Made In The USA? What The Hell Is That?

[Java]

Last year I saw a 70's chinese made movie with Chow Yun Fat in which he was getting a gun from another guy (the movie is set / filmed in China) and the other guy told him something along the lines of "don't worry, it's top quality, made in USA" and pointed out the Made in USA stamp on the gun. Interesting that the writers of the movie, which was clearly not political at all, just incidentally put that in there. It sort of hints at the perception they had of our goods just 30 or so years ago. When I was growing up we had phrases like "cheap plastic crap" and we used "made in taiwan" as a joke to describe cheap stuff that broke. Now it's all plastic and made elsewhere, you're lucky to find Assembled in the USA on things. Reaganomics still at work...

[Chris]

Java previously posted:

[Brad]

I have bought MORE than my fair share of Chinese made stuff simply because I had no idea it was made there until after I bought it. They are doing a fine job of not identifying where products are made anymore. Want to help the US economy? research your purchases and buy american.
I intend to do just that. Good example is I bought a cheap solar panel for my solar setup on my camper. After I got it I found out it was imported by a texas company from China. I recenty read a report stating solar companies in the US are closing due to noone buying their product, of course they make it REALLY hard to find a american made solar panel. I found more sites looking to selll you a whole array than just 1 panel. Sure it is more expensive but in most cases it is worth it.

[Chris]

mattzj98 previously posted:

[Heather]

I also like to buy food that was grown in the USA. Anyone notice how much "fresh" produce (etc.) comes from Mexico, Chile, and elsewhere? Sigh.

[Chris]

I really think there needs to be a definition of "Made in America." I suspect a lot of the stuff labelled as such may be assembled, made with foreign parts/material and not 100% American made with American materials or American equipment/tooling.

[Chris]

mattzj98 previously posted:

[Fordguy77]

This a pretty decent misc equipment site. While its not made 100% in USA, they have it set up so you can browse USA or Import products separately if you wish do so.
Wholesale Tool Industrial Equipment and Supply

[Popsgarage]

Here are a few.

AIS. Not everything they supply is USA made, but if you ask for it, they'll get it.
http://www.aisind.com/

A veteran owned manufacturer of hoisting and rigging supplies.
http://www.starrrproducts.com/

AW Direct. Once again, not everything they sell is made in the US, but ask for it and they make it happen.
http://www.awdirect.com/gunnebo-john...d-accessories/

Lexco. Ever wondered if the shackle you're using on that bumper is going to fail. Wonder no more. Proudly made in the USA.
http://www.lexcocable.com/shackles-s...-shackles.html

[Popsgarage]

A few more.

Labonville Inc. These guys are arborist's, but sell quite a bit of American Made stuff for towing and load securing.
http://www.labonville.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp

Lockit.com. These guys supply stuff for bikes.
http://lockitt.com/mm5/merchant.mvc

BACCO enterprises. More shackles.
http://bacoent.rfipages.com/category...nchor_shackles

Marine & Industrial Supply. Hooks, shackles and more.
http://www.marineandindustrial.com/a06.php

[Fordguy77]

More rigging and shackles
http://www.thecrosbygroup.com/ USA made as long as its labled as follows "Crosby" if any of the letters are different than that example its a china knockoff

[Warrlord]

After working at several General Motors Dealers for the past 23 years up until April of this year, I can tell ya that GM uses a lot of parts that are made overseas & lots from Canada & Mexico. At those Dealers I worked, I still had to work on all other brands too. When I got OEM parts, very rarely would they be "Made In USA". GM, Ford, Chrysler, & even Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, etc, all had some of their boxed branded parts made in places like Brazil, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Ukraine, France, Taiwan, China, Argentina, South Africa, etc.

In the vehicle world, I'm not brand biased, I've worked on too many vehicles for too many years & have seen too many problems on all of them to think one brand would be better than another brand and/or whether it's made in the USA or overseas. But for some of us, our USA vehicles aren't fully made of USA items. And, some are assembled in Canada & Mexico & shipped here for sale. I'm not saying that it's bad or good but it is what it is these days.

It doesn't always work out but I try to buy the USA products when I can find them & will continue to do so.

[Pathrat]

Thanks for all the info.

I have been making an effort to check my household goods purchases for the country of origin. It is damn near impossible to find things NOT made in China at some of our big box retailers. Glassware is the easiest. Anchor-Hocking, Corning, Pyrex and Libby are made in the US. Don't forget Tupperware. Calphalon One and Lodge pots and pans are made here. Sure, the Chinese stuff is cheaper, but if you buy better, you buy less often.

Here is another link:
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/kitchen.html

[Jackie]

Thanks for that info, Stephanie. We're considering getting a set of of Calphalon for our eldest for Christmas. I'll feel better knowing it was made here!

[Rob]

I think it's just the Calphalon One that's made in Ohio. The rest of the line is made in China.

You might want to look at All-Clad as well. We cook in nothing but All-Clad. It's expensive, but it will last a lifetime (especially for us). We bought a starter set a dozen years ago, then added to it over a few years.

This is from the company's website: Today, American artisans, using American-made metals, handcraft bonded cookware in the tradition that established a new benchmark for professional bonded cookware. At each stage of the manufacturing process, every piece of All-Clad bonded cookware is hand-inspected to ensure that it maintains All-Clad quality standards. This extreme scrutiny slows the production process, but guarantees that every piece of bonded cookware that leaves the Southwest Pennsylvania rolling mill preserves the reputation that precedes it.

[RockyMtnHigh]

Made in America isn't all it's cracked up to be, we're just as capable of producing crap as any other country, the only difference is we expect to get paid more than the other countries who produce the same crap.

Assuming that the product is worthwhile though and the other country's version is crap, I will buy the American version. I will even consider paying more for the same American product if the quality is the same within reason. I first and foremost try and buy Colorado made or companies products and then onto an American made before looking at a foreign made product.