LANG Tools?? WTF?? COO??

[1982fxr]

I ordered thread restoring taps from Toolsource a couple weeks ago. KASTAR Made in USA was ordered, and finally arrived right now after some Toolsource ********.

Ordered Kastar MADE IN USA, received LANGE, have not opened them, but seeing no COO and the packaging is basically clear. Huh?

If I just wasted a month of my life waiting for quality USA tools and received something other than that I am gonna be really pissed. Don't wanna open them, but like I said, the packaging is pretty much clear and I see no mention of COO anywhere on the hard plastic pack or the tools themselves....

 

[JayL]

Made In USA

 

[bobcatdan]

I think kastar changed hands. Saw them the other week. Made in Kenosha Wi USA.

 

[1982fxr]

I received the black and silver tap chasers (SAE) with no COO on packaging or from what I can see the tools themselves. Sorry, can't tell, but where do those tools say USA? Apologies, I just can't see any USA stamp from the pics.....?

EDIT: OK, I see the MADE IN USA sticker on yours, but mine have nothing anywhere....?

 

[mmack66]

I received the black and silver tap chasers (SAE) with no COO on packaging or from what I can see the tools themselves. Sorry, can't tell, but where do those tools say USA? Apologies, I just can't see any USA stamp from the pics.....?

EDIT: OK, I see the MADE IN USA sticker on yours, but mine have nothing anywhere....?

Looks like the sticker is inside the case, so it's either take a leap of faith, or send them back.

 

[KPSquared]

Make some calls before you freak out. Sounds like the company switched hands. . . Maybe names. Get on google. ..

 

[kythri]

I don't believe they changed hands, just changed the name. The Lang family owns A&E Incorporated, which I believe owned Kastar.

They appear to have simply rebranded Kastar to Lang.

Unfortunately, their website (http://www.aeincorporated.com/ and http://www.langtools.com/) don't have a lot of concise information about the change, but I can confirm that the Kastar brand was all over the place about 6 months ago, and now it's all Lang - virtually identical layout, just a different brand/logo.

 

[bobemmerich]

Here's the website of the company...
http://www.aetools.com/

 

[Skin]

Kastar has been a brand under A&E hand tools since the 80s, Lang was a family name of the owners so they changed Kastar to Lang. Its not Asian, actually a very European surname.

The founder, Daniel Lang, actually died just a few years ago so it was probably done in his memory.

 

[Conductor562]

The one order I placed from Toolsource got jacked up as well. I ordered a 1/4" Proto ratchet and long story short, a month later a ratchet showed up that was clearly not the one I ordered.

 

[Fedwrench]

Kastar transitioned to Lang (no E) over a year ago. It's the same company as Kastar just instead of everything being red, it's now orange. Same Kastar product line, same quality, different name.

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

Same with some Kastar snap ring pliers I ordered. Came as lang, I opened em up and they are all USA, I am very pleased with the set and the price I paid.

 

[Rezeppa]

I purchased a slack adjuster wrench 6 months ago it showed up usa made Lang and I like the orange more than red. That set of thread chasers is what all the tool trucks carry rebadged.

 

[DoubleA]

Ive purchased new Star brand oil pressure, cylinder leakage and exhaust backpressure gauge kits from tooltopia and all have shown labeled as Lang.

 

[RV77]

Thats the same kit snap-on and Mac sell......Only differance is a red case and.........the price.

Post #2

 

[gbh]

Thats the same kit snap-on and Mac sell......Only differance is a red case and.........the price.

Post #2

Yes! I found out the hard way...
Snap on sticker that they didn't even bother to stick on and a 20% increase in price for the privilege of that sticker.
Now I ask GJ's opinions before I buy.

 

[RV77]

Yes! I found out the hard way...
Snap on sticker that they didn't even bother to stick on and a 20% increase in price for the privilege of that sticker.
Now I ask GJ's opinions before I buy.

Dont feel bad I have one from each but bought them used.

 

[ajchien]

Wow. That also looks identical to the craftsman set I just got, except you have more metric pieces.

 

[IanLang]

I would like to clarify a few things that were in the posts above and put some minds at ease regarding Lang Tools. The ownership has not changed. The Lang family has owned A&E Hand Tools since its inception in 1932. It was my Great Grandfather Dan Lang who founded the business and invented the ratcheting box wrench. We have been manufacturing quality tools in Racine, WI ever since. Most of the products in Lang Tools product line are made in U.S.A. The rethreader sets are as well as the snap ring pliers.

In 2011 we announced that our previous brands of Kastar, HiTech, and Star Products would be consolidated into one more meaningful name, Lang Tools. This allows us and our customers to have a consolidated and uniform shelf presence.

Thanks to all the loyal customers out there supporting Made in the U.S. products!

 

[fivespdcat]

Ian,

It's also nice to see ownership take pride in their companies and products. I have the Craftsman branded rethread kit and can say that it is top notch. I just used it again last night n some heavily rusted bolts and it worked like a charm.

 

[kythri]

Wow. That also looks identical to the craftsman set I just got, except you have more metric pieces.

Same here - looks like 4 extra metric taps and 4 extra metric dies in the pictured 48-piece set over the Craftsman-rebranded one.

 

[kythri]

Ian, thank you for taking time to join the forum and post. Hope to see you/Lang/A&E around here more!

 

[1982fxr]

well that's pretty cool, and it saves me an email

I still want it to say USA somewhere on the tool or the packaging