Facom, Bahco, Snap On - What's Going on Here?

[BJ42LX]

My understanding is Stanley owns Facom and makes Facom tools in France, Eastern Europe and Taiwan.

Bahco is a brand owned by Snap On and produced in Europe and possibly the United States.

So these three auctions have me scratching my head:

1)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Facom-Snap-On-S...226?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1c392862

2)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Facom-Snap-On-S...893?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1c0e523d

3)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bahco-Snap-On-S...131?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1c392803


Auction 1: the package is clearly labelled Facom and has a couple USA logos on it. The handle looks like a Bahco - samples of which can be found all over Amazon. IMO, the reference to Snap On is simply keyword spamming. Edit: "Some sockets may have been substituted with SK or Bahco" - that explains the Bahco handle...

Auction 2: Ok, so that's a Bahco set. The handle looks similar to what's available at Amazon. Box says made in USA. The packaging matches the Facom set in auction 1.

Auction 3: Another "made in USA" Facom set with packaging similar to the first two.

Any idea what's going on here? Why the similar Bahco/Facom packaging? I've bought plenty of Facom pre-Stanley and that packaging is unfamiliar to me.

 

[BJ42LX]

Pics for when the auctions expire;

Auction 1:

 

[BJ42LX]

Auction 2:

 

[BJ42LX]

Auction 3:

 

[Gtamazing]

I purchased a similar set that was Bahco and the packaging is identical

But for some reason I thought Bahco never made metric sockets and wrenches. So maybe the metrics are Facom

 

[Fedwrench]

Here's my spin,

US made Bahco wrenches and sockets are actually Williams made tools only found in SAE sizes.

The Facom boxed set is actually left over from the days when Facom owned SK. There was some comingling of the two brands back in the day. Those are SK sockets and a flex head tough one series ratchet. The tools are marked Facom but, are merely rebadged SK from awhile ago.

The generic boxes make me wonder if some closeout place is repackaging the tools for sale.

Facom owned SK in 2002-2006. Sk became US owned, went under, and was bought by Ideal. Stanley bought Facom and USAG a few years ago. If you look at Proto and Mac lines, you'll seen some cross breeding particularly in the 72 tooth palm control ratchets which are now made in Italy.

 

[SMKS]

I had a set of the USA Bahco wrenches and they were identical to Williams Supercombos. As another member mentioned, you'll only find the Williams-made bahco stuff in SAE sizes.

As far as the packaging, I think that is from some kind of closeout company. My bahco wrenches came in a box like that. But, a local pawn shop has one of the Facom sets with the same packaging.

I think the Facom set also has some Bahcos mixed in with it, which would make sense if it came from a closeout distributor.

 

[Monte]

interesting Facom tools...

 

[supertooljunkie]

I bought a set of the Bahco/Williams 3/8" sockets from Northern Tool a couple months ago. All US made, all SAE, with shallow, deep sockets, a ratchet, and a couple of extensions. They were also in the same packaging. I wish I could find some Bahco stuff in metric. I really didn't need the SAE set, but I wanted the ratchet, and the set was only $40.

 

[MattT]

The generic boxes make me wonder if some closeout place is repackaging the tools for sale.

I have seen similar sets in a closeout store that were either Facom or Bahco. Probably Big Lots.

 

[american lockpicker]

If only Stanley was made in England(sheffield), Facom was made in France, Bahco was Swedish and Snap-On was USA...

 

[mofo62]

.



Nice Facom.


V!

 

[kissmeimgerman]

SK probably made those Facoms, looks like a hardware store that went out of business

 

[Rossco]

This they have figured out you guys will buy ANYTHING with Made in the USA stamped on it.

 

[jsackin]

Those Bacho/Facom sets have definitely been repackaged by the closeout company that bought them. I would agree that everything labeled "bahco" came out of the Williams plant in Atlanta and that everything labeled "Facom" is most likely "SK".

Jori

http://store.harryepstein.com