Proamerica - Pro America Premium Tools - American KAL Enterprises Inc. - Emporium Forging Co. Inc.

[four.cycle]

KAL 14 pc 1/4" dr SAE Socket Wrench Set w/ Metal Box

manufactured by American KAL Enterprises, Emporium, Pennsylvania

this set contains:

4206 3/16" 6-point marked PROAMERICA USA
1007 7/32" 6-point marked KAL USA
1008 1/4" " "
1009 9/32" " "
1010 5/16" " "
1011 11/32" " "
1012 3/8" " "
1014 7/16" " "
1016 1/2" " "

1049 RHFT Ratchet marked KAL USA
1059 2 inch Extension "
1060 3 inch Extension "
1061 6 inch Extension "
1067 6 inch Spinner marked KAL TOOL

- plastic socket holder
- red steel box

- the 4206 3/16" socket was manufactured by American KAL Enterprises, Emporium, Pennsylvania

 

[Fedwrench]

I'm surprised there isn't an NSN label on that set

 

[dnschmidt]

OK, an American hand tool company. Great. Now where does one go to buy this stuff?

 

[four.cycle]

I'll be more than happy to sell you any of those socket sets.

I have only seen "Proamerica" sockets, ratchets, and drive tools online through ebay vendors. Bowers Tool had some a while back - I'm not sure if he's still got them.

The only tools on their website are pliers.

They are primarily a contract supplier, making stuff for other tool companies.

 

[liliysdad]

I have had quite bit of KAL and ProAmerica through my hands when I have bought tool lots at auction, etc. None of it has been impressive in any way.

 

[four.cycle]

I'm surprised there isn't an NSN label on that set

The sets in the red metal boxes (post #37 and post #41) were marketed as KAL #501 sets, apparently. I have no idea of time frame. I have a few NOS #501 empt y boxes here as well. None of them make any mention of "NSN".
I can only assume they attempted at some point to sell directly to the retail market in the not-too-distant past, as those sets have popped up on ebay repeatedly over the course of the last 8 years.
Nelson Bowers brought in a smattering of ratchets and drive tools, but I'm not sure if he's continued carrying them.
The ratchets are actually surprisingly nice, and if you read the anecdote from @Chrome Vanadium Cody about the 3/8" flex-head I sent to him, you would have few questions about durability. (He managed to snap off a 3/8-16 bolt with the thing, which kind of surprised me.)

My guess would be they had a hell of a pile of production over-run after filling the contract for those "small arms kits" and packaged up some more for the retail consumer (and Jensen, who sold a boatload of those red-box sets under their own brand name.)

 

[lardy1]

I bought these from the GJ classified. I have no idea where they may have came from. They look a lot like the late version of Proto Blackhawk but are shorter. I don't think they've ever been used.

 

[four.cycle]

Several years ago I managed to get one of the guys in the Baldwin Park facility on the phone but he was pretty tight-lipped about who they were supplying. The only name I was able to pry out of him was PROTO, so it's quite possible they were doing private-label for PROTO/Challenger/Blackhawk at some point.
I have a set of "KAL" branded combos here than look very similar to those, but the photo images are in my (currently dead) computer and I have no way to post anything here. Nice clean broaching, great chrome. Nice shape on the beams. What's not to like?

 

[Shocker]

Man I gotta start digging a bit. I know I have quite a few Pro America wrenches and KAL branded wrenches and sockets.

 

[honcho]

I'm surprised there isn't an NSN label on that set

Me too, encountered lots of KAL (and Giller, Century along with a few other not common at consumer retail brands) during my military service. They apparently had a healthy business supplying USA made (and some Japanese) tools to the government.

 

[jeffmoss26]

the driver handles above all look like Pratt Read

 

[four.cycle]

KAL 3007 7 piece SAE combination wrench set

manufactured by American KAL Enterprises, Emporium, Pennsylvania

this set contains:

3212 3/8"

3214 7/16"

3216 1/2"

3218 9/16"

3220 5/8"

3222 11/16"

3224 3/4"

the 3212 3/8" wrench is not original to the set and is an add-on

 

[southalabama]

I’ve got a couple sets of Pro America sockets bought while in college in the mid 80’s. They were in blue boxes. Don’t recall if I got a set with a ratchet. Also got a couple needle nose pliers. Red handles.

 

[rust in the eye]

here you go:

I have a pair that appear identical to these branded MAC Tools, P110DC

 

[four.cycle]

those are Tekton, not ProAmerica (you can see the Tekton logo buzzed off in one of those images.)

I don't think ProAmerica makes a diagonal cutter like that.

 

[908Jim]

I have a pair that appear identical to these branded MAC Tools, P110DC

those are Tekton, not ProAmerica (you can see the Tekton logo buzzed off in one of those images.)

I don't think ProAmerica makes a diagonal cutter like that.

Pro America 11 in. Offset Extra Long Diagonal Cutters Dikes Wire Pliers USA 5043

Pro America 11 in. Offset Extra Long Diagonal Cutters Dikes Wire Pliers USA 5043

bowerstool.com

 

[four.cycle]

I am not finding a model 5043 on the manufacturer's website, so those may be old stock or a custom order (if you can find them on their website let me know.)

In any event, the pair posted above with the red handles were branded "Tekton" and the branding was buzzed off and they were sold as close-outs through an ebay vendor your parts place.

My best guess would be that they were all made by ProAmerica, but that's just my best guess. Most of their production is made for private-label accounts, so it would make perfect sense the pair posted by @rust in the eye were also made by ProAmerica.

Bowers does enough volume with them that he's been able to get them to provide product they otherwise would not.

 

[lardy1]

I don't know where those blemished cutters originated but I have a set also. I consider them to be among the best tools for the money that I ever bought. I paid ten bucks for them and have used them a lot. They've held up remarkably well.

 

[908Jim]

I am not finding a model 5043 on the manufacturer's website, so those may be old stock or a custom order (if you can find them on their website let me know.)

In any event, the pair posted above with the red handles were branded "Tekton" and the branding was buzzed off and they were sold as close-outs through an ebay vendor your parts place.

My best guess would be that they were all made by ProAmerica, but that's just my best guess. Most of their production is made for private-label accounts, so it would make perfect sense the pair posted by @rust in the eye were also made by ProAmerica.

Bowers does enough volume with them that he's been able to get them to provide product they otherwise would not.

I knew they existed from the Pro-America site from a post here a few years ago implying they were the OEM for Proto, so I think they were discontinued or accidentally dropped from the website. They definitely are not custom for Bowers.

The Proto J244G looks pretty similar to the Tekton and MAC version

 

[four.cycle]

"...implying..."

No "implying" about it.
The phone conversation was with a man who said his name was Ivan. (I spoke with him on the phone two or three times, now that I think about it.)
Proto was the only name I was able to pry out of him. After he accidentally spilled that he got pretty tight-lipped. (That's proprietary stuff they're not supposed to share.)

I think their website is a mess, to be honest, but they clearly don't care much about direct sales, as almost all their production is for their private-label accounts.

 

[four.cycle]

the model 5043 IS still manufactured by ProAmerica. it was simply an oversight that it did not get posted on their website.
(pers. comm. / phone / 01/11/24 BK)

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Well, another find in my own shop. I can only surmise I must have picked this up at auction at some point prior to beginning my journey to restock old socket boxes. This is an American KAL Inc 1/2" drive deep 12 point set. The box is OD green and oozes military issue but no labels nor NSNs. Sockets are marked with size and KAL-USA. There's one oddball 1-1/16 that's clearly not original to the set. It appears I need the 3/4, 9/16 and maybe a 1/2. Sockets are 3-1/8" in length. Alas, no catalogs on ITCL...perhaps circa mid 1980s?

 

[terrific]

I keep going back to their website from time to time, but the pliers I want are always out of stock. Do they just use the site to sell leftovers from production runs for other companies? Does anyone rebadge model 5050 or any of the hose grippers?

 

[four.cycle]

Bowers Tool has ONE pair of #5048 1/2" ring hose grip pliers on a close out for $27.97 incl. shipping right now.

Bowers Tool has a 3-piece set of hose grip pliers for $119.99 incl. shipping.

I'll be more than happy to sell you my three-piece NOS set for $100.00 even incl. shipping (still in the boxes)

MOST of Proamerica's output is made for private-label accounts. I'm not sure who they are currently. They were selling to Tekton for a while. Also Proto. The hose pliers are an odd duck - I think there's a possibility that may have been a one-shot deal.

The #5050 appears to have a different jaw design than their 11-inch #5034.

 

[terrific]

Oh wow, thanks. You didn't have to look all that up.
Did you find you were able to reach your hoses without a set of specialty pliers?

 

[Beerhippie]

Are these sockets ProAmerica?



The numbering for these metrics is 57 followed by the size in mm. I found a few examples of PA using this same scheme, but the only makrking on these are the number, size and USA.

 

[Fedwrench]

Are these sockets ProAmerica?



The numbering for these metrics is 57 followed by the size in mm. I found a few examples of PA using this same scheme, but the only makrking on these are the number, size and USA.

Could be. Given that those sockets are plain jane 12 points, they could be from a government contract as well sourced from any number of folks back in the day like Easco or Granco.

 

[LesserSon]

Finally! a manufacturer for this grip pattern, seen on unbranded examples. Thanks to @RTM for directing me to this thread.

 

[four.cycle]

^ yeah... "Cam-Ron" / KAL / ProAmerica = all connected in one fashion or another. "Cam-Ron" was manufactured in Emporium, PA.
Not sure if that facility is still doing the drop-forging. Should be an aerial shot of the plant at the beginning of the thread

@Beerhippie -
RE: your examples above - I would say no, not Proamerica product. Their sockets are virtually indistinguishable from JS Technology (Alfaretta GA) and National Tool (Dallas.) I think National Tool made a lot of "generic" sockets for a lot of outfits, including Klein.

Just my lousy opinion, but I think all of these came out of the same plant in Dallas, Texas:

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

I have a single 13 mm socket in 3/8” drive from ProAmerica. I bought it off e-bay because it was cheap and made in USA. It replaces my older CMan that I lost while changing the alternator on a Jeep Liberty.

 

[kfainf]

Walmart sold the Pro America line of hand tools in late 1988 into 1990. They were trying to compete with Sears and Craftsman tools by offering a USA made tool line. They did not last in Walmart stores due to poor sales. Walmart priced the Pro America tools similar to Craftsman prices from Sears, but Walmart’s customer base were not looking to pay those prices for a tool line that was not well known. I bought up quite a bit of the Pro America tools sold at Walmart when they put them on clearance to move them out.

 

[Toold_up]

There is some really great fishing in Emporium. It's been years since I was there, but there are natives in the streams that fight like hell!


A set of ring nose pliers from them is on my wish list. Almost bought them for a Christmas present, but chose Malco Eagles instead. Maybe next year.

 

[SellersMachineCo]

Sorry to dig up an old thread… but has ProAmerica gone out of business? Their website no longer exists and I can’t find any info on them.