Where did Kal Tools go?

[Bo Heck]

I see their stuff still sold but what happened to them? Are they still in business just don't have a website?

 

[RAYJAY]

look here

Business Categories
Hand tools in Baldwin Park, CA
Whol Hardware Mfg Powerdriven Handtool Mfg Nonferrous Forgings Mfg Iron/Steel Forgings Mfg Hand/Edge Tools, Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
American Kal Enterprises, Inc Business Information
Claim This Profile

American Kal Enterprises, Inc is a private company categorized under Hand Tools and located in Baldwin Park, CA. Our records show it was established in 1966 and incorporated in California.
Also Does Business As
Pro America Premium Tools
HQ, Branch or Single Location
Headquarters
Annual Sales (Estimated)
Information not found (?)
Employees (Estimated)
120
At this location
90

looks like Stanley bought them out


http://www.stanleysupplyservices.com/search.aspx?c=200&b=498

 

[Bo Heck]

Here are a couple of threads that may help:
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27531

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26817

http://www.kalprotools.com/

I already knew about the brand and products but their website is gone (check your link), hence my question.

 

[Bo Heck]

Key word: links that MAY help, waste your time looking for them then

Hey don't get offended, you said may help, I'm saying they didn't and gave a reason why. I appreciate any replies trying to help. But I already did waste my time looking for them, that's why I asked.

 

[Hexen]

I see their stuff still sold but what happened to them? Are they still in business just don't have a website?

Hello, here's what I just posted in response to a similar question from two weeks ago:

Does anyone know if Pro-America (KAL Professional Tools) manufactures/ever manufactured Snap-on branded pliers? Unfortunately, their website has been down for some time now, but certain design features seemsimilar. Anybody know if they are still around, or did they close shop?

Long-time reader, first-time poster.

I have located KAL/Pro-America. They recently posted a job ad on Craiglist with their current contact information, so they are still around.

losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/ofc/1608807832.html

Part-Time Office Assistant (Baldwin Park, CA)

Date: 2010-02-19, 3:28PM PST
Reply to: [email protected]

We are a tool manufacturing company in Baldwin Park, CA.
We are in need of an entry-level part-time person to help in the front office.
Knowledge of Word, Excel, and basic computer is a must.
If you are interested please email your resume to Jennifer at [email protected] or fax to 626-962-2771.

They used to have a website at http://www.kalprotools.com/ that they shut down (possibly November 2009). They now have http://www.americankal.com/ (registered January 29, 2010), but they don't have a website available there currently, it's just a parked domain used for email addresses.

Registration information for http://www.americankal.com/ :

Magallanes, Jennifer
[email protected]
American Kal Enterprises Inc
4265 Puente Ave
Baldwin Park, California 91706
United States
Phone: (626) 338-7300
Fax: (626) 962-2771

 

[lbgradwell]

Good info, Hexen.

And welcome!

 

[SCscoutguy]

Well I broke my KAL 1/2" ratchet today and came searching to see if there was some way I could get it replaced but I guess I am out of luck?

 

[ricleh]

They are still making tools, but seem to only sell to wholesalers now, not direct to the public.

 

[wafrederick]

Any Cornwell tool dealer sells Kal.I have a pair of 11" wire cutters I bought from the Cornwell tool dealer that used to come around.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I just used the info from this link to call American KAL tools.
http://www.manta.com/c/mmfzs3j/american-kal-enterprises-inc
I talked to a young lady who was very nice and asked her who I needed to talk to about getting my KAL ratchet warrantied and she basically said "oh well KAL tools closed down". I then responded with but your company is still in business and is known as American KAL and still markets tools under the KAL name and she said yes. She then went on to say "well KAL tools are over ten years old" and I responded with "so what when something says it has a lifetime warranty that means a lifetime". She said yes that is true but we aren't going to warranty your tools even though we are still in business under the KAL name and are still making tools. I told her I was going to contact the better business bureau about this and she just just "go ahead" and hung up. I know I won't be buying any American KAL made products ever again.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

She said yes that is true but we aren't going to warranty your tools even though we are still in business under the KAL name and are still making tools.

Go to the store and buy a cheap doll that is large enough to insert that unholy broken ratchet of Satan into.

Next, face in the precise direction of Baldwin Park California during normal PDT working hours and repeat the following phrase thee times:

"To Hell with you Demon!"

It is done!

Next time you feel stressed out over anything, stick a few pins in that sucker and think evil thoughts about the guilty people in Baldwin Park California. You'll feel much better. Maybe one day soon, a Buick sized meteorite will grace them with a visit.

Oh, and NEVER mail a photo of the voodoo doll to the intended target. At least not unless your buddy is visiting an internet cafe in Nigeria.

WoD

 

[diggerrick]

I have a few KAL and ProAmerica wrenches that were left in one of our rentals by a tenant who broke the lease and moved out suddenly. I'd never heard of either and didn't know they were related.

The tenant had been a certified heavy truck mechanic in the US Army (found his certification with a lot of other stuff after he left), but was working as a prison guard when he rented from us. Some of the wrenches are painted black, and none are chrome or polished. The smallest is like 16mm. Is there any possiblity these were military issue?

Either way, I guess I don't have to wonder about a warranty.

 

[philw]

Where did you buy the ratchet originally?
You should have asked if they had went through bankruptcy or if KAL had been bought out and under new management. Bankruptcy would affect your warranty but new management shouldn't.
If Stanley bought them out I think Stanley probably worked it out so they would not be responsible for any warranty claims. Stanley is all about the bottom line....not customer service.

 

[GBNZ]

Why do people say and think it has a lifetime warranty theres no such thing when it comes to the bottom line its for the life of the tool only.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

Is there any possiblity these were military issue?

I've got something around here that's stamped ProAmerica. I think that it's a 3/8" extension. It is chrome. It was in a triwall box of stuff from a Govt auction.

I read somewhere that that name is used for Govt contracts only. I didn't remember Kal being involved before today though.

WoD

 

[supertooljunkie]

I just used the info from this link to call American KAL tools.
http://www.manta.com/c/mmfzs3j/american-kal-enterprises-inc
I talked to a young lady who was very nice and asked her who I needed to talk to about getting my KAL ratchet warrantied and she basically said "oh well KAL tools closed down". I then responded with but your company is still in business and is known as American KAL and still markets tools under the KAL name and she said yes. She then went on to say "well KAL tools are over ten years old" and I responded with "so what when something says it has a lifetime warranty that means a lifetime". She said yes that is true but we aren't going to warranty your tools even though we are still in business under the KAL name and are still making tools. I told her I was going to contact the better business bureau about this and she just just "go ahead" and hung up. I know I won't be buying any American KAL made products ever again.

I just bought three repair kits for a Kal ratchet. This was a Japanese made ratchet that belongs to a friend. I called the number in Baldwin Park and spoke with a young lady named Sofia. I gave her the model number and asked if I could still get repair kits for them. She said they were available. I asked pricing and availability. She said she would check and call me back. I also got her email address and emailed the information.

It took several phone calls before I was told, like you, they will not sell to the general public. I asked if I could have my Snap on dealer order them as Snap on sells Kal pliers.

Once again this took a few phone calls and emails. I was finally given a company name in Wilmington, NC where Kal would sell the parts. That company is All-Spec, phone # 800-537-0351. Speak with Neil Cottle. He called Kal and got a price on the repair kits and quoted me. Price on my 1/2" kits was around $14 ea. I ordered three on March 1. Got them last Saturday.

Sure it was a pain in the ***, but I did get the ratchet rebuilt and have spares for it and another Kal ratchet.

They are owned by Stanley now. They are now mainly involved in contract stuff. Parts are available...........just be persistent and it will pay off.

Good luck

 

[Wrenches of Death]

Why do people say and think it has a lifetime warranty theres no such thing when it comes to the bottom line its for the life of the tool only.

Snap-on still warranties the occasional socket from me that I bought well over thirty years ago. A couple of years ago the local dealer swapped out my set red hard handled PoziDriv screwdrivers from the 1980's after the handles turned to the dark side of the Force and crumbled like Alderaan.

I broke a 1/2 Craftsman "V" breaker bar last month that I bought in the early 1970's. The local Sears store was out of them. About a week and a half later, UPS dropped me off a brand new one.

The terms of the warranty "changing" AFTER I buy something tends to annoy me. Lifetime implies lifetime.

Hopefully one of these companies that does like to scam the customer will deny a warranty claim for the wrong person one day and he'll take a flame thrower to the place.

WoD

 

[littletoes]

Wow! First time I've heard of "KAL" since I was a kid, and bought some from a "Coast-to-Coast" store in the early '80's...

I still have those wrenches..and I suppose they have lasted because of their "lack of use...", if you get what I mean. I always grab my good tools FIRST!.

 

[zjrog]

My boxes at work are stuffed with KAL tools of many flavors. Didn't know about Pro-America being KAL... Have some of those wrenches too. Not well finished.

 

[OEXL16B]

All the KAL tools went over to the MAC catalog; or at least the pliers did. You can spot the KAL pliers mixed in with the Knipex and Channellock pliers if you've got a trained eye. The MAC P92S nose pliers are KAL and they're the only 9'' nose pliers available anywhere. If you have large hands, the P92S nose pliers are for you.

 

[stage20]

i know this is an old thread but its the only one i could find mentioning KAL tools.
guy at the flea market always has the stuff. big wrenches, and some sockets. they have been there for the last couple of weeks and look near new. i was skeptical of buying them. he had some double box ends i didnt have, but i imagine someone already picked those up.

are they worth buying at a couple bucks a pop?

 

[carcajou]

Yes, if it says Pro America on them, their wrenches are good as Proto. I purchased a large lot from a liquidation store years ago, i should have bought everything at the price they were asking. I am really impressed with the KAL thin Jam nut DOE wrenches.

 

[stage20]

Hopefully I cn score some this weekend just to hve them

 

[A5Gunner]

OK, I know it's an old thread.

So is a ProAmerica ratchet the same as a KAL ratchet? Can you still get a part kit for that?

Thanks

 

[NothingGoes2Waste]

I have a KAL-1220 5/8" 3/8" drive socket. It is stamped "Japan"
I'm willing to sell it, if anyone loves them.

 

[BFBOB]

Here's one of my KALs. Both are in the V-Groove pattern, Thorsen made (or maybe Thorsen licensed).

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

I have a few KAL and ProAmerica wrenches that were left in one of our rentals by a tenant who broke the lease and moved out suddenly. I'd never heard of either and didn't know they were related.

The tenant had been a certified heavy truck mechanic in the US Army (found his certification with a lot of other stuff after he left), but was working as a prison guard when he rented from us. Some of the wrenches are painted black, and none are chrome or polished. The smallest is like 16mm. Is there any possiblity these were military issue?

Either way, I guess I don't have to wonder about a warranty.

I just picked up a military general mechanics toolbox yesterday. Inside was a complete KAL 1/2" drive socket with ratchet set and a PROAMERICA 1/2" drive 10" long breaker bar. I did find the National Stock Numbers related directly to KAL as the military contracted provider and the items in the toolkit match exactly what the NSN calls for. The inventory sheet included inside the kit is dated JAN 1984 but the NSN dates back to 1963.

 

[four.cycle]

Not much is known about the company's history. Your dates don't seem out of the ordinary to me at all, but then I know how odd KAL is.
Good product on the U.S. made stuff. Actually not too shabby on the Japan-made stuff. Later production product is stamped "Proamerica". Most of their production is made for their private-label accounts now. (Proto, etc.)

Emporium / Emporium Forging Co. Inc., 221 E 2nd St Emporium, PA 15834 / incorporated Dec 28 2015 / see American KAL Enterprises Inc., see Pro America Premium Tools / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...terprises-inc-emporium-forging-co-inc.491165/ /

Emporium / Emporium Forging Co. Inc., 4257 Puente Ave., Baldwin Park, CA 91706 / est. 2015 incorporated Nov 13 2015 / see American KAL Enterprises Inc., see Pro America Premium Tools / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...terprises-inc-emporium-forging-co-inc.491165/ /

KAL / see American KAL Enterprises Inc., see also Pro America Premium Tools / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...terprises-inc-emporium-forging-co-inc.491165/ /

KAL / Kal-Cameron Mfg. Corp., 221 E 2nd St., Emporium, PA 15834 / also DBA Pro America Premium Tools / see also: Pro America Premium Tools, Emporium Forging Co. Inc. / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...terprises-inc-emporium-forging-co-inc.491165/ /

Proamerica / see Pro America Premium Tools /

Pro America / Pro America Premium Tools, 4265 Puente Ave., Baldwin Park, CA 91706 / Emporium Forging Co. Inc., 221 E 2nd St Emporium, PA 15834 / https://proamericatools.com/ / est. 1954 (?) / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/proamerica-tools.21675/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...terprises-inc-emporium-forging-co-inc.491165/