I've been searching and it seems that there are very few companies that make their own ratcheting wrenches. Snap-on, Proto, SK, Gedore, and Wera are the only ones that I could find. I know that Stahlwille, Hazet, mac, matco, koken, tone, and KTC are all made in taiwan. A couple of weeks ago I decided to buy the Gedore 7 UR reversible. They didn't have all the sizes, so I decided I would try the Hazet to see how it felt even though I knew it was just another Taiwanese ratcheting wrench. I was surprised to find that the ratcheting mechanism is exactly the same as Home Depot's Husky brand. I kinda figured they would change the selector to cover up the fact that economy brands run the same product.
The Hazet Husky connection
- Thread starter JMCmarker
- Start date
neophyte
Well-known member
Hazet is a German industrial brand, mostly sold in Europe.
Husky is now the house brand for Home Depot.
Two completely different markets, with little chance most consumers who purchase one brand, or the other, would ever see the other brand in person.
Also, Hazet has a very large line of tools, and probably didn’t want to pay extra to have a custom selector switch made to hide the source manufacturer of the wrenches.
The modern forged ratcheting wrench was invented by a tool manufacturing entrepreneur from Taiwan, who worked for, or had some distribution arrangement with Stanley tools, but who likely sold or licensed the design to Danaher Tools, or something like that.
Husky is now the house brand for Home Depot.
Two completely different markets, with little chance most consumers who purchase one brand, or the other, would ever see the other brand in person.
Also, Hazet has a very large line of tools, and probably didn’t want to pay extra to have a custom selector switch made to hide the source manufacturer of the wrenches.
The modern forged ratcheting wrench was invented by a tool manufacturing entrepreneur from Taiwan, who worked for, or had some distribution arrangement with Stanley tools, but who likely sold or licensed the design to Danaher Tools, or something like that.
I'll try to post photos when I have a chance. For some reason they haven't been able to upload. I'll get the part #s if I can't get the pics uploaded.
Thank you for the overview. I know that a lot of the early patents belonged to taiwanese companies. I am from the states so my perception might be incorrect, but I always had the idea that Hazet and Stahlwille were seen in the same light as Snap-on which is why I was shocked.
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neophyte
Well-known member
The Hazet wrenches are nice looking, and have the usual Hazet forged wrench shape.
Dave455
Well-known member
A couple of things worth noting -
Many (not all) of the “Made in Taiwan” ratcheting wrenches are simple “rebrands” of very generic wrenches thst you see with many brand names on.
The Hazet (and the Stahlwille) wrenches seem to be identical to their non ratcheting wrenches in every respect, apart from the ratcheting ends. I wonder therefore, if both Hazet and Stahlwille forge their own wrenches, but then add Taiwanese ratcheting mechanism’s?
When these wrenches were first introduced, they would still have been subject to the original patents, so this would have been a way around the problem.
I also suspect that German legislation prevents them being marked as “Made in Germany” if they incorporate major Taiwanese components, hence the lack of such markings.
I suspect that Wera do exactly the same thing with their wrenches, but the Czech legislation is not so stringent, so they are allowed to state that they are made in the Czech Republic.
Many (not all) of the “Made in Taiwan” ratcheting wrenches are simple “rebrands” of very generic wrenches thst you see with many brand names on.
The Hazet (and the Stahlwille) wrenches seem to be identical to their non ratcheting wrenches in every respect, apart from the ratcheting ends. I wonder therefore, if both Hazet and Stahlwille forge their own wrenches, but then add Taiwanese ratcheting mechanism’s?
When these wrenches were first introduced, they would still have been subject to the original patents, so this would have been a way around the problem.
I also suspect that German legislation prevents them being marked as “Made in Germany” if they incorporate major Taiwanese components, hence the lack of such markings.
I suspect that Wera do exactly the same thing with their wrenches, but the Czech legislation is not so stringent, so they are allowed to state that they are made in the Czech Republic.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Current Husky tools are contracted through APEX Tool Group and most likely come from the SATA plant in the PRC not Taiwan. Apex has also switched some manufacturing to Vietnam with final finishing in the PRC so, it's anyone's guess if the ratcheting wrench components still are made in Taiwan.
I have a set of the 600lg and they looked to have different finish/milling. I know Hazet uses a belt sander on the box end. The finish looks a lot more consistent than the 600lg. They're in my box at work i can snap a comparison picture tomorrow. Here's the Hazet production vid if you haven't seen it though.
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One of the reasons I assumed they would make their own selector is that KTC and Tone have personalized selectors.