real gedore or cheap counterfit ?
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RTM
Well-known member
Yup, Gedore is making their stuff in India. Not sure how long, others can comment on that. Unfortunately, it's real.
Junkdrawer Dog
Well-known member
Friend of mine bought a set of GEDORE branded wrenches years ago, also made in India. Not the best looking pieces but functionally they were fine.
I liquidated a pretty big mess of old tools and there was a really cheesy looking set of Gedore wrenches made in India. If I recall they were a very thin walled six point configuration. Somebody took them off the table for just a few dollars. They reeked of cheap.
Junkdrawer Dog
Well-known member
Apparently, the Gedore India joint venture lasted from 1961-1986. There's another thread on this from 2012.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Yes, it's an old one. I've seen old made in India Gedore before, bit cheap and nasty.
From their website:
"Gedore manufacture tools at six German sites and production facilities in Brazil, England, Austria and South Africa."
From their website:
"Gedore manufacture tools at six German sites and production facilities in Brazil, England, Austria and South Africa."
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
Gedore manufacturers their tools all over the world. One of their joint ventures was in India back in the day.
They did make them for the local market but these tools were so cheap (and bad) that they found their way to every corner of the globe, a fact ze germans were not too happy about and prefer to forget.
Remember this happened before the flood of cheap chinese tools.
Junkdrawer Dog
Well-known member
If I recall correctly, my friend bought his wrenches at a tool sale at the state fairgrounds somewhere around 1980. They were being marketed alongside Buffalo Brand tools if anyone remembers those.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
I came across some of these wrenches when I met up with a craigslist seller once. Based on initial impressions, they probably aren't top quality but good enough to be serviceable. They can't be worse than Harbor Freight's made in India tools.
nadogail
Well-known member
I recall Gedore wrenches being advertised as the largest maker of flat wrenches in the world.
I bought a large set of made in India metric combo wrenches at Big Lots? in the late 1980s that look identical to the Gedore India; but no Gedore logo on mine. They're crudely finished but otherwise ok and have held up fine. I haven't used them much in 15 years but used them a lot initially as they were my only metric wrenches. If I need to hammer on a wrench, or grind one thinner.... that's when they come out now.
Now that I know I bought them 40 years ago I’m impressed. Chrome has held up better then many. No peel, no rust, good fit. Gedore must have used good equipment, and taken advantage of a really low cost labor market.
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In my mind it's usually the manufacturer counterfieiting their own stuff to ride their name as they drop quality. The only other on I ever heard of was someone putting snap on handles on HF swivel headed rathets but I'm still not sure how that person was making any money as expensive as those handles are.
woody 73
Well-known member
Funny thing but about two weeks ago I bought a few Gedore wrenches, (not sure if it a full set or not)? Not able to get pictures right now, but they are made in India and not a bad set, rather well made with a nice finish on them. I will try for pictures tomorrow if I remember.
ZRX61
Well-known member
I think I have a set of those buried away someplace.
4xdog
Well-known member
The earlier posts about them being legit, but odd, are right on.
I have a set of Gedore India offet box wrenches that were my father’s, likely bought late 1970s. They ain’t great quality, but as often as I need a wrench like that they work fine once every five years or so.
I have a set of Gedore India offet box wrenches that were my father’s, likely bought late 1970s. They ain’t great quality, but as often as I need a wrench like that they work fine once every five years or so.
jayemm
Well-known member
Looks like they copied the SK wrenches I have.If you wanted a higher end wrench, I think Gedore made the “Par-3” wrenches manufactured in India. Better polish.
Everyone has
I've heard Gedore made India sets a while back, as others have noted. The new Gedore Red line is mostly India and China with some Taiwan. The big box stores here carry some of the line. The India combo wrenches didn't inspire confidence when I checked them out. The regular Gedore line is much better quality. I have a few flea market German made wrenches that are great.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Why does that look photoshopped?
KnurledNut
Well-known member
When being discussed here before, a few members mentioned these wrenches performing okay despite the crude appearance.
I have seen alot of them in the wild and have never encountered a mangled/broken one.
I have seen alot of them in the wild and have never encountered a mangled/broken one.
It very well may be. I just ran across it while I was looking for an example of the type of wrenches I had. I really don't know much about the company or where they outsource. From what I gather there are different (red and blue I think) quality levels in their modern lineup.
Nutria
Well-known member
not everyday do you see anything made in india ,let alone a wrench with german name on it. not my wrench but rather one i found in a work place toolbox. kinda looks cheaply made like the no name china stuff
Here's a 3/8 that looks like it belongs with yours.
