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Pro America Tools

dktool

New member
Joined
Dec 26, 2013
Messages
3
I have had some proamerica pliers, wire cutters etc. in the past and thought they were good quality. I would like to buy some more and see what other tools they offer now.
I heard they are in California somewhere but I can't find them..........anybody help ?
 
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dktool

New member
Joined
Dec 26, 2013
Messages
3
Hi maybe an old post that I started some time back might help you out:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49573

Thanks for that although it appears you didn't get much further than I, and yours was YEARS AGO !

I have heard some chatter that they are still around, just not doing much government supply any longer.

I'll keep digging just for the sake of digging, if anyone else knows anything please advise.
 

eborcim

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Joined
Apr 5, 2009
Messages
2,425
Location
Central, MO
Likely the only 'new stock' will be items from eBay that have been found as old inventory. Decent tools though.
 

bonneyman

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Apr 22, 2010
Messages
8,757
Location
Desert SW
I ran across a ProAmerica 3/8" drive ratchet today, and it looked like a virtual twin to my Action "MFGUSA" rat.
Is it possible ProAm was made by Thorsen/Action?
 
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geojag

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Joined
Oct 11, 2012
Messages
359
Location
Little Rock, AR
I have a few Pro America wrenches, a set of large and small sidecutters, and needle nose pliers. I think they came with some govt. surplus tools I picked up. They seem to be pretty decent.
 

parnass

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Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
69
Location
Kendall County, Illinois
I ran across a ProAmerica 3/8" drive ratchet today, and it looked like a virtual twin to my Action "MFGUSA" rat.
Is it possible ProAm was made by Thorsen/Action?

Hi bonneyman,

Your ProAmerica ratchet resembles my Thorsen 3/8" drive ratchet, shown below. One slight difference is the shape of the raised bar used to reverse the direction.

Both handles are stamped with a number containing "77."

thorsen-ratchet1.jpg


thorsen-ratchet2.jpg
 
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Outlawmws

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Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,095
Location
The Badlands
I ran across a ProAmerica 3/8" drive ratchet today, and it looked like a virtual twin to my Action "MFGUSA" rat.
Is it possible ProAm was made by Thorsen/Action?

Hi bonneyman,

Your ProAmerica ratchet resembles my Thorsen 3/8" drive ratchet, shown below. One slight difference is the shape of the raised bar used to reverse the direction.

Both handles are stamped with a number containing "77."

thorsen-ratchet1.jpg


thorsen-ratchet2.jpg

That would be because he posted an Action ratchet, not the ProAmerica.
 

Biomed

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
662
Location
Minnesota
I have had some proamerica pliers, wire cutters etc. in the past and thought they were good quality. I would like to buy some more and see what other tools they offer now.
I heard they are in California somewhere but I can't find them..........anybody help ?

The last Pro America stuff I got was a pliers/cutter set. It was purchased from All-Spec Industries in North Carolina.
 
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Jon K

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Joined
Mar 16, 2014
Messages
1
pro America Tools can be found at proamericatools.com. They will be turning on the buy option soon. They are still 100% US made but only the pliers, cutters and wrenches are
available.
 

four.cycle

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Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Messages
28,505
Location
Tacoma, Washington
^ Almost all of their production is sold to private-label accounts. If you're looking for ProAmerica sockets (or sets) try WhatChaMaCallItTools in Oklahoma City, or any number of ebay vendors.

They are very much still in business and cranking out product even as we speak.

Pro America / Pro America Premium Tools, 4265 Puente Ave., Baldwin Park, CA 91706 / Emporium Forging Co. Inc., 221 E 2nd St Emporium, PA 15834 / https://proamericatools.com/ / est. 1954 (?) / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/proamerica-tools.21675/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...terprises-inc-emporium-forging-co-inc.491165/
 

lardy1

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Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Messages
3,387
Location
Michigan
I bought a set of metric combination wrenches new in the pouch from the classifieds here at Garage Journal. They remind me a lot of the later satin finished Blackhawks that can be found. The last run (I think) of the Challenger series wrenches are also almost identical in their flat, wide beams and very similar stampings.

I think Proto used that forging for a few years on their secondary brands and contract manufacturing. Just a hunch based on all the similarities. I've heard that Proto pliers at one time were ProAmerica so there is a history.
 

Chris_Hamilton

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
1,023
They make some very good pliers at good prices. Some of them are nearly on par with Snap-On IMO.

You can order direct from them, also Bowers Tool stocks their pliers as well. I've been really satisfied with the ones I've bought. They make a nice non serrated duckbill plier that is very useful in the work I do.


 

four.cycle

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Messages
28,505
Location
Tacoma, Washington
I've sent an inquiry to ProAmerica asking about a "Black Friday" deal... hopefully they'll get back to me tomorrow.
In the meantime, they do have some selected items on a promotion for 15% off (with free shipping on orders of $50 or more.)
I seem to recall that I bought most of my ProAmerica on a "Black Friday" deal.

If you are shopping for the large groove-joint pliers (aka "Channellocks"), Wilde makes a superior product. ProAmerica excels on the small stuff and the "specialty" pliers (like the crimpers at top right.)
Groove-joint - go with Wilde - either through Bowers or Harry Epstein (who still has a 10-inch pair for $10 bucks!)

(* refraining from comment regarding pliers with baby-blue handles here *)

ProAmerica pliers 111923.jpg
ProAmerica pliers 11/19/23
 

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tool pack rat

Active member
Joined
May 24, 2023
Messages
33
Location
Oregon
^ Almost all of their production is sold to private-label accounts. If you're looking for ProAmerica sockets (or sets) try WhatChaMaCallItTools in Oklahoma City, or any number of ebay vendors.

They are very much still in business and cranking out product even as we speak.

Pro America / Pro America Premium Tools, 4265 Puente Ave., Baldwin Park, CA 91706 / Emporium Forging Co. Inc., 221 E 2nd St Emporium, PA 15834 / https://proamericatools.com/ / est. 1954 (?) / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/proamerica-tools.21675/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...terprises-inc-emporium-forging-co-inc.491165/
thats good to know thank you for the information
 
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