Jack Flash
SWCA Member
I like the comments about finding tools at yard sales. I have a couple of old made in the US Crescent wrenches that I picked up for give away prices.
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ORIGINAL VISE GRIPS NOW BEING MADE IN ORIGINAL USA FACTORY AGAIN
- Thread starter chief38
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Golphin
Member
Just checked. Mine are still in the tool box.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-
I looked at a old one I had picked up a garage sale a while back and the stamp like the one on yours that has USA is pretty much unreadable . The other side can be read. I guarantee the ones I have are china junk. After looking closer and blowing it up the ones I have are made in the USA. The china ones on Amazon have a different stamp on that side than the old ones did and do not say made in china of course but they are.
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If one makes their living with tools the best Quality means just about everything. Craftsman used to be US mfg and top quality, along with Snap-On and MAC you could find the correct tool for every job that would Not Fail during use. Reason many tool boxes had signs about not loaning tools. Due to issues in my hands and wrists dont use many tools anymore but quality still matters.
When I was using a lot of tools, Craftsman was the most popular because there was a Sears close to nearly every town. They had a free replacement warranty, but actually, Craftsman weren't all that great. Virtually every socket and wrench failure I had was Craftsman - never Proto, Challenger or Snap-On. I still have a lot of USA Craftsman tools, but I don't treasure them at all.
Chief—this thread got me to thinking so I laid out my vise grips, channel locks, crescent wrenches, etc and took some pictures as soon as I got home from the office. (As a humorous aside my son just got home from football practice, saw me, and said in a calm, soothing voice “dad are you ok? What in the hell are you doing taking pictures of a bunch of tools!!??”).
Interesting to note the Vise Grips say “THE ORIGINAL” on the back—nowhere do they say where they are manufactured. I just assumed Irwin Tool—150 year old American Company—made in the USA. Plus the say “The Original.” A fool and his money are soon parted and I am a living example.
My old Craftsman tools all say “USA” or “Made in USA”. Same with Channel Lock, new or old.
I primarily use the needle nose Craftsman vise grips, same with the regular size Craftsman vise grips.
I am not a Professional Mechanic or Tradesman (I capitalize because those are professions in my book) just a jake-leg, shade tree mechanic so the Chinese Vise Grips are probably fine for me. But I sure was tricked by “THE ORIGINAL.”
Interesting to note the Vise Grips say “THE ORIGINAL” on the back—nowhere do they say where they are manufactured. I just assumed Irwin Tool—150 year old American Company—made in the USA. Plus the say “The Original.” A fool and his money are soon parted and I am a living example.
My old Craftsman tools all say “USA” or “Made in USA”. Same with Channel Lock, new or old.
I primarily use the needle nose Craftsman vise grips, same with the regular size Craftsman vise grips.
I am not a Professional Mechanic or Tradesman (I capitalize because those are professions in my book) just a jake-leg, shade tree mechanic so the Chinese Vise Grips are probably fine for me. But I sure was tricked by “THE ORIGINAL.”
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Marshwheeling
Member
I’m gonna have to be sure to ask for them the next time I am at Harbor Freight.
The photos of those vise original grips put a smile on my face and filled me with warm memories of working along side my dad as a kid. He was a WW2 veteran and the first in his family to graduate college, becoming an industrial arts teacher. He had those vise grips and a collection of quality tools that he used regularly around our home, making sure that both of his sons knew how to use them, too. Funny how one photo can bring back such joyful memories. Thanks for brightening this fella's day!
meaneyedcatz
Member
In the past I sold tools, worked in service departments and use them in my wood shop so I appreciate a good tool.
This is good news!
This is good news!
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Probably a pair of clamping pliers for myself, a pair of pliers for my Son and one each for a few close friends. I'll stash them away for Christmas gifts - I always like to give something that I know the receiver will use.
I have a few friends that I always exchange things like tools, knives, garage stuff, gun stuff etc. for gifts. Last year I received two attachments (angle grinder and belt sander attachment) for a new Foredom Electric Tool that I had bought, a set of miniature precision nut drivers in SAE and Metric and a 3 ton floor Jack. That's just what we do.
Of course there were also a few bottles of Bourbon as well but those are not around any longer.
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Alk8944
US Veteran
Being the "Tool Nut" that I am, I wanted to let you guys know that he Malco manufacturing Company has purchased the rights from Peterson and is making the original Vise Grip pliers and clamps in the original Factory in the USA once again. BETTER THAN EVER!
Not only is the quality absolutely excellent - it is better than the original ever was - even Snap-on has them private label them for their Snap-on branding. There is also an Allen key hex in the back of the adjusting nut so you can get even more clamping pressure.OK - they are more expensive than the Chinese knock offs but they are a much much better and strong er product. Personally, I avoid Chinese tools like the plague - can't think of any I own and would not knowingly buy any.
So if anyone is interested, the link is below. Anyone who uses these type of pliers would be well served with a set or two or three!They are well worth the money IMHO!!
Eagle Grip | USA Made Locking Pliers, Clamps, Seamers | Malco Products
Just to be clear, per internet entries Malco Manufacturing makes its its products in Minnesota. The original Peterson Manufacturing factory was in Dewitt Nebraska.
I must have 30 pairs of vice grips. I don’t know if I ever bought a pair new.
I have an addiction for buying tool boxes at yard sales. This is the Rust Belt. The mines and mills bought quality tools and they leaked out when they folded. Personally I only use them as last ditch or clamps.
I can’t help it when a tool box with $100+ of name brand tools is $3, it’s hard to pass up even if you don’t need them. It’s like buying S&Ws.
I have an addiction for buying tool boxes at yard sales. This is the Rust Belt. The mines and mills bought quality tools and they leaked out when they folded. Personally I only use them as last ditch or clamps.
I can’t help it when a tool box with $100+ of name brand tools is $3, it’s hard to pass up even if you don’t need them. It’s like buying S&Ws.
Alton
Member
I received mine yesterday. I needed it right off the bat since I needed to remove a fastener that required a squared off edge to remove. If anyone is interested you can order American made Justin Boots from straight Justin. And they are not that much more than the imported. The leather is imported, but at least there is an American name attached to the boot.
I have a couple of old Craftsman branded locking pliers from the 70s.They're probably the only ones I will ever need.
I have many old USA made Craftsman tools that belonged to my father and some his father's. Apparently many of these old ratchets, sockets and such were actually fabricated by companies such as Snap On and Mac and stamped with Craftsman. The China made junk of today is just that, inferior junk.
If you live in Rust Belt you can buy top quality hand tools used for pennies.
Many cases they are new. You are nuts to buy new Chinese junk. I have no idea how many ratchet sets I have from 1/4 “ to 1” drive. Never paid over $5 for any of them.
Many cases they are new. You are nuts to buy new Chinese junk. I have no idea how many ratchet sets I have from 1/4 “ to 1” drive. Never paid over $5 for any of them.
I think most everyone posting is in the same situation. That’s why I don’t understand the excitement . . .
So far so good...Yes VICE GRIPS were originally made in DeWitt Nebr.. Then however, the Petersen family got away from the company and was bought out by Rubber Maid....The steel came from China but was assembled by the workers in DeWitt.
Then the whole shebang Vice Grips were made in China, and the foundry in Dewitt closed..Lock Stock and Barrel. The whole town went under, because at the time, Vice Grips by Petersen was the towns' bread and butter.
Now, Malco in Minn bought the rights to Vice Grips...
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The original factory in DeWitt, Nebraska is back in business making Vice Grips..(Now made wholey back in the USA, , not China.)
To say they are made by Malco in Minn is not quite true, the home office of Malco is in Minn, but the same process to make the vice grips remains in DeWitt by the same people who made original Vice Grips Those town's people are now making them under the brand name of Malco.
To still call them by the name of VICE GRIPS, is like calling all boxes of tissue paper, Klenex..The name has just stuck with locking pliers being named VICE GRIPS
So, the long and short of it all, There is no more Vice Grips per se..But a exact copy, by the same towns people who did make the originals are back to making there in their town of Dewitt, what they did for many, many, many years. Except now marketed under the name of Malco.
For what it's worth, and probably not that much, one of the heirs and I are are still good friends...and still jabber jaw from time to time. We're both about the same age..well.. he is a year and two days older than me.
So now everyone can go out and buy a set of pliers made in the good ole USA..Even if they are called Malco locking pliers.
WuzzFuzz
P.S...Did you know Kool Aid originally came from Nebraska?
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