1st imported Asian bench grinders--what years?

[1982fxr]

How far back do any of you remember seeing your first Asian bench grinders? Taiwan.

I think I read on here that Craftsman had the USA made black flat top block grinders in the catalog until about 1982?

Wissota quit making them in the 90's?

Doerr was USA made until becoming Taiwan but nobody seems to know when the switch was made...

 

[1982fxr]

So I'm assuming right after the Craftsman USA black flat tops came the first craftsman taiwan grinders?

Anyone got a catalog from around 1984 or so?

 

[MattT]

I was given a taiwanese B&D built in 1988 last year. It's actually a pretty good machine and the HP rating seems accurate based on amp draw and feel.

 

[1982fxr]

Is everybody home from work yet?

This mystery must be solved...

 

[1982fxr]

I was given a taiwanese B&D built in 1988 last year. It's actually a pretty good machine and the HP rating seems accurate based on amp draw and feel.

Were you able to look up a date code or did it actually say?

 

[MattT]

Were you able to look up a date code or did it actually say?

I had to replace the cap and there was a date on it. I think there may have been a date somewhere else too but I'm not sure on that.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I recall advertisements for generic shop equipment in the Workbench magazine back in the 60'S. I don't specifically recall a grinder being advertised; but those ancient ads might be worth some research time.

 

[1982fxr]

Generally speaking can anyone say when the first Taiwanese equipment started being imported?

I was under the impression that it was early 1980's but that was before my time...

 

[1982fxr]

Edit I take that back. Someone posted once that the son of Wilton took over around 1970 and started adding imported items. I assumed Taiwan but maybe it was Japan? I've never seen old Wilton imports just the newer stuff.

 

[NC Rick]

I’m going to guess (going through my memories) sometime mid-70’s is when the Taiwanese flow started. It is also about the time when the Japanese stuff started to become known as “good quality”. 15 years before, the Japanese stuff was cheap junk that I remember anyhow.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

The Chicago Power Tools drill press I bought in 1979 was made in Taiwan.

 

[4xdog]

We had a little orange K-mart grinder in a diecast housing circa 1972. They were pretty common from a number of sources during that time period. Asian for sure, and probably Taiwanese. I'll have to check on it the next time I visit the guy I gave it to...

Here's a crappy crop from a photo many years ago of my dad's workbench showing that tiny bench grinder.

 

[1982fxr]

I think that's made by McGraw Edison. They were in Missouri but not sure if they imported .

 

[vssjim]

What I remember was in 73 after the first gas crisis and resection is when imported stuff flooded the market from Japan and then later in the the second economic hit about 1980 is when Taiwan stuff stated to show up. We lost a lot of US based manufacturing after the 73 gas hit and when Carter took over inflation went through the roof and we lost a lot more.
Then china started in around 1990 with being the low cost cheapy grinders.

 

[Pabird]

I have a 6" bench grinder That has a date of 1980 stamped on the data plate. It's branded as CTT Tools and clearly marked Taiwan.

 

[cdsloop]

My dad's bench grinder is an import that I suspect showed up at the farm in the early 80's. He bought it at a local auction house that sold import tools back then. I'll see if there is any date stamp on it. It has been used extensively over the years and is still chugging away, although it has started to show its' age in recent years.