Went to the pawn shop looking for some wrenches to use as handles for my workbench. They had two 5/8" wrenches that I figured would work fine. Looking them over they look identical except one is made in USA and the other Taiwan. It wouldn't shock me if this was a new wrench but this is clearly an older well used wrench. When did Craftsman go overseas with their wrenches? Just curious about the history.
Older Taiwan Craftsman?
- Thread starter CJinPA
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Super Sport
Well-known member
In the 80's Craftsman sold some tools that were made in both Japan and Taiwan. I have a 1/2" ratchet and some sockets that were made in Taiwan, looks like a Stanley ratchet. I have a 3/4" wrench that was made in Japan.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
I have a set of very early 80's tri-wing C'man Taiwan ratchets from my youth.
Not bad . Not the best.
Wrenches are fine.
They went back and forth COO for many tools in the 70's and 80's. Some Taiwan. Some Japanese.
I just picked up a set of near NIB Premier brand Japan COO circa the 1960's drill bits last week, 1/16"-1/4".
Still an era back then where Asian tools were reputably reliable. And very good.
Not bad . Not the best.
Wrenches are fine.
They went back and forth COO for many tools in the 70's and 80's. Some Taiwan. Some Japanese.
I just picked up a set of near NIB Premier brand Japan COO circa the 1960's drill bits last week, 1/16"-1/4".
Still an era back then where Asian tools were reputably reliable. And very good.
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I have a set of very early 80's tri-wing C'man Taiwan ratchets from my youth.
Not bad . Not the best.
Wrenches are fine.
They went back and forth COO for many tools in the 70's and 80's. Some Taiwan. Some Japanese.
I just picked up a set of near NIB Premier brand Japan COO drill bits last week, 1/16"-1/4".
Still an era back then where Asian tools were reputably reliable. And very good.
Ditto.
I personally never had a problem with the Tri-Wing ratchets. I think the old LLTD ratchets were a more solid design, but, the Tri-Wings were a decent home tool.
RCStocker
Well-known member
So what is new and what is the problem with Craftsman tools being made in Taiwan?
It is nothing new. HELLO WORLD. LOL
It is nothing new. HELLO WORLD. LOL
byoungblood
Well-known member
Well, except for a few select items, most of their production is going to China.
Without turning this into a political discussion, I have my reasons for not buying Chinese made tools when the only decision for doing so was to pad the bottom line.
The last thing I want is this to turn into Craftsman bashing. I just never knew that Taiwan was a part of the history of the brand. I thought them going overseas was something new. Back then was there any backlash for the move? Or since the quality was on par it wasn't received as badly?
AmericanPreferred
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Back then there was no internet to ***** on.
TwoInch
Well-known member
back then, the company knew and realized that people still cared about USA made items and products. everything was loud and proud "MADE IN USA" in big letters. look at old craftsman stuff, the made in usa lettering is as big, or bigger than the name "CRAFTSMAN" stamped in the tool.
i believe there was backlash, and it was turned around quickly, which is why sears was the last to make the move to asian sourced tools. Sears has always tried to keep the good old american made idea strong.
i believe there was backlash, and it was turned around quickly, which is why sears was the last to make the move to asian sourced tools. Sears has always tried to keep the good old american made idea strong.
Loscaldazar
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Lobster Claw.
I'm sure that if they were made in China and better than Snap on, there would be much less complaining. They are made in china and are junk, so lots of complaining!
hefty lefty
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The Taiwan and Japan made craftsman were a historical thing, that were for a short time and are interesting to tool foamers. They got the message (from dissatisfied customers) and went back to US manufacture. They were not bad tools, but arguably not as good, and besides, people wanted US made tools from the traditional supplier which is their right as customers.
The China current ones are, from what I can gather, decidedly inferior merchandise. That is one major complaint.
Make no mistake, the Chinese CAN build an excellent tool. China is not one monolithic uniform structure, there are millions of factories over there owned by millions of people with widely varying capabilities. On the whole,though, an American company going over to China is usually there for one reason: cheapest possible cost.
Unlike Europe or Japan, China does not have a tradition of high quality craftsmanship. It is a rapidly and awkwardly changing society of a billion people, with some good qualities, but some significant challenges too. One is an attitude that the cheapest is the best and another is a general inclination to "go over on" the other guy.
This results in a lot of very poor quality manufacturing being done over there.
There is a good book, "Poorly Made in China" that talks about these phenomena. I commend it to all who are interested.
hefty lefty
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Because of the logistics and communications problems involved, that is the ONLY reason nine times out of ten.
rick carpenter
Well-known member
Originally Posted by jjjrmx5
I have a set of very early 80's tri-wing C'man Taiwan ratchets from my youth.
Not bad . Not the best.
{cut}
(Sorry, don't know how to get jjrmx5's original message in format.) It sounds as if y'all have the Stanley-made Taiwan COO Craftsman 43XXX series ratchets. I have the 9" 43797. Do y'all's tri-wing selectors 'free-wheel' when changing direction if you don't hold the thumbwheel? Mine does. Taken apart, the internals (and externals!) were badly rusted but a molasses soak, heat, and solvent/atf have taken care of that. The spring clunks nicely and the teeth are sharp enough. It just free-wheels as described above.
I have a set of very early 80's tri-wing C'man Taiwan ratchets from my youth.
Not bad . Not the best.
{cut}
(Sorry, don't know how to get jjrmx5's original message in format.) It sounds as if y'all have the Stanley-made Taiwan COO Craftsman 43XXX series ratchets. I have the 9" 43797. Do y'all's tri-wing selectors 'free-wheel' when changing direction if you don't hold the thumbwheel? Mine does. Taken apart, the internals (and externals!) were badly rusted but a molasses soak, heat, and solvent/atf have taken care of that. The spring clunks nicely and the teeth are sharp enough. It just free-wheels as described above.
I'm dealing with the Japan made sears ratchets in I assume the 70's and early 80's. Actually the forged alloy BF series. From family estate. 3 of them. Bought a couple more to have as parts or spares. Then, looking at brands that might be the same such as Fuller, KAL, etc. Anyone with more knowledge, I would appreciate the help. I have one with same name but internals are not the same size. Live and learn.