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Harry J Epstein Day / Wright Tool Meet-Up

Ohio Andy

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Interest was expressed in a meet-up for an HJE meet-up and Wright Tools factory tour.

See the post by @jsackin here

Post in thread 'Harry J Epstein Day 2026' https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/harry-j-epstein-day-2026.557168/post-11624404

The factory is located at "1 Wright Pl, Barberton, OH 44203-2798"

This is near Cleveland Ohio and roughly two hours from my location in the middle of Ohio.

I already have four people (including myself) That said, if the time is appropriate, they would love to go... One of them is in paramedic school so if it conflicts with that they can't get out. The rest can probably make it regardless of when.

So I guess the steps are as follows:

Identify interest, Come to a consensus on a general date and time, and Talk to the appropriate people to set it up.

I assume weekends are out and for the student best days or Fridays and Mondays.

So how much interest?
 
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redwrench60

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I’m jealous. Too far for me during the week but that would be an awesome visit. I love seeing how my favorite things are born. I got a chance for a private tour of Snap-On’s Elizabethton, TN plant and it was so cool. Seeing where many of my tools were made and seeing the people making a living making the tools I make a living with was awesome.
 

Torque&Recoil

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Wow. Count me in. It's an hour 20 from my current house, but looking at the map, I (almost) know where they are located, since I used to work not terribly far from there. I'm retired and can make it almost any day.
 

ecotec

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It’s 3 1/2 hours from here, and I am working 6-10’s with sporadic Sundays. I don’t think it is realistic to go.

It does sound like a really good time. I am a huge fan of Wright tools, and I have a lot of them. A good amount of them are from a now closed Production Tool & Supply before Berkshire Hathaway bought them. They had a very old plexiglass Wright display with sets in old red metal boxes and trapezoid trays.
 

ptabatcher

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I’m in. I’m pretty close and drive by on a regular basis.

oddly enough, I’ve been to their offices when I did some freelance right out of school to help them with a presentation. after seeing pictures from Mark Fox of a tour he did, I’ve kicked myself for never pushing for a tour back then (early 2000’s).

Andy, fridays and mondays are good. based on the 4th, we might want to do it before the 4th or late June (selfishly suggesting since I have to travel for work the week after the 4th).
 
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woody 73

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I would go freaking ape ****, and I would drool all over, but alas my wife would kill me, just kill me if I went on that trip. It kills me not to go. But a happy wife is a happy life or something like that. Sigh and only 2 hours away from my home in central "Ahia" oh man when you guys go, please take a million pictures to share with us on the GJ.

Woody
 

Tchicken

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I would love to go on a factory tour - but its very date dependent, so cannot commit until a date is picked. About 200 miles for me,
 

Snip's

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I would go freaking ape ****, and I would drool all over, but alas my wife would kill me, just kill me if I went on that trip. It kills me not to go. But a happy wife is a happy life or something like that. Sigh and only 2 hours away from my home in central "Ahia" oh man when you guys go, please take a million pictures to share with us on the GJ.

Woody
Just tell your wife you need to go to the grocery store for a gallon of milk...
 
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jsackin

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Wright said somewhat ambiguously "the fall".

They were also wondering what the headcount might be but I told them that would of course depend on the date so maybe the best way to go forward is it you guys pick a date range that might work for the most people?
 
OP
O

Ohio Andy

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Shall I private message each individual? What we have at this time is 16 interested responses with me trying to bring three people with me and one person would like to bring his boys (plural so I assume two).

Off the cuff, how about August 14 (a Friday)? Whay August 14? I think we might get @chpns1
Apart from that, my preference would be a Friday or Monday.

My best guess is 20 or less (more likely less). But here is a summary of what we have:

  1. @chpns1 I think said that August 14th should work. Day before an August 15th thing in Detroit I think.
  2. @Torque&Recoil is less than two hours away and any day / time should be fine.
  3. @jeffmoss26 Is 40 minutes away and most should work if I understood correctly.
  4. @ptabatcher Inidcated that Monday and Friday are good.
  5. @Rich720 is 335 miles away but thinks that he can make it.
  6. @Crabman is a long drive out but thinks that he can make.
  7. @Kaervak Thinks he can make it.
  8. @Dh3256 Is flexible on date so probably.
  9. @zanyad Would like to bring his boys. How does the date sound?
  10. @tmshort If he is off work.
  11. @Tchicken Any particular Friday or Monday as we approach August 14 or maybe later in the fall.
  12. @NUTTSGT says if his day off and available. Do not know his day off.
  13. @j3rf Do you have a specific date / time that would work given the above?
  14. @T444e is a Seven hour drive but interested.
  15. @Ohio Andy My wife and two daughters both expressed interest.

@woody 73 Suggest to your wife that she come along and she can meet my wife and two daughters. One of them is in Paramedic school but can usually do Monday and Friday if it is planned.
 

Tchicken

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As of now 8/14 would be a good day to drive down. As far as PSE, I would assume most plants today require safety glasses, we used to keep them on hand for visitors' use. Safety shoes are a bit harder to police, but I'd not show up for any plant tour in either flip flops or open toed shoes. Up to Wright, but it is a very good question to ask ahead of time
 

j3rf

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I'm pretty open for scheduling whatever. August 14 would work for me. I do think a Friday would be a good day as well.
 

jeffmoss26

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Cleveland, Ohio
Shall I private message each individual? What we have at this time is 16 interested responses with me trying to bring three people with me and one person would like to bring his boys (plural so I assume two).

Off the cuff, how about August 14 (a Friday)? Whay August 14? I think we might get @chpns1
Apart from that, my preference would be a Friday or Monday.

My best guess is 20 or less (more likely less). But here is a summary of what we have:

  1. @chpns1 I think said that August 14th should work. Day before an August 15th thing in Detroit I think.
  2. @Torque&Recoil is less than two hours away and any day / time should be fine.
  3. @jeffmoss26 Is 40 minutes away and most should work if I understood correctly.
  4. @ptabatcher Inidcated that Monday and Friday are good.
  5. @Rich720 is 335 miles away but thinks that he can make it.
  6. @Crabman is a long drive out but thinks that he can make.
  7. @Kaervak Thinks he can make it.
  8. @Dh3256 Is flexible on date so probably.
  9. @zanyad Would like to bring his boys. How does the date sound?
  10. @tmshort If he is off work.
  11. @Tchicken Any particular Friday or Monday as we approach August 14 or maybe later in the fall.
  12. @NUTTSGT says if his day off and available. Do not know his day off.
  13. @j3rf Do you have a specific date / time that would work given the above?
  14. @T444e is a Seven hour drive but interested.
  15. @Ohio Andy My wife and two daughters both expressed interest.

@woody 73 Suggest to your wife that she come along and she can meet my wife and two daughters. One of them is in Paramedic school but can usually do Monday and Friday if it is planned.
I should be able to get that day off work. I will check the calendar.
 

zanyad

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Boys are off school. I have nothing (currently) on work or personal calendars August 14. Looking good so far!
 
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