Who made Wal-Marts Popular Mechanics Screwdrivers?

[Hip2u77]

Who made (makes?) these Popular Mechanics screwdrivers that Wal-mart used to sell? I bought these as a cheap "kitchen junk drawer" set and now 12-15 years later I still reach for the Phillips when I have a stubborn screw to deal with.

They were allegedly made in the USA and have triangle handles on them.

Quick Google search shows Wal-Mart licensed the PM name and was a replacement for their Promark house brand and was sold from around 92-01 came from Test-Rite.

 

[MAD]

They look like Vermont American "The Claw" branded screwdrivers. I have not seen these around in stores for a long time. Vermont American "The Claw" screwdrivers are great screwdrivers and they were the first ones that I ever saw that had anti cam out ribs on the Phillips tips more than a dozen years ago. The handles on those PM screwdrivers look identical to the V.A. Claws.

 

[DavidtheDuke]

They look like Vermont American "The Claw" branded screwdrivers. I have not seen these around in stores for a long time. Vermont American "The Claw" screwdrivers are great screwdrivers and they were the first ones that I ever saw that had anti cam out ribs on the Phillips tips more than a dozen years ago. The handles on those PM screwdrivers look identical to the V.A. Claws.

They probably had to close their doors when Walmart stopped buying them when they found a import version for 50 cents cheaper.

 

[eschoendorff]

They probably had to close their doors when Walmart stopped buying them when they found a import version for 50 cents cheaper.

Didn't Walmart run a big American-made campaign about 15 years ago? I seem to remember Walmart using the Made-in-USA thing as a selling point...

 

[DavidtheDuke]

Didn't Walmart run a big American-made campaign about 15 years ago? I seem to remember Walmart using the Made-in-USA thing as a selling point...

At the same time it was forcing companies to either go import or go bankrupt selling to Walmart, because of its size.

 

[eschoendorff]

At the same time it was forcing companies to either go import or go bankrupt selling to Walmart, because of its size.

I'm not defending the motives! I was just wondering if anyone else remembered that whole American pride thing Walmart had going on... products conspicuously marked "made in USA" while taking over the retail world....

 

[philw]

I remember. Walmart at one time was very big in promoting made in the U.S.A. It seems after Sam Walton died is when the Walmart started changing. The new ownership didn't care about U.S.A. made products, they only cared about the bottom line. Walmart was succesful when they were promoting the made in USA products and it seems the only reason they changed was to make more money. Greed took control and they have never looked back.
The worst part in my opinion is what they did to the small business owners. In many smaller towns today you have no choice except for Walmart.

 

[MAD]

They probably had to close their doors when Walmart stopped buying them when they found a import version for 50 cents cheaper.

Vermont American is still around. I think they just decided that they did not want to try to compete in the traditional manual screwdriver market. Sometimes having a great product is not enough. I think V.A. is owned by Bosch now.

I think you are right though that Walmart's pricing policies eventually drive the quality of their products down to the lowest level acceptable to their customer base.

 

[billymade]

If you can find a patent # on them, many times you can possibly identify the manufacturer (or at least the designer) by dong a patent search. I do this to help ID computer parts! Use this link to do a search:http://www.uspto.gov/patft/
Thats how I figured out who makes the
Craftsman Cable Operated Hose Clamp Pliers, they are French made and work really well! http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947390000P?keyword=hose+clamp+pliers This was the least expensive pair I could find; with some being over $100!

 

[64merc]

Funny the question should come up regarding the origin of these screwdrivers. I was just wondering the same thing the other day, since they are very nice and say USA on them. I have managed to only find a couple of odds and ends.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Didn't Walmart run a big American-made campaign about 15 years ago? I seem to remember Walmart using the Made-in-USA thing as a selling point...

They sure did!

Sam Walton (the founder of Wal-Mart) never lost touch of the American worker. And not only did he acknowledged the value of products manufactured in the United States, and keeping Americans employed. Sam favored goods that were made here, to the point that Wal-Mart would line their shelves with American goods even though cheaper foreign made products were available.

Since Sam’s death in 1992 the new management, in their greed, have taken an about face. And go as far as encouraging their suppliers to have their products made overseas. Home Depot is another retailer that outright tells their suppliers to have their products manufactured overseas. And unfortunately their practices has forced all retailers to buy foreign made goods…

 

[64merc]

I saw a couple PM screwdrivers today, and now that I look at them again, they very much remind me of the older Stanley (USA) screwdrivers. If I didn't read the logo on the handle I would have thought they were Stanley's. Just my observation

 

[CatfishXpress]

I have some screwdrivers like that, bought at Sam's club about 14 years ago. Mine have black and gold handles, they are marked "Credo Commercial" with a very prominent "made in USA" stamp with the American flag. They were good screwdrivers for the money.

 

[billymade]

Interestingly, enough; I saw these today @ work and they look like the handles! These are the cheaper Companion line @ Sears!

Here is the link @ the Sears website: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00930528000P?vName=Tools&keyword=companion+nut+driver
Most things are made by Danaher; if I see a box or a patent #, I will try to figure out who makes them. Oops goofed on current Stanley/Danaher/Craftsman connection! Danaher is current maker of Craftsman tools but earlier on Stanley made the Craftsman tools and had the contract! Danaher brands:
Allen, Armstrong Tools, GearWrench, Holo-Krome, Iseli, K-D Tools, Matco Tools, Sata, Spline Gauges
Stanley Works brands: bostitch, cst berger, facom, proto, mac tools

 

[Hip2u77]

I think everyone is right on this one.




1987—Acquires The Credo Co., Woodburn, Oregon

1991—Introduces The Claw® hand screwdriver with ribbed-tip technology; introduces the Sidewinder™ drill bit and Lightning™ circular saw blades

1995—Master Series™ circular saw blades are launched with optimum performance for specific applications and machines; Vermont American and Credo Marketing Groups are moved to Louisville corporate headquarters; VA Asia in Hong Kong is formed



1997—National Retail Hardware Association gives Vermont American more awards for innovative new products than any other manufacturer; company is the largest manufacturer of power tool accessories in the world
1998—company celebrates 50 years of making power tool accessories for professionals and do-it-yourselfers; Ice-Bit™ screwdriver bits are launched, cryogenically hardened for extra-long life

2000—Robert Bosch GmbH completes acquisition of Vermont American

 

[ImportTuner]

Nice looking Popular Mechanics screwdriver; I wouldn't mind having a set, not that I really need any more screwdrivers ...

 

[Jononon]

Most things are made by Danaher (aka: Stanley Works)

All-encompassing though Danaher is, Stanley Works is not one of their companies, nor vice-versa.

 

[MAD]

&keyword=companion+nut+driver[/url]
Most things are made by Danaher (aka: Stanley Works);

Danaher is not part of Stanley Works. It would not surprise me if Stanley was the OEM for some of the Companion tool line though.

It would surprise me a lot though if those Companion nut drivers said "Made in USA" like the OP's screwdrivers

 

[wilbilt]

I saw a couple PM screwdrivers today, and now that I look at them again, they very much remind me of the older Stanley (USA) screwdrivers. If I didn't read the logo on the handle I would have thought they were Stanley's. Just my observation

(to eschoendorff...I remember the "Made in America" campaign. They were in the middle of it when the local Mao mart opened here. Fat chance of finding any of the little flags in there now.)

Regarding Stanley and the PM brand, I bought a lot of NOS surplus Stanley/PROTO/Blackhawk wrenches awhile back. Included were some PM and Master Mechanic brand wrenches, all marked "USA".

Just my 2¢.

 

[MAD]

I dug out a set of the Vermont American screwdrivers I was talking about from the ammo box in my camper. Here are some pictures:

 

[64merc]

Hey MAD, those do look a lot like the PM screwdrivers!!

I almost bought the two PM screwdrivers I found today, but I just couldn't do it. They wanted $2 each and I've got too many screwdrivers as it is. Now, for $1 each.......

 

[Hip2u77]

I dug out a set of the Vermont American screwdrivers. . .

Thanks for the pic. That's a nice set there. I think now that I've realized how much I like them I'm going to pay a little more attention at the pawn shop / swap meets.

 

[jim m]

well id say for sure american vermont as the part # on the pms I have are the same as the ones on the those size avs I have


Jim

 

[ranunculous]

They sure did!

Sam Walton (the founder of Wal-Mart) never lost touch of the American worker. And not only did he acknowledged the value of products manufactured in the United States, and keeping Americans employed. Sam favored goods that were made here, to the point that Wal-Mart would line their shelves with American goods even though cheaper foreign made products were available.

Since Sam’s death in 1992 the new management, in their greed, have taken an about face. And go as far as encouraging their suppliers to have their products made overseas. Home Depot is another retailer that outright tells their suppliers to have their products manufactured overseas. And unfortunately their practices has forced all retailers to buy foreign made goods…

Hey OldCarGuy!
Our closest Home Depot carries tool suppliers of numerous countries.
I recently sourced pry bars.7 brands to chose from with the good ol' USA right in the mix!
Same with hammers,drillbits and measuring tools.
That's why I choose Home Depot over Lowes or 84Lumber.
Yep,they do have the asian mix in there,but I can still find American products!

Love your garages and their setups!Good health and happiness to you!

 

[64merc]

Sorry, I know this is an old thread, but I found a PM #3 phillips the other day and I decided that I really like these screwdrivers. Does anyone know of a good brand still sold today that has a similar handle design?

If anyone has a #1 or #2 that they want to part with let me know? Or even a complete set would be nice too. I'm looking for the PM (rebadged) or Vermont American screwdrivers.

 

[MAD]

Sorry, I know this is an old thread, but I found a PM #3 phillips the other day and I decided that I really like these screwdrivers. Does anyone know of a good brand still sold today that has a similar handle design?

If anyone has a #1 or #2 that they want to part with let me know? Or even a complete set would be nice too. I'm looking for the PM (rebadged) or Vermont American screwdrivers.

Since this thread came up I also came across some Identical "Ace Professional" branded screwdrivers. I looked at my local Ace hardware but the ones they have now are an import copy of the Klein screwdrivers.

 

[NoahG]

Sorry to necro post, but...

There are a couple of these at work, and I was wondering who made them. They've held up pretty well in a shop environment. I wish they were still made. We've got a 3/16 PM, a 3/16 with a black on clear handle, and a monster 3/8x12" with a burgundy and black handle.

 

[kenburkholz]

WALL MART , IS NOT YOUR FRIEND!!!!! RUN AWAY!!!!! Ken.

 

[aaronld]

I have one screwdriver that looks like the above. One of my first screwdrivers I ever got, I took it out of my dads toolbox back in the 90s. I still have it and love the dam thing.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

I bought a set like that in the early 90's....very good screwdrivers. Still have a couple left somewhere. Black handles with red writing.

 

[Askme42]

I find it pretty ironic this thread gets dug up around the same time that wal mart is pushing american made big again

 

[wvrailroader]

I had a set of these PM screwdrivers. I have lost all but the #2 Phillips, which was pretty well wore out. On a whim, I took the handle and put it on a Benchtop 1/4" drive ratchet. It looks pretty good actually.