I love American tools. Always have.
Might seem slightly odd, as I’m British, but historically American tools were the best. My Grandfather had a lot, and I grew up using them, so they just seem “right” to me, even now.
Of course, British and American “tastes’ in tools are very similar, but I’m essentially buying the tool for what it is, rather than out of patriotism.
The U.K. and the U.S. have a lot of shared history though, so if a working guy from Kenosha, Wisconsin is helped to make a living by my purchases, that’s just fine.
The only downside for me is that so many of the manufacturers I regard highly, have disappeared. I would love to own a set Blackhawk ”Gripline” sockets in metric, some Bonney wrenches, or a few short box end Armstrong, but it’s never going to be.
I like German tools too though. Although very different in style and finish, I find many German tools very “useable”. The quality is consistent and you know that the folks making them are proud of their products.
In some circumstances, a German made tool is simply more “appropriate”. If I’m unbolting some rusted scabby fastener from a tractor, that matte finished German made wrench is going to show less evidence of the job than a polished Snap On.
So in the best traditions of Garage Journal, you need both…!
But in my case that’s in addition to my British, French, Swiss, Swedish, Austrian, Italian, Canadian, Japanese etc etc tools…,
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