Crescent Adjustable Wrenches dated 11/19 & 1/20 - Made in USA?

[Dzmax77]

I purchased 4 Made in USA Crescent Wrenches. The 4” has a 1/25/20 date and USA stamped on the handle while the 6”,8”, & 10” came in a set with a pouch and only state made in USA on the box they came in.

Why are these stamped differently? Any idea on where these were produced?

I thought WF was the only adjustable wrench maker left in the US at that time so I was curious to see what these were bcuz I thought almost all apex tool operations in the US had ended.

Any info would be interesting to hear. Thanks!

 

[Wyoming09]

Probably not a lot of help but
I recognize that number, 4NV53, as a Grainger number.

https://www.grainger.com/product/CRESCENT-Alloy-Steel-4NV53?searchQuery=4NV53&searchBar=true&tier=Not+Applicable

 

[four.cycle]

"I thought WF was the only adjustable wrench maker left in the US ..."

other than Snap-on, Western Forge was the last manufacturer of a forged, "Crescent" type adjustable wrench in the U.S. Smokeshow69 has one stamped "PROTO". I do not recall who I sent the other one to.
the last "Crescent" brand adjustable I bought was made in USA, but they managed to turn what was the industry standard into junk.

 

[Dzmax77]

Probably not a lot of help but
I recognize that number, 4NV53, as a Grainger number.

https://www.grainger.com/product/CRESCENT-Alloy-Steel-4NV53?searchQuery=4NV53&searchBar=true&tier=Not+Applicable

Yes that looks like the set but the one I have has the updated logo and no USA stamped. Actually, stamping and finish isn’t great. Functionally tight and fine just rough.

 

[Dzmax77]

other than Snap-on, Western Forge was the last manufacturer of a forged, "Crescent" type adjustable wrench in the U.S. Smokeshow69 has one stamped "PROTO". I do not recall who I sent the other one to.
the last "Crescent" brand adjustable I bought was made in USA, but they managed to turn what was the industry standard into junk.

I thought snappy gets theirs from that oem in Spain.

I wonder where the actual factory is located.

 

[Dzmax77]

Ok well, I think I figured it out. The Apex plant in Sumter, NC appears to have closed recently and the building is being sold.

 

[Maddog1337]

I purchased 4 Made in USA Crescent Wrenches. The 4” has a 1/25/20 date and USA stamped on the handle while the 6”,8”, & 10” came in a set with a pouch and only state made in USA on the box they came in.

Why are these stamped differently? Any idea on where these were produced?

I thought WF was the only adjustable wrench maker left in the US at that time so I was curious to see what these were bcuz I thought almost all apex tool operations in the US had ended.

Any info would be interesting to hear. Thanks!

Was kind of curious about this as well. When I bought 15" and 18" variants from the final NOS Crescent shipment to HJE, the 15" did not have a country of origin stamped (exactly like your 6/8/10"), but the cardstock packaging indicated USA. The 18" was stamped USA. Thought that was a bit weird on the 15" because there's no way to differentiate those between new Chinese production as far as I know. Not a huge deal either way.

 

[dscheidt]

I thought snappy gets theirs from that oem in Spain.

I wonder where the actual factory is located.

Snap-on has recently started selling USA made adjustables. There's a thread around about it.

 

[Dzmax77]

Snap-on has recently started selling USA made adjustables. There's a thread around about it.

Interesting.

Was kind of curious about this as well. When I bought 15" and 18" variants from the final NOS Crescent shipment to HJE, the 15" did not have a country of origin stamped (exactly like your 6/8/10"), but the cardstock packaging indicated USA. The 18" was stamped USA. Thought that was a bit weird on the 15" because there's no way to differentiate those between new Chinese production as far as I know. Not a huge deal either way.

Very strange to switch from forging the logo and text to stamping. Especially when USA was always forged into the tool and to exclude it on your last production runs might be because of foreign sourced steel?

I’d like to hear from former employees of WF, Crescent, Armstrong and all these other defunct tool companies about what it was like working there towards the end before closing.

 

[Y00PER]

Interesting.

Very strange to switch from forging the logo and text to stamping. Especially when USA was always forged into the tool and to exclude it on your last production runs might be because of foreign sourced steel?

I’d like to hear from former employees of WF, Crescent, Armstrong and all these other defunct tool companies about what it was like working there towards the end before closing.

I think Apex did that so people wouldn't notice the switch to China. Look what they are doing with Wiss aviation snips... They were "Made in USA", and said so on the front of the package. Then they went to "Made in USA with global components", but still noted on the front of the package. Latest packaging removed any made in USA reference from the front, so now it just states it on the back. My guess is they will be foreign made soon.

 

[Dzmax77]

I think Apex did that so people wouldn't notice the switch to China. Look what they are doing with Wiss aviation snips... They were "Made in USA", and said so on the front of the package. Then they went to "Made in USA with global components", but still noted on the front of the package. Latest packaging removed any made in USA reference from the front, so now it just states it on the back. My guess is they will be foreign made soon.

Contract manufacturing is exponentially cheaper because of overhead and labor. The cost of upgrading these old factories with machines that require less labor to produce is not an expense a CEO is willing to take given the scope of the market and current competition that have flooded the market with excessive capacity to drive prices down. It’s very hard to undercut certain foreign companies price points when their ownership in whole or in part are governments who don’t have to prioritize profit as the main driver but market share. They can play the long game without having Wall St and investors to worry about and retailers love the ‘product on consignment’ relationship that keeps their shelves stocked and off their balance sheets.

So how does anyone break this cycle? It seems like it’s now imbedded into the system and the only way around it is to sell $100 adjustable wrenches off a traveling salesman’s truck.

Good observation and you’re probably right; Apex seems like they are wetting the tip before they stick it in.

 

[Steve_P]

Contract manufacturing is exponentially cheaper because of overhead and labor. The cost of upgrading these old factories with machines that require less labor to produce is not an expense a CEO is willing to take given the scope of the market and current competition that have flooded the market with excessive capacity to drive prices down. It’s very hard to undercut certain foreign companies price points when their ownership in whole or in part are governments who don’t have to prioritize profit as the main driver but market share. They can play the long game without having Wall St and investors to worry about and retailers love the ‘product on consignment’ relationship that keeps their shelves stocked and off their balance sheets.

So how does anyone break this cycle? It seems like it’s now imbedded into the system and the only way around it is to sell $100 adjustable wrenches off a traveling salesman’s truck.

Good observation and you’re probably right; Apex seems like they are wetting the tip before they stick it in.

You omitted the most obvious factor: labor is <30% of the US cost in places like China, Mexico, Vietnam....

 

[Dzmax77]

You omitted the most obvious factor: labor is <30% of the US cost in places like China, Mexico, Vietnam....

Yes, overhead and labor. I think it’s already Universally known that labor is far less elsewhere.

You omitted the most obvious factor: labor is <30% of the US cost in places like China, Mexico, Vietnam....

Right, but upgrading machinery and production is meant to lessen human labor input and thus decrease labor costs. Labor and the rest of the overhead (amortization, depreciation, etc.) needs to be favorable too. Earnings and net income must continue to stay strong to not devalue corp and stockholders.