Pittsburgh not made in the U.S.?

[Tjc]

So i was looking through some of my tools today and found a big Pittsburgh screw driver in the drawer. I looked at the handle and it said " Chrome Vanadium Taiwan. I thought they were made in the U.S., it could be just because it older as in older i mean like 10 years but any input?

 

[Pro-Painter]

Don't let the name fool you. Ive never seen any Pittsburgh tools be USA made.

 

[airbuff101]

So i was looking through some of my tools today and found a big Pittsburgh screw driver in the drawer. I looked at the handle and it said " Chrome Vanadium Taiwan. I thought they were made in the U.S., it could be just because it older as in older i mean like 10 years but any input?

It is a sad fact that things are not always what they seem in the tool world.

I remember during the 70's-80's Taiwan Tool onslaught that many red blooded sounding brands suddenly showed up. Ohio Forge, Pittsburgh Forge etc....
It's almost like they named them that way On Purpose .
Rob

 

[Tjc]

Yeah, i hear you guys, but i remember reading some were that pittsburgh was made in the u.s. but they had led steel on some tools...... Gotta buy snap-on instead!

 

[Danglerb]

Pittsburg is one of the house brands (nobody but them carry it) of Harbor Freight. Nothing seems to be made in the USA, but all Pittsburg hand tools have a lifetime quick and easy over the counter exchange if they break.

 

[Tjc]

Pittsburg is one of the house brands (nobody but them carry it) of Harbor Freight. Nothing seems to be made in the USA, but all Pittsburg hand tools have a lifetime quick and easy over the counter exchange if they break.

I wish i could exchange it but its ten years old

 

[tyrell2004]

you mean Chicago Electric tools from HF are not made in Chicago?? my world view has been shattered........
but, seroiusly I always thought Pittsburgh made in China/Taiwan.

 

[Tjc]

you mean Chicago Electric tools from HF are not made in Chicago?? my world view has been shattered........
but, seroiusly I always thought Pittsburgh made in China/Taiwan.

I didnt think they were made in pittsburgh but I just remember reading somewere that they were made in the u.s.

 

[Boiler]

Harbor freight loves some US location names for their tools don't they....seems like indirect false advertising to me. Some may argue otherwise but why else name a tool chicago electric, pittsburgh, etc unless you're trying to imply that they were made by some company in those regions?

 

[Davefr]

One of their core business principles is fraud and deceipt. Why else would they use brands like Chicago, Pittsburg, US General, Central, etc??

 

[mrb]

i should get western forge to make me a line of screwdrivers, made in USA, which I will call 'shenzen bright sunshine screw twisting handle ltd'

think they would sell?

 

[SCscoutguy]

When I read the title to this thread I thought it would a joke bashing harbor freight but I see that the original poster is serious...

 

[Tjc]

When I read the title to this thread I thought it would a joke bashing harbor freight but I see that the original poster is serious...

Yeah I know i'm not the smartest person, but I have a LONG way to go before I am as old as you guys

 

[lowbucktruck]

Alltrade Tools are made offshore as well, the corporate HQ is in Long Beach, CA but their tools are made in Taiwan. Part of the Taiwan tool "onslaught" circa 1980's.
http://www.alltradetools.com/about/

 

[SCscoutguy]

Yeah I know i'm not the smartest person, but I have a LONG way to go before I am as old as you guys

Oh I wasn't knocking you in any way. There are just normally 1 or 2 threads a week of people who for some reason just can't stand the fact that some people buy and actually like HF tools and decide to bash them.

 

[bsaint]

Pittsburgh would be a great American tool name. Too bad they arent.

 

[Tjc]

Oh I wasn't knocking you in any way. There are just normally 1 or 2 threads a week of people who for some reason just can't stand the fact that some people buy and actually like HF tools and decide to bash them.

Thank you for not bashing me as I said before, I still have alot to learn

 

[Jay H 237]

It is a sad fact that things are not always what the seem in the tool world.

I remember during the 70's-80's Taiwan Tool onslaught that many red blooded sounding brands suddenly showed up. Ohio Forge, Pittsburgh Forge etc....
It's almost like they named them that way On Purpose .
Rob

Ohio Forge............there's a name I haven't heard in awhile. There's a 6" Ohio Forge adjustable wrench in the tool kit I keep in the house. I guess I bought it 15 years ago or so and it's a decent wrench......there's better ones out there but I've seen worse too.

I also have some Buck Bros screwdrivers which is what I believe Home Depot used to sell before they went to the Husky that resemble the Cman ones.

 

[cglasgow]

One of their core business principles is fraud and deceipt. Why else would they use brands like Chicago, Pittsburg, US General, Central, etc??

Except Chicago Pneumatic -- I have to keep reminding myself about them....

 

[norry]

Seeing them for sale here in Pittsburgh is just sad-funny...

 

[kc-steve]

Personally, I just consider the "Pittsburgh" brand a marketing gimmick, capitalizing on the fact that the city of Pittsburgh used to be the steel-making center of the universe. Unfortunately, many people haven't kept up with the 'latest news' though and the Taiwanese are counting on that. Sort of like people on the East coast used to think Kansas City is the cattle market of the world only second to Chicago, but that's long gone now.

I own a few of the Pittsburgh tools and haven't had a need to return any, but then I'm not a professional wrench-er either. In fact, I have a 16-speed Taiwan-built drill press ("IMS") circa 1991 that is rock solid. Grizzly sells it under their name. In general, I would buy a Taiwan made tool before I'd buy a Chinese made tool most of the time.

Steve

 

[ratdoggy]

They call it Chicago Pneumatic because Zhījiāgē qìdòng doesn't really roll of the tongue too easily.

 

[Matt M PA]

Yeah, I was in HF one day and thinking.....hmmm maybe they figure Pittsbugh will be confused with Milwaukee. I look at all their brands and think they're trying to imply they're another brand.

Besides, how would you make up a catchy logo for Honorable Lucky Best Value Tool Heavy Industries Limited?

 

[tyndall]

They call it Chicago Pneumatic because Zhījiāgē qìdòng doesn't really roll of the tongue too easily.

They (the Swedish owners) call it Chicago Pneumatic because that's what american John Duntley named it 110 years ago.

Maybe you're thinking Central Pneumatic?

 

[airbuff101]

Ohio Forge............there's a name I haven't heard in awhile. There's a 6" Ohio Forge adjustable wrench in the tool kit I keep in the house. I guess I bought it 15 years ago or so and it's a decent wrench......there's better ones out there but I've seen worse too.

I also have some Buck Bros screwdrivers which is what I believe Home Depot used to sell before they went to the Husky that resemble the Cman ones.

Howdy Jay!
How's things Buddy?
I didn't know you were on here.
Rob

 

[Boiler]

They (the Swedish owners) call it Chicago Pneumatic because that's what american John Duntley named it 110 years ago.

Maybe you're thinking Central Pneumatic?

It isn't the easiest thing to remember, thanks to HF & central pneumatic / chicago electric.

At fridays auction, they had 3 adjustable pittsburgh wrenches in the air, and it was CHOICE... An 8", 12", and 18". Bid went to $20

Funnier yet, the guys took all 3 at that price. Not only does he **** at tools, but he sucked at auctions too...

My apologies if this was someone reading or posting in this thread.

 

[Red Green]

It isn't the easiest thing to remember, thanks to HF & central pneumatic / chicago electric.

At fridays auction, they had 3 adjustable pittsburgh wrenches in the air, and it was CHOICE... An 8", 12", and 18". Bid went to $20

Funnier yet, the guys took all 3 at that price. Not only does he **** at tools, but he sucked at auctions too...

My apologies if this was someone reading or posting in this thread.

I have seen that before. I saw a guy pay $25 for a used HF torque wrench. That can be bought for under $10.

 

[american lockpicker]

Except Chicago Pneumatic -- I have to keep reminding myself about them....

At one time I thought that was an HF brand.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

hoboken pneumatic , albermarle forge

 

[therealwormey]

Except Chicago Pneumatic -- I have to keep reminding myself about them....

my grandfather had Chicago Pneumatic impacts and air wrenches in the 70's and they were good stuff back then,dont know about now

 

[tonydanzah]

i believe somewhere I actually have a great neck screwdriver that looks just like a western forge stamped USA

 

[oldtools]

Pittsburgh would be a great American tool name. Too bad they arent.

Actually they are. Pittsburg and Chicago Pneumatic are American brands. They are brands created and owned by the American company Harbor Freight. Asian tools companies (from Taiwan, China, and India) happen to make tools for those brands. This is similar to Craftsman. It is an American brands that get their tools from China as does Matco, MAC, and SO.

 

[catfish]

i should get western forge to make me a line of screwdrivers, made in USA, which I will call 'shenzen bright sunshine screw twisting handle ltd'

think they would sell?

If they're cheap enough they will.
Thats all most folks care about nowdays.

 

[ratdoggy]

They (the Swedish owners) call it Chicago Pneumatic because that's what american John Duntley named it 110 years ago.

Maybe you're thinking Central Pneumatic?

My bad that's the real reason for all the confusing similar names.

 

[Lkdelta]

They call it Chicago Pneumatic because Zhījiāgē qìdòng doesn't really roll of the tongue too easily.

If any one wants to do a search, Chicago Pneumatic was made in Frankfort N.Y about 20 years ago. That is about 50 miles east of Syracuse
Last I heard (when dad was laid-off), CP was headed to mexico

 

[lipadj46]

Actually they are. Pittsburg and Chicago Pneumatic are American brands. They are brands created and owned by the American company Harbor Freight. Asian tools companies (from Taiwan, China, and India) happen to make tools for those brands. This is similar to Craftsman. It is an American brands that get their tools from China as does Matco, MAC, and SO.

I think you are confusing brands there, chicago pneumatic is not a HF brand.

 

[oldtools]

I think you are confusing brands there, chicago pneumatic is not a HF brand.

I think it is Chicago Electric and not Chicago Pneumatic. My bad.

 

[JerryTX]

I have seen that before. I saw a guy pay $25 for a used HF torque wrench. That can be bought for under $10.

Slightly off topic but a buddy of mine told me that some places like New York and California have such a high markup on retail to cover rents that many people there turn to online shopping.

So if someone paid $25+ for a torque wrench people like me in Dallas can get for half that... its actually a better deal for them.

I can also see how someone would get confused when they look at HF prices and think they're getting a deal. A $34 nailer seems like a great deal until you realize with a coupon you can get it for $14.

 

[Tom2]

The name misleading from HF really saddens me. Chicago Electric, Pittsburgh, etc.. The only purpose of the name is to decieve. Just bad intentions/business practices IMO. Especially since it's such a sensitive topic.
I'm surprised they don't have "Craft-man" or "Snip-On" brand names.

 

[Knipper]

So since Pittsburg is just China HF junk, does that mean if i pay the extra $.50 for Pittsburg "Pro" that I would be getting a higher quality tools that would last for two jobs instead of the standard one?

Sorry... I had to