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Proto Professional vs Proto Challenger
- Thread starter impactims
- Start date
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Same difference as Blue Point and Snap-On.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ The "Challenger" brand was dropped years ago by Stanley Black & Decker.
The last iteration of "Challenger" was comparable with Proto in respect to fit and finish and chroming. I had a huge set I sold too cheap.
The last iteration of "Challenger" was comparable with Proto in respect to fit and finish and chroming. I had a huge set I sold too cheap.
You know, that's a good question. Cost reduction in materials? Simply a different distribution channel? Fewer steps in manufacturing? Earlier generation? Overseas manufacture (is there non-USA Challenger?)? Outsource to different company? It depends? No difference at all? Dunno. Does Challenger exist anymore?
"Challenger by Proto 1260 Ratchet vs Challenger 1260 Ratchet"
"Challenger by Proto 1260 Ratchet vs Challenger 1260 Ratchet"
I’m not sure when Proto started marking sockets professional, but certainly no earlier than the mid-70’s. Production of Challenger tools stopped around the turn of the century. IR and Stanley had a lot of production plants come and go in that time frame, so I suspect they moved production around. They seemed to have moved dies around too. As did Plomb/Pendleton. Generally it’s hard to notice differences and if there are some, it might just be due to time related production changes. It was the trend in 80’s onward for large companies to have interchangeable manufacturing locations to eliminate risks associated with fire, floods, earthquakes, strikes, political unrest. There should be a few IR and Stanley employees around that know this stuff, although maybe not executives.
four.cycle
Well-known member
@username2 -
RE: You know, that's a good question. Cost reduction in materials?
I'm not a metallurgist, but you'd have a hard time convincing me that those Challenger sockets I sold were one iota less in quality (in respect to metal alloys used) than the equivalent Proto. (And I've had several sets of Proto in my hands.)
RE: Simply a different distribution channel?
That's part of it - same reason that Thorsen sold "Action" - same reason that Duro Metal Products Co. sold both Duro-Chrome and Indestro - same reason New Britain sold Sparta, Husky, Mustang, and others.
RE: Fewer steps in manufacturing?
No... same process used for making sockets: cut from bar stock, broach, finish, plate and polish.
RE: Earlier generation?
Only if you go back to pre-1964 days, prior to Challenger having been taken out of the Fleet-Penens-Pendleton empire.
But the older (Pendleton) Challenger was good stuff - my "go to" slip-joints are a pair of old Challengers. My favorite screwdriver was a Challenger until I discovered Vessel.
RE: Overseas manufacture (is there non-USA Challenger?)
No - all made domestically in country.
Proto's venture into Mexico - which turned into "Urrea" turned out to be something of a fiasco.
RE: Outsource to different company?
Stanley had so many manufacturing facilities they didn't really need to "outsource" from anyone.
RE: No difference at all?
Other than the brand name stamped on the sockets, I would have a hard time distinguishing a late-production "Challenger" socket from the equivalent Proto.
RE: Does Challenger exist anymore?
No. Stanley Black & Decker let the brand die. It's gone the way of Oldsmobile and so many others.
RE: You know, that's a good question. Cost reduction in materials?
I'm not a metallurgist, but you'd have a hard time convincing me that those Challenger sockets I sold were one iota less in quality (in respect to metal alloys used) than the equivalent Proto. (And I've had several sets of Proto in my hands.)
RE: Simply a different distribution channel?
That's part of it - same reason that Thorsen sold "Action" - same reason that Duro Metal Products Co. sold both Duro-Chrome and Indestro - same reason New Britain sold Sparta, Husky, Mustang, and others.
RE: Fewer steps in manufacturing?
No... same process used for making sockets: cut from bar stock, broach, finish, plate and polish.
RE: Earlier generation?
Only if you go back to pre-1964 days, prior to Challenger having been taken out of the Fleet-Penens-Pendleton empire.
But the older (Pendleton) Challenger was good stuff - my "go to" slip-joints are a pair of old Challengers. My favorite screwdriver was a Challenger until I discovered Vessel.
RE: Overseas manufacture (is there non-USA Challenger?)
No - all made domestically in country.
Proto's venture into Mexico - which turned into "Urrea" turned out to be something of a fiasco.
RE: Outsource to different company?
Stanley had so many manufacturing facilities they didn't really need to "outsource" from anyone.
RE: No difference at all?
Other than the brand name stamped on the sockets, I would have a hard time distinguishing a late-production "Challenger" socket from the equivalent Proto.
RE: Does Challenger exist anymore?
No. Stanley Black & Decker let the brand die. It's gone the way of Oldsmobile and so many others.