Matco Socket Questions

[ohblondi]

Hello folks, recently just purchased a brand new 1/4" drive matco socket set from ebay.

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/SA106TB/1-4-DRIVE-10-PIECE-SAE-6-POINT-CHROME-SOCKET-SET/

They were new in wrapping and I got them for 60 bucks very happy with the deal.

However, I see nowhere on the sockets or the rail where it states of country of origin. Does anybody know off the top of their head if not i'll just call matco but I was just curious.

I'll post photos later.

 

[pfhWJ]

Those are the USA made sockets. if its got the painted lettering its usa. Matco twain socket are the adv and silver eagle.

 

[1950mercury]

Those are the USA made sockets. if its got the painted lettering its usa. Matco twain socket are the adv and silver eagle.

Not true...if they are not stamped usa they are Taiwan

 

[SASORacing]

If it says USA it's USA.

 

[Farmall450]

If it says USA it's USA.

The op's are unmarked. Hence the issue.

 

[ohblondi]

They do have the red lettering indicting the sizes and they are matcos if this provides any help i'll try to post pictures tonight

 

[1950mercury]

They do have the red lettering indicting the sizes and they are matcos if this provides any help i'll try to post pictures tonight

That dont mean **** matco chrome sockets havnt been usa in a while. IF IT DONT SAY USA ITS NOT

 

[Jarr3tt_G]

Correct...if it doesn't say USA then there not USA made.

 

[Zeroek]

I used to have a set of those Matco sockets in metric. I don't believe they are made in the USA but they are some good sockets.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Doesn't a product have to have identification as to its origin?

 

[Zeroek]

Not all seem to. Especially sockets.

 

[1950mercury]

They are nice sockets regardless of coo

 

[Skin]

Matco chrome sockets use to be made under contract by a smallish company (national machine group) for many years hence the reason why they never matched Craftsman or Armstrong. Supposedly around 2012-13 they started to use steel from Taiwan... but they're still finished in the US? That was the story someone got from a Matco rep anyway. Wouldn't surprise me if they were entirely from Taiwan though.

 

[1950mercury]

Matco chrome sockets use to be made under contract by a smallish company (national machine group) for many years hence the reason why they never matched Craftsman or Armstrong. Supposedly around 2012-13 they started to use steel from Taiwan... but they're still finished in the US? That was the story someone got from a Matco rep anyway. Wouldn't surprise me if they were entirely from Taiwan though.

Wrong...

 

[3baygarage]

Wrong...

I'd like to know more on this.

For a company that isn't nearly as old as the competition there sure is a lot of confusion.

I always thought the chrome line was USA. Not counting the imported Silver Eagle sockets and all that good stuff.

 

[1950mercury]

I'd like to know more on this.

For a company that isn't nearly as old as the competition there sure is a lot of confusion.


I always thought the chrome line was USA. Not counting the imported Silver Eagle sockets and all that good stuff.

Call matco they will answer all your questions

 

[3baygarage]

I think I will some time. I don't always believe what I read on the internet.

 

[Skin]

Wrong...

Not really, but thanks for your enlightening one word rebuttal.

I'd like to know more on this.

For a company that isn't nearly as old as the competition there sure is a lot of confusion.

I always thought the chrome line was USA. Not counting the imported Silver Eagle sockets and all that good stuff.

Matco chrome sockets have been from all over, as I said the last production I was aware of was produced by national machine group in Ohio. They may or may not still be made there but the fact remains they can no longer be stamped USA but for Matco that's nothing new, some of their hard line sockets were imported in the mid to late 90s as well.

Remember with Matco they're at the mercy of suppliers and production contracts since they make absolutely nothing under their own roof except tool boxes.

 

[3baygarage]

Ahh, I need to look at some of my older Matco sockets to see if they say USA. I know the boxes were made about an hour and a half south of where I am, around Jamestown/Lakewood.

 

[ohblondi]

Well folks as promised and only a week late...Photos

Very happy with the sockets I am only 21 years old and just trying to build up a collection of quality tools. So far the collection consists of SK, snap on, craftsman and now matco! Honestly i don't even have a 1/4 ratchet. Plan on buying a snap on and an extension or two in the near future.

 

[Bruce57]

Hey, if your happy with them that's all that matters. The Matco stuff I have, despite being re-branded, have been good quality. Sound like you have a good start on your tool set.

 

[chris142]

i took all my matco stuff home and replaced them with so. the sockets wear out fast when used daily

 

[bob15]

Call matco they will answer all your questions

First, a one word answer of "wrong".......then a "call Matco" response. Maybe you could enlighten people with what you know. If you are telling people they are incorrect, you should back it up with something more than "call this place".

 

[ohblondi]

I am very happy considering the matco websites list them for 110 bucks and I bought them brand new for 61. I'm ecstatic, what does one pay for this set off the truck?

 

[SMKS]

Matco chrome sockets use to be made under contract by a smallish company (national machine group) for many years hence the reason why they never matched Craftsman or Armstrong. Supposedly around 2012-13 they started to use steel from Taiwan... but they're still finished in the US? That was the story someone got from a Matco rep anyway.

If this is accurate, then it would explain the complete lack of any COO markings on the package. I'm not saying it is or isn't accurate, as I have no idea.

Just a refresher course for those of us who are COO nerds:
-Fully imported products must be marked on the packaging or product with a COO.
-Products that are made in the USA, assembled in the USA or have some sort of processing/finishing in the USA are not required to have any COO markings. Many companies choose to put COOs on them, but they don't have to.

So, if the sockets were made in the USA with imported steel or finished in the USA, then they wouldn't meet the requirements to be marked "made in the USA." But they also wouldn't have to be marked with a COO, because they aren't fully imported products.