Menard's: 90pc Set (rebranded Allen, US made) only $29.99

[monomach]

This sale ends tomorrow, 5/26. It goes back up by $10 after that. No idea on when the rebate offer ends.

These are leftover sets from Black Friday. They've gotten all he way down to $49.99 on sale AND there's a $20.00 mail-in rebate right now.

Set is branded Masterforce. US made by Allen (aka Danaher aka Apex aka the same as the last US-made Craftsman sockets).

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...tm_medium=flyer_hosted&utm_campaign=weekly_ad

Seems like a pretty good starter for a trunk toolbox.

 

[airfehr]

I've posted this a few times, never seems to be much interest...I don't get it. Made in USA...incredible price...I picked up a couple sets. The ratchets are not great but that's the only complaint.

 

[upgrading]

The rebate is a merchandise credit.
Keep that in mind.
No Menard's near me or I might be interested.

 

[seanh303]

I'm fairly certain the Craftsman USA sockets were made by Armstrong. Anyone know who made the Allen sockets?

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I'm fairly certain the Craftsman USA sockets were made by Armstrong. Anyone know who made the Allen sockets?

Danaher made them and re-badged them as Armstrong, Allen (USA), Kobalt (USA), Craftsman, & KD (I'm sure there were more).

 

[Super Sport]

I would have bought this the other day when I was at Menards but all of the sockets are 12 point.

 

[allinon72]

I always exclude rebates when I'm contemplating the price because it's no guarantee. At $49 it's an average price.

 

[monomach]

I always exclude rebates when I'm contemplating the price because it's no guarantee. At $49 it's an average price.

It's guaranteed. I've never failed to get a Menard's rebate, an I've gotten at least a hundred of them over the years.

I'm fairly certain the Craftsman USA sockets were made by Armstrong. Anyone know who made the Allen sockets?

Armstrong is Allen is Danaher is Apex used to be US contractor for Craftsman (still Apex, but China now). All owned by one company, all sockets and ratchets made in the same Texas factory.

http://www.apextoolgroup.com/brands-faceting

 

[alinc100]

I picked up two sets earlier this week.One for an in the truck/under the seat thing and the other to give to a buddy that we just finished building him a garage and wanted something "organized". For $29 I think it's a good American Made set.

 

[seanh303]

Armstrong is Allen is Danaher is Apex used to be US contractor for Craftsman (still Apex, but China now). All owned by one company, all sockets and ratchets made in the same Texas factory.

I don't think this is entirely accurate. I know this get's discussed ad nauseam and to be fair I don't know why (I/we) care so much...but we do. So some quick research reveals:
Armstrong had 2 plants, 1 in Chicago and one in Arkansas and was independently owned for 105 years before selling to Danaher in 1994. Both of those plants are still in production making Armstrong tools and there's a good chance that includes their sockets (but for sure wrenches, socket wrenches and others). I know the entire C-man professional line of wrenches (including ratcheting) is made in the Armstrong factories. The Kobalt and Allen full polish wrenches look more like the old KD polish wrenches than the Armstrong ones though so my guess is these are made elsewhere but pure speculation.

As far as sockets go, that's pretty much a mystery still. It's possible C-Man and/or Allen etc. are made separately than Armstrong & Matco. I found this article talking about the Gaston, NC plant closing last year...which is apparently where a ton of Craftsman has been made over the years. The tools that used to be made there are now mostly made in TX or overseas. Maybe between 1994 and recent "Armstrong" sockets stopped being made in one of their 2 factories and just became rebadged KD sockets.

Anyway, if anyone has any concrete information on whether Armstrong & Matco sockets are made in different (or same) factories than Kobalt, KD, Craftsman, Allen, Masterforce etc. I would really like to know. I will share the same if I find out. Definitely not as simple as "they are all made by Bain Capital in Texas" though.

 

[monomach]

Well, no...you can't say that both of those sites are still making tools. I at least know that the Chicago one isn't. I lived in Chicago for years and still go into the city a couple times each week. Being a tool guy, I've been to both of Armstrong's old Chicago plants.

The first one was on the 300 block of Francisco Ave. They moved out of there in the 40s. It's an empty falling down building in the middle of the ghetto now. The parking lot is full of rubble.

The newest plant, which made both wrenches and sockets, was on Armstrong Ave. It closed up years ago. One of the buildings now has a taxi company in it. The CTA took over three other buildings. They have an office in one, a repair shop in another, and knocked a really big one down; it's a parking lot for busses now. The main complex at the end of Armstrong Ave. was completely torn down. They built a subdivision called Edgebrook Glen over its grave. They're nice-looking houses and all, but no one is making tools in them.

 

[pauls_workshop]

This is getting really interesting! I too would like to know more about where the Masterforce products are made.

I went in to check out this set on sale, but at my store, all sold out. It's a great deal for a US made socket set.

- Paul

 

[Brownsfan]

Even at $50 its a good deal. Everyone hear went nuts for a 51pc china/Taiwan made gearwrench set for for $40. That was a 1/4 drive set. It's a good set for $50 and the rebate makes it better.

 

[southalabama]

I wish menards were in this area.

 

[seanh303]

The newest plant, which made both wrenches and sockets, was on Armstrong Ave. It closed up years ago.

Yep you are totally right...sad and true story wow. There are multiple websites including Apex Tools BS Propaganda Page that suggest both plants are still operating but sometime after Danaher bought Armstrong in '94 they closed the Chicago plant. And the plot thickens further...apparently the plant in Fayetteville, AR, "one of the most modern drop forge shops in the world" according to the pricks at Apex...has also quietly been shut down. I can't find a single news article...I'm sure if I dig I can find some public records. Anyway, Armstrong Bros. tools, who forged their first tool here in America in 1890 and built an empire from the ground up, officially exists only as a brand name and a memory. Here's a link with the property listing and a picture of the old forge in Arkansas. Apparently it sold in 2011 for $900,000.00.

So I guess you are probably pretty spot-on in saying the majority of the Apex U.S.-made tools are being produced in Texas now, since that seems to be about the only factory left open from the companies Apex bought. How long until that factory moves across the border to Mexico?

Rumor has it the C-Man raised-panel wrenches used to be made here before being farmed over to china, now this place looks abandoned:
1609 N Old Missouri Rd, Springdale, AR 72764

 

[monomach]

That's the way it goes. Apex and Stanley are the two evil companies that have been killing American tool brands.

Apex will keep Armstrong here in the US as long as they have their government contract, though. The law doesn't allow you to supply the government with Chinese tools.

 

[Craftsman1]

Just picked up a set today. Solid set for 30 bucks, couldn't get a 90 piece import set for that price hardly anymore.

 

[Farmall450]

That's a good deal IMO. I would agree the tx factory is the last remaining...

 

[technician]

Menards has this set on sale for $39.99 through the 13th of July. Good set, all US made.