New vs Old Tools

[_brian_]

India will probably eventually become the next consumer product mega-manufacturing country, because labor in China has become too "expensive" as it has industrialized.

Yes, I agree with you here. I believe I stated prior, but I see India as the new China... taking over the cheap budget tool. In fairness, the China made tool has improved, although they (and all other countries) still make their fair share of junk, dictated by price.

 

[F-22]

India can be so different too. On one side, I have seen video of the robed workers in sandals pouring truck drum brakes out in the sand and using a century old lathe to make it true....

But then the new factories like Royal Enfield seem to be entirely modernized as if it were a western factory, and I'm sure the new RE bikes are lightyears ahead of what they once were (those 650 twins are so old school cool too).

 

[joe_padavano]

The swap meet thing is interesting to me, thanks for sharing. This emphasizes my query here on new vs old tools. It got me thinking... would you rather buy an old USA made Craftsman wrench or a new Gearwrench? Or a new Tekton? Does the USA made aspect of the old craftsman mean better quality given the 20+ years between when they were made? Or even further, say the tool is from the 80's, the 60's, etc.

My Craftsman tools are from the 90s and early 2000s. Most are USA (~ 90%), but the more recent are China or other. They have done me well and I have no complaints, so my question relates more to a technical answer than anything as I personally do not see the difference, at least as of now.

Pretty much everything I own was bought used, with the exception of my original C-man tool set that I bought brand new in the late 1970s. I have no complaints.