"New"Xcelite is ****...Thanks Apex Tool Group

[woody 73]

Like I said in post #4 I love those old xcelite drivers, and I own a lot of them, they have never let me down. I see that in a few post replies some of you hate them and to each their own, but as for me they are a joy to use.

I feel (in my opinion) if you do not like any tool for any reason then spend your hard earned money on tools that you like from other brands. I keep reminding myself every day that 99% of the public could care less where the tool was made and we few one percenters on the GJ know better because we like a good quality product; So again if Bain killed them look elsewhere.

 

[woody 73]

Just to set the record straight this is how much I like the older series:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=380752&highlight=xcelite

 

[bob15]

There should be a law against transferring ownership of brand names.

So everytime or anytime a company might get bought it needs to change it name?

And who would pay for this left-field idea? it wouldn't be very cheap......

 

[toolnut]

Like I said in post #4 I love those old xcelite drivers, and I own a lot of them, they have never let me down. I see that in a few post replies some of you hate them and to each their own, but as for me they are a joy to use.

I feel (in my opinion) if you do not like any tool for any reason then spend your hard earned money on tools that you like from other brands. I keep reminding myself every day that 99% of the public could care less where the tool was made and we few one percenters on the GJ know better because we like a good quality product; So again if Bain killed them look elsewhere.

I agree. My brother was always toting around his briefcase of these tools in the early 70s and I guess they caught my eye and than I purchased my own. Also my proximity to the original Xcelite location in Orchard Park, NY has had many drives by the original factory which is still standing used for other purposes.

 

[Wamsutta]

So everytime or anytime a company might get bought it needs to change it name?

And who would pay for this left-field idea? it wouldn't be very cheap......

It would eliminate unscrupulous companies from ruining the brand name and its reputation for quality that the original company/owner built.

 

[dr_clyde]

It would eliminate unscrupulous companies from ruining the brand name and its reputation for quality that the original company/owner built.

It would also destroy the value of brands. Not every acquisition is bad. Most aren’t.

 

[measuredtwice]

Yep it was an 99-831 that I ordered not a 821. My typo.

Added pictures to my original post...

I haven't used the Xcelite blades since the 80s (?) and I don't remember if the number is marked on the blades. Could they have put the wrong blade in the wrong package or sent you the wrong thing?

 

[bob15]

It would eliminate unscrupulous companies from ruining the brand name and its reputation for quality that the original company/owner built.

It doesn't work like that in the real world.

 

[Al Borland]

As long as we are bashing Bain (again), I STILL want to see Mitt Romney get kicked in the crotch with Clown Shoes.

 

[Wamsutta]

The only thing I care about is the original Apex division that makes screwdriver bits. I'm hoping Apex tool group doesn't ruin Apex.

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

The only thing I care about is the original Apex division that makes screwdriver bits. I'm hoping Apex tool group doesn't ruin Apex.

Lots of good arguments here, I dont know it all, still continue to learn and that includes my tool preferences.

That said I work with apex tools everyday. The apex brand is awesome. It's ironic that they would do this with xcelite because apex makes some of the greatest, if not the greatest, bits in the tool industry, period. Apex definitely knows how to make a good bit and driver.

Apex taps and dies are among the best also, and there sockets are very good as well.

As far as subsidies they milk the brands until they become obsolete.

And then Stanley, as mentioned earlier alot of people domt understand just how good some of Stanley's tools still are. We also use some Stanley (will admit not too much though) but their industrial tools aren't that bad. However the thing that I think puts people off by Stanley is, they also make some pure junk you can buy a whole kit for 3 bucks at walmart.

Their good, and junk tools are all branded Stanley. There was a time where I would have never considered Stanley myself because all of my experiences with their tools were very poor, being young I just assumed stanley was cheap junk not worth consideration.

Honestly I still wouldn't give Stanley much thought knowing not everything is terrible, there are still better options regardless. Just food for thought.

 

[Dieselhammer]

This thread definitely mirrors thoughts of my own. I still cant believe after everything Armstrong went through they were closed over 100 years later due to big corporate greed/bean counting.

 

[M6erfan]

Apex made a choice between Armstrong and GearWrench. Simple as that.

 

[zendriver]

"New"Xcelite is ****...Thanks Apex Tool Group

This thread definitely mirrors thoughts of my own. I still cant believe after everything Armstrong went through they were closed over 100 years later due to big corporate greed/bean counting.

A lot of companies that were around 100 years ago, are gone today. Most, probably.

Given the changes in American and global industry over the past 30 years, to think that companies like Armstrong would've been strong and vibrant today - if it were not for mergers and acquisition's, just does not seem realistic.

Back in the day, we all use an "Allen wrench", but today they are just called hex wrenches and they are made by 100 different companies all over the world.


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[mikehaugen]

Apex made a choice between Armstrong and GearWrench. Simple as that.

anyone know who is supplying the government/military now? SK, snap-on, proto maybe? I was under the impression Armstrong had most government contracts before, but I may be wrong.

 

[finn]

Lots of disdain for Capitalism coming out of this thread.

Who would have thought so many had deep seated hatred for our economic system and principles.

 

[zendriver]

"New"Xcelite is ****...Thanks Apex Tool Group

Lots of disdain for Capitalism coming out of this thread.

Who would have thought so many had deep seated hatred for our economic system and principles.

Bitching about it, is way easier than starting ones own tool company and then selling snap on level quality at Harbor freight prices


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[dr_clyde]

Lots of disdain for Capitalism coming out of this thread.

Who would have thought so many had deep seated hatred for our economic system and principles.

Capitalism is all well and good, its the greed and willingness to gut companies, close US factories and outsource for small gains in profit and share price that bothers me. These companies were profitable job creating economic contributors before Apex bought them out and shut them down.

 

[Flyordie]

Lots of disdain for Capitalism coming out of this thread.

Who would have thought so many had deep seated hatred for our economic system and principles.

Finn, you mistaken Capitalism for Croney Capitalism which is what we have now.

I refuse to support a company that offshores for a quick buck. Gearwrench is the posterchild for how not to run a company.

 

[mikehaugen]

Re: "New"Xcelite is ****...Thanks Apex Tool Group

Bitching about it, is way easier than starting ones own tool company and then selling snap on level quality at Harbor freight prices


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I'm not sure anyone expects that, but lowering quality and sending manufacturing overseas, then charging the same or even raising the prices isn't practical either. Starrett is a good example of this.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[zendriver]

Re: "New"Xcelite is ****...Thanks Apex Tool Group

I'm not sure anyone expects that, but lowering quality and sending manufacturing overseas, then charging the same or even raising the prices isn't practical either. Starrett is a good example of this.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Starrett measuring tools are no longer accurate?

That is exactly what we're expecting here IMO, since most here (including me) know absolutely nothing about the operational costs and financial obligations of running a large tool company.

It looks pretty easy, so obviously it should be no big deal to build tools with prices and finish of 40 years ago


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[tonyciambrone]

Lots of disdain for Capitalism coming out of this thread.

Who would have thought so many had deep seated hatred for our economic system and principles.

It ain't like Capitalism is perfect, just the best we've come up with so far. Doesn't mean I have to support every decision made under the umbrella of capitalism...

Like many others I will never forget what was done to Allen and Armstrong, and I won't be buying any ATG products from here on out.

 

[mikehaugen]

Re: "New"Xcelite is ****...Thanks Apex Tool Group

Starrett measuring tools are no longer accurate?


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Read many of the reviews of most of the newer starrett stuff.

The point is, why do top companies try to compete with garbage?? There are plenty of people left that will pay the higher price for better tools, and there are plenty of cheap brands for budget-conscious people to choose from.

OTC is another example... check Amazon for just about any OTC tool and they look like all of the other chinese tools, just rebranded. But they're generally 50-100% higher priced.

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[measuredtwice]

Re: "New"Xcelite is ****...Thanks Apex Tool Group

Starrett measuring tools are no longer accurate?

6 years ago, I bought 2 of the China Starrett dial calipers and I would not recommend them Didn't adjust smoothly and sometimes slipped. Not the same quality of construction as the old stuff. They were $50 on sale back when I bought them and around $100 now. I got rid of them. The $10 (at that time) General Tools Sweden plastic dial calipers worked better.

 

[anetode]

Lots of disdain for Capitalism coming out of this thread.

Who would have thought so many had deep seated hatred for our economic system and principles.

I think most people here are capable of differentiating between ethical and unethical business practices. Let's not have any sacred cows or strawmen.

 

[Skin]

Re: "New"Xcelite is ****...Thanks Apex Tool Group

6 years ago, I bought 2 of the China Starrett dial calipers and I would not recommend them Didn't adjust smoothly and sometimes slipped. Not the same quality of construction as the old stuff. They were $50 on sale back when I bought them and around $100 now. I got rid of them. The $10 (at that time) General Tools Sweden plastic dial calipers worked better.

The Starrett catalog is massive with all kinds of varying degrees of quality depending on what you want to spend. You can still get a USA dial caliper (120A series for example). You bought a budget line tool and condemn the whole brand over it?

Considering the precision tooling industry has been heavily consolidated over the last few decades and they're pretty much the last major US manufacturer I think they deserve a little slack especially with regards to their value line.

 

[measuredtwice]

Re: "New"Xcelite is ****...Thanks Apex Tool Group

The Starrett catalog is massive with all kinds of varying degrees of quality depending on what you want to spend. You can still get a USA dial caliper (120A series for example).

Yes

You bought a budget line tool and condemn the whole brand over it?

No. I didn't say anything remotely close to that.

Considering the precision tooling industry has been heavily consolidated over the last few decades and they're pretty much the last major US manufacturer I think they deserve a little slack especially with regards to their value line.

I won't buy another from their Made in China value line based on that experience but I am happy with their USA made tools that I own. I thought the discussion was about them moving some production to China and I gave my personal experience with their Made in China dial calipers.

This is the quote that brought up Starrett:

...and sending manufacturing overseas...Starrett is a good example of this.

When a reply implied the overseas production was good, then I gave my negative experience with the Made in China caliper.