Ohio Andy
Well-known member
I would be game...
Harry J Epstein Day 2026
- Thread starter NUTTSGT
- Start date
jsackin
Well-known member
I think Wright would absolutely love a meetup / tour so let me know if that’s something that has some momentum and I’ll talk to the appropriate people.
In terms of us buying more imported stuff…. I made the decision to buy more from Japanese / German tool companies lately because there is just a ton of stuff that they’re doing where there isn’t a US made equivalent. I wish there was! I wish US companies were coming out with new products every couple months but thats just not how it’s been working.
That being said, I’m in contact with Wilde, Wright and Channellock and other US companies and they are all having excellent years. Business is way up so they are actually doing great.
I’d say about 80% of what we sell is US made and I try to highlight those companies for HJE Day. For instance this year I’ve talked to Channellock, Mayhew, Bondhus and Wright so far in terms of offering deals.
So that’s my two cents. I’ll be back with more details as we get closer.
In terms of us buying more imported stuff…. I made the decision to buy more from Japanese / German tool companies lately because there is just a ton of stuff that they’re doing where there isn’t a US made equivalent. I wish there was! I wish US companies were coming out with new products every couple months but thats just not how it’s been working.
That being said, I’m in contact with Wilde, Wright and Channellock and other US companies and they are all having excellent years. Business is way up so they are actually doing great.
I’d say about 80% of what we sell is US made and I try to highlight those companies for HJE Day. For instance this year I’ve talked to Channellock, Mayhew, Bondhus and Wright so far in terms of offering deals.
So that’s my two cents. I’ll be back with more details as we get closer.
Thanks for the update. Some of your HJE day buyers might have filled up on your U.S.A. suppliers items over the last few years, and are pleased to have access to your Japan and German offerings. Thanks for supporting SK to the very end of their in-house USA manufacturing. You did everything you could to encourage them to restart, and they lied about their intentions to sell off inventory. Not my favorite business practice. You have many U.S.A. tool lines making rules, squares, knives, levels… all kinds of stuff. Your NOS inventory of U.S.A. tools and tank periscopes is unequalled. Happy to support a nostalgic old time hardware store, a modern industrial supply house, a modern retail tool source, and a purveyor of fine products of all kinds. Where else am I going to find 50 year old East German test tubes. Now if GJ could just put together enough orders to encourage you to retail Proto! Looking forward to another great Fourth of July!
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Ignoring traffic that's roughly 2 hours would you get there for me... I absolutely would take time off work to do that.
Should I start a thread specifically on this?
jsackin
Well-known member
Sure!
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Thread has been started
Thread 'Harry J Epstein Day / Wright Tool Meet-Up' https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/harry-j-epstein-day-wright-tool-meet-up.557490/
Cougar
Well-known member
All the years I've been coming to this site and I don't know what this is.
Or I'm really getting old and just forgot.
Or I'm really getting old and just forgot.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
2012 The beginning
Want to Support a Small USA Company With a Cool Product?
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...small-usa-company-with-a-cool-product.177488/Harry J. Epstein Day 2025
Harry J. Epstein Day 2025
Hey, it's March already. Wil there be a 2025 Epstein's day? Fireworks, seared flesh, apple pie and tools from an American Small Business. :bounce: On behalf of Fedwrench, @jsackin First of all, how is Steve and can we get an update ? Secondly, Jori is this going this going to happen this...
www.garagejournal.com
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RTM
Well-known member
The good news is our site search tool doesn't show you posting anything with Epstein, or anything with Epstein in the title (fishy that this post doesn't show up), so possibly not forgetfulness.
NoahG
Well-known member
Theronswanson
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Messages
- 537
I'm still not fully financially recovered from last year yet 
2012 The beginning
Want to Support a Small USA Company With a Cool Product?
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...small-usa-company-with-a-cool-product.177488/
Harry J. Epstein Day 2025
Harry J. Epstein Day 2025
Hey, it's March already. Wil there be a 2025 Epstein's day? Fireworks, seared flesh, apple pie and tools from an American Small Business. :bounce: On behalf of Fedwrench, @jsackin First of all, how is Steve and can we get an update ? Secondly, Jori is this going this going to happen this...
Not the silliest question. Can the OP add a brief description of the event / rules to the first post of this thread? Might encourage more newbies to participate.
Obviously, if you're done this before, you've got a list and are chomping at the bit, but if you're new (or forgetful, etc.), nothing in the first couple of pages here clearly explains this, and jumping to another link doesn't quickly get to the point, either.
Thanks for considering this suggestion.
Mike
jsackin
Well-known member
Which size are you looking for?
NoahG
Well-known member
These two
Attachments
tmshort
Well-known member
COOOOOL! Another tool I didn't know I needed!!
And here I was, assuming it was too soon for the thread to be started. I've been building my list all year!
As for American made, I've bought plenty of pry bars, hammers, crescent wrenches and the like over the years from HJE. This year it will be some piddly old American made NOS punches and chisels, maybe. But one thing I love about HJE is how they find so many interesting things from everywhere, like the Japanese-made "melon machete" I got last summer!
Alas, that was a surplus score by HJE last year, no longer in stock. I've since learned the price was very nice.
As for American made, I've bought plenty of pry bars, hammers, crescent wrenches and the like over the years from HJE. This year it will be some piddly old American made NOS punches and chisels, maybe. But one thing I love about HJE is how they find so many interesting things from everywhere, like the Japanese-made "melon machete" I got last summer!
Alas, that was a surplus score by HJE last year, no longer in stock. I've since learned the price was very nice.
Here's something new at HJE! Magnolia floor squeegee, just under $20, made in USA!
I got one by Rubbermaid earlier this year and am glad I finally did.
I got one by Rubbermaid earlier this year and am glad I finally did.
Since we last met, it appears HJE is carrying Council Tool again. I have never understood the modern fad of paying too much for odd Scandinavian axes and hatchets when high quality American-made axes are still here for less!
Council Tool
The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidation
www.harryepstein.com
jsackin
Well-known member
Council said they'd be participating this year. Might roll out a special axe around that time and have it available July 4th weekend for us.Since we last met, it appears HJE is carrying Council Tool again. I have never understood the modern fad of paying too much for odd Scandinavian axes and hatchets when high quality American-made axes are still here for less!
Council Tool
The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidationwww.harryepstein.com
M.Jay
Well-known member
I swear this forum is going to become my financial ruin!
Since we last met, it appears HJE is carrying Council Tool again. I have never understood the modern fad of paying too much for odd Scandinavian axes and hatchets when high quality American-made axes are still here for less!
Council Tool
The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidationwww.harryepstein.com
I already planned on picking up a Council Tool pickaroon, so that's great to hear! I'd love to pair it with an axe, and maybe some choppin' box art!
I already planned on picking up a Council Tool pickaroon, so that's great to hear! I'd love to pair it with an axe, and maybe some choppin' box art!
M.Jay
Well-known member
Are they going to offer matching high heels to go with their axes?
Just asking for a friend.
David99
Well-known member
Here you go M.Jay, let your friend know!
Well, those look practical.
One thing I'm pondering getting for HJE day is some more adjustable/"Crescent" wrenches. I've bought many good American-made ones from HJE in the past, but now I've become aware of what the Japanese are up to, making some with thin jaws. The little one, at 2.5mm thickness, why, it's a cheap and space-efficient set of cone wrenches.
Top Short Eco Fork 4 1/2" (117mm) Adjustable Wrench (HY-26STR)
Tip is Extremely thin, 2.5mm. Only 95g! Compact head and there is no projection. Finger hook provides efficient work. 7-26mm opening width ///brand_for_product_detail=Acme,close_out=Yes,companydescription=??? - Made in Japan,condition=New,condition_google=new,cost=0.250000,countrymade=Made in...
www.harryepstein.com
Top 6 3/4" (168mm) Thin Exact Bent Wrench (HT-150B)
Adopting “Backlashless knurl” Able to be used as a spanner. 20° bent point. Able to be used as a simple vernier caliper. 0-20mm ///brand_for_product_detail=Acme,close_out=Yes,companydescription=??? - Made in Japan,condition=New,condition_google=new,cost=0.250000,countrymade=Made in...
www.harryepstein.com
For me I appreciate the ability to participate in Epstein Day as this is a great way to support a small family owned and run hardware store and ideally support current American manufacturing. In an era where "fast" free shipping seems to be more important and I'll admit I cannot say I don't appreciate that myself; I just appreciate the ability to support a family owned business and also the ability to support USA jobs.
Sure Home Depot and these other big box stores have their place; yet it's not and will not ever be the same as supporting an business where you can speak to the owner if you want, have personal artwork drawn and there is something to be said about being able to purchase items not sold at big box stores.
Sure Home Depot and these other big box stores have their place; yet it's not and will not ever be the same as supporting an business where you can speak to the owner if you want, have personal artwork drawn and there is something to be said about being able to purchase items not sold at big box stores.
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
This particular day never works out for me as intended... It works as follows
Wow, I should go look at cool stuff and make a list of things that I want to buy on that day.
Wow! I want that right now. I'm buying it right now... (Buys a bunch of stuff)
The day rolls around and I just bought a bunch of of stop so I don't buy anything more.
As people receive their cool things they post what they bought and I say oh wow I need that too...
Proceeds to buy more stuff after the day.
It's really hard to peruse the website and not buy a bunch of stuff.
M.Jay
Well-known member
Be careful with those japanese tools, it's a slippery slope. Ask me how I know...
I know somebody who recently ordered a dryer from Lowe's. Paid the extra $50 installation fee. When making the order on the internet, added some hose clamps and new duct hose, and a spare 220V power cord (not sure why.) I was there when they showed up. They declared that the only installed the new and took away the old and didn't (gesture at other items) install that stuff. What the hell? $50 doesn't get you installing a new flex hose?
My friend was there to supervise my watching. Two installers. I'm ashamed to admit it never crossed my mind... it never crossed four minds... hours later, I got the call. "This dryer makes horrible noises." Nobody had thought to press the big button to see if it worked. Something was very loose/untightened/wrong in there! The installers didn't test it. And they were two of the four brains involved that day.
Friend wound up calling their sibling who manages a Lowe's in a nearby state to try to get the tree shaken to make the nuts fall out properly, so to speak, yadda yadda yadda, two weeks later, a dryer from Home Depot gets installed.
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Oh, I know. But I'm monogamous with my $20 HF locking extensions. They keep working. Those Ko-Ken extensions are just too expensive! And their ratchets are too small for my hands, and damn, I have a lot of ratchets already.
Now, those hexahedron-CV-joint-like U joints, yeah, you gotta have those.
Koken 3/8" Drive Z-Series Double Joint Universal Swivel (3772Z)
Koken 3/8" Drive Z-Series Double Joint Universal Swivel (3772Z)
www.harryepstein.com
NightSky
Well-known member
Your resolve is admirable, indeed. However, don't ever idly pick up a Ko-ken ratchet and, what ever else you may do, don't spin the anvil on that ratchet.
Odd-job
Well-known member
Life is too short to be monogamous. Didn't you hear that everyone is doing open relationships these days?!?
2001ZR2
Well-known member
Looking forward to this not the following questions about if really need those tools.
I blame GJ....and the fact I'm local.
Did see the guy in front of me buy some Indestro hex sockets....Hmmm
I blame GJ....and the fact I'm local.
Did see the guy in front of me buy some Indestro hex sockets....Hmmm
Just a reminder that your HJE order is your chance to get a 13mm nutdriver for cheap!
$4!
Only 93 left!
$4!
Only 93 left!
M.Jay
Well-known member
...said no GJ Member ever!
Thankfully the direction lever on them works in the opposite direction I am used to. Saved me from dropping money on their ratchets.Your resolve is admirable, indeed. However, don't ever idly pick up a Ko-ken ratchet and, what ever else you may do, don't spin the anvil on that ratchet.
When I first heard such a complaint here at GJ I realized that I had no preconceptions about what direction does what, I always put socket on, test, adjust. Probably all of those years with ratchets with no labeling. Then having a lot of ratchets.
NightSky
Well-known member
I posted this pic on the show your new tools thread. All the ratchets are set to move in the same direction and Ko-ken is the odd one (hard to tell on the USAG, though).
Like Squankum, I cannot remember which way is for tightening or loosening and go by trial and error -- maybe someone can give amnemonic.
"Amnemonic" Ha, I see what you did there! (Unless that was a typo...)
All this time, I thought I was the only one who can never remember which way to point the ratchet lever...
Worse, even after trial, error, and correcting it, I often bump the lever and have to start over.
So, my personal mnemonic is, "Hey stupid, don't forget to check the rotation, and keep your mitts off the lever once you start!"
Mike