Port Austin Michigan

woody 73 · Aug 4, 2012

Back in the Day when I was a teenager (before they shot Abe Lincoln); my Father gave me a wooden level with glass vials and brass trim for my birthday.

After many years I still admire that beautiful level and I cherish it, because my Father thought of me all those many years ago. Well a funny thing happened to me this week that I thought I would pass on. This week I took my family to the great State up north to Michigan (as we buckeyes like to say); and while I was looking at every Hardware store along the way I stopped into a small Ace store in Port Austin Michigan and my jaw dropped to the floor!

What I saw next just caught me by surprise but that ace store had a display of levels and you guessed it wooden levels just like the one my Father bought me many years ago.

Turns out they are still made in the USA at the:

Port Austin Level & Tool Manufacturing Company
130 Arthur
Port Austin,MI 48467
989-738-5291 or 1-800-835-1798
Fax 989-738-6151
E-Mail palevel@centurytel

They say: "Built up to Quality...Not Down to a Price!"
"Remember...the bitterness of poor quality is long remembered after the sweetness of low price is forgot"

Thought I would pass along the tip to my GJ brothers/sisters.

Woody :lol:

metaldad · Aug 4, 2012

Wow! Their prices are really good.
http://www.portaustinlevelandtool.com/index.html

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv · Aug 4, 2012

Woody, that is great to hear.

Jim C. · Aug 4, 2012

When I was a little kid in the 1960s, my family used to go on vacation every summer for a week to Port Austin, Michigan. My dad rented a cottage right on Saginaw Bay at a place called Buffa's Cottages and Resort. They were just little cinder block boxes, but we always had a great time there. It seemed like a vacation destination. I never would have guessed that tools were being made in the area too.

Jim C.

cnc-me · Aug 5, 2012

How Its Made, or one of those type of shows, did a segment on them If I remember correctly.

autumnald · Jul 18, 2018

Woody,
I recently got engaged. My fiance' moved into my home, and as I was unloading a box of his father's tools, I discovered not one but TWO wooden levels made in Port Austin! I was in heaven! My father was a tradesman's and now I know he'd approve of this match! We vacationed in Port Austin ever summer of my youth, but I had no idea tools were made there! I feel blessed!
Deanna

autumnald · Jul 18, 2018

Jim,
Mr. Buffa was a dear friend of my father's. He vacationed there as a child and took his brood of five there ever summer as we grew up in the 60's and 70's. Loved the shuffle board games, the annual swim to Turnip Rock, and how Mr. Buffa would ride around on his dozer cleaning the beach area. Some of my favorite memories!!!
On his deathbed, my father was reaching up above him for something. When I asked him what he saw, he said it was (first name forgotten) Buffa. Interesting, huh?
Deanna

deerehunter/operator · Jul 18, 2018

We were in port Austin sunday swimming at the beach!

woody 73 · Jul 18, 2018

I am so glad you guys/gals are having fun in Port Austin. :thumbup:

Just a reminder as I hate to sound like a broken record but...Please stop in and buy one of their products or buy one from the web because WE NEED TO SUPORT AN AMERICAN MADE COMPANY before they go the way of the dodo bird and more junk will be coming from China.

woody

woody 73 · Jul 18, 2018

Just something I found on the web:

https://www.michigansthumb.com/news...vel-and-Tool-to-be-featured-on-TV-7294056.php

Woody

driftpin · Jul 18, 2018

Here's a shot of one of my first tools I bought when I started working construction in south Florida in 1973. An aluminum Port Austin MI-manufactured spirit level, brand-new then and still working today, though not as-much. At the same time, I bought a smooth-face, straight-claw, steel shaft, perforated rubber-grip 24 oz. Rocket hammer, also still in the toolbelt, we did a lot of formwork building and remodeling Winn Dixie supermarkets. I bought my first sidewinder Skilsaw too, a 6 ft. wood folding carpenter's measure, and a 20 ft. Lufkin tape measure.

That Port Austin level has a couple cracked glass covers, maybe someday I'll go to a glazier's and have a couple replacements cut, and I'll install them.

Every home I've ever owned has had that Port Austin level used upon it.

woody 73 · Jul 18, 2018

Driftpin Hi,

I believe (key word here) is that you can send it back to them and they will repair it for you, but just to be sure you can give them a call just to make sure.

spike99250 · Jul 18, 2018

They will repair them for you. I believe it is ten dollars per vial.
Kraft tool company also sells repair kits(made by Sands level co, another great company by the way) that includes 6 pieces of glass, new paper rings, putty and a finishing tool for the putty.

driftpin · Jul 18, 2018

Thank-you for the info, I appreciate the assist. No reason why this Port Austin level couldn't serve another generation.

Jim C. · Jul 18, 2018

autumnald said:
Jim,
Mr. Buffa was a dear friend of my father's. He vacationed there as a child and took his brood of five there ever summer as we grew up in the 60's and 70's. Loved the shuffle board games, the annual swim to Turnip Rock, and how Mr. Buffa would ride around on his dozer cleaning the beach area. Some of my favorite memories!!!
On his deathbed, my father was reaching up above him for something. When I asked him what he saw, he said it was (first name forgotten) Buffa. Interesting, huh?
Deanna

I got a couple rides on that bulldozer, one of which was in the bucket. Mr. Buffa lived on the opposite end of the neighborhood I grew up in. He also built our house.

Jim C.

Shortbread · Mar 4, 2025

Ok guys sorry to have to chime in on this..
Port Austin Level company has reportedly closed its doors for good

... I say reportedly as from 2 trust worthy Michigan news sources this was reported. I have a large collection of Port Austin levels and accessories. Beyond that the Port Austin area, for that matter the entire thumb of Michigan, has held a lifetime of adventure, family fun and recreation for me and my family for at least the last 60 years and beyond. Maybe some person with some strong opperaneareal skills and a zest for life may find it a good purchase and make a bid to take over and get it going again. We are allow to dream yet !

Beerhippie · Mar 4, 2025

Shortbread said:
Ok guys sorry to have to chime in on this..
Port Austin Level company has reportedly closed its doors for good ... I say reportedly as from 2 trust worthy Michigan news sources this was reported. I have a large collection of Port Austin levels and accessories. Beyond that the Port Austin area, for that matter the entire thumb of Michigan, has held a lifetime of adventure, family fun and recreation for me and my family for at least the last 60 years and beyond. Maybe some person with some strong opperaneareal skills and a zest for life may find it a good purchase and make a bid to take over and get it going again. We are allow to dream yet !

I guess that explains why this link:

metaldad said:
Wow! Their prices are really good.
http://www.portaustinlevelandtool.com/index.html

has been hijacked.

mreisner · Mar 4, 2025

Shortbread said:
Ok guys sorry to have to chime in on this..
Port Austin Level company has reportedly closed its doors for good ... I say reportedly as from 2 trust worthy Michigan news sources this was reported. I have a large collection of Port Austin levels and accessories. Beyond that the Port Austin area, for that matter the entire thumb of Michigan, has held a lifetime of adventure, family fun and recreation for me and my family for at least the last 60 years and beyond. Maybe some person with some strong opperaneareal skills and a zest for life may find it a good purchase and make a bid to take over and get it going again. We are allow to dream yet !

Happened 3 years ago. I live about an hour from there. I missed a shop class field trip there in the 80's due to illness. Regretted it ever since then!

zendriver · Mar 5, 2025

I started reading this thread, assuming it was new, thinking "people still buy wooden levels? :headscrat

"

Apparently not so much.

woody 73 · Mar 5, 2025

I am so very sad this American company shut their doors, very sad day.

I just hope the wright tool company in Ohio can keep going.

Woody

ecotec · Mar 5, 2025

I make an effort to find and buy Michigan products. I have a few things from Port Austin. My family vacationed in Port Austin and Port Crescent when I was a kid.

Beerhippie · Mar 5, 2025

ecotec said:
I make an effort to find and buy Michigan products. I have a few things from Port Austin. My family vacationed in Port Austin and Port Crescent when I was a kid.

Hole saw for a electrician's tape holder? ...Brilliant!

lardy1 · Mar 6, 2025

This actually predates the Port Austin Level Company. It belonged to my late father. I live not too far from Port Austin and sort of regret not taking it to them to have it rebuilt. I weas quite sure they wouldn't be able to replace the original Mayes vials so I put it on the back burner. After they went out of business I regretted not contacting them to see if they could replace them or revitalize the existing ones that work fine but the lines have worn off.

I seeposts regarding their wooden levels but the company was held in high regard for their cast aluminum levels moreso than their wooden ones.

BombShelter · Mar 6, 2025

I was thinking about a "Made in Kalamazoo" Thread, maybe we need a "Made in Michigan" Thread.

There were so many great companies, big and small, that had roots in Michigan, unfortunately that giant sucking sound you hear is mainly coming from Michigan.

ecotec · Mar 6, 2025

BombShelter said:
I was thinking about a "Made in Kalamazoo" Thread, maybe we need a "Made in Michigan" Thread.

There were so many great companies, big and small, that had roots in Michigan, unfortunately that giant sucking sound you hear is mainly coming from Michigan.

We still are still seventh in manufacturing… but yes, we have fallen far. Detroit was the richest city in the world in the early ‘60s.

Port Austin Michigan

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