To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Tool with no markings, how do you determine value or quality?

wantacoe

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2015
Messages
653
Location
Sycamore, il
Why would a tool company make a tool with no markings at all? Trying to avoid warranty? Avoid law suits? Ashamed of their product? I know some of the old Indestro's don't have a name on them. I have this 3" hand die holder that has no markings on it anywhere. It is probably at least 25 years old, (but nos) so I don't think it is Chinese. I was going to put it for sale in the classified but I can't even find another one that is 3" so it is hard to put a price on it. Any idea of brand or value?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6987.jpg
    IMG_6987.jpg
    137.9 KB · Views: 55
  • IMG_6992.jpg
    IMG_6992.jpg
    130.5 KB · Views: 55
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

383 240z

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2006
Messages
4,295
Location
Findley Twp. Allegheny Co.
I let the tool tell me it's value, not the markings on it. Look at the machining, is the finish quality high, or does it look like the cut was rushed. How it the fit and finish? tight threads on the arms? whats the knurling look like?
 

AceofSpad3s

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 1, 2014
Messages
1,808
Most of the time if a tool maker cannot be bothered to put their name on it and if it is older taiwan/japan junk then it gets thrown into the yardsale pile. If the machining on them/finish are nice then they usually get spared. I got some older no brand taiwan sockets that are very nice, pretty similar to the mastercraft I have in my car in terms of finish and machining.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
W

wantacoe

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2015
Messages
653
Location
Sycamore, il
Thanks for the replies, This came from a factory I worked at. They buy (overpay) almost everything from Grainger. If the value of it is only 1 or 2 dollars I will just toss it in the scrap pile. I sure will not ever use it. Thanks again.
 

Codyyy

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 15, 2015
Messages
109
Nice tags. I actually have a few wrenches that look identical to my Wright wrenches, except they don't say anything except "Forged in USA" on them.
 

wildbill23c

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 6, 2014
Messages
1,360
Location
Idaho
Hmm, to me if it doesn't have any sort of markings, whatever the company was that made it wasn't proud enough of their work to put their name on it...so not worth anything would be my guess.
 

neophyte

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
9,648
Location
Pennsylvannia
Thanks for the replies, This came from a factory I worked at. They buy (overpay) almost everything from Grainger. If the value of it is only 1 or 2 dollars I will just toss it in the scrap pile. I sure will not ever use it. Thanks again.

It might have been a generic tool made for the Grainger Westward brand. This doesn't mean it's ****, it might have been made by a toolmaker who mostly makes private label tools for other manufacturers or brands.

Stamping a brand mark would only cause problems or confusion for one of the brands if they wanted to mark it themselves.

If it is 25 years old it might have been made in the USA, Germany, Japan, Eastern Europe, Russia, or who knows were. There are manufacturers in all of these who would likely still make unbranded merchandise if someone orders a large enough quantity, or if business is slow and they don't want to risk damaging the value of their brand by selling an item at a lower cost.

I found this website listing a generic 3" OD Die holder priced at $96.99. I presume if someone needs a die holder this size you might be able to get $20 for it. I wouldn't scrap it.

http://orderonline24x7.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=973
 

PFSard

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Messages
2,423
Location
Mesa, AZ
At an estate sale last week, I saw a 6-piece set of precision screwdrivers that had no markings on the drivers, but the wooden case that contained them listed the producer and that they were manufactured for the government. They were good quality.
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom