Martin has stopped selling tools to the public

[Zewnten]

Per the Harry J Epstein Facebook vlog; Martin is planning on discontinuing direct public sales of hand tools.

339 reactions · 47 comments | Martin is winding down their Martin branded tool line, but winding up their drop forging business. If you are a US manufacturer and are interested in getting into the drop forging game, I know a guy. Also, we got 15 more

Martin is winding down their Martin branded tool line, but winding up their drop forging business. If you are a US manufacturer and are interested in getting into the drop forging game, I know a guy....

www.facebook.com

 

[d.mcfarland]

Hammers and dollies don't seem to be all that necessary in modern auto body repair, right?

 

[KnurledNut]

Looks like a good opportunity for Tekton to partner-up and start forging USA combination wrenches. Martin was already making them.

 

[drokihazan]

I wonder if HJE will get a bunch of Martin service wrenches in. I'd be interested in building a jumbo set with some skips if they get a variety in.

 

[mreisner]

Kind of get the impression that they'll still make Hammers and dollies but just be branded for whoever they're making them for like Snap-on. For anybody needing hammers and a few spoons their prices on the Closeouts are amazing. $25 for a hammer that's at least 50 to 75 at other places. I have a few but I'm going to have quite a few more as soon as they ship my order!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Hmmmm I'm not seeing the pliers on the website yet... Jori must be busy...





Yes, for the record, it does **** another US manufacturer is shutting down production.

 

[four.cycle]

^ ProAmerica was supplying S-K, Proto, and Martin, among others. Virtually all of their production was made for private-label accounts. Their miniature pliers, while not as nicely finished as some stuff we see coming from Japan (Merry, Tsunoda, etc.), are excellent.
Really doubt Proto would have been using them as a supplier if they had reservations about product quality.

 

[KnurledNut]

I feel like Martin missed a great opportunity to become a primary domestic adjustable wrench manufacturer after Western Forge closed. Martin adjustables were made by WF, and its possible they could have acquired the tooling to resume production in their own factory.

Snap-on is currently the only one making standard pattern adjustable wrenches in the USA. Klein makes some adjustable spud wrenches domestically. I don’t know why they don’t make regular ones. It seems like making a basic handle to work with the same movable parts wouldn’t be a tall order for a company with forging capability. Even offering black oxide only would be a better option than none.

 

[Cruzan80]

I feel like Martin missed a great opportunity to become a primary domestic adjustable wrench manufacturer after Western Forge closed. Martin adjustables were made by WF, and its possible they could have acquired the tooling to resume production in their own factory.

Snap-on is currently the only one making standard pattern adjustable wrenches in the USA. Klein makes some adjustable spud wrenches domestically. I don’t know why they don’t make regular ones. It seems like making a basic handle to work with the same movable parts wouldn’t be a tall order for a company with forging capability. Even offering black oxide only would be a better option than none.

Re. Klein, Possibly because the cost of setting up tooling, production, managing additional skus, etc doesn't appear to be profitable for the company (end-consumer sales)? GJ seems to be an "echo-chamber" for MIUSA being a very desirable thing, even at the price it would need to be sold at (though most want it at the price it was 30yrs ago). Consumers at large don't seem to agree.

I am not sure your quote "Snap-on is currently the only one making standard pattern adjustable wrenches in the USA" is completely true, but certainly may be FOR the End-Consumer Market. Other manufacturers may have only B2B sales options (thinking govt contracts, etc), that it isn't worth selling to the general public.