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Armstrong Tool Collection...Are you Selling??

Dimitriy

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Joined
Jul 19, 2017
Messages
97
Location
San Jose, CA
I'm curious to hear what Armstrong tool owners are doing now that they're no more...I have their locking swivel 1/2" and 3/8" drive ratchets and a set of double box ratcheting wrenches. Thinking that I'll keep the wrench set, but sell the ratchets and replace with Snap On. I read that Gearwrench rebuilt kits can be used, but I'd rather not stick Taiwan made parts in my US made tools.
 
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Mr Ratchet

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Joined
Mar 3, 2011
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928
Location
Michigan
Keeping all my Armstrong stuff, though I don't have a ton of it. Matco kits will work in the Maxx ratchets, so no reason to sell.
 

Infinia

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Oct 2, 2016
Messages
845
Location
SoCal
I'm curious to hear what Armstrong tool owners are doing now that they're no more
hmm Why react to tool market consolidation? You are the end user not a distributor / supply house.
I only replace tools that have failed or lost /stolen.

The way tools are sold today it's extremely doubtful you will be able to replace any old item with brand new identical replacement pieces for any consumer tool name!
 
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LXCam

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Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,145
Location
AZ
You act like they are the only tool company to ever close their doors. So does your reaction mean you only own tools from companies that are currently in business? I own several Armstrong tools and if they should ever happen to break or wear out beyond some usable form I'll **** can it and buy another when that time comes. Biiiiiig deal
 

theluke

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Joined
Feb 27, 2014
Messages
90
Location
central pa
Use em. If they break get something else. Lots of tools still in use from companies that no longer exist.
 

jumbojak

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Jun 21, 2016
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1,374
Location
Surry, VA
I actually bought some adapters right after they shut down. I certainly wouldn't be selling things I still had use for.
 

M_George

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Sep 25, 2016
Messages
966
Location
Eastern Pa.
Used ratchets don't bring much money anyway let alone enough to get a new Snap-On.
Keep them, take care of them and give them to your grand children.
 

Codejack

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Joined
Jul 21, 2017
Messages
838
Location
Chattanooga, TN
I'm considering buying.

I've never liked the idea of a warranty; if the tool breaks, I was either misusing it or it is a **** tool.

If I misused it, that's on me; if it's a **** tool, why do I want another one?
 

Sam'sAutoParts

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Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Messages
2,075
Location
Northeast PA
I actually went on a buying binge while SK was bankrupt. Picked a few used sets for super cheap. The prices on eBay were excellent on the NOS stuff for a while after ideal bought them.
 

PureLeaf

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Joined
Jul 25, 2014
Messages
1,417
Can't they still be warrantied anyways with Apex? You might get an inferior taiwan gearwrench replacement, but still has service.

As others said, why would you get rid of it because they're out of business? If it works, keep using it.
 
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Dimitriy

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Joined
Jul 19, 2017
Messages
97
Location
San Jose, CA
You act like they are the only tool company to ever close their doors. So does your reaction mean you only own tools from companies that are currently in business? I own several Armstrong tools and if they should ever happen to break or wear out beyond some usable form I'll **** can it and buy another when that time comes. Biiiiiig deal

Actually yes, but to be fair, that's not by design. Most of my stuff is from Snap on, SK, Proto, Knipex and Williams. Good point, I don't tend to abuse my ratchets (use breaker bars for the stubborn bolts) so the possibility of me needing a repair kit is slim. Just curious to hear what the rest of the GJ community is thinking.
 
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Dimitriy

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Joined
Jul 19, 2017
Messages
97
Location
San Jose, CA
Used ratchets don't bring much money anyway let alone enough to get a new Snap-On.
Keep them, take care of them and give them to your grand children.

Good point, and my Armstrong ratchets are pristine so I'll probably just keep em...
 

metaldad

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Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
7,766
Location
nw indiana
have drawers full of polished wrenches........ combos, box, saltus, ratcheting
(the photopail issue bit me, one pic i could find)
 

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Fedwrench

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Messages
14,955
Location
Valley of the sun
If the tool still serves you well, why sell it? The fact that Armstrong is no more really isn't a reason to dispose of your tools. :dunno:
 

Yankee

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Joined
Dec 23, 2012
Messages
266
Location
Midwest
Actually yes, but to be fair, that's not by design. Most of my stuff is from Snap on, SK, Proto, Knipex and Williams. Good point, I don't tend to abuse my ratchets (use breaker bars for the stubborn bolts) so the possibility of me needing a repair kit is slim. Just curious to hear what the rest of the GJ community is thinking.

Was thinking of selling my standard ratchet set (1/4, 3/8, 1/2). I know that they are high quality, but finding since they aren't QR, that they sit unused in the tool box.... thought maybe they would be worth a decent amount since they are no more...
 

toolmutt

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Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
2,020
Location
Texas
Am I selling? No. Even though the company is no more, the tools work as well as they always have. My locking flex ratchets are still my go-to when I need a flex. I will, in all probability, buy more Armstrong stuff as it gets clearanced out.
 
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PJNJ

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Joined
Sep 20, 2013
Messages
1,047
Location
Iowa
Wait, Bonney went out of business? When and how did I miss this? Oh boy, I better get on the ball and sell all of it before it breaks. :willy_nil

:rocker:
 

Empty Pockets

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Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Messages
4,942
Location
Rural New York
I have tools from several companies that are no more. As long as they still work as they are supposed to, I keep using them. In fact, as I come across previously enjoyed Petersen Vise Grips, I ALWAYS grab them.
 

WittHay

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Joined
Jan 6, 2016
Messages
2,157
Location
Surrey, BC Canada
Hasn't it always been that the tools change over the years. Snap -on has has changed the screwdriver handle styles at least 4 times over the years. A Mac wrench you bought 8 years ago is different than now.

The Snap-on dual 80 has been out for a while, and there might something new and better in the works. Keep the Armstrong stuff if you like it, and see what new tools come from Snap-on, SK, Proto , Wright and others when it comes time to replace them
 

cherrybomb

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Joined
Oct 18, 2016
Messages
892
Location
Near Madison Wi.
Hang on to a good thing,you probably bought it because you thought it was a good tool.It is,if you break it,it was probably being misused. Companies are always looking for ways to stay in business.It seems the older crowd shows loyality to the USA mfg.and these decisions tend to po.IMOO the younger crowd looks at price and is the store right around the corner.It just the way business works nowdays,and not just in tools.Makes being brand loyal,much more difficult.Armstrong difficult to forget quality.
 

Brandon_Lutz

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 2, 2007
Messages
429
Location
Forest Hill, Louisiana
Keeping all of my Armstrong tools. They all get the job done and will most likely last the rest of my lifetime. I have a wide mix of tool brands and few from companies that don't exist anymore. As long as they still get the job done, I don't see the need the trade them in and spend more money just to buy the same thing under a different brand name.

If one breaks in the future and I cannot get a replacement, then I'll spend the money on something to replace that particular piece. The only thing I'm really concerned about breaking anyway are the ratchets and you can find rebuild kits all over for them.
 

AA/FC

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Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
2,080
Good point, and my Armstrong ratchets are pristine so I'll probably just keep em...

If your ratchets are still "pristine" then I highly doubt you will ever break them. It sounds like you are either a light user of tools, or non abusive. (Maybe both) People like you rarely have the need to warranty broken tools. Especially tools that are high quality to begin with, like Armstrong. Wondering where or how you're going to warranty a tool that you will PROBABLY never break to begin with is a good example of putting the cart before the horse. Use your tools like normal. Enjoy them. Dont worry about breaking them. It would probably cost you more to replace your existing tools with another quality USA brand, than it would to just replace a single broken tool if/when that ever happens, which it probably never will.
 

Loscaldazar

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Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Messages
2,385
Guess I was ahead of the curve... I sold most of mine years before they went bankrupt. Didn't like most of their tools.
 

AA/FC

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Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
2,080
BTW, Apex didn't go bankrupt - they just discontinued the Armstrong brand.

^ This.
Not only the Armstrong brand, but they also discontinued a tool production line inside the USA.

It seems like Apex only makes decisions strictly based on their bottom line. American jobs, and tool quality seems to be irrelevant. :(
 
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