Interesting Craftsman / Waterloo connection

[geologist]

So I picked up one of the 14" black plastic Craftsman toolboxes from Sears today for use in one of my vehicles, and inside it, I found one of the typical Craftsman product research surveys. I didn't notice until after buying the box that the box itself was actually made in Mexico, but what I found somewhat ironic was that the survey is addressed as follows:

WLO RESEARCH
P.O. BOX 2095
WATERLOO IA 50704-2095

..which, by doing a little checking to verify (and reading some fine print on the form itself), turns out to be owned owned by Waterloo Industries, Inc. So am I correct to assume that Waterloo is heading down the same craptastic foreign road that is currently befalling Craftsman?

 

[dittle fart around]

Waterloo makes tool cabinets for Sears.

 

[MAD]

Old news, search and you will find this discussed for over four years.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8996

 

[bobbar]

i didn't know that. news to me, thanks for bringing it up

 

[dwm]

Waterloo has made tool storage for Craftsman for a long time. But they make less of it now than they did in years past. For example, all of the Waterloo Magnum boxes were formerly rebranded as Craftsman Professional, and Waterloo made the largest Craftsman Professional boxes that are not available from Waterloo directly. Waterloo still makes and sells them up to 56", and they're very good boxes, but Craftsman stopped selling them. The one remaining Craftsman Professional (the 36") is a rebranded Magnum, but the rest are history. The big Craftsman tool cabinets are now ITB (Value line), which is a big step down from what the old Craftsman Professional were. Craftsman has gone downmarket.

Craftsman Grip-Latch is Waterloo Posi-Latch. I think this subject was pretty much covered quite a while ago here.

 

[Stetz]

I actually used to work for Waterloo. My father has for over twenty years. Here in Sedalia, MO Waterloo has been making craftsman boxes since the 70s I want to say. They used to make the nice Cornwell boxes here, until those also moved to Mexico, probably ten years ago.

 

[geologist]

Old news, search and you will find this discussed for over four years.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8996

Sorry, I didn't see that one when I searched. I knew Waterloo made some of Sears stuff, but the plastic boxes caught me by surprise.