Matco Tools question

[Super Sport]

I'm gonna disagree with that... Most of their products are made by their parent company "tool group". While there isn't a "Matco" factory making their hard line tools it's still made by them. You could argue that Armstrong makes none of their own tools also... Yeah it's re-brand but it's re-branded within the same company so the argument is kind of invalid. Matco tools are not the same as Craftsman USA tools though.

This may have held true when Armstrong and Matco were owned by the same company. However, Armstrong was spun off into the Apex Tool group, and Matco stayed with Danaher. Danaher doesn't own any other hand tool companies now.

 

[Ruger_556]

This may have held true when Armstrong and Matco were owned by the same company. However, Armstrong was spun off into the Apex Tool group, and Matco stayed with Danaher. Danaher doesn't own any other hand tool companies now.

Oh'... I missed that company split somehow

 

[redwrench60]

No need for a picture, I believe you. Bobcatdan it seems you're right afterall. Bummer, just another strike against Matco. Just before the Apex spinoff, which granted wasn't exactly yesterday, they were still USA sets. Taiwan is fine and all but who are they kidding asking nearly $200 for 3 Taiwan pliers. That price is bad enough for domestic.

Bummer, yeah I'm with you. They do appear to be pretty nice but three Taiwan pliers for almost $200? their heads on fire. They'd have to be some life changing pliers for $200....USA or not.

 

[3baygarage]

I see this conversation got pretty deep.

I could be wrong with the Matco socket statement, but I have a deep 1/2" drive chrome with blue size stamping that to me looked like a deep 1/2" drive Craftsman. I know Matco sockets have that taper at the bottom until they get to the larger sizes.

I see a lot of parallel in the ratchets at least. Armstrong, Craftsman polished, Matco, S-K, Allen, Napa,Kobalt teardrop ratchets. Were they not all of shared design?

I know these topics have been beat to death.

 

[MattPersman]

It's called send a trusty cook hammer to Asian manufacturer, copy it in a different color and make a giant profit. Either choice is silly to buy because they have virtually no warranty. Same reason trusty puts basically no warranty on a hammer it will fail and they don't want to give you a new one. Of course it will make it the big two years they brag about. Get real these things are sprayed off with brake clean, dropped and used in low temps, etc. Matco tools will get you by no problem in the pro world but the prices and COO don't line up.

 

[redwrench60]

It's called send a trusty cook hammer to Asian manufacturer, copy it in a different color and make a giant profit. Either choice is silly to buy because they have virtually no warranty. Same reason trusty puts basically no warranty on a hammer it will fail and they don't want to give you a new one. Of course it will make it the big two years they brag about. Get real these things are sprayed off with brake clean, dropped and used in low temps, etc. Matco tools will get you by no problem in the pro world but the prices and COO don't line up.

Matt, if you buy a Matco or Cornwell rebranded Trusty Cook hammer either company will warranty it for you. It's the actual Trusty Cook branded hammers that have the limited warranty.

 

[YenkoZL1]

I know Matco's traditional pliers are Knipex. Some of them even have Knipex engraved on the steel and the grips say Matco. I thought their extra long needle nose pliers were Sunex brand.

Any-hoot this link below will help clear some things up. Tools brands: Who Owns What?

http://toolguyd.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/

Copy and paste I dunno if the hyper link will work. Updated last in 2014. What I find interesting is how Snap On is a Corporate Umbrella for most of the companies that make their tools. Pretty smart way to stay in the game and not have to worry about tooling facilities for manufacturing "snap on." Just buy a chunk of the company and control quality control.

 

[YenkoZL1]

Notice Milwaukee power tools is owned by a Chinese company and built in china. I was sad at first, but their power tools still work like hell and I have no complaints. The only privately owned power tool companies for construction purposes is Hitachi and Makita. Both still Japanese companies who expanded manufacturing to the U.S.A. Pretty neat.