Proto challenger warranty?

[back2class]

Anyone know what they replace broken Proto Challenger wrenches with these days when sending it in for warranty? I am guessing either the professional or anti slip line of Proto tools but anyone know for sure?

 

[philw]

You should probably call Stanley and verify it yourself. What they warrantied 6 months ago may not be what they warranty today.

I would guess since Challenger is the economy brand that they would send a Blackhawk in return but you never know with Stanley.

 

[petty4243]

call this number proto customer service

1 800 800 tool(8665)

that is who I called when getting my proto ratchets warrentied.... they may ask you to take it to a local dealer if you have one available... mine are over an hour away...

there is also a locator for local dealers on their website

http://www.stanleyproto.com/default.asp?TYPE=STATIC&PAGE=HOME.HTM

just got to where to buy, distributorship locator... then type in your area information and it will give a list of where the closest ones are... (might even be a map on it)...

hope that helps some

 

[back2class]

Thanks
Called today and they get replaced with Blackhawk items.

 

[Merkava_4]

That totally blows. Blackhawk is a low line Chinese tool now. The Proto Challenger always said U.S.A. on it and in many cases was the same (or very similar) tool as a Proto Professional.

 

[philw]

That totally blows. Blackhawk is a low line Chinese tool now. The Proto Challenger always said U.S.A. on it and in many cases was the same (or very similar) tool as a Proto Professional.

I wouldn't consider Blackhawk low line. It's probably a hair better then the Stanley labeled stuff.
The last few years of Challenger tools seem to have been imported anyway....despite being marked USA.....ask the FTC.

 

[48548]

Called them today, told them my 2 4749 ratchets were broken and got two kits sent out for free, didn't mention they were plomb, but they didn't ask either. I guess with all of the proto stuff I have bought after all the years it works out.

 

[Bolster]

That totally blows. Blackhawk is a low line Chinese tool now. The Proto Challenger always said U.S.A. on it and in many cases was the same (or very similar) tool as a Proto Professional.

Did some research on this (as you may have seen in the classified section I am looking to purchase Challenger wrenches) and I discovered that Challenger was probably a line from Penens, who was a company that Proto acquired after WWII. Although it may have been made by Pendleton also (another Proto-acquired company, once again, shortly after WWII).

I don't know how long Challenger was made, but I suspect started in the 1950s. I see them selling as "new" on ebay, are they still being made? Anybody care to verify?

 

[bonneyman]

I guess I should keep my Challenger MADE IN USA 3/8" drive ratchet instead of selling it.

 

[philw]

I believe Challenger was phased out around '02. Stanley had a big fire sale on ebay about that time and was selling Challenger cheap. Sometime after that is when Blackhawk started showing up as their less expensive line.

From some notes I've made my time line guess is this:
Challenger (brand under Penens) dates back at least to 1951 continues to late 90's or very early 00's....I don't know if it was a continuous run or if they stopped and restarted it over the years.

Blackhawk was purchased by New Britain around 1953. New Britain closes around 1984. National Hand tool buys Blackhawk and Husky names but then gets bought themselves by Stanley around 1986.
At some point Stanley discontinues Blackhawk USA....I'm thinking early to mid 90's? They get Blackhawk geared up as an Asian company and then replace the Challenger brand in the late 90's early 00's.

 

[Bolster]

Thanks for sharing your notes...if you publish them someday, I will buy a copy!!

 

[Vinko]

Sent my Proto-Challenger ratchet in for replacement, and they repaired it and sent it back. This would have been around 2000 or so.