Tools made in your home town

[bwitt]

Ever see a manufacturer's label on a tool and swell up with pride when you see it was made in your home town? I come across a lot of stuff made in Milwaukee and I like to image it coming out of a factory not far from me and it spending its entire life in the area only to wind up with me via rummage/estate/CL, etc. I know it will stay with me and go to my kids and hopefully grandkids.

I know, seems weird. It's my pride and love of local manufacturing I guess. Any one else weird like me?

 

[zcbauer89]

I agree. Kennedy tool boxes and chests are made in my home town. Called "the kit" by many.

 

[ganymede]

Yes.
That's how I got into collecting tools.
Was at an antique store and saw a locally made tool.
I had known that they were made near me but didn't truly think about it until I held one in my hand as an adult.

 

[woody 73]

Although my home state produced some great tools like Cornwell, Herbrand, vlchek, Martin etc. My home town was called the buggy capital and later they tried horseless buggy's but Henry Ford killed it for them. I do not own any home town tools but I did get to see some buggy wrenches; I thought maybe you guys might like the following blurb about the buggy made in my home town:

http://touringohio.com/central/franklin/columbus/columbus-buggy.html

 

[Tiny Jackson]

You can see my hometown under my screen name. You can also see it in several pics in the Vises thread.

 

[TJay]

Growing up in Milwaukee I can relate to that, although nothing is really made here anymore it's still nice to see my hometown name on the side of my drill everyday

 

[gtlaw]

I live in pittsburgh

 

[Uncle_Charlie]

I live in pittsburgh

I thought that would mean Beijing.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I live in pittsburgh

Now if we could just find some Yinzer branded tools........

 

[shanny19]

Although my home state produced some great tools like Cornwell, Herbrand, vlchek, Martin etc.

My favorite tools from your home state are my Columbian Anvil (Cleveland) and my two Trenton anvils (Columbus).

 

[zkling]

My home town USED to be a mecca for machine tool manufacturing. Not anymore. We still have a few but they are more assembly plants for large machining centers.

 

[jrobb316]

Growing up in Milwaukee I can relate to that, although nothing is really made here anymore it's still nice to see my hometown name on the side of my drill everyday

That's only true when talking about Milwaukee tool corp. And that's the reason I refuse to buy any of them. A lot of snap ons hardline is made here. I have personally been down and picked up my Milwaukee Jack from Milwaukee Hydraulics. I've been in Milwaukee tool and equipment purchasing parts and a Morgan bench vise. I support the home team any chance possible.

 

[85stu85]

Not necessarily tools. But the Robertson screw came from my hometown. Milton Ontario.

 

[FigureItOut]

There's an Apex plant not far from me, I pass it at least once a week. I'd really like to know if my H.K. Porter bolt cutters were made there.

 

[davethorik]

Wright Tool & Forge is about 10 minutes from my hometown.
Cornwell is about 30.

 

[In The Doghouse]

Nothing that I know of but there used to be a Cincinnati Milacron plant here.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Nothing here in NYC, maybe New Jersey at one time?

 

[Thumper68]

We had Diamond Tool&Horseshoe here, and Clyde Iron works (Which made large winches and hoists)

The best part though is that all the iron that made all the great old tools from all over the US came through here (some still does).

 

[rednotch]

nothing local but a importer who deals mostly with knipex is about 3 miles away from me. No retail store just an office and warehouse really http://www.angloamericantools.com/

Nearest I can think of would be channellock over in PA.

 

[Kensgarage]

The only thing from my home town was-is
Two with
A bowl with
The milk must be for some damn yankee.

Supposed to be
Two with.
A bowl with and a Burpsee

If you know where this is I pray for your soul
Yes. It's a tool. Portable gas maker.

 

[BlueBomber]

I've got three Coe brand monkey wrenches made in Worcester, MA, not far from me. Lots of older tools were made in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and I love finding them in dead guys' basements and garages.

 

[ca90ss]

Not much for tools around here other than Haas Automation but we do have Vortech Superchargers and Borla Mufflers and also Arp Bolts and Wilwood in adjoining cities.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Bucyrus-Erie, big boy tools, the Bucyrus part of it started here but has been long gone.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Not only are tools manufactured in my home town, I'm the one making them!

 

[mikebaker1129]

The only thing from my home town was-is
Two with
A bowl with
The milk must be for some damn yankee.

Supposed to be
Two with.
A bowl with and a Burpsee

If you know where this is I pray for your soul
Yes. It's a tool. Portable gas maker.

Cincinnati ?

 

[Vantastic]

Reed manufacturing. Vises and pipe tools. Still made here in erie.

 

[martin666]

Lived outside of Waterloo Iowa back in the 90's

 

[The Cobbler]

ETF tools St Catharines Ontario

 

[firworks]

If I can count tools for moving dirt:

 

[WWShop]

Another vote for Diamond Calk, although I no longer live in Duluth, MN

 

[laconic1]

I was born in Kenosha, WI so I certainly have some pride in every Snap-on tool I own. I grew up and still live now in the Denver area, so while we don't have any tool manufacturing here, Western Forge is only about an hour away. At my last job at a printing company we used to print some of the inserts that went in the clamshell packaging on Craftsman pliers and screwdrivers.

 

[smokeyburb]

I grew up near Allentown, PA so many a Bonney was used around the old homestead and some are still around in my shed.

 

[Kielbasavw]

Not tools, but made in my city of garbage grove ca. Magnesium "big wheels" for vws in the 70s.

 

[3baygarage]

Yep. Buffalo was a pretty big hub for tools with JH Williams, Barcalo, and a lot of other old brands back in the day. Not such much going on anymore in tools.

In fact that reminds me there's a thread I need to dig up about New York state tool mfrs..

 

[gearhead1]

Grew up near Meadville, PA where Channellock pliers are made.

 

[four.cycle]

Art Morrison Enterprises
http://www.artmorrison.com/homepage2.php

not much in the way of tools now... as you can see.
used to make some damn nice engine stands, though. only thing we could find that would hold a running 454.

(yeah: running.)

 

[bwitt]

Excellent responses! It's good to see that people are actually aware of the local manufacturing happening by them. I know the new Milwaukee power tools are no longer made here, but it's getting harder to find ones that are, by any manufacturer, especially cordless. At least the engineers are still in Brookfield (a Milwaukee suburb). I know people who have worked at Snap-on. I'm only about 30 minutes from there; I really should get down there one of these days. I work for a company that has been headquartered in Milwaukee since 1919 and is employee-owned with no plans to leave. We don't manufacture anything, but's it's a really good company.

 

[jeffmoss26]

National Acme, Cleveland Twist Drill, Greenfield at one time - now Kennametal
Ridgid is made not far from here - Elyria
Superior Tool
PB Blaster

 

[Davefr]

I guess I missed the big press release, but apparently HF has opened up a multi million dollar facility here to manufacture outdoor power equipment:

 

[Monte]

Dolmar chain saws are made in my city.