What happened to Armstrong?

[Obie]

So I got another job turning wrenches after a few years out of the field, and I'm slowly trying to replace my 20 grand worth of stolen tools. One of my most missed tools were my Armstrong ratchets, specifically the Locking Flex Head Maxx ones. So I went to look for them, and no one has them. Seems like Apex has decided to phase out the entire Armstrong line. What the hell? Any leads on where to find these? And why they're being phased out?

Armstrong used to be a huge supplier for government tool kits, and a huge supplier for Craftsman and they were one of the last big American made tool manufacturers. Now they're gone? So who's left that's still quality American made? I know Wright is still around, and I'm gonna be ordering another set of wrenches from them, and the tools trucks are still around, but who else?

Kinda ticked that a bunch of those stolen tools can't even be replaced anymore.

 

[finn]

SK is still here.

 

[lincwelder225]

Check ebay... That's where I got mine. I agree with you, Armstrong made some great ratchets. Also agree that it ***** big time that they were sold down the river.

 

[PureLeaf]

Armstrong is gone, and getting repair kits for their maxx ratchets is fairly difficult. So I wouldn't recommend buying any remaining stock on Ebay/Amazon.

Edit: Just wanted to add I have a quite a few Armstrong ratchets and tools. I agree, they were great ratchets, but now they're gone and the lifetime warranty I thought I'd bought into is too.

 

[plinker]

Ebay or the classifieds may yield results for Armstrong ratchets, I've done some looking and they arent easy to find locking flex or otherwise, so they are fairly popular to where they got bought up quickly or people are hanging onto them.

FWIW, the current Matco ratchets are the same except for the handle (which was the best part, IMO). Ebay prices may be better then off the truck.

Otherwise, with Apex US production eliminated, it does leave a bit of a gap from the asian imports to domestic made tools, S-K, Wright, Proto, and the truck brands are about all that's left (not counting Klein, Channellock, Wilde, ete.. as they are not full line brands, per say).

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Armstrong is gone, and getting repair kits for their maxx ratchets is fairly difficult. So I wouldn't recommend buying any remaining stock on Ebay/Amazon.

Matco 88 and Gearwrench 84 guts fit the Maxx ratchets.

It's a bummer Armstrong is no more. They have had great tools for a long time and was my favorite industrial brand.

 

[lincwelder225]

Armstrong is gone, and getting repair kits for their maxx ratchets is fairly difficult. So I wouldn't recommend buying any remaining stock on Ebay/Amazon.

Edit: Just wanted to add I have a quite a few Armstrong ratchets and tools. I agree, they were great ratchets, but now they're gone and the lifetime warranty I thought I'd bought into is too.

Hey, watch your mouth!!!

 

[plinker]

Armstrong is gone, and getting repair kits for their maxx ratchets is fairly difficult. So I wouldn't recommend buying any remaining stock on Ebay/Amazon.

Edit: Just wanted to add I have a quite a few Armstrong ratchets and tools. I agree, they were great ratchets, but now they're gone and the lifetime warranty I thought I'd bought into is too.

The Gearwrench kits will work, Matco as well. Other parts line the locking flex pieces are the same from Matco. Apex will replace broken Armstrong with Gearwrench, a downgrade, but better then nothing I guess

 

[Jaysreal]

Apex shut down Armstrong AND Allen. There are many more articles like this but this is the one I found: http://www.thestate.com/news/business/article126068444.html

You can check eBay for NOS as usual, I've found that supply houses still have stock but are selling Armstrong at normal prices. HJE seems to have SOME items: https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/tool-brand/armstrong.html

But the most promising lead is Cripe Distributing as they have stated they purchased full container loads of the Armstrong product. It appears you will have to use their eBay page as their website seems to be missing at the moment: http://stores.ebay.com/Cripe-Distri...b=4768149&_sid=23016926&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Edit: I feel like Cripe GRADUALLY lists the NOS Armstrong Items they have because every time I check there's something new that they didn't have before.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[victor252]

In response to your classified ad:
These guys appear to have the 1/4" drive although I've never heard of their company.


https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/armstrong-10-994-p/arm10-994-03.htm

and the 1/2"
https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/armstrong-12-994-p/arm12-994-03.htm

But keep in mind, you're paying a premium for outdated stuff. At those prices, you might as well, look at Proto/MAC, Snap-on or Wright and get something with an actual support/supply chain and lifetime warrantee. But it is your money.

 

[woody 73]

Very sad to see them go; I wonder if one day all tool companies will move to overseas ?

 

[-->]

Matco 88 and Gearwrench 84 guts fit the Maxx ratchets.

It's a bummer Armstrong is no more. They have had great tools for a long time and was my favorite industrial brand.

Good to know about the replacement guts. I don't know if I've ever seen an armstrong ratchet broke or wore out though...

 

[mikebaker1129]

Good to know about the replacement guts. I don't know if I've ever seen an armstrong ratchet broke or wore out though...

I have seen a few broken Armstrong ratchets broken. Then again they use to be very common in all the refineries around here.
Still common in the pawnshops and flea markets around here,usually rode hard and put up wet!

 

[Wamsutta]

I'd rather see a brand name get discontinued instead of getting whored out to the Chinese like Crescent did. At least this way, you'll know an Armstrong tool is made in the USA if you run across one.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Obie not the Armstrong you were looking for ,but these are almost the same thing and in the classifieds here : https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394180

 

[Fedwrench]

I'm amazed at the amount of sadness over Armstrong being no more.

I was sad to see Armstrong go but, only for the other brands they produced like Matco, craftsman, etc. Aside from their pinless impact sockets, Maxx series ratchets, locking impact extensions, and the proswing ratcheting wrenches with a ratcheting boxed end on one side and a fixed boxed end on the other side, I wasn't really a fan of their other tools.

There are still lots of US made choices in mechanics tools. SK, Wright, Wilde, and most of Proto & Channellock for starters.

If you want your favorite US made tool brand to stay in business, you need to stay away from eBay, garage sales, swap meets, close out places, and be willing to pony up money at a dealer.

 

[jumbojak]

If you want your favorite US made tool brand to stay in business, you need to stay away from eBay, garage sales, swap meets, close out places, and be willing to pony up money at a dealer.

This is very true. I try to buy the brands I like from the places I like to shop at. It can be difficult to swallow at times though when Ace is so much more expensive for the common items and there aren't any local dealers for the "expensive" stuff.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

Apex is what happened to Armstrong. As others have said, there are still many fine ratchets currently made in the USA. I have some nice Armstrongs that I would gladly replace with some Proto's or SK's if given the chance.

 

[plinker]

I'm amazed at the amount of sadness over Armstrong being no more.

I was sad to see Armstrong go but, only for the other brands they produced like Matco, craftsman, etc. Aside from their pinless impact sockets, Maxx series ratchets, locking impact extensions, and the proswing ratcheting wrenches with a ratcheting boxed end on one side and a fixed boxed end on the other side, I wasn't really a fan of their other tools.

There are still lots of US made choices in mechanics tools. SK, Wright, Wilde, and most of Proto & Channellock for starters.

If you want your favorite US made tool brand to stay in business, you need to stay away from eBay, garage sales, swap meets, close out places, and be willing to pony up money at a dealer.

I think one reason is it left a bit of a gap in the US made market, pretty much everybody has used the tools (under various brands) and while they arent Snap-on per say, they are/were good tools. Everybody has their favorite tools, just sad you cant buy the same tools new anymore whether replacing a lost item or a warranty replacement. I think the biggest issue some have is the reason why Apex dropped the brands.

I agree buying new over second hand is the best way to show support.

 

[JR 42]

Stuff I miss -

They made combo wrenches in pretty much all lengths, and offered them in satin and polished; I don't think any US manufacturer makes a true, Snap-On standard length long panel wrench with a satin finish in the US; US-made fine-tooth ratcheting wrenches, I've got one and it's great; I never got one of their fine- tooth ratchets but they seemed to be well- regarded.

Several years ago it was easy to find piecemeal Armstrong stuff on ebay for dirt cheap; seems like that's dried up and Cripe is quite a bit more expensive on their newer listings of Armstrong stuff.

I think they definitely had the best name possible for a hand tool manufacturer.

JR

 

[dr_clyde]

I personally miss Armstrong's industrial offerings more than just the mechanics tools. Lathe tool holders, C-clamps, large open end wrenches for machines, stuff like that. Armstrong c-clamps are some of my favorite tools.

Apex can go to hell for what they've done to some beloved US companies. Jacobs chuck. Garbage. Armstrong and Allen, no more. Nicholson files. Junk now. Wiss snips. ****. The list goes on.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

I personally miss Armstrong's industrial offerings more than just the mechanics tools. Lathe tool holders, C-clamps, large open end wrenches for machines, stuff like that. Armstrong c-clamps are some of my favorite tools.

Apex can go to hell for what they've done to some beloved US companies. Jacobs chuck. Garbage. Armstrong and Allen, no more. Nicholson files. Junk now. Wiss snips. ****. The list goes on.

I have similar feelings for Apex, try to avoid buying any Apex stuff, everything they touch turns brown and starts to stink.

 

[6PTsocket]

I'm amazed at the amount of sadness over Armstrong being no more.

I was sad to see Armstrong go but, only for the other brands they produced like Matco, craftsman, etc. Aside from their pinless impact sockets, Maxx series ratchets, locking impact extensions, and the proswing ratcheting wrenches with a ratcheting boxed end on one side and a fixed boxed end on the other side, I wasn't really a fan of their other tools.

There are still lots of US made choices in mechanics tools. SK, Wright, Wilde, and most of Proto & Channellock for starters.

If you want your favorite US made tool brand to stay in business, you need to stay away from eBay, garage sales, swap meets, close out places, and be willing to pony up money at a dealer.

I really liked their combo wrenches. Bonney, too

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[sysfailur]

I love my MAXX flex ratchets. I only have 1/4 and 3/8 but I'm hoping that they hold up for a while. I use them really only when necessary for the locking flex aspect. Oh well! RIP!

 

[Professional Tool User]

Those assholes at Apex tool group discontinued Armstrong. My explanation for this would be that ever since Gearwrench was introduced, Armstrong sales got cannibalized. For KD, this would also be the case combined with the loss of market share to Lisle.

 

[ReggieR]

Research board of directors/Apex and you'll understand the same old problem ( maybe)