Vintage OTC made by Wright?

[cbarnes1824]

Hi, I am a new engineer at the old OTC tools, now Bosch in Owatonna. I have seen that many of the OTC ratchets, sockets, wrenches and other more basic tools were actually made by Wright? There is not much left of the history of the company available being it has been bought and sold twice and am curious about the company in the past. Some of the more senior employees talk of how the company was in its "prime" before Internet and foreign tools.

We still make many tools in the original OTC plant and almost everything will sell passes through Owatonna, at least in our warehouse. Often, we package and kit items we make with overseas parts and the entire kit gets labeled as "made in China" when some parts are made here and the entire assembly is completed in Owatonna. However, much of the old catalogs I have seen are no longer offered.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I know that in the mid thirties Herbrand contracted with OTC to make some wrenches. I’m going to dig some more. Good question

 

[Schurkey]

"OTC" is now a four-letter word to me. Good luck to you, I imagine the paycheck will cash just fine...but you won't be shipping anything to me.

Their lack of warranty on a "Marathon Lifetime Warranty" floor jack was the last straw.

 

[genog]

Wow
So much for Lifetime Warranties

I would have thought that the seal would have blown before the handle broke like that

Were you trying to jack up a Sherman Tank with a Cheater Bar on the jack handle?

 

[Schurkey]

Were you trying to jack up a Sherman Tank with a Cheater Bar on the jack handle?

Had that jack under the rear differential housing of an unloaded, extended-cab pickup so I could yank the back wheels to inspect the rear brakes. The entire truck would have exceeded 2 tons, but certainly not the back-half.

OTC hung me out to dry. Customer service rep lied to me, pretended that they were going to send a "temporary" replacement jack while waiting for a better--but out-of-stock--jack to be restocked. In the end, that "better" jack never was restocked. The bottom-feeder "temporary" jack was going to be the actual replacement. I put the handle back together with some hardware-store U-bolts and brazing rod. I'm still using it. Had to add some jack oil for the first time since new last summer.

 

[rancherbill]

Hi, I am a new engineer at the old OTC tools, now Bosch in Owatonna.

Welcome, glad you are here. It is nice to see a guy at the factory is a tool guy.

If you feel that you're going to get tarred and feathered, PM me I might be able to help.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I’m pretty sure my 1/2” drive OTC ratchet was made by Proto. The sockets do look like Wright.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Some of the more senior employees talk of how the company was in its "prime" before Internet and foreign tools.

Well, since WWII was before the Internet and foreign tools, technically I'd have to agree with that statement, but the senior employees are either oblivious to production in the 1930's, 1940's, and early 1950's or don't hold it in as high regard as some collectors do. Calling the 80's and 90's your heyday takes a very short view of your company's history.

We have a thread if you're interested in seeing some older tools.

Vintage oTc tools,anyone else here collect them?

I picked up a couple of nice oTc sockets at a sale this summer and started looking for other stuff,found a couple wrenches. Then did some trading with someone here on G.J.and got this 1/2 drive set... From looking at alloy artifacts info,I guess it's from the mid-forties,but everything...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[john.k]

I got literally tons of OTC pullers and components .............very costly back in the day (1970s)..........used to be the best of the best for pullers in big capacities like 50t - 100ton ........... big bearings pullers for railroad axles and sprocket pullers for Cat dozers

 

[cbarnes1824]

"OTC" is now a four-letter word to me. Good luck to you, I imagine the paycheck will cash just fine...but you won't be shipping anything to me.

Their lack of warranty on a "Marathon Lifetime Warranty" floor jack was the last straw.

Unfortunately there is no longer production or stock of this jack. I was interested in one for myself. I believe that is why they probably offered you a different one. All the comparable style floor jacks offered are now from China. You could likely receive a free replacement without having to send in your USA jack if you wanted. Not ideal, although that is the best the company has to offer. Even snap on Jacks are from China now. I can understand your frustration as I share the same disappointment with so much of the industry shifting overseas.

 

[Ricky Joe]

OTC ratchet and socket and PowrKraft socket

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like a proto made ratchet

 

[four.cycle]

^ OTC was outsourcing sockets, ratchets, and drive tools for a long time.
I have several of their pullers.
Rueben Kaplan's 1929 is still the industry standard for pullers today.

 

[3baygarage]

OTC sourced drive tools from Wright, Proto, New Britain. The early round head ratchets, not sure if they made them themselves.

I enjoy looking through some old OTC catalogs. There was a lot of stuff in there back in the day.