Harbor Freight Salvage Co.

[DieselSaves]

There is a thread from a while back wherein two older members debated whether our venerable HF started life as Harbor Freight Salvage or Harbor Freight AND Salvage.

Last night I moved a box of Pittsburgh 1” drive sockets that I’ve never used and inside found the warranty sheet. I don’t know the vintage of this set as I bough it used from a friend but I’d guess it’s at least 30 years old. I was introduced to HF around that time as a mail order service but I haven’t found any old receipts to verify the name of the company at the time.

The back side lists the warranty info and it sounds like the return shipping process and potential for denial made it cheaper and much quicker to simply buy another tool.

 

[mark-NJ]

I remember those days! I was working as a commercial diver, and we bought a ton of tools from their catalog. We'd take them down under (usually salt) water, use them, then just leave them on the bottom! I mean, a set of impact sockets for 9 bucks? Not worth bringing them back up, cleaning / drying / oiling them.

 

[Xcursion88]

I remember those days! I was working as a commercial diver, and we bought a ton of tools from their catalog. We'd take them down under (usually salt) water, use them, then just leave them on the bottom! I mean, a set of impact sockets for 9 bucks? Not worth bringing them back up, cleaning / drying / oiling them.

Whoa...

If I'm following you correctly you were under water working?

Please elaborate more on that

 

[mark-NJ]

That's what commercial divers do! We work underwater.

 

[zendriver]

Maybe that was their warranty division! LOL

Chuck Homier started his tool business around that time frame

If something broke on a floor remodel drillpress he just have them bring them back give him a new one and then throw The broken unit in a pile out behind the store