Husky Made in USA screwdrivers

[hancock1701]

Hi guys,

I was shopping for some longer screwdrivers that have fatter handles than the normal ones. I was in Home Depot, so I took a look at the Husky singles. Didn't know they are made in the USA. One weird thing is the Husky sets with the same screwdrivers says "Assembled in the USA with global materials." I wonder why?

 

[SweetD]

The parts are likely made in China, and then sent back here for final assembly at one of their production facilities.

They have the assembly line already up and running here, and the parts for screwdrivers are simple and small, therefore easily shipped in containers to the USA from China.

Then they just use the facility here for assembly of these products, and others I'm sure.

 

[Brownsfan]

It's because the offset drivers and the Keychain are made in China. A the actual screwdrivers are 100% USA made.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Who's the OEM? That's the old Pratt-Reed design.

 

[Brownsfan]

Western Forge. Pretty much the same as Craftsman. Same smell and all. Just different handle design.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Interesting. I'm assuming they made Pratt-Reed's as well.

I knew they made a few other designs for Pratt-Reed, didn't know they covered this one as well.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

It's because the offset drivers and the Keychain are made in China. A the actual screwdrivers are 100% USA made.

I assumed the parts were all made in China...shipped to an automated facility here in the USSA where machines inserted the shanks into the handles for the purposes of marketing hype & spin....

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[SMKS]

Western Forge. Pretty much the same as Craftsman. Same smell and all. Just different handle design.

The blades are also different. Look at the OP's pic of the Phillips tip, that's not the same as a Craftsman Phillips tip. The Craftsmans use a round shaft for the Phillips, not a square shaft.

I can't remember if these are marked WF. They could be WF products, but if they are they have some differences from other WF products.

I assumed the parts were all made in China...shipped to an automated facility here in the USSA where machines inserted the shanks into the handles for the purposes of marketing hype & spin....

In your scenario the screwdrivers could be marked "assembled in USA" but not "made in USA." They wouldn't pass the "all or virtually all" rule:
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-made-usa-standard

What is the standard for a product to be called Made in USA without qualification?

For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. The term "United States," as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions

What does "all or virtually all" mean?

"All or virtually all" means that all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. That is, the product should contain no — or negligible — foreign content.

 

[Joe B.]

Pratt-Read & Western Forge are both just part of Ideal Industries now.
See here: https://www.idealindustries.com/Product-Landing.aspx

I believe that they closed down the Pratt-Read factory in New England a few years back. (edit: Happy story here: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/Workers-hope-for-aid-in-closing-537957.php)

So, that means they are probably made my Ideal Industries in their Western Forge factory.

 

[bonneyman]

Western Forge. Pretty much the same as Craftsman. Same smell and all. Just different handle design.

The new ID tool!

What brand of screwdriver is this? Give it the whiff test!

 

[hancock1701]

The blades are also different. Look at the OP's pic of the Phillips tip, that's not the same as a Craftsman Phillips tip. The Craftsmans use a round shaft for the Phillips, not a square shaft.

I can't remember if these are marked WF. They could be WF products, but if they are they have some differences from other WF products.



In your scenario the screwdrivers could be marked "assembled in USA" but not "made in USA." They wouldn't pass the "all or virtually all" rule:
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-made-usa-standard

I've never had square shaft screwdrivers before, wonder if there's a difference in usage?

Also, if the sets are not labeled "Made in USA" because of those offset screwdrivers and keychain driver, it seems a little "unfair" to me.

I think they need a new label "Assembled in the USA with 90% Made in USA contents"

 

[defektes]

IIRC Ideal kept the equipment from the PR plant and has it running in a different plant so they can continue to produce the same quality PR handles and products.

PR sold a lot of handles to a ton of different companies.

True Value still stocks PR products.

 

[Brownsfan]

The new ID tool!

What brand of screwdriver is this? Give it the whiff test!

Its funny my kids (9 and 12) know they smell. In either store you can smell them when in the aisle. Both kids asked whats that smell when I was in the screwdriver aisle. Know they call them the smelly screwdrivers.

 

[herby]

IIRC Ideal kept the equipment from the PR plant and has it running in a different plant so they can continue to produce the same quality PR handles and products.

PR sold a lot of handles to a ton of different companies.

True Value still stocks PR products.

There is a division of Pratt Read called A&L Handles that makes handles for Pratt Read tools as well and several other brands.

Their address is 244 Shoemaker Rd, Pottstown, PA 19464.
Judging from google street view they look like they're still in business.

 

[rednotch]

Noticed the same thing in Lowes. single hard handle Kobalt screwdrivers marked made in USA. Never really looked at them before, but that caught me by surprise.

 

[CJM8515]

Where we are on the subject: Who makes the husky soft handled screwdrivers. I wound up buying a set on clearance after x mas last year.

 

[drchinn]

The ones at lowest are distributed by great neck if I remember correctly as I was looking at them as well the other day. But the are made in the USA with global components.

 

[Ponchoguy]

The blades are also different. Look at the OP's pic of the Phillips tip, that's not the same as a Craftsman Phillips tip. The Craftsmans use a round shaft for the Phillips, not a square shaft.

I can't remember if these are marked WF. They could be WF products, but if they are they have some differences from other WF products.



In your scenario the screwdrivers could be marked "assembled in USA" but not "made in USA." They wouldn't pass the "all or virtually all" rule:
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-made-usa-standard

The older Husky screwdrivers from what I remember are marked WF.

 

[Brownsfan]

The black handle drivers look a lot like Gearwrench drivers. They are Taiwan made and actually look nice. A buddy of miNE bought a set around Christmas that was really cheap and he LOVES them. They have held up pretty good. He beats the hell out of them. He actually raves about them.