Is it true that Williams is producing imported ratchets ?

[dan1552]

Someone at work showed me a brand spanking new ratchet he had bought for like crazy cheap! Ill get the model number and post it

 

[HandyManny]

Boy oh boy!! The American tool manufacuring industry is in real trouble, aren't they!! I guess it's just a matter of time.

 

[chadster1]

JH William is a division of Snap-on. From what I have seen, a lot of the newer JH Williams hand tools are copies of the Blue Point hand tools that are are being sold. I am sure they are made in the same place in Taiwan.

 

[krusty the clown]

this is not news.........

if you go to williams' website it lists COO in the catalog.

 

[dan1552]

OK thanks Krusty I went over there. I guess I was just suprised that Williams had an import line.

 

[Jeepguy]

they have always had an import line. its mostly the stuff that they make for S-O... oops i was warned by my Williams rep never to say that again. oh well the cats out of the bag.

 

[indestro]

let me get this straight. you say this "import line" is specifically supplied for SO?
I didnt know that they had a import option.

 

[toolnut]

let me get this straight. you say this "import line" is specifically supplied for SO?
I didnt know that they had a import option.

Yeah it's called Blue Point...

 

[chadster1]

let me get this straight. you say this "import line" is specifically supplied for SO?
I didnt know that they had a import option.

It is kind of like the chicken and the egg question. JH williams is a subsidiary of Snap-on. It not like one company is making something for the other. It is more like there is one factory in Taiwan and one week they might be stamping Blue-point on the tools and the next week they are stamping williams on the tools.

 

[Merkava_4]

The Williams ratchet that looks like a [censored] is a Blue-Point.

 

[indestro]

OK. lots of info really appreciate the help!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Also for the record, Williams did not used to sell an import line, that has only been in recent years.

 

[toolnut]

Also for the record, Williams did not used to sell an import line, that has only been in recent years.

I always thought some of the early Blue Point pliers were made by Diamond Brand. Is that true?

 

[krusty the clown]

I always thought some of the early Blue Point pliers were made by Diamond Brand. Is that true?

at one time diamond was a supplier to snap on along with channellock and forged steel products (owned by snap on).

 

[volvo420coupe]

Yeah it's called Blue Point...

That's what I used to think, but lots of snap on branded tools are imported now too, I can think of three off the top of my head, one is even made in china, there was a recent thread about it.

 

[toolnut]

That's what I used to think, but lots of snap on branded tools are imported now too, I can think of three off the top of my head, one is even made in china, there was a recent thread about it.

Ugh! I hate to think about that!

 

[bchee]

also, don't assume imported means from Asia. They have some tools from Argentina, for example.

 

[junkyardjeff]

I have heard about alot of tools but never heard or seen JH Williams,if I remember it I will question the Snap On guy next week.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have heard about alot of tools but never heard or seen JH Williams,if I remember it I will question the Snap On guy next week.

Check if it makes you feel better, but usually when it is posted here, you can take it as gospel.

 

[krusty the clown]

Check if it makes you feel better, but usually when it is posted here, you can take it as gospel.

with a grain of salt sometimes too.......


jh williams history if your interested.
http://alloy-artifacts.com/williams-supercompany.html

 

[junkyardjeff]

learn something new every day.

 

[krusty the clown]

learn something new every day.

if you don't your not paying attention

 

[lbgradwell]

...and forged steel products (owned by snap on).

Eventually owned by SO. So offered the Forged Steel Products pliers for two decades before acquiring the company.

 

[Fedwrench]

Does Williams still make anything in the USA? Everything I see that isn't old stock is from either the PRC or Taiwan.

 

[krusty the clown]

Eventually owned by SO. So offered the Forged Steel Products pliers for two decades before acquiring the company.

yes i knew that.........just didn't want to overload him with trivia. one lesson a day

 

[krusty the clown]

Does Williams still make anything in the USA? Everything I see that isn't old stock is from either the PRC or Taiwan.

interesting question...........it would be very sad if true.

 

[Bull]

interesting question...........it would be very sad if true.

The black handled SO-style screwdrivers that someone posted about in another thread on here just recently are, if the eBay ad is accurate.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43067

Or, are these old stock?

 

[lbgradwell]

yes i knew that.........just didn't want to overload him with trivia. one lesson a day

Never doubted it for a second!

(Besides, it's "tomorrow" where I am...)

 

[Vinko]

That's what I used to think, but lots of snap on branded tools are imported now too, I can think of three off the top of my head, one is even made in china, there was a recent thread about it.

Re: Blue Point as another name for SO imports: I've bought quite a few BP tools in the past year (at least four or five) that were made in the USA. Some of them little stuff like a mirror, and a couple of pick up tools, and other stuff like some screw extractors in a set.

 

[volvo420coupe]

Re: Blue Point as another name for SO imports: I've bought quite a few BP tools in the past year (at least four or five) that were made in the USA. Some of them little stuff like a mirror, and a couple of pick up tools, and other stuff like some screw extractors in a set.

That is so odd that they would sell blue point branded stuff made in the USA, and not label it snap on.

But its disgusting that they would sell imported stuff and not label it blue point. I have always ASSUMED when I went on the truck that Snap on=USA and Blue Point=import. But thanks to garage journal I have been enlightened over the last year and know better.

Thankfully we can all now check the COO on the website.

 

[Jeepguy]

all williams tools that start with letters and end in numbers are US made, the only ones that are made in the asias are the ratcheting combination wrenches. Williams badges all made in the USA tools on their site with the flag. if you dont like import tools then stay away from the williams part numbers that are all numbers.

 

[oldtools]

Bought a Blue Point electrical plier at the swap meet. No COO on it. Quality is so so. Bought it because it is only $2. I also bought a William 1/2" dr 18" long breaker bar (made in USA) for $5. I also saw a Blue Point 24" chain plier with "USA" on it. Didn't buy it for $40.

It is strange that SO has an import line (BP) and yet the SO brand beginning to be import as well. I have some SO tools that are import.

 

[Vinko]

That is so odd that they would sell blue point branded stuff made in the USA, and not label it snap on.

I saw USA-made BP hose clamps the other day on the truck. I also saw a hell of a lot of BP offset ratcheting wrenches (USA made) available.

 

[jamesemery728]

Another interesting factoid from their website:
Ratchets:
Warrantable ratchets purchased new will be replaced with new
ratchets. Warrantable exchange ratchets will be replaced with
newly refurbished exchange ratchets. All exchange ratchets
will be stamped with an “X” for identification. The Williams ratchet
exchange warranty policy is limited to the 1/4” drive, 3/8” drive,
and ½” drive ratchets. All broken ratchets (new and exchange)
must be returned to J.H. Williams Tool Group, 6969 Jamesson Rd,
Midland, GA 31820 with a Returned Goods Authorization number
(RGA #), freight pre-paid, in order to receive credit. Field destroyed
ratchets will not be eligible for credit.
Does this mean 3/4" drive ratchets are not warranted. I may need some help from a lawyer to understand this.