Wirepro by Klein

[bobtheman04]

Anybody have any information on Wirepro by Klein? I tried searching on this site and on Google.

There are quite a few of their pliers on Cripes Distributing for very good prices compared to normal Klein pliers. I'm a HUGE fan of normal Klein pliers. I think their heat treating methods result in some resilient pliers.

These are made in the USA. Were these their economy line, or something they just sold overseas?

 

[amandato]

Did you end up buying a pair? I've done some deep searching, I can't find anything about WirePro brand, definitely nothing on the Klein site about the brand.

 

[neophyte]

Did you end up buying a pair? I've done some deep searching, I can't find anything about WirePro brand, definitely nothing on the Klein site about the brand.

I did some searching. The Wirepro pliers were actually manufactured by Klein Tools.

I checked the trademark "WirePro" on the US Patent and Trademark Office website.

There was a trademark for "Wirepro."

http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4808:ahr7la.2.4

Serial Number: 76562748.
Registration Number: 3101194.

Filing Date: November 17, 2003.
Registration Date: June 6, 2006

Goods and Services: IC 008. US 023 028 044. G & S: Hand tools, namely wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, cable cutters, conduit benders, fish tapes for pulling cables, drills, bits for hand drills, nut drivers, awls, hacksaws, folding knives, tin snips, scissors, auger bits, chisels, punches, star drills, ripping bars, extension bars for hand tools, wire strippers, wire cutters. FIRST USE: 20030101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20030101

Owner (Registrant): Select Pro Tools, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 2300 E. Devon Ave., Unit B Elk Grove Village ILLINOIS 60007

The Trademark was cancelled within the past year.
Cancellation Date: January 11, 2013


I checked the address listed on the trademark.2300 E. Devon Ave., Unit B Elk Grove Village ILLINOIS 60007.

The current company located at the address is a company called Turn-Key Forging & Design Inc.

http://www.turnkeyforging.com/

https://maps.google.com/maps?client...=us&ei=nZyLUtPUBNK84AOazoDACA&ved=0CCkQ8gEwAA

According to the companies website:
"Turn-Key Forging & Design’s forgings are used in a variety of industries including construction, electronics, mining, communication and general industry"

I checked Klein's website. Under the Company, then the American Manufacturing, the website lists the locations of their USA manufacturing facilities. In response to one of the "Frequently Asked Questions" "In 2003 we opened a plant in Elk Grove Village, Illinois that supplies forgings made from high-quality, U.S.-made steel." The website has a picture of the plant in Elk Grove Village, The plant is Turn-Key Forging & Design Inc.


My guess is Klein created the second tool brand, and registered the name under a separate company, so that they could get additional market-share without competing with the Klein trademark or brand. Klein also has an arrangement with Home Depot that makes Home Depot the "exclusive home improvement retailer of Klein’s hand-held tools." If Klein was already working on this deal with Home Depot, they may have set up the second manufacturing facility and company so that they could continue supplying other retailers without violating their contract with Home Depot.

 

[Higgins]

I did some searching. The Wirepro pliers were actually manufactured by Klein Tools.

I checked the trademark "WirePro" on the US Patent and Trademark Office website.

There was a trademark for "Wirepro."

http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4808:ahr7la.2.4

Serial Number: 76562748.
Registration Number: 3101194.

Filing Date: November 17, 2003.
Registration Date: June 6, 2006

Goods and Services: IC 008. US 023 028 044. G & S: Hand tools, namely wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, cable cutters, conduit benders, fish tapes for pulling cables, drills, bits for hand drills, nut drivers, awls, hacksaws, folding knives, tin snips, scissors, auger bits, chisels, punches, star drills, ripping bars, extension bars for hand tools, wire strippers, wire cutters. FIRST USE: 20030101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20030101

Owner (Registrant): Select Pro Tools, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 2300 E. Devon Ave., Unit B Elk Grove Village ILLINOIS 60007

The Trademark was cancelled within the past year.
Cancellation Date: January 11, 2013


I checked the address listed on the trademark.2300 E. Devon Ave., Unit B Elk Grove Village ILLINOIS 60007.

The current company located at the address is a company called Turn-Key Forging & Design Inc.

http://www.turnkeyforging.com/

https://maps.google.com/maps?client...=us&ei=nZyLUtPUBNK84AOazoDACA&ved=0CCkQ8gEwAA

According to the companies website:
"Turn-Key Forging & Design’s forgings are used in a variety of industries including construction, electronics, mining, communication and general industry"

I checked Klein's website. Under the Company, then the American Manufacturing, the website lists the locations of their USA manufacturing facilities. In response to one of the "Frequently Asked Questions" "In 2003 we opened a plant in Elk Grove Village, Illinois that supplies forgings made from high-quality, U.S.-made steel." The website has a picture of the plant in Elk Grove Village, The plant is Turn-Key Forging & Design Inc.


My guess is Klein created the second tool brand, and registered the name under a separate company, so that they could get additional market-share without competing with the Klein trademark or brand. Klein also has an arrangement with Home Depot that makes Home Depot the "exclusive home improvement retailer of Klein’s hand-held tools." If Klein was already working on this deal with Home Depot, they may have set up the second manufacturing facility and company so that they could continue supplying other retailers without violating their contract with Home Depot.

Nice Going Shurlock!!

Some great detective work!!

AL

 

[neophyte]

Nice Going Shurlock!!

Some great detective work!!

AL

I might have gone overboard but the Wirepro question was bugging me.

 

[amandato]

I appreciate the detail, it proves that the tools are legit for sure, and also explains why they are at Cripe (discontinued tools). I just wonder if the pliers, specifically the linesman models, are any good. For less than $8, may just take a chance and order a pair and find out for myself.

 

[Scotty_B]

I know this is an old thread, but since these tools are still being sold by places like Cripe, I thought I'd share this, right from Klein itself:

http://toolguyd.com/wirepro-by-klein-tools/

Anybody buy any of these tools? Sounds like Klein quality, US-made, at a deep discount.

 

[rlitman]

I can't say I've ever seen them, but I'd have two concerns before buying them which would offset the deep discount.

1) Warranty. My guess is there is none. To be fair, I've never had to warranty Klein pliers, so maybe this is not all that important.
2) Made by Klein, does not necessarily mean Klein quality. Klein wasn't putting their name on the tool, just using their manufacturing facilities to make a tool to a retailer's spec. If the retailer's spec is inferior to Klein's, then the tool might be inferior. It could also be better. But we just don't know.