Replies

1. 
   jigs_n_fixtures@icloud.com | Jan 11, 2012 07:04pm | #1

   The list is huge

   Try going to the General Service Administration's GSAAdvnatage site.  https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/advantage/main/start_page.do

   Everything on it is made in America, and it is searchable by the public.  They have specialists whose whole job is to find products that are made in America for government agencies.  But the site is public, and you might as well use it.  You pay for it. 

1. 
   calvin | Jan 11, 2012 08:08pm | #2

   Thank you

   Appreciate the information.

2. 
   calvin | Jan 11, 2012 08:18pm | #3

   There was a time.........

   And I heard this from several sources-

   At the time-Japanese factory ships loading up on logging raw material-steaming towards japan and meeting up with other ships that they offloaded plywood to................all the time both ways producing goods (plywood-milled and laid up/veneers cut.

   Loaded up with the finished goods with Asian veneers applied.

   Shipping was cut  and production time drastically shortened.

   At the time I had heard plywood, later I would suspect it was done with partical board.

   Tools, I used to only buy American.  Now, I lean toward the German production.  This for the quality, certainly not the price.

   I do know that there are sources for me on the finished plywoods that are US or Canadian.  Same place has the Chinese variety-quality of glues-less, plys are less consistant.  Better quality North American goods, only a couple dollars a sheet more (on the 40.00 / up  avg price).

   You have to believe that even a little effort at procuring US/North Am. goods will pay off in the short and long run.

   But, as shown above-it's not impossible to do and the price increase in not the killer as some would have you believe.

   We have to do it.

1. 
   DanH | Jan 11, 2012 08:45pm | #5

   Sometimes it seems that US distributors TRY to buy Chinese stuff.  We bought some decorative rock at HD that was made in China.

   And of course, your cellphone was most likely made in China, at Foxconn where workers are committing suicide because of the long hours and low pay.

3. 
   DanH | Jan 11, 2012 08:42pm | #4

   Ah, yes, my brother's old prom date.

1. 
   calvin | Jan 11, 2012 09:50pm | #6

   no joke?

   Have they run into each other at a reunion?

4. 
   hammer1 | Jan 11, 2012 10:53pm | #7

   Interestingly, I just spent the last few weekends going to furniture stores looking for a leather chair. I went to 9 or 10 different ones in Maine and New Hampshire. Almost all the furniture in these stores was made in USA. They were your ordinary but nicer furniture stores. Not some of the el cheapo emporiums. Just a few years ago everything would have been from overseas. Most of the companies were in North Carolina. Seems that customers have been demanding American made and US companies have been able to be competitive.

   I was looking to replace a leather chair I bought 3 years ago, it was Chinese. The warranty ran out after 3 years and right at the end of the warranty, the surface of the leather began to come right off. I contacted the company, Italsofa, out of North Carolina, sent them pictures of the problem and they stood behind the chair despite being past warranty. Sent some guys to pick it up and credited my account for the full price I paid. That's extraordinary customer service. It was evident that there was a faulty hyde used.

   I bought this one from Bradington-Young. http://www.bradington-young.com/product_details.asp?cat=CR&pid=9120000&style=912-35

   The difference in quality from the previous chair is night and day. I think the more customers demand made in USA, the more products will be available. It won't be easy in the present economy but USA will make a comeback.

   I'm going to go sit back and watch the news, now.

1. 
   calvin | Jan 12, 2012 05:40am | #8

   Another fine company for American Made

   Vaughan Hammers.

   Used to be able to say-Stanley thermos, that staple of the building trades.  No more and hasn't been for several years.  That was a sad day.

1. 
   hammer1 | Jan 12, 2012 09:35am | #9

   Still have my old Stanley thermos, beat and dented and working just fine.

1. 
   calvin | Jan 12, 2012 10:01am | #10

   My original.........

   so old.

   You could pour hot water in there and later have a decent cup of coffee.

   A shame, it finally quit keeping things hot.  Sad day indeed.

   So, my wife got me a new one.  Looked the same.  But wasn't.

   I was doing my usual, filling up my coffee cup, knee driving.  Task completed-wiped my brow due to the hot day and no AC in the van.  

   Got to the job, customer commented on the "dirt" mark on my forehead-I looked in a mirror and thought I was a chimney sweep.

   The damn brandnew thermos was leaking it's charcoal dust (I guess) through a VERY small pinhole in the base.  Looked closer at the bottom-Made in China?  Whoa, when did that happen? 

   Contacted Customer Service (and while googling-found the End of an Era-the photos of the last day of Stanley-in Tennesee I think.) and they did replace-this one's starting to look "broke in" and has performed well.