is why I have it in ( ). Technical difficulties... Under review.

Jim

Luckydevil

12-22-2005, 09:07 PM

My bad, I must have copied those down wrong.

evildky

12-23-2005, 01:51 AM

Matco or at least some of their air tols are made in China!
http://nissaninfiniticlub.net/photopost/data/500/13000matco_china.jpg

kartracer55

12-23-2005, 09:55 AM

Think they are rebadged IR?

I know the craftsman professional composite guns are the rebadged IR ti/composite guns. Specs are almost identical, and they have certian markings that are pretty distinct.

Jim

Remi

12-23-2005, 07:50 PM

Metabo is also made in germany
My metabo jigsaw is made in germany but powergrip screwdriver is china.

Bosch is made in many more countries than Switzerland sometimes the same model is made in different countries.

What about JET or paslode?

eschoendorff

12-23-2005, 10:06 PM

Well, since we're discussing this stuff, I figured I'd post a link to the Hand Tools Institute (whatever the hell that is). But it features primarily American-made tool brands. Lots of references to the aforementioned tool brands, and some neat websites. Sorry if this is a dupe:

http://www.hti.org/0410HTIDirectory.htm

BTW... check out the Channellock website. Quite an interesting company story, and their virtual factory tour is cool too. :thumbup:

kartracer55

12-23-2005, 11:24 PM

Well does anybody have any info on KAL hand tools? Some of thier wrenches say usa, others japan. I didnt get a chance to check out thier sockets today, although from a distance they looked nice, and I was diggin the cool metal case they came in... my question is whos making them and are they USA made?

Cant find ANYTHING on them

Jim

Thumper

12-24-2005, 12:34 AM

Does anybody know if Blue Line is still in business? I got a set of combo wrenches that have worked well for many years.

kartracer55

12-24-2005, 11:33 AM

Does anybody know if Blue Line is still in business? I got a set of combo wrenches that have worked well for many years.

There is a set of these at the autoshop, not country of origin, satin finish. Where are they made? Ive never used them because its more convenient to grab a rack of SK or snap on.

Jim

Thumper

12-24-2005, 07:39 PM

The Blue Lines I have were USA made. Mine were made back in the early 70's.

river1

12-26-2005, 12:06 AM

Bosch is made in many more countries than Switzerland sometimes the same model is made in different countries.

bosch is made in china now :sad:

at least some are.

i emailed them about their 4 1/2 in grinders and where they are made. the reply said the ones in their office were badged USA but they listed a number of countries but not china. so i went down to lowes to buy a couple. check the box it said made in china :headscrat emailed them back and asked if they had some made in china they said they were unaware of ant grinders made in china. :wtf:
i replyed about my findings at lowes, they didn't reply back. :bs:

later jim

evildky

12-26-2005, 02:30 AM

I just got a new matco air ratchet and swivle lead for xmas, both quality made in Tiawan

Luckydevil

12-26-2005, 08:39 AM

Thanks for all the input guys. Keep it coming. :beer:

danski0224

12-26-2005, 09:39 AM

Metabo cordless stuff is made in China.

kartracer55

12-26-2005, 11:04 AM

I just got a new matco air ratchet and swivle lead for xmas, both quality made in Tiawan

What do you mean swivel lead?

And what model air ratchet? It looks like thier air tools come from all over the place.

Jim

eschoendorff

12-26-2005, 04:59 PM

What do you mean swivel lead?

Jim

I think he might be referring to the whip hose between the air hose and the tool?

evildky

12-27-2005, 01:17 PM

I think he might be referring to the whip hose between the air hose and the tool?
nope,
it's the new 1/4" air ratchet (I needed a smaller one for some tough to get to jobs) anyhow it's made in tiawan (and yes the swivel is tiawans finest as well), and if you go back in the thread you can see the pic I posted of the matco made in china die grinder

Gregdoo

12-27-2005, 06:09 PM

kartracer55

12-27-2005, 07:07 PM

Western Forge is listed as Vermont American. It should be listed as Emerson, which also is responsible for Rigid (Home Depot). In the past, their plant here in Colorado Springs made wrenches for Craftsman/Sears. Not sure if that is still the case. See: http://www.gotoemerson.com/brands/pro_tools/br_pt_dp.html#div1

I wasnt sure of the vermont amercan connection, but yes, they still do make wrenches and sockets. They also make many screwdrivers and pliers for them. If you look on your screwdrivers and pliers by the part number, You will see WF for western forge, and PR for Pratt&Read, only on screwdrivers as I recall

What else can ya tell me about Emerson? Thats one Ill have to do some research on. Interesting stuff!

Thanks

Jim

evildky

12-27-2005, 11:37 PM

speaking or emersone, last I know emerson electronics owned both bosch and skil

kartracer55

12-27-2005, 11:39 PM

speaking or emersone, last I know emerson electronics owned both bosch and skil

Bosch is Part of the Bosch Group I thought...

Uncle Buck

12-28-2005, 10:37 AM

kartracer55

12-28-2005, 07:54 PM

Well I asked A guy I know, John Garner, who knows pretty much everything thier is to knwo about this sort of stuff, about WF vs. Danaher for craftsman...

This is his Reply

"Western Forge is an Emerson company today, but forty years ago, when they were founded, they were the Colorado Springs, Colorado gleam in the eye of the man who sold his Ohio-based tool company, Lectrolite, to Symington-Wayne. Sears provided most of the up-front financing, while the man (a Mr Schlosser, if I'm remembering right) provided knowledge and experience.
The original Western Forge products paralleled a portion of the Lectrolite product line . . . adjustable wrenches and pliers, which, because they are multiple-part moving assemblies, are more complex (and expensive to produce) than flat wrenches or sockets. Interestingly, the other Western Forge product, the screwdriver, is one of the simpler hand tools to manufacture.

The pliers, adjustable wrenches, and screwdrivers were sold primarily to Sears under the Craftsman brand name.

Within a few years, Sears had Western Forge produce a line of sockets and drivers that were to be sold, in sets only, at a price point well below that of the Craftsman-branded sockets and drivers. These sockets and drivers were branded Companion, and perhaps not surprizingly, the sockets looked very much like a lower-finish variant of SK's sockets. On the other hand, the ratchets were an open-head design that was a clear descendent of open-head ratchets that had long been produced by Pendleton Tool (think Proto, P&C, Penens, Challenger, Fleet, Vlchek brands), Thorsen, and Duro Metal Products EXCEPT that the Western Forge / Companion ratchets were re-engineered to be held together with a snap ring instead of by peening or riveting.

I have a distinct recollection that many Companion-brand sockets and drivers had a very dull plating that corroded to white (perhaps zinc plated?), but I do have a 3/8 inch drive Companion ratchet of that series that seems to be chromed.

I also recall that the Companion-brand sockets had a one-year guarantee and didn't hold up all that well to hard use but did provide reasonable service for the price. As you might expect, Sears' cheapskate customers refused to see that they bought an economical tool with a limited guarantee, and expected Sears to replace broken Companion tools as if they were Craftsman tools. I have always suspected that Sears regretted their attempt to compete with el-cheapo tools from the hardware store.

At that time, and continuing to today, Sears' primary supplier for Craftsman-branded sockets, drivers, and flat wrenches was (Moore Drop Forge which became Easco and then Danaher Hand Tool). Moore was originally from Springfield, Mass, but they opened factories in Arkansas and North Carolina mainly on the strength of their contracts to supply Craftsman mechanics' tools.

FWIW, the original Moore plant in Springfield was finally shuttered earlier this year. Their final product was the Moore-heritage ratchet line, including the variants sold under the Craftsman name. Throughout their 100-year history as a maker of hand tools, Moore's focus was on flat wrenches and sockets. I have heard that they dabbled in slip joint pliers and screwdrivers in the years before World War II, but they certainly didn't go after the plier and screwdriver business like they did the wrench business.

John "

Jim

Uncle Buck

12-29-2005, 05:28 PM

Wow, that guy is a wealth of information, I know what he has to say is accurate info because I already knew some of this stuff, but thanks just the same.

Thumper

12-29-2005, 09:41 PM

LMAO.......does the game trivial pursuit have a tool section? Great info anyways........damn......now I'll go around checking Craftsman screwdriver handles.......

kartracer55

12-29-2005, 09:58 PM

thumper your not kidding... Its interesting to see hwo all the different tool companies tie together

z28toz06

01-01-2006, 02:46 PM

Dont forget Baldor, American I believe, makes grinders and such.

Der Bugmeister

01-01-2006, 05:40 PM

For us Canucks, let's not forget Canadian Tire's marquee brand of MasterCraft. The professional series carries the same lifetime guarantee as Craftsman. Canadian Tire even honours the Craftsman guarantee, replacing broken tools with MasterCraft equivalents...whether that's a good thing or bad thing is probably personal choice. Certainly more convenient for me, anyhow.

As for tool origins, I've just bought a couple air nail guns. The Craftsman from Sears Canada is made in Taiwan and the Bostitch is assembled in the US using domestic and imported components.

kartracer55

01-01-2006, 10:36 PM

Der Bugmeister

01-01-2006, 10:54 PM

I think both Sears Canada and Canadian Tire contract the manufacture of different tools out to different name brands...it all depends on the tool. Unfortunately I don't know who they're sourcing through, but it would be interesting to know.

kartracer55

01-01-2006, 11:20 PM

yup, thats why we have this thread... were trying to figure it all out. Do you know where the hand tools are made? I know the boxes are from International, and are made in Canada, but thats all I know about the sears canada line

Jim

Jared

01-02-2006, 01:05 PM

Gray hand tools are also made in canada

dink

01-03-2006, 08:52 AM

I guess I should throw in a couple names here

Enkay.....small precision style hand tools and accessories.....mainly made in China
Ivy Classic......Powertool accessory line....powertool accessories are made in house the hand tools are made in China

Please add to list

motorheadjohn

01-09-2006, 12:47 PM

Need to add Snap-On as the owner/marketer of Blue Point.

Need to add Danaher as a (primary?) supplier of Craftsman?

motorheadjohn

01-12-2006, 08:56 AM

I forgot to add -- DeWalt is owned and marketed by Black and Decker. The batteries will interchange on some of their the 12v (14.4v?) and lower tools.

The story about the redevelopment of the DeWalt brand is very interesting. If I can find the old links to it, I will add them. The short version is that B&D ended up with a reputation as cheap tools from being sold at stores like Walmart and Kmart. I've got a B&D jigsaw from my grandfather, and my neighbor in Calif had an original B&D drill. Both HD metal casings, replaceable brushes, etc. Good tools for the day. But think about what they sell today? Do you consider them to be heavy duty?

B&D was looking at the new, large-scale home supply stores and the big increase in sales by contractor-grade tool manufacturers to occasional home users. A lot of those sales were being made to baby boomers with big spending power and an appetite for quality products.

So, B&D had or bought the DeWalt name, which was defunct (IIRC think the original DeWalts were lumber mill and wood-working tools/machinery???) Under the DeWalt name, B&D started marketing a line of contractor-grade tools. They used the bright yellow color for instant brand recognition. And they only sell the tools through home supply stores and other contractor-frequented outlets, not discount department stores.

Look at how much market share they have captured over the past ~10 years. Smart marketing...and a reasonably good product line.

kartracer55

01-12-2006, 04:00 PM

Yeah, good point. My nieghboor has an old DeWalt scroll saw... its a dark blue/grayish color pretty cool. Gotta add that

Jim

Uncle Buck

01-13-2006, 12:42 PM

kartracer55

01-13-2006, 03:18 PM

Has the brand Diamond been mentioned yet? Does anyone know if they are still in business? They used to sell a quality line of USA made pliers and adj. wrenches, I have some of them. I do not know if they had a parent company though.

As far as I know they are long gone, they used to make these pocket size pliers as I recall. I can ask the same guy about them, im sure hell know

MarkH

01-13-2006, 06:40 PM

Diamond I am not sure if they still use the brand, but it became part of Cooper and production moved out of Duluth to offshore. As with many brands that do that it may have died.

l_bilyk

01-13-2006, 07:55 PM

Regarding makita, their circular saws are made in canada :thumbup:

Coach James

01-15-2006, 08:39 PM

Diamond is no more. Cooper still sells files but under the Nicholson name. Many of them are still USA made.

Uncle Buck

01-17-2006, 01:56 PM

Damn shame about Diamond brand, they were a good line of tools.

l_bilyk

01-17-2006, 03:09 PM

Hey jim, put up "mastercraft"

Sockets/Ratchets, hammers, chisels, knives: Stanley (Taiwan)
Tool boxes: Home user (red, friction slides) - Waterloo USA. Older Maximum (black, roller) - Waterloo USA, Newer Maximum (black, roller) - China
Prybars - Some china, one from japan
Screwdrivers - mostly taiwan/china except for 1
Framing squares - USA
Compressors - Campbell (some usa, some india and taiwan)
Air tools - Campbell (Taiwan)
Table saws, drill presses, bench grinders - look alot like delta, made in china, but i am not 100% sure

kartracer55

01-17-2006, 04:55 PM

Jared

01-17-2006, 08:47 PM

anyone no were westward tools are made?

kartracer55

01-17-2006, 08:55 PM

anyone no were westward tools are made?

The stuff from grainger? Taiwan... im betting its from stanley as Grainger sells Proto too

Jared

01-17-2006, 09:49 PM

dont no if grainger sells it, I never go there. But autoparts stores around here sell them they seem decent by i figured taiwan or something.

Uncle Buck

01-18-2006, 10:47 AM

Stay away from Westward, my opinion, cheap crap. It looks and feels that way too, I did not even get to the point of wondering where it comes from!

Coach James

01-18-2006, 09:16 PM

At one time, Westward was USA made. Then production moved to Canada and is now Taiwan. I read this on the Westward website 3 or 4 years ago.
Coach

krooser

01-19-2006, 09:15 PM

Here's a list..http://www.geocities.com/rab_cdg1/tools.htm.

eschoendorff

01-19-2006, 09:49 PM

Another site that may come in handy at some point in time:

http://www.hti.org/0410HTIDirectory.htm

l_bilyk

01-20-2006, 11:11 PM

Alright I have to add some stuff myself so ill get it updated later tonight. Can you be more specific on the cambell compressors? Is it like the oiless from overseas and the oil lubed ones made here? Thanks

Jim

I can't be more specific right now. They are making a move away from CH branded stuff to mastercraft branded. Right now Canadian tire still sells IR and CH air tools in addition to mastercraft. Eventually CH branded tools will be phased out and replaced with Mastercraft.

They used to carry IR and CH compressors. Now they only carry CH and mastercraft. All the mastercraft compressors are quite small and oil-less, made offshore, and i am told they are manufactured by CH. The big compressors Canadian tire carries are still badged CH. I am told that eventually they will be rebadged Mastercraft, a la husky.

krooser

01-21-2006, 04:17 PM

Nice list....http://www.hti.org/0410HTIDirectory.htm

utahdog2003

02-10-2006, 10:22 AM

am I seeing Hazet on there?...don't think so, but then again that list is getting long! Talk about some detail!

Hazet - Germany and Asia I believe...

kartracer55

02-10-2006, 03:25 PM

am I seeing Hazet on there?...don't think so, but then again that list is getting long! Talk about some detail!

Hazet - Germany and Asia I believe...

DInk knows a heck of alot more about them there furrin' brand tools than I do :lol_hitti Ill ave to ask him, I thought they were mostly german made. What is made in asia?

Jim

dink

02-10-2006, 05:19 PM

DInk knows a heck of alot more about them there furrin' brand tools than I do :lol_hitti Ill ave to ask him, I thought they were mostly german made. What is made in asia?

Jim

Please, Hazet and the German population would never let this happen....all German and a few US stuff...not very much......Germany is #2 on the anti chinese stuff....#1 Japan they in terms of tools ALWAYS will have either US or German or Japanese(gardening only on Japanese tools)

I remember when I was reping Wera and I was talking to the main guy from Germany...he told me that when there sales rep go around Japan...they dont care about the price....they will buy it...because they do not want the Chinese style stuff littering there tool selection

l_bilyk

02-11-2006, 10:16 PM

What about lisle? All usa?

kartracer55

02-11-2006, 10:26 PM

Yes, I believe almost all of it is. Im still looking into hazet

Jim

dink

02-11-2006, 10:33 PM

Actually alot of Lisle is Taiwan now

eschoendorff

02-11-2006, 11:01 PM

Actually alot of Lisle is Taiwan now

You sure about that?
http://www.lislecorp.com/about_us.cfm

kartracer55

02-11-2006, 11:01 PM

Actually alot of Lisle is Taiwan now

No way!?!?! They always boasted about being a US company for a hundred years or whatever. Anything in particular?

Jim

dink

02-11-2006, 11:24 PM

I cant think off the top of my head....that is one company went down quickly....cost productive in there minds

utahdog2003

02-13-2006, 11:49 AM

Please, Hazet and the German population would never let this happen....all German and a few US stuff...not very much......

There you go. I'm no pro on the Hazet stuff...just knew that some came from outside Germany.

utahdog2003

02-13-2006, 11:59 AM

William Tool? Looks like they are imported now, but I've got a compact socket set that I inherited when my grandfather passed away that is USA made. It's a great little set.

What a great thread!

kartracer55

02-13-2006, 12:15 PM

You mean like J.H. Williams? I have a few things from them, the newest I bought about a year ago, still US made, or is this a different willaims?

Jim

utahdog2003

02-13-2006, 05:20 PM

You mean like J.H. Williams? I have a few things from them, the newest I bought about a year ago, still US made, or is this a different willaims?

Jim

You know, I'm not sure. I don't use the set because of it's age and of course who I got it from. I'll have to look and see...

chevy302dz

02-13-2006, 06:31 PM

Actually alot of Lisle is Taiwan now
I don't think I've seen anything from Lisle made overseas, however KD is starting to offshore a lot of their newer tools.

Uncle Buck

02-14-2006, 02:36 PM

I do not believe that JH Williams stuff is made across the water, nor do I think most Lisle stuff is.

utahdog2003

02-15-2006, 01:16 PM

You mean like J.H. Williams? I have a few things from them, the newest I bought about a year ago, still US made, or is this a different willaims?

Jim

It is a little JH Williams set. Made in USA. I have no idea if JHW makes anything overseas.

I couldn't remember if it was Williams or William, and when I Googled 'William', I got an Asian tool crew. So there you go...I am guilty of perpetuating misinformation on the internet! OOPS! Sorry!

I did notice that they are now a Snap-On company. When did that happen?

wantedabiggergarage

02-25-2006, 11:24 PM

Diamond I am not sure if they still use the brand, but it became part of Cooper and production moved out of Duluth to offshore. As with many brands that do that it may have died.

The Diamond name is being used on files for Costco. Last year, KD tools (Gearwrench and others) was merged under Armstrong tools (also a Dahaner company). Challenger and Easco became parts of Dahaner, long ago. New Britian tools (original makers of Husky and early Craftsman ratchets) became part of Stanley, in a round about way. There is a set of Craftsman pliers, that are made in China, as well as some of their power tools. Craftsman Canada, is another entity. Most of the ones I have seen are made by Stanley, offshore. SK was a Facom company until recently, when Stanley toolworks bought out Facom. They seperated previous to the purchase being finalized.
Xcelite, is part of Cooper tools.
Wizard tools, Indestro, Durochrome, Powerkraft, Truecraft, and Kraeuter are all lifetime warrantied, that are out of business. Although, some of my fathers Kraeuters make me think that Utica may have bought their forgings from them.
Penncraft still has a valid warranty through JCPenny's, even though no longer sold.
AMT is no longer (woodworking tools, supplier of Sears)
AMF became Dewalt and early models of Craftsman radial arm saws. Dewalt sold it off to original saw.
Lowe's Kobalt line, used to be made by JH Williams, now made by Dahaner.
Fuji Pneumatic was recently purchased by Chicago Pneumatic.

kartracer55

02-26-2006, 12:44 AM

KD wasnt so much merged with armstrong, Their lines are distinctly different, but your right, they are osld form the same site. I belive challenger was a Stanley name, and Easco became allen, under danaher.

The craftsman pliers are the mini stainless ones, I know it sucks, but they are good quality, My dad has a set of them.

Right before Stanley bought FACOM, the SK execs bought the company back from FACOM so they are independant,but I have stuff form Blackhawk and PRoto and no complaints, its good stuff.

AS for the Kobalt line,

jsackin

02-28-2006, 03:47 PM

Diamond went out of business years and years ago.
Cooper did pick up the name, but the tools are nothing what they used to be.
We ended up buying the remainder of the Diamond Inventory.
As far as I know we're the only one's in the world that are still selling it.
Same with bonney.
The good part is that we get the tools cheap.
The bad part is that it's because american tool companies are closing and moving to china.

www.harryepstein.com/diamond.html
www.harryepstein.com/bonney.html

gdf_77

03-28-2006, 05:40 PM

a friend of mine bought a craftsman wrench set from a garage sale and it had made in japan stamped on it

kartracer55

03-28-2006, 07:13 PM

a friend of mine bought a craftsman wrench set from a garage sale and it had made in japan stamped on it

There was a short time (before I was born) when craftsman wrenches were made in Japan, but that didnt go over too well, and they switched back

Jim

Blacknwhitepit

03-29-2006, 08:07 PM

Craftsman tools sold in Canada can be made in China. Beware when you buy from Ebay and there is a Canadian selling it. Got a great deal on a 3/4 Socket set, brand new in box, and the chrome was already peeling. However, since it was the Craftsman name, I could take it back to Sears and get a Made in USA replacement one! Obviously the majority of Canadians don't care about the quality of their tools (NOT ALL CANADIANS). But such crap sold in the US would put Sears in the market with WAL MART (Hmmm. wait that could be happening) Better stock up on the good USA made stuff while I can.....

kartracer55

03-29-2006, 08:29 PM

DAMN RIGHT! I actually didnt know canadian craftsman was made in CHINA?!?! I thought it might be from Canada (grey maybe) but I guess I was wrong.

canadians... eh?

lol

l_bilyk

03-29-2006, 08:54 PM

Blacknwhitepit

04-06-2006, 08:15 AM

I have been working on this list for a little while now. Trying to compile an accurate working list of mainly old USA made hand tools. Some references are not mine. If you have any additional info or corrections please let me know. - BWP

DANAHER TOOLS:

Allen
Armstrong
1. K-D Tools
2. Holo-Krome - fasteners
Matco Tools
Sata - Chinese made (Uses MATCO Emblem!!)
Spline Gauges – England
Iseli - precision measurements

Makes Kobalt line
Makes Craftsman line
Makes NAPA Line

STANLEY TOOLS:

BEST - Electronic access control
BLICK - England
BOSTITCH - Air nailers
CST/BERGER - Measurement laser levels, opticals
MAC
PROTO – Made fleet and challenger
1. Blackhawk – line made by proto
VIDMAR - Storage systems
ZAG - Plastic storage
HUSKY
****National Hand Tool Corp. div. of Stanley is also the Taiwan supplier of tools for True Value Hardware's Master Mechanic brand as well as where John Deere Tractor dealers get tools as well – From Jim Craftsman club

****MAGNA - ??? OLD Stanley line????

SNAP ON:

1. Williams
2. Bahco
3. Blue Point (rebadged)

CORNWELL: Based in Ohio. Make tools in Mogodore, Oh and also Pennsylvania

S-K: Bought themselves back from FACOM

IRWIN:

1. Vise Grip
2. Hanson - Makes SO and MAC TAPS N DIES

WRIGHT: Made in USA, based in Ohio

EMERSON:

1. RIDGID
2. RIDGID Kollmann
3. Peddinghaus
4. Knaack
5. Weatherguard

COOPER HAND TOOLS:

1. Crescent
2. Wiss
3. Lufkin
4. Nicholson
5. H.K. Porter
6. Weller
7. Erem
8. Exelite
9. Campbell

OLYMPIA TOOLS:

1. Thorsen
2. Roughneck – shovels picks and such
3. Chronium
4. Work Gear
5. Village blacksmith – Lawn and garden
6. Eurocut blades
7. Babco – Vises and clamps

KLEIN:

1. Vaco

STARRETT – Precision measuring devises

CHANNEL LOCK

MALCO - HVAC STUFF

Waterloo - toolboxes

Granco – ??????

Vim Tools – Durston Manufacturing. USA MADE???

BARCALO BUFFALO - ???

Kraeuter - ????

Herbrand - ??????

Vanadium tool company - ??????

INDESTRO - Indestro was a brand name used by Duro Metal Products Company of Chicago, Illinois.
Duro Metal Products was a well-named company, as they made many, many different types of metal products, including office furnishings, bottle cappers, woodworking power tools, and hand tools.
Duro produced at least 3 different lines of Indestro tools -- Indestro, Indestro Classic, Indestro Super -- ranging from low-price-and-strength stamped sheet steel wrenches to what we would call today "professional quality" tools forged from alloy steel.
In the 1950's through the 1970's, Duro Metal Products made and marketed hand tools under their own Indestro and Duro-Chrome lines, but they made private-label tools for a whole slew of other marketers, including Fairmount Forge, W. T. Grant, True Value Hardware, Western Auto, and Montgomery Ward. (It's worth noting that Montgomery Ward seemingly flitted from vendor to vendor for their mechanics' tools, going from Duro Metal to Wright to Thorsen in about a decade.)
Duro Metal Products fell onto hard times in the 1980's, and in their last days they sold a fair number of wrenches to the US Government stamped with a single Duro-Indestro branding . . . or maybe it was Indestro-Duro, I forget. I don't think I've seen any of the Duro Metal tool lines featured in an auto-parts or hardware store in the last twenty years.

BONNEY - Out of business in 1995

Proamerica – Looks like craftsman – seems to still be in business

Fairmount – Made in Cleveland old tool co, poss bought out or sold in 1934

VLCHEK – The Vlchek Tool Company was founded in Cleveland, Ohio on February 18, 1895 by a blacksmith named Frank J. Vlchek. The company continued to produce mechanic's tools at least until 1969. Sometime prior to 1965, the company became a subsidiary of Pendelton Tool Industries, Inc. The Vlchek Tool Company was then purchased on 6/30/69 by Flambeau Products and tool production was discontinued. Open end wrenches, hammers, screwdrivers, spark plug wrenches, 9" adjustable wrenches and pliers were supplied to Chevrolet by Vlchek. Prior to World War II, Vlchek also sold tools to Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac. They supplied tool kits for Chevrolets up until the year 1966. That was the year that Chevrolet discontinued offering tool kits. The tool kit was a standard item provided with each and every Chevrolet from the beginning of production in 1912 through the year 1948. In 1949, the tool kit became an optional accessory. Generally speaking, the tool kits included: one or two screwdrivers, a pair of pliers, a hammer and a spark plug wrench. The tools were usually housed in a tool bag. Cloth bags were used up until about 1955. After that date, a plastic tool bag was used. The only Chevrolet tools which were stamped with the company name "Vlchek" were some spark plug sockets which were made in the 1950's and 1960's. Many open end wrenches can be found at swap meets with "Vlchek" stamped on the tool, however, it is believed that these tools were sold at local hardware stores and were not included in the Chevrolet tool kits.
The following titles, take you to pages where drawings of each Vlchek tool are found. You will note that most of the tools have dates beside them as to when the specific tool was produced for Chevrolet. Most of the information on Vlchek tools has come from: Chevrolet Parts Catalogs, NOS tool kits from original unrestored Chevrolets and from talking with a Vlchek salesman who had worked at the Vlchek Tool Company from 1946 through the mid 1990's.

DIAMOND - A nice clean vintage wrench from the 1920's-50's era! Diamond Tool and Horseshoe Co. and Diamond Calk and Horseshoe Co. where apparently the same company, the Diamond Tool mark, we believe to be the later mark, or around 1950's era. The design is so close to that of the Crescent Tool Co., one wonders if the two companies were connected in some way. Yet we find no evidence of this in any records regarding these quality tool making companies. We can't find any history about Diamond Tool or Diamond Calk after early 1950. This size is a bit more rare than most of the other sizes in this model.

KAL – Some USA MADE others overseas

TRUECRAFT – still some out there , company as of 1998 ????

Giller - ????

Moore – Possibly made old ford wrenches (Have stamped M)

Sparta - ???

Sears – Old Stanley ???

EASCO – Bought out by Danaher (Changed name???)

Zenal- ???

WIZARD- ???

Western Forge, Inc – Now Emerson

P&C - ?????

PLUMB - ???

Billings?

MAGNA (Poss line under stanley look like old Stanley and MAC)

IVY tool company - IVY Classic (???)

UTICA – Possibly bought out and under Cooper tools

Wakefield - ??

GEDORE- ????

From Paul J. Cirulli

Now that I have a bit of computer time at the library, if I may, let me pick-up, were I left off.

(1) Pennens Corporation, once headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, then entire operations moved to Schiller Park, Illinois. No longer around, bought out.
Manufactured under the following brands:

(a) Pennens
(b) Challenger
(c) Fleet

The Stanley Works may have bought out,
because in later years manufactured the Challenger Line. However I do not know if these tools were made at the Proto Division Plant.

Pay attention to Schiller Park, Illinois manufacturing facility.

(2) S-K Wayne/S-K Tools, Inc./S-K Facom

The S-K facilities were originally in Chicago, Illinois, then to Franklin Park, Illinois and today in Defiance, Ohio.

-BWP

eschoendorff

04-06-2006, 10:34 AM

BWP:

Alll of the VIM tools that I own or have ever seen were marked "Taiwan." I have also seen some VIM tools branded "Pittsburgh" at Harbor Freight.

Does anyone know where the NAPA "Evercraft" tools come from? They are all marked Taiwan, but does anyone know the source company?

kartracer55

04-06-2006, 02:35 PM

BWP... add Fluke meters and Jacobs chucks to the Danaher list, and aparantly J.S. technologies

Blacknwhitepit

04-06-2006, 06:40 PM

Eschoendorff,

About the VIM, I picked one up at a flea market with made in USA. Must have moved their manufacturing overseas... :mad:

-BWP

kartracer55

04-06-2006, 06:47 PM

Eschoendorff,

About the VIM, I picked one up at a flea market with made in USA. Must have moved their manufacturing overseas... :mad:

-BWP\\

BWP dont forget SK Lectrolite. Look up an older thread on this for the full story if your interested

Jim

Blacknwhitepit

04-06-2006, 06:58 PM

Kart,

Thanks for the new info.
I will look for that SK lectrolite thread. As I recall SK has been with a few companies.

-BWP

Blacknwhitepit

04-06-2006, 07:07 PM

This yahoo link is interesting. God knows how many tool manufacturers in Taiwan are not on the web.

http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Taiwan/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/Home_and_Garden/Hardware/Tool_Manufacturers

nkfro

04-06-2006, 08:33 PM

Bahco, division of Snap-on, made in Sweden.

kartracer55

04-06-2006, 08:37 PM

Bahco, division of Snap-on, made in Sweden.

I believe Bahco tools are made here. I have seen a few things by them marked USA

MarkH

04-06-2006, 09:04 PM

Bahco. You have to look at the made in sticker. I have seen a lot of it made in Europe, mainly Sweden, but I have seen some of it made in the USA.

nkfro

04-07-2006, 05:43 PM

I believe Bahco tools are made here. I have seen a few things by them marked USA

My Bahco 9" linemans pliers, 8" diagonal pliers, ergo 20-12 ga. strippers and 7" needlenose al marked Sweden as well as the Bahco 'toolbox' handsaw. Website also indicates Swedish and European manufacture.

l_bilyk

04-21-2006, 08:34 AM

Don't gforget, some makita stuff is made in germany
I have a german makita drill

eschoendorff

04-21-2006, 06:35 PM

My Bahco 9" linemans pliers, 8" diagonal pliers, ergo 20-12 ga. strippers and 7" needlenose al marked Sweden as well as the Bahco 'toolbox' handsaw. Website also indicates Swedish and European manufacture.

My Bahco saws (Sweden and Germany) are among my favorite tools. I will pull out my Bahco crosscut hand saw before any of my power tools, just becuase of the quailty of cut. Bahco saws - highly recommended!

Willy Victor

05-11-2006, 08:23 PM

Kartracer: I know that WF designation on crafty sdrivers goes back at least to the 1960's cause my dads crafty sdrivers has the WF on them too, and they are from that era! I find that WF thing quite interesting, I always wondered what that meant.

I just checked my Craftsman screwdriver collection and some have WF. Some have PR. You have just solved one of the great mysteries of the Twentieh Century err Twenty First Century. You learn something new every day:beer:

Willy

kartracer55

05-11-2006, 08:33 PM

I just checked my Craftsman screwdriver collection and some have WF. Some have PR. You have just solved one of the great mysteries of the Twentieh Century err Twenty First Century. You learn something new every day:beer:

Willy

Nope... it lives on

I guy told me he just bought one witha "G" on it :dunno:

Nobody knows for sure, some people thing the Gastonia plant but I have no idea

Jim

Willy Victor

05-11-2006, 08:47 PM

Don't gforget, some makita stuff is made in germany
I have a german makita drill

I have a Makita 4 1/2 grinder made in China soab.

Willy:lol_hitti

pl_silverado

05-30-2006, 12:58 PM

I dont see Hilti Tools on that list.... :headscrat

whackywaxer

05-31-2006, 08:54 PM

KING DICK.........it is an English company very old which makes wrenchs and sockets.....and other Whitworth tools needed to work on old English cars.

whackywaxer

05-31-2006, 08:59 PM

KING DICK is a British company which makes the Whitworth (like metric or SAE) sockets and wrenchs needed to work on older English autos.

ZRX61

08-15-2006, 05:33 PM

Someone mentioned Gedore, I have some of their stuff, it's German.
Also:
Britool was tied up with Facom at one point, don't know if it still is. Facom is an abbrev for Franco American something.

boiler7904

08-17-2006, 11:32 PM

Here's a link to Yetmans (http://www.yetmans.mb.ca/tools.html); a directory of tool manufacturer web sites. Other pages on the site list all kinds of lawn / landscaping equipment and resoures.

dink

08-23-2006, 07:37 AM

Here are some additional manufacturers and descriptions

Robert Schroder ........Made in Germany: Screwdrivers, wood working hand tools, Tap wrenches, etc.

Tajima........mostly made in China...few made in Japan....construction tools, tape measures, utility knives

PLS......Construction grade laser levels

Robotoolz........Construction grade laser levels

Agatec.......Construction grade laser levels

arkracing

12-27-2006, 04:42 PM

DANAHER TOOLS:

Allen
Armstrong
1. K-D Tools
2. Holo-Krome - fasteners
Matco Tools
Sata - Chinese made (Uses MATCO Emblem!!)
Spline Gauges – England
Iseli - precision measurements

Makes Kobalt line
Makes Craftsman line
Makes NAPA Line

-BWP

I have a question: Danaher - do they "Make" Armstong tools or are they just the owners?? - I see that you have clearly marked that they "MAKE" the Craftsman Line...but didn't do that with the Armstrong.

thefairlaneman

12-27-2006, 05:13 PM

If harbor freight has the tool that will do the job I dont care if they are made on Venus,,,,,,,,,,,,,,saving money is the name of the game

eschoendorff

12-27-2006, 06:34 PM

I have a question: Danaher - do they "Make" Armstong tools or are they just the owners?? - I see that you have clearly marked that they "MAKE" the Craftsman Line...but didn't do that with the Armstrong.
Danaher is the conglomerate that owns Armstrong... and Allen and Matco, etc. They make the stuff and then sell it under like 8000 brand names. Oh, and don't forget GearWrench... also a Danaher company. But wait - there's more! Just found out yesterday that Jacobs (as in Jacobs drill chucks) is also a Danaher subsidiary too.

arkracing

12-27-2006, 07:35 PM

Danaher is the conglomerate that owns Armstrong... and Allen and Matco, etc. They make the stuff and then sell it under like 8000 brand names. Oh, and don't forget GearWrench... also a Danaher company. But wait - there's more! Just found out yesterday that Jacobs (as in Jacobs drill chucks) is also a Danaher subsidiary too.

Umm ok...so they make craftsman & armstrong - are the Armstrong line just as crappy or are they better? I've been using an Armstrong Ratchet that is a buddy of mine's and I really like it....seems similar in design to the Snap-On Ratches and has the fine tooth gearing. Is it going to give me the same issues as the Craftsman ratchets:confused: :wtf: :mad:

I didn't realize that Armstrong & Craftsman & Matco were all made by the same company until today when I ordered a couple of the Armstrong Ratches from Fastenal (that is the only local dealer and they don't stock them). I hope I'm not getting just another crappy craftsman with a differant name on it.

Or should I just cancel the order, bite the bullet and buy a couple of Snap-On's and A couple of SK's for back up if the snappy breaks and I can't get it fixed for a week?

eschoendorff

12-27-2006, 09:16 PM

Umm ok...so they make craftsman & armstrong - are the Armstrong line just as crappy or are they better? I've been using an Armstrong Ratchet that is a buddy of mine's and I really like it....seems similar in design to the Snap-On Ratches and has the fine tooth gearing. Is it going to give me the same issues as the Craftsman ratchets:confused: :wtf: :mad:

I didn't realize that Armstrong & Craftsman & Matco were all made by the same company until today when I ordered a couple of the Armstrong Ratches from Fastenal (that is the only local dealer and they don't stock them). I hope I'm not getting just another crappy craftsman with a differant name on it.

Or should I just cancel the order, bite the bullet and buy a couple of Snap-On's and A couple of SK's for back up if the snappy breaks and I can't get it fixed for a week?

Oh no... you can relax. Armstrong is Danaher's industrial line. Kinda like Proto is to Stanley. I have some Armstrong stuff... most notably a 1/2" drive metric socket set, and it is heavy duty. I don't doubt it's quality at all. If you are really concerned about buggering up your ratchet, invest in a good breaker bar. Just picked up a 24" SK myself.:thumbup:

wantedabiggergarage

12-28-2006, 12:14 PM

Oh no... you can relax. Armstrong is Danaher's industrial line. Kinda like Proto is to Stanley. I have some Armstrong stuff... most notably a 1/2" drive metric socket set, and it is heavy duty. I don't doubt it's quality at all. If you are really concerned about buggering up your ratchet, invest in a good breaker bar. Just picked up a 24" SK myself.:thumbup:

As far as I know, the ONLY thing that runs down the same assembly line in the Armstrong and Craftsman ranges, are the USA made Gearwrenchs. All the other Gearwrenchs are oversea's, and the Craftsman's are a different design then the Armstrong (just same factory).

mulepackin

01-09-2007, 10:14 PM

kartracer55

01-09-2007, 10:20 PM

Browsing the tool isles of a local farm supply store and notice a Channellock adustable wrench. It looked funny, so studied it more closely. Stamped on the end was simply SPAIN. What the hell?:headscrat :headscrat

This is a damn good wrench. I have litterally hammered on these things. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name of the Spanish Adustable wrench company, but they are regarded as being some of the best. I will ask somebody now and try to find the name of the company for you. I have also seen spanish made wrenches branded as anglo.

I will tyr and find out the name of the wrench maker for you as well

Jim

bmwpower

01-09-2007, 10:24 PM

This is a damn good wrench. I have litterally hammered on these things. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name of the Spanish Adustable wrench company, but they are regarded as being some of the best. I will ask somebody now and try to find the name of the company for you.

Jim

Wouldn't be Omega, would it?

kartracer55

01-09-2007, 10:30 PM

Wouldn't be Omega, would it?

I think that might be it. Ive never seen one of these things, but If I come across one I would probably pick it up to see for myself.

Surprisingly, I find Craftsman Adjustable wrenches to be VERY high quality tools. The fit is very tight on these, they arnt loose like alot of others.

bmwpower

01-09-2007, 10:38 PM

I think that might be it. Ive never seen one of these things, but If I come across one I would probably pick it up to see for myself.

Surprisingly, I find Craftsman Adjustable wrenches to be VERY high quality tools. The fit is very tight on these, they arnt loose like alot of others.

If it is, it's a lucky guess. The only tool I have that is made in Spain is this pair of small wire cutters. Yellow handle. Stamped on one side - "Omega....Spain".

mulepackin

01-09-2007, 10:39 PM

I agree with you on the Craftsman adjustable wrench. I bought a 12in. Klein off Ebay last year. I have always been satisfied with the quality of Klein tools. This however was an exception. Chrome flaking off to the point it digs into your hand. It's light and thin. Jaws are pretty tight and do open slightly more than the Craftsman, but I think that is an option in the 12" Klein.

ImportTuner

01-10-2007, 02:08 PM

If harbor freight has the tool that will do the job I dont care if they are made on Venus,,,,,,,,,,,,,,saving money is the name of the game
You also get what you pay for; Harbor Freight tools may not last long enough for you to finish the job ..

kartracer55

01-10-2007, 08:31 PM

You also get what you pay for; Harbor Freight tools may not last long enough for you to finish the job ..

Haha I have heard some of horror stories about HF power tools & machinery

Boise-69

01-10-2007, 10:31 PM

A&E - A&E Hand Tools - Located in Racine, WI - full manufacturing

TheDesigner

01-26-2007, 03:41 PM

milwalkie is owned by TTI now which is not a US company

-lecroix-

01-26-2007, 03:43 PM

Milwaukee .... www.milwaukeetool.com/

Abodyracer

01-30-2007, 02:39 AM

Delta Machinery-Wood working, USA, www.deltamachinery.com

Coleman Powermate-Air compressures & tools, pressure washers, generators, USA, www.colemanpowermate.com

Karcher- Pressure washers & accs, country of origin and website unknown

Superior Tool- Plumbing tools & Accs, USA, www.superiortool.com

These are just a few that I did not see on the list. I've used a few of each brand and I think they are all top quality product.

BuckGrover

02-01-2007, 09:36 PM

I did not see Par-X mentioned anywhere in this thread. Par-X is a Snap On connected brand, that has been pretty much dropped. However, the current Bluepoint wrench numbering system seems to have come from the Par-X line. IE-a B024 is now a 3/4" Bluepoint combination wrench, and once was the same number in Par-X. Similarly, the same thing happened with vintage Blue Point and Snap On. A SnapOn 3/4" Combination wrench with 12 point box is today an OEX-24, in the 1930's to 1950's Blue Point wrenches were sold as this model. (Snap On was pretty much sockets in the early days, and the wrenches were sold as Blue Point.)

edl

03-14-2007, 01:09 PM

US General Air Compressors - private label for Harbor Freight, actually made in the USA by ABAC in South Carolina.

lbgradwell

03-21-2007, 04:04 AM

jim m

03-30-2007, 12:29 PM

ok guys I bought some used tools and got a 3/8 10 inch exstion marked speedmaster made the usa 84-4845
but when I do a google search all I find are links to omega watchs and tryuph (spelling) motercycles but nothing on the tools
any leads

Jim
well here is some more to add to the list I have some western giant wrenchs that were grand dads that are stamped made in the usa as well as miltex marked west germany that were great grands Ill try to get info on them from my uncle who was born and raised in germany
jim

skirk55

04-15-2007, 02:08 PM

Deafautotech

04-15-2007, 02:54 PM

I purchased Evercraft tools from Napa Auto Parts. I like them the ratchets are lighter and more comfortable than Craftsman. Who makes them? The one thing that I can't understand is why Evercraft makes a deep well 1/2" drive 18 mm but not a short 18 mm?

i dont own any evercrafts because i am easy to break it.... i did use one 3/8dr 15mm univeral jount socket and it is sloppy and broke it after use once...:headscrat

evercraft tools are make all sizes but problem is that set dont come with all size sometime.....

reversegear

05-24-2007, 09:54 PM

Danaher is the conglomerate that owns Armstrong... and Allen and Matco, etc. They make the stuff and then sell it under like 8000 brand names. Oh, and don't forget GearWrench... also a Danaher company.

Gearwrench is the brand. The companies that make it are Lea Way Hand Tool Corporation (Taiwan) and Sata (China). The trademark is owned by Easco.

ImportTuner

05-24-2007, 11:54 PM

Gearwrench is the brand. The companies that make it are Lea Way Hand Tool Corporation (Taiwan) and Sata (China). The trademark is owned by Easco.

Wow ... Sata tools is part of the Danaher tool group ... and they are using the Matco logo/emblem ...
http://www.satatools.com.sg/contact.php :(

Jononon

06-01-2007, 03:01 PM

Snap-On really should have a 'mostly USA' tag. They're really good at promoting the idea that all their tools are US made, but they opened their second Chinese factory this year, the first, which makes edged tools and screwdrivers, has been open a couple of years.

"[CEO Jack] Michaels said Snap-on will continue to shift some production to lower-cost regions. The company opened its first factory in China a couple of years ago and is building a second plant for hacksaw blades."

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20070202/ai_n17204689

Roospike

06-01-2007, 04:26 PM

Snap-On in China should mean less $$ for the tools , I'm sure Snap-On wouldnt screw its customers and not pass on the savings . :lol_hitti

-lecroix-

06-01-2007, 04:30 PM

Snap-On in China should mean less $$ for the tools , I'm sure Snap-On wouldnt screw its customers and not pass on the savings . :lol_hitti

Oh, I'm sure. :bounce:

Jononon

06-01-2007, 04:50 PM

Snap-On in China should mean less $$ for the tools , I'm sure Snap-On wouldnt screw its customers and not pass on the savings . :lol_hitti

I see what you did there :spit:

kidney

06-04-2007, 03:29 AM

Karcher is a German company. Although, their website is made in Tennessee by a very hot Southern Gal.

kidney

07-23-2007, 01:03 AM

I do not believe that JH Williams stuff is made across the water, nor do I think most Lisle stuff is.

Some of there stuff is and some isn't. I picked up some JH William's tools for back ups on ebay not too long ago. I picked up two 3/8 socket sets Metric and SAE. It would seem they are made in Taiwan. I got a good deal on them and I think that is why. I also picked up a deep 3/8 set and they are marked USA. After looking at their catalog, it seems that they have sets made in the USA and others that don't say where they are made. The Williams markings are different from the USA made ones and the ones that are of unknown origin. The unknown ones are written in more of a script and the USA ones have more of a stamped look to them. Hope that helps...

I was helping out a guy at work today, in his pack of tools he had one wrench marked "Jensen" and was made in the USA. He didn't know much about it, though.

chevy302dz

07-23-2007, 01:41 AM

Jensen is one of Stanley's companies that deals primarily with the electronics field.

wrenchr

07-30-2007, 06:41 AM

alot of Mac tool's are being made in china or taiwan now.
Their new Mac edge series, ratchet wrenchs, socket's.
their gearless ratchets.

-lecroix-

08-05-2007, 11:25 PM

Here's what I found about ZIPP AIR TOOLS :

ZIPP TOOL provides the best quality and innovate professional air tools to meet the cutting,filing,surface finishing and fastening needs of industries. With decades of experience as an OEM supplier to pneumatic and hydraulic tool and equipment manufacturers in Europe, Japan and States, you can count on us and keep the price down with the best and well selected air tools on the market today.

The ZIPP patented tools is not just an ordinary tool with evolutionary look, they are not just powerful, lightweight and ergonomic as most of the professional tools on the market. But more user friendly features like, vibration reduction and noise reduction helps prevent work related injuries due to noise and vibration.

http://www.zipptool.com

As you guys can see in their website, there are some of tools & accessories which are the same as those "BIG" branded boys.

I quite like the idea of composite housing & vibration/shock reduced tool they make and you guys should really check it out their "Air pipe saw"! I just love the feeling with it in my hands.......:beer:

You sir, are a jack ass on an entirely new level.

MustangFJ

10-11-2007, 11:22 PM

I don't know if anyone is still updating this. Off the top of my head, here are a few notes on big three portable power tool manufacturers:
-Black & Decker now owns Porter-Cable and Delta and makes some Craftsman
-Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) in Hong Kong now owns Ryobi & Milwaukee. They also make all of the Ridgid cordless tools for Emerson & a few Craftsman tools for Sears. Some of this stuff is still made in the USA but I don’t know how long that will last. (Emerson still makes the other Ridgid products.)
-The Bosch groups owns Bosch, Skil, Rotozip, Dremel and makes some Craftsman – Some USA, some elsewhere

I guess none of these are really tied to any nation anymore. The are all multinational conglomerates owned by shareholders all over the world with operations and sales all over the world.

eschoendorff

10-12-2007, 05:30 AM

I guess none of these are really tied to any nation anymore. The are all multinational conglomerates owned by shareholders all over the world with operations and sales all over the world.

And quality control that is all over the map too. :(

milkovich

10-15-2007, 12:21 PM

1st post:

Ko-Ken tools, Japan. www.koken-tool.co.jp/en/

I have a set of sockets (whitworth)- Quality is very good.

King Dick Tools, England. www.Kingdicktools.co.uk

I have a set of wrenches, quality is fair to good.

Brandon_Lutz

10-23-2007, 10:15 PM

I'd like to add a couple:

Wen Tools-They make several power tools from buffers, drills, saws, to electric knife sharpeners. I have a couple of their power tools and back in the day they were made in the USA, but now they are made in China.

I found this out unfortunately after I bought two of their knife sharpeners for my dad and uncle last year for Christmas. Same model, design and etc of the old USA made one but made in China now :( http://www.wenproducts.com/

Another tool maker I did not see here is Lenox. They make saws, hole saws, torch equipment and etc. Made in usa. Website: http://www.lenoxsaw.com/

tony p

11-05-2007, 09:16 AM

I don't know if Maun handtools make it overseas in big numbers;
much of what they do is perhaps a bit off-topic for most of the posters here, but one of their specialities is parallel-jaws pliers which I find useful for all sorts of odd tasks, both 'proper' and 'bodging', or fiddly assembly routines, or holding some small loose-but-in-situ component steady whilst committing some act of violence upon it.

here http://www.maun-industries.co.uk/search.asp?cmbCategory=Parallel+Action+Pliers

krusty the clown

11-18-2007, 04:08 PM

[QUOTE=ImportTuner;107076]Wow ... Sata tools is part of the Danaher tool group ... and they are using the Matco logo/emblem ...
http://www.satatools.com.sg/contact.php :([/QUOTE

sata is the name matco markets under in japan...........i don't beleive they are associated with sata the spray gun mfr but i could be wrong. a lot has changed since i was a matco distributor.

kartracer55

11-18-2007, 04:58 PM

alot of Mac tool's are being made in china or taiwan now.
Their new Mac edge series, ratchet wrenchs, socket's.
their gearless ratchets.

MAc has turned into a lot of garbage. The only MAC stuff I have are 3 impact sockets (17,18,19) which I bought, Ironically, on a snap on truck. Brand new, 15$ bought them all.

Jim

Deafautotech

11-18-2007, 05:03 PM

MAc has turned into a lot of garbage. The only MAC stuff I have are 3 impact sockets (17,18,19) which I bought, Ironically, on a snap on truck. Brand new, 15$ bought them all.

Jim

yeah i am agree with you... but mac tools still sell Made in USA ratchet, wrenches, and sockets... but for gearless wrench or ratchet or even edge sockets are made in oversea...

kartracer55

11-18-2007, 05:07 PM

yeah i am agree with you... but mac tools still sell Made in USA ratchet, wrenches, and sockets... but for gearless wrench or ratchet or even edge sockets are made in oversea...

I will not buy MAC for the primary concern that It is questionable whether or not they willbe making their products here in the US in 10 or 15 years.

eschoendorff

11-18-2007, 07:16 PM

I will not buy MAC for the primary concern that It is questionable whether or not they willbe making their products here in the US in 10 or 15 years.

Yup... and there's nothing that they make that Snap On or Matco can't make better. :beer:

Deafautotech

11-18-2007, 08:23 PM

i am understand that you are worry about the tools if you buy the tools and few years later or even 10 years later, the replacement are oversea made.. it will be very frustion for youself and myself too... that why i just had choice by Craftsman or Snap on tools...

krusty the clown

11-24-2007, 12:48 PM

Yup... and there's nothing that they make that Snap On or Matco can't make better. :beer:

matco doesn't actually manufacture anything.......the are nothing more than a warehouse distributor. at one time matco only made tool boxes as a part of mac allied tools. thats what MATCO stads for Mac Allied Tool COmpany.

remember that a portion of matco's tools a made by sunnex. sunnex has always been a japanese company. i believe almost all of the impact sockets as well as the jacks, cherry pickers, engine stands and jack stands are sunnex. under danaher the product line has changed and most hard line is of danaher manufacture, the same tools as kd, easco, napa, and craftsman. all of those brands are available with the same warranty, made in the same plant, and cost signficantly less.......the same wrenches matco sells for $250 can be bought for $50.

krusty the clown

11-24-2007, 12:58 PM

in addition, MAC tools were made by cornwell in the beginning then by new brittain ( a stanley company ). for a while in the late 70's mac was struggling to stay in business. matco split off from mac in 79 and continued to sell them tool boxes. under stanley mac tools were sold at hardware stores stamped stanley. i belive staney's only reason for buying mac was that mac was stanley's biggest customer and couldn't afford to lose thier business.

eschoendorff

11-24-2007, 10:45 PM

matco doesn't actually manufacture anything.......the are nothing more than a warehouse distributor. at one time matco only made tool boxes as a part of mac allied tools. thats what MATCO stads for Mac Allied Tool COmpany.

remember that a portion of matco's tools a made by sunnex. sunnex has always been a japanese company. i believe almost all of the impact sockets as well as the jacks, cherry pickers, engine stands and jack stands are sunnex. under danaher the product line has changed and most hard line is of danaher manufacture, the same tools as kd, easco, napa, and craftsman. all of those brands are available with the same warranty, made in the same plant, and cost signficantly less.......the same wrenches matco sells for $250 can be bought for $50.

I did not know that!

I always thought that the Matco wrenches and the craftsman pro (as well as NAPA pro) wrenches looked the same....

SpiderGearsMan

11-24-2007, 11:08 PM

danaher - allen , alltec,armstrong,fluke,gearwrench,gilbarco,jacobs chuck
,k-d,matco
spx-kent moore ,otc , miller tool , robinair,technotest,tif,actron,valley forge,auto xray ,sunpro,faze gauge , kal equip

krusty the clown

11-25-2007, 01:29 PM

kartracer55

11-25-2007, 04:24 PM

Im pretty sure that Krusty here is dead wrong. Sunex International INC. is a US based company. They own a factory in china, but also have suppliers in the United States and Japan. (certain air tools are of Japanese manufacture, shop presses are made in USA). Sunex is more of an importer than an actual tool manufacturer. They were caught up in a lawsuit a few years back with a few other similar companies for selling chinese made creepers that the courts ruled to be too similar to one patented in the USA.

Matco Impact sockets are produced in the USA. And Once again, he is dead wrong. If you compare a Craftsman Impact to a Matco impact and to a Sunex, you will find that they are all very different in terms of dimensions and features. Matco and Craftsman Chrome sockets are totally different as well. Matco's have a thinner wall around the hex but a thicker drive end. I wouldn't be surprised to hear Sunex manufactures their silver eagle line, but I know for a fact that they do not manufacture their impact sockets as you stated.

Also, There are variations between craftsman pro and Matco wrenches. Mostly in the dimensions of the open ends and certain features of the wrench. Sunex does manufacture several MAC tools, however. There are photo's floating around of cardboard boxes with MAC labels on them in the Sunex warehouse.

Dont be stupid; dont spew information you can't back up.

krusty the clown

11-25-2007, 05:55 PM

SpiderGearsMan

11-25-2007, 06:09 PM

all of my eighties vintage sunex junk was made in S Korea
my matco engine crane is made in s korea

eschoendorff

11-25-2007, 08:44 PM

Also, There are variations between craftsman pro and Matco wrenches. Mostly in the dimensions of the open ends and certain features of the wrench.

Dont be stupid; dont spew information you can't back up.

Got some measurements to back this up?

wk96

02-12-2008, 08:51 PM

Hi all, I'm new to the site I was reading this thread about tool manufacturer's, I worked for a company here in NE Ohio that produced hand tools, these tools are supplied to Sears, Ridge, Matco, SK, Klein, Snap-On, and I'm sure they have added more since I left. They were using a lot of Chinese components on their products, They were also jumping in bed with a Company in China that was offering to produce the tools and package them in their country. The one item that really upset me was they were not changing the "Made in the USA" logo on the packaging and on the tools. I guess it's buyer beware anymore. I remember when Craftsmen tools were all made in the USA. The one great thing was I was able to re-supply my tool box and supply friends and relatives with new tools. :beer:

unsung

02-18-2008, 11:30 AM

Snap-On's timing lights are made in Mexico, so are their jumper cables. Their YA700B floor jack has parts from Taiwan.

Most, if not all, of their hand tools are Made in USA. I'm now afraid to know where the steel comes from after reading that previous reply.

rsanter

02-18-2008, 10:25 PM

Black&Decker ownes:
Dewalt, ELU (in europe), Delta, American Standard (sinks and such), and several other companies

bob

automan

02-19-2008, 01:45 AM

anyone know who made DaytoN tools. I just picked up a 1/2 ratchet at a flea market. It has the finest tooth I've ever seen........even on a 1/4 ratchet. It says Chicago usa, but has no part #. I have a few Dayton odds and ends and all seem to be good.

NSXTACY

02-22-2008, 11:38 AM

Makita makes the best power tools of anybody. If i couldn't get a makita i'd get a millwakuee. I use matco handtools as well. Hobart and Miller for my welding.

wrenchr

02-22-2008, 11:03 PM

Don't bogart my hobart!!!

toolmaven

02-28-2008, 12:44 AM

Hey, I'm new to this but Don't forget Armstrong, also part of Danaher and Williams, now part of Snap-On, but alas, now in part imported from Asia.

Another unknown is Granco (not a Grainger's brand) that makes "over the top-notch" tools for the Military and Aviation markets, as well as some specialty tools sold under other brand names.

They make the 36" pin-lock adjustable wrench that sells for about $400.

Also, think about NGK Berylco and Ampco (not the car-parts Ampco) makers of insanely expensive Beryllium-Copper and Aluminum Bronze non-sparking, non-magnetic tools.

Another safety tool line is Cementex, makers of insulated tools - anybody work on Hybrids yet? Klein of course, also does insulated, being an electrician's line.

toolmaven

02-28-2008, 01:07 AM

I noticed some dead ends listed.

Herbrand made nice tools but has gone in the last few years. I saw a bunch of sockets & wrenches hit the surplus market in Alabama about 4 years ago. I bought some flex sockers & big metric combos to 32mm; I hope they hold up: 'taint no warranty, y'all.

Wizard, gone for far longer.

Diamond was one company with Bonney and Utica. Diamond lives on as a brand of farrier tools within the Cooper Group, Utica is Cooper's torque tool company and Bonney is just gone.

Giller, Billings, Lectrolite and Barcalo are also among the long-dead.

Plumb is a Cooper division making hammers, mostly in China these days.
Plomb (completely different) became Proto.

Pexto was fantastic, making general shop and sheet metal tools, now only makes big presses.

Miller's Falls is another USA tool company to lament the passing of!

Kraeuter (older tools are marked Newark, NJ) became S-K.

-Toolmaven

T56 Impala

02-29-2008, 01:47 PM

So, without starting an arguement, are Sunnex or Toppul wrenches any good? Just curious as I have seen them on the 'bay.

eschoendorff

03-01-2008, 06:17 AM

So, without starting an arguement, are Sunnex or Toppul wrenches any good? Just curious as I have seen them on the 'bay.

Sunex and Toptul are typical Taiwanese stuff. Nothing special.

wrenchr

03-03-2008, 01:03 AM

Sunex and Toptul are typical Taiwanese stuff. Nothing special.

Yes taiwan jap crap for sure!!

strizzy

03-03-2008, 01:18 AM

So, without starting an arguement, are Sunnex or Toppul wrenches any good? Just curious as I have seen them on the 'bay.

Sunex, NOPE! have two sets in my truck box, although super cheap and I consider a value for tools to have on hand, I would never use them over a raised-panel Craftsman.

lauver

03-12-2008, 11:17 PM

Kartracer55,

Western Forge is no longer a division of Emerson. WF was acquired by MW Universal (???) in 2007 and is now located in Colorado. The WF screwdriver plant in Murphy NC was shut down in 2006.

Stumbled onto this while researching tool companies for another thread. Hope it helps.

creatureofthewheel

03-14-2008, 10:14 PM

eschoendorff

03-15-2008, 06:02 AM

hi yall. I'm new here, been lookin around and I love it!! ya'll are my people! tool manufacture list is great. my contributions are Heyco of Germany ,Hazet of Germany , and Hozan of Japan. can I mention a retail tool site here?

Hozan? Never heard of them yet... do tell....

a little research yields this:

http://www.hozan.co.jp/english/

oh, and welcome! :beer:

creatureofthewheel

03-17-2008, 04:44 PM

hozan are industrial and bicycle tool manufacture. really nice forgings.
Heyco are the sweetest stuff from ger. hozan are distributed through www.ikasinc.com and heyco is distributed through wiha and samstagsales.com. wiha have $1000 giveaway each month. $100 order gets ya entered. and people really win!!!!! i won the first time i ordered, it really helped fill my Hazet 162c Assistent with goodness:bounce:

creatureofthewheel

03-17-2008, 04:46 PM

and thanx for the warm welcome dude, cheers!!!!:thumbup:

grzmonkey

03-20-2008, 06:03 PM

Beware of IR .... they are now a Bermuda company to avoid US taxes and the majority of their line is from China ...very little from US or Japan...231, 244, 261, 285 etc.

Coach James

03-21-2008, 12:03 AM

There is an IR factory about 10 miles up the road from where I live.

Coach

eschoendorff

03-21-2008, 08:15 AM

There is an IR factory about 10 miles up the road from where I live.

Coach

Do you know what tools do they make there?

Coach James

03-25-2008, 09:54 AM

According to the company website for Southern Pines:

Products Description:
Manufactures internal combustion engines parts & accessories; manufactures motor vehicle parts & accessories; manufactures relays & industrial controls; manufactures hand tools; manufactures power hand tools

The facility is pretty big, several acres big. The company description for their plant in Davidson NC lists different items being produced there.

Coach

Marlin

03-31-2008, 08:03 AM

Beware of IR .... they are now a Bermuda company to avoid US taxes and the majority of their line is from China ...very little from US or Japan...231, 244, 261, 285 etc.

Your statement is not 100% accurate.

eschoendorff

03-31-2008, 09:15 AM

Your statement is not 100% accurate.

Care to elaborate on that?

Marlin

03-31-2008, 11:59 AM

Care to elaborate on that?

Sure. First off, I am pretty new on here but have been pretty upfront that I have ties to IR. That being said, I have not come on here to bash other companies or to try to sell IR product, I have tried to offer assistance on air tools where I can and correct any misinformation. By looking at his 8 post history, it would appear that grzmonkey is employed at CP and he seems more inclined to want to bash other companies (mostly IR) and hype CP products, that's fine, I believe in the end IR products speak for themselves. Regarding his statement, yes IR is incorporated in Bermuda but they still pay plenty of US taxes, the same amount as CP would pay since they are owned by Atlas Copco, a Swedish Co. Next, he said most of the IR line is made in China and then listed 4 products, of which 2 are made in PA and 1 has production split between the US and China. He also failed to mention anything about the 2135, 2115, 2141, 2190, etc. lines, becasue they are all made in PA. That being said, I can tell you that the same manufacturing and quality standards are adhered to in IR factories, regardless of the location. Hope this helps to clarify.

eschoendorff

03-31-2008, 12:16 PM

Sure. First off, I am pretty new on here but have been pretty upfront that I have ties to IR. That being said, I have not come on here to bash other companies or to try to sell IR product, I have tried to offer assistance on air tools where I can and correct any misinformation. By looking at his 8 post history, it would appear that grzmonkey is employed at CP and he seems more inclined to want to bash other companies (mostly IR) and hype CP products, that's fine, I believe in the end IR products speak for themselves. Regarding his statement, yes IR is incorporated in Bermuda but they still pay plenty of US taxes, the same amount as CP would pay since they are owned by Atlas Copco, a Swedish Co. Next, he said most of the IR line is made in China and then listed 4 products, of which 2 are made in PA and 1 has production split between the US and China. He also failed to mention anything about the 2135, 2115, 2141, 2190, etc. lines, becasue they are all made in PA. That being said, I can tell you that the same manufacturing and quality standards are adhered to in IR factories, regardless of the location. Hope this helps to clarify.

It does. I really hadn't paid too much attention to grzmonkey's posts, but when I see a single post that says something to the effect that someone's statement is not 100% correct, it needs some rationale or else it's just bickering. :thumbup:

MAD

04-11-2008, 09:14 PM

I found this fairly comprehensive list of automotive tool manufacturers the other day.

http://www.autotechs.info/

mad4tools

04-19-2008, 09:02 AM

Hi guys,

im just a newbie here, first i like to say you guys are great.

some words of wisdom i have to offer.
1. when it comes to hand tools, especially combination open and box wrenches there is no wrench out there that feels as good as a stahlwille and for quality stahlwille tools are second to none

2. i just purchaced a blue point depth micrometer "MADE IN CHINA" right across the front of the box. i was a bit scepticle but price was right. Yet to compare it up against the mitutoyo we have at work.

3. I have bahco adjustable wrenches with the soft grip handle, 6"-12" very good. I also believe the snap on adjustable wrenches are the bahco restamped with "snap on" and 2 -3 times the price also have facom 15" and 18" also very good.

lauver

04-19-2008, 02:04 PM

SpiderGearsMan

04-19-2008, 04:09 PM

bermuda company ? hell , they are just trying to save their shareholders money from our neosocialist congress
I applaude them

Coach James

04-20-2008, 01:34 AM

All the Gardner Bender hand tools I have looked at were made in Taiwan or China. I bought 4 pairs of their needle nose pliers for my classroom. They are ok..not fantastic but not terrible either.

Coach

dumbandhappy

05-18-2008, 11:04 PM

Bostich makes now makes 95% of their nails and guns in the USA, I sell them for a living as I work for the largest Bostich distributor in the country. There could still be some China mde nails out there but they are old stock, Bostitch had too many issues with going overseas, quality control, and shipping times being the worst.

dumbandhappy

05-18-2008, 11:09 PM

bermuda company ? hell , they are just trying to save their shareholders money from our neosocialist congress
I applaude them

Stanley Works tried this as well goingto Bermuda with on room office as headquarters for a mutli billion dollar company. It back fired on them, and they pulled back. Knowing several people that work for them, they say compnaies liek Home Depot and Walmart put so much pressure on them to seel cheaper they have no choice as WalMart and Depot threaten to buy more from overseas companies that dont have to pay these taxes. Its bad cycle for sure.

dumbandhappy

05-18-2008, 11:12 PM

American tool now goes by the name Irwin on everything, there is no American Tool anymore, all owned by Newell Rubbermaid, also on your list Marathon is all under the Irwin brand now. Marathon saw blades that is. Some blades made in USA some sourced out all over even Australia. Hanson, Speedbot and Unibit as well is sold under Irwin as well.

dumbandhappy

05-18-2008, 11:20 PM

any of yall old enough to remember Blue Grass Tools ? Sold in hardware stores in the Mid South for years and years, used to be owned by a company in Lousiville Ky, called Belknap hardware, went out of business in 1985

dumbandhappy

05-18-2008, 11:44 PM

Damn shame about Diamond brand, they were a good line of tools.

only thing left in Diamond is ferrer tools for using on horses,all owned by Cooper

wilbilt

05-19-2008, 06:16 AM

only thing left in Diamond is ferrer tools for using on horses,all owned by Cooper

I bought a set of Diamond pliers at TSC a couple of weeks ago. I had seen them in there around Christmas for $30+ and had noted they were made in China.

There was one set left and it was on clearance for $8.99 so I bought it. Frustrating that the package says "Made in China" on the back in tiny print, but there is nothing on the tools themselves to indicate where they came from.

They don't seem too horrible. Time will tell. They will go in the truck box with all of the other "I don't care if they get stolen" tools.

dumbandhappy

05-19-2008, 10:15 PM

I think the last American made Diamond product was a fence plier

btw I saw an American Tool saw blade tonight at WAlly world so I guess that Irwin/rubbermaid is still using that brand name for either Walart exclusivly or the big box stores but its not sold thru hardware stores for sure.

mojorissin

05-22-2008, 06:27 AM

matco tools are mostly china import however have the big us price,
mac is Stanley and they pay other companies to build the air tools .
cornwell ?you might as well go to harbor freight !
Snap on still USA / with some import for the Price shoppers

Flat_Head_Rat_Rod

05-25-2008, 08:52 PM

Channellock Ratchets and wrenches sold at Sam's Club are made by Allied from China plus just picked up a set of channellock screwdrivers made by the same company from china they are perrty good quality and are full shank style. :headscrat Why would a good company do something likew that ? Allie also makes tools for goodyear brand sold at Pep boys
The new Kobalt stainless steel tool boxes are made is china don't Know who isthe manufacturer.

eschoendorff

05-26-2008, 10:46 AM

MAD

05-27-2008, 10:59 AM

Kartracer55,

Ran across a tool brand GB (Gardner Bender, electrical trade tools) I haven't seen before. I believe their tools are made primarily in the U.S., but have an email to their customer service to verify this.

Their web site is www.gardnerbender.com if you want to investigate further.

All the Gardner Bender hand tools I have looked at were made in Taiwan or China. I bought 4 pairs of their needle nose pliers for my classroom. They are ok..not fantastic but not terrible either.

Coach

I have a few U.S. made GB pliers and wire strippers that I bought in the late 80s/ early 90s. One is a red handled round cable cutter marked "GB CHANNELOCK" so there must have been a connection at one time. In recent years the pliers and wire strippers I have looked at in the stores have gone from Mexico to Taiwan to China. The last time I looked at them, their conduit benders and some of their fish tapes were Still U.S. made. I do not know if this is still the case.

rebrewer

05-28-2008, 08:03 PM

Hazet, arguably the finest German made hand tools.

billymade

05-28-2008, 08:12 PM

How does Stahlwille compare to Hazet?

JayL

06-05-2008, 02:56 AM

I don't know if this has been posted before but I'm including this company here. I have several of their pliers.

http://www.orbis-werk.de/

Moose-LandTran

06-05-2008, 08:58 AM

How does Stahlwille compare to Hazet?

They're about level. Hazet has a far bigger range of tools.

wrenhandtools

06-09-2008, 09:39 PM

You "might" want to add Toptul to the list as well. I have had not one complaint from a customer (so far) about quality. Their main website www.toptul.com shows some of their history and strength ratings. Not for anyone who does not want their tools made in Taiwan. (but also might want to know that they make SOME of the wrenches for FACOM)
Sincerely

bh206

06-23-2008, 01:29 AM

My contribution to the list: KTC -->> Kyoto Tool Company in Japan.
Their Nepro line is equal to SnapOn both in price and quality. Their regular line is top notch.

bh206

lizard

09-25-2008, 12:14 AM

Anybody ever heard of JS tool company from the 70's out of
Atlanta, Ga. I have a ratchet body with no guts in it want to find out if they still are around. We made these ratchet bodys in a factory where I work.

MyChannellockTools

09-29-2008, 10:43 AM

Channellock's pliers and specialty are forged in Meadville PA, but they do outsource their screw driver line to china.

rebelram

10-02-2008, 02:58 PM

I noticed something interesting about Task Force tools at Lowes.

On the back of the packaging for a set of Task Force stubby wrenches, it is marked

Distributed by Danaher Tool Group
Sparks, MD 21152 USA Copyright 2007
Made in China

I knew Danaher made the Kobalt line, but apparently they also have the contract for the Task Force line as well. I realize it's outsourced to China, but I would assume Danaher does maintain some level of control over the operation.

I checked Danaher's website and in the 2007 annual report it does mention Lowes once. Kobalt is not even mentioned on the website either.
http://investor.shareholder.com/danaher/annual-proxy.cfm

The other thing I noticed on Task Force packaging is Lifetime Warranty with receipt.

reversegear

10-02-2008, 09:11 PM

Danaher fully owns at least two (that I know of) manufacturing facilities in China. The big one is SATA, and there is another one up in Shandong province somewhere. The Sata plant produces over a million pieces of gear wrench per month.

eschoendorff

10-02-2008, 09:13 PM

I thought that Lea Way had a Danaher-GearWrench connection.... ???????

reversegear

10-02-2008, 09:16 PM

I thought that Lea Way had a Danaher-GearWrench connection.... ???????

Lea Way (Taiwan) is producing the reversible model (they had quality problems when they tried to make the reversing model in China). Single direction, flex, etc. ratchet wrenches are made in China.

wantedabiggergarage

10-02-2008, 11:44 PM

Probably around 95, I was looking at a Taskforce set, for general around the house and possible trunk use. At the time, they said lifetime warranty with (thermal/fading) receipt, and made by Great neck tools.
Then I went to Sears for some and started filling in with Kobalt by JH Williams on closeout, and Gearwrench (on sale).

I think it is another house brand, that they have whoever is the cheapest bidder make, for the low cost market.

BigK600

10-30-2008, 02:59 AM

This may have been posted already but one thing in your list that is missing is Delta/Porter Cable, who is owned by Black and Decker.

Alfajuj

11-12-2008, 07:20 AM

JOE HRASKA

11-20-2008, 08:22 PM

Think I Read That Skil Is Now Owned By Robert Bosch

Joe

Hawk321

12-18-2008, 01:49 PM

Don't found MATADOR, an old german brand....
KS-TOOLs German importeur lot of Gearwrenches
CWALTER, old german brand too
NWS, one of the best pliers

pbtoolman

01-13-2009, 09:30 AM

Ever heard of PB Swiss Tools?

Paladin

01-13-2009, 09:31 PM

Ever heard of PB Swiss Tools?

PB is highly regarded around here.

FNFS2000

01-14-2009, 09:33 PM

I prefer WERA, and they have a wider product line, and easier to aquire.

eschoendorff

01-15-2009, 05:44 AM

The Wera grips make my wife giggle... and that just freaks me out. No Wera for me.

Andy Scott

02-03-2009, 06:10 AM

you should also add Rennsteig Tools
Rennsteig........Germany.......high quality stuff (crimping tools and chisels)

http://www.rennsteig.us/catalog.html

Rennsteig is also the manufacturer from many Knipex products

juoetken

02-17-2009, 07:08 PM

Does anyone know if Toptul are good tools? If so how do you buy them?

The Muffin Man

02-17-2009, 07:15 PM

Does anyone know if Toptul are good tools? If so how do you buy them?

If you search "Toptul" you'll find many reviews of some Toptul products. Another thread you should also read is this one. (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24294)

The website you can order from is www.wrenhandtools.com (http://www.wrenhandtools.com)

redsky49

02-26-2009, 01:51 PM

quattrojon

02-27-2009, 10:11 AM

Please add Armstrong - Danaher and also J.H Williams, which i think is a Snap On company.

JayL

03-07-2009, 05:54 PM

Here are some products I found in our local market. I thought I might add the manufacturers here for reference.

http://www.endo-kogyo.co.jp/english/top-e.html

http://www.telwin.com/webtelwin/prodotti.nsf

http://www.uryu.co.jp/english/index.html

Vulturej

03-07-2009, 06:16 PM

Snap On Tools are made in USA, Canada (Tool Boxes), Sweden, Argentina, & China. Blue Point Tools are made in Taiwan, & China.

bmwpower

03-07-2009, 06:59 PM

Snap On Tools are made in USA, Canada (Tool Boxes), Sweden, Argentina, & China. Blue Point Tools are made in Taiwan, & China.

What?? I thought they were all made in the USA, unless they said Blue Point.

wantedabiggergarage

03-08-2009, 01:26 AM

Snap On Tools are made in USA, Canada (Tool Boxes), Sweden, Argentina, & China. Blue Point Tools are made in Taiwan, & China.

You forgot Spain. (some adjustable wrenches I saw recently, that the damaged frieght store was too proud of)

What?? I thought they were all made in the USA, unless they said Blue Point.

There was a recent thread on a Chinese Snap-On, non advertising (not a flashlight) tool.

Jononon

03-08-2009, 07:50 AM

This thread is increasingly confused. Because the first post hasn't been updated, all it serves to do is perpetuate myths. Wera, Wiha, and Snap-on all have their home countries as place of manufacturer in the original post. Not one of them manufactures exclusively in that country.

You forgot Spain. (some adjustable wrenches I saw recently, that the damaged frieght store was too proud of)

In addition to full blown imports, like the adjustable wrenches, there's also been weirdness, such as multiple sources for soft grip handles. I assume this wasn't a success, since they've begun marking soft grip ratchets as 'Made in USA' again (watching people tie themselves in knots - e.g. "Snap-on doesn't mark them because US made tools aren't acceptable to the international market" :spit: - over the lack of the country of origin indication was most amusing :evil: )

HandyManny

03-13-2009, 03:10 PM

Sadly many of Snap-On and Mac tools are no longer made in the USA. Interestingly enough certain tools from these two aren't even or have never been made by them. Talking about things like many of the pliers, adjustable wrenches, etc.

Snap-On adjsutable wrenches are made of the same Spanish maker who makes the current Channellock adjustable....IREGA I believe? Used to be Diamond Caulk as well as their water-pump pliers.

And I swear that the current Mac water-pump (tonge & groove) pliers are made for them by Channellock, just relabled Channellock tonge & groove with red handles, but at three times the price.

Also seems to me like the current S-K adjustable wrenches are the same ones that Western Forge makes for many others brands, including Craftsman and RIDGID, but again at two to three times the price.

Have noticed a lot of the newer Proto-Blackhawk wrenches and ratchets made in Taiwan. Not talking about the regular Proto stuff, still made at Stanley's National Hand Tool facilities in Texas.

It's disturbing to see just how many hand tools are now today being made overseas compared to even 5 or 10 years ago. Sad.

Lump

03-16-2009, 10:41 AM

I'm a new guy, so I hope I do this right.
Is it your intention to list older, possibly-defunct companies also? If so, I would suggest Bonney, KR Wilson, Knock-Out Tools (KO Lee), Klemme, Stevens-Wiley-Wooster, Pexto, Kent-Moore, Hazett....geez, there are simply too many, aren't there. Thanks for this hard work. ---------Lump

vstoyko

03-17-2009, 09:22 AM

Craftsman Canada Pro Wrenches -"Thank you for taking the time to contact Sears.

In regards to your recent inquiry, our system indicates the manufacturer/supplier of item numbers D09 M41810 and D09 M40810 is DANAHER TOOL LTD TAIWAN BRANCH."

Autoguy

04-05-2009, 07:23 AM

great effort

CarWashGuy

04-19-2009, 12:55 AM

Porter Cable, Grizzly, Campbell Hausfeld

cortez

05-06-2009, 03:31 PM

I've got a couple more to throw into the mix:

Powr-Kraft, USA, sockets and wrenches sold by Montgomery Wards. I thought these were by Williams?

Billings Vitalloy, USA, sockets. Really like these but have no idea about their lineage

Gedore, "Drop Forged", India, combination wrenches. Not just German manufacture.

Wilde Wrench, slip joint pliers believed to be USA

McHaig Hatch, USA, adjustable wrench. Says Buffalo, NY, looks like Crescent

Chicago Pneumatic, Japan, combination wrench. Looks very Craftsman like. Good quality.

It seems like we need a bonafide tool historian to get these lineages correct. On top of this is the law (or Laws) that allow a manufacturer to stamp "Made In the USA" if only a certain percentage of the product were in fact made or assembled in the US.

I do not know what percentages qualify for the "Made in the USA" label.

307WYLD

05-06-2009, 03:39 PM

I'm not a computer geek, but it would be really cool to see a spreadsheet done in PDF form that shows all of these brands, in family heirarchies (Danaher, etc) with country/countries of origin.

Sure would allow the people who are "pro-American" to build their toolboxes with ONLY American made stuff.

Just for $hit$ & Giggles, there should be a column with a quality rating...Crap, Iffy, Good, Better, Best...

DSKA Tools

06-03-2009, 07:08 PM

Genius Tools - made in Taiwan and high quality

eborcim

06-04-2009, 04:52 PM

Pro America hand tools are made in CA and PA under KAL Professional Hand Tools. I have a set of metric wrenches that are decent.

KAL Professional Tools (http://www.kalprotools.com/)

toolnut

07-19-2009, 09:17 PM

Here is an interesting history link http://www.alloy-artifacts.com/

Williams tools - Some are still made in the USA - at least the sockets and ratchets. Been a long road from Buffalo NY. Was definitely a tool you could beat the stuffing out off. If you have an industrial supplier around your area that carries them they will warranty your old stuff.

Cooper Industries - a big disappointment - most lines made in China except maybe for the Crescent adjustable wrenches???

Vise Grips- another disappointment- China

Bought a NAPA metric impact socket set made in the USA at a swap meet past weekend the socket rails said Armstrong??

toolnut

07-26-2009, 12:53 PM

Martin Tools

http://www.martinsprocket.com/homeX.htm
=Link to the home page

http://www.martinsprocket.com/public.htm
=Link to catalog download page

SR torque guy

07-27-2009, 01:20 PM

Hey don't forget Sturtevant Richmont torque tools made in Franklin Park Il.
www.srtorque.com

wadd1

07-30-2009, 05:03 PM

Drilbox - Germany
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5369/20090724191332.jpg

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4535/20090724191123.th.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/my.php?image=20090724191123.jpg)

wadd1

07-30-2009, 05:09 PM

was Beach tool boxes mentioned?
didnt they make craftsman boxes in Canada?
i had one at one time cant recall what happened to it

PrimeTools

08-02-2009, 03:27 PM

You may want to add the following to your excellant list;
Britool - Owned by Stanley - Produced in France (by Facom) and Far East.
Facom - Owned by Stanley - Made in France & other European countries.
King Dick - Abingdon King Dick - Made in UK (All spanners), Germany (Pliers). Some imports from Far East.

eborcim

08-06-2009, 01:14 PM

Trident Tools anyone?

Monte

08-25-2009, 03:41 PM

A overview of german screwdriver and bit manufacturers:

(click on name to visit Homepage)

Gedore (http://www.gedore.de/en/index.html)
Wekador (http://www.wekador.net/)
FCW Cukiso (http://www.fcw-cukiso.de/index.php?article_id=14/)
Hafu (http://www.hafu.de/templates/textarticle/view.php?textarticleid=1&catid=&language=en)
Witte (http://www.witte-werkzeuge.de/?con_lang=3)
Padre (http://www.padre.de/)
Wera (http://www.wera.de/home.html?&no_cache=1&L=1)
Athlet (http://www.athlet-online.de/de/index.asp)
Wuro (http://www.wuro.de/engl/index_e.htm)
Sora (http://www.sora-tools.de/)
Robert Schröder (http://www.robert-schroeder.de/index_uk.html)
Felo (http://www.felo.com/en/index.html)
Turnus (http://www.turnus.de/index.cfm?l_menu_ID=2&v_page=pages/produkte/produkte.cfm&v_title=)
HKR (http://www.hkr-werkzeuge.de/)
Walter Schröder (http://www.walter-schroeder.de/)
USH (http://www.ush-tools.de/index.php?id=49&L=2)
Wiha (http://www.wiha.com/)
SKG (http://www.skg-tools.com/)
Brehmer (http://www.brehmer-spannungspruefer.de/indexeng.html)
Kayser (http://www.kayser-metall.de/Home_e/home_e.html)

Manufacturers without Homepage:

WKS Werkzeugfabrik Karl Scharfenberg GmbH & Co
Berchtold Werkzeugfabrik
MK ThermoPlast GmbH
Gebr. Schreiber GmbH & Co. KG