THE BEST STUFF: Made in USA

Self ^ | December 31, 2001 | Self

[Fester Chugabrew]

As a discussion recently transpired here on Free Republic, it occurred to me how many cheap goods have infiltrated the marketplaces of the USA. It also occurred to me that Free Republic would be the best place to begin a list of those products, made in the United States of America, that today have a long lasting quality about them.

I mean tangible goods. For example, when I was younger I had a few Tonka^® trucks. Look at a Tonka^® truck today, you you will certainly see how they don't make them like they used to. Too much plastic, and a "Made in Hong Kong" label. The same seems to have happened, by and large, with Lionel^® Trains. While this is the perfect forum to debate the reasons for such cheapening of durigible goods, we should do something practical here on the side.

So let us build a list of the best stuff made in the United States of America, and let that list be shared. Then, perhaps, when the next holiday season arrives we will know what things to purchase as gifts. We will also know throughout the year what tangible goods may be of most benefit to our homes and families. We can do this "on the side" as it were, while we debate the more serious issues facing our land and people.

Please make sure the items are made in the USA. Think of those tangibles that have enduring qualities about them. Attributes would include: Heavy duty, solid design, long lasting reputation, high standards, etc. If, along the way, we discover there is little or nothing of true value made in the USA, then maybe some of us will be inspired to start something, or build something, of long lasting quality.

Some may come along to plug their own goods. That's okay, as long as it's quality stuff. In view of the fact, however, that this forum is not to be a platform for personal business advertising it may not be a good idea. Others have already begun a recent thread on FR to put forth the idea of a "Made in the USA" store. Please peruse this thread as well, but then come back here to help us list specific products that might be included in such a store.

As the list becomes tried and true we might refine it and release it as perhaps, for lack of a better title: The Made in USA List of Goods Made in the USA.

[Vigilantcitizen]

I've yet to step in a respectable wood shop that didn't have a Powermatic, made in Mcminnville, Tennessee...

Next, the $100.00 paintball marker that I use to mark opponents armed with $1,500 full auto Angels and has a great reputation for being a marker that requires little maintenence. Made in Fort Wayne, Indiana...

[Revelation 911]

Domestic brass rod : Chase Brass

Rock n roll: Lynyrd Skynyrd

NY Pizza

[sparkomatic]

Yeah but who can afford a weatherby. For my money I can only afford a workin' man's gun such as Remington, Ruger or Savage.

[OrioleFan]

[AGreatPer]

Re: Little Tikes........opps, things have changed.

The Little Tikes Company, founded in 1970, is a multi-national manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, innovative children's products. In 1984 it became a part of Rubbermaid Incorporated, the world's largest leading-brand manufacturer of everyday use consumer and commercial durables. In 1999, Rubbermaid was acquired by Newell, Inc., making Little Tikes a part of Newell Rubbermaid.

Little Tikes'® headquarters and largest manufacturing facility are located in Hudson, Ohio. Other domestic facilities are located in Sebring, Ohio and City of Industry, California. The company also has a number of locations outside the United States, including several manufacturing and distribution centers in Europe and Asia. The world's largest rotational molder, Little Tikes employs more than 2,000 associates around the world, with about 1,300 based in Ohio.

[AFreeBird]

Leatherman Tools

[CIBvet]

WINTER COATS ... almost forgot. Been searching for over 2yrs for a Made In USA all-around winter coat.

All the down coats these days are either made by desperate little girls in Communist China or some other equally repressive situation.

SOME of the Carhartt stuff is still made by honestly paid U.S.laborers, but I see now that all their flannel shirt manufacturing is coming out of Mehecho.

I scoured the Cabella's catalogs for over 2yrs and couldn't find a single U.S.A.Made winter coat. After berating the GREEDY Cabella Brothers repeatedly on their CS line for not carrying USA Made products anymore, I finally settled on a Windstopper Fleece jacket (and pants) Made in Canada.

An excellent product, at a reasonable price. Who says clothing manufacturers can't produce a quality product, at competitive prices, with honestly paid labor, right here in the 'good ol USA' and/or by our increasingly-socialist neighbors to the north.

Just ask Gramicci, or the Canadian manufacturers how to do it.

Perhaps by settling for the approx profit margins CEO's found quite livable back in the '50's + '60's + '70's, before total GREED became the rule rather than the exception.

[Grampa Dave]

Pendleton Wool in Oregon makes some great winter coats.

[Grampa Dave]

When Leatherman first came out with their first tool, I gave my sons one and myself one for Christmas.

They are still going strong, the scabbards of my son's died years ago. My sons consider them lifesavers for their outdoor activities.

I keep one in the back of my Bronco and one in the back of my wife's Sable. Then, there is one in my tool section in our house. For typical back yard maintence, they can't be beat.

I have several of their Micro or Micra knives. One in or attached to each fly fishing pack.

[Aquamarine]

I wish there was a store like Wal Mart that only sold American made goods.

[Just another Joe]

Henry rifles.

Coming out with a lever action .44 caliber this sprint.

[junta]

Cabelas is very good at labeling whether a product is domestic or import and they have great customer service- Red Nation shines again.

[junta]

Those are all fine rifles from great companies. I own a Ruger varmint rifle in .223 and for 450$ it was the best money I have ever spent on a firearm, it is of superb quality even the trigger is a very good two stage. My Weatherby was bought on sale for 950$ and it will last a lifetime and I do not regret one bit the extra cash.

[Pontiac]

I have been looking for a good quality portable AM radio receiver. I recently looked at Grundig and found made in China on the back. This was the best radio that I knew of. I would like to find a good quality AM radio but everyone I look at is made in China. I would appreciate any advice from my fellow Freepers.

[Grampa Dave]

Cabela's labels foriegn and the country of origin.

Yesterday I got another catalog from Orvis and they just say imported, hidden somewhere in the description of the product.

We have bought products for years from Cabela's and some stuff is still good 2+ decades later. I will probably get their credit card and stop using my Orvis card.

My oldest son bought a new boat last year for stripped bass fishing. He bought the basic boat, motor and trailer locally. Then he ordered all the electronic gear, batteries, trolling motors, and other stuff from Cabelas.

He had brand name stuff delivered to his door without the pain of shopping. He bought about $2500 of boat gear and saved about $800. When he had all the gear, I went down to help watch the kids on a Saturday and to be around when 4 hands were needed. He installed all of it himself and saved another $1200. A neighbor who is in the Coast Guard Reserve came up when he was finished and did a safety check right in front of his house. He was in the Delta fishing the next day.

He saved about $2,000 and had brand name boating products delivered to his door.

A few months ago while I was with him on a Saturday, he hit a log or something in the Delta. His prop was damaged. Monday, his local marine store said that it would be 7-10 days before they could get a new prop. He ordered one that afternoon from Cabela's paid for fast delivery and had it in 3 days. He was fishing that weekend. The prop was on sale, and he saved a few bucks. Also, he had a great weekend fishing.

[LIBERTARIAN JOE]

Darn, this is an old thread (American-made, so it lasts)...

I agree with your in-law. I used to get consumer reports & still remember reading an annual report on new cars where a little jap sub-compact's back seat was rated more comfortable than a Lincoln they 'reviewed'. The 3 best cars I've owned ('75 Pinto, '80 Pontiac Phoenix & '88 Escort) were all trashed by CR(ap), but you can bet they highly recommend the latest hyundai or yugo.

Update on the little Ford... yes, I've had my first problem with it. Rear-window defroster switch went bad. Damn american union workers can't make a car that'll go more than 7 years or 135k miles without a major malfunction. Justifies all these FReepers who are just too good to buy American!

[Grampa Dave]

I have 95 big OJ Simpson Bronco. In going on 8 years, I replaced the brakes at 50K and have to have the front wheel drive on 4 wheel repaired. The orginal tires went at about 55,000. My first tune up was last year at about 50k.

There was a coolant leak with a broken bolt connected with the engine block at about 30K, and I told Ford that they would repair it not me as big V8's don't break bolts unless there was a factory problem. I paid for flushing the radiator and new antifreeze.

The Bronco was trashed in Consumers report as an expensive to maintain vehicle. Other magazines rated it as one of the most reliable after the first few years. I have driven it hard with just basically the oil and fluid changes and of course new belt under the hood at 40k.

Just last night my wife saw another foriegn car being bragged about as the best in the world, and it is a new model, the Volvo suv with no real world reliability record. She was mad, that as her brother had pointed out, the so called consumer's groups and car rating groups are rating it at the top with no American driving record.

My Bronco's mpg has gone back up to 15 to 17 mpg now that I can get gasoline without the California mandated MTBE.

[palmer]

Went to the shoestore in Winchester to look at Red Wings, but came home with a nice pair of Danner hiking boots made in Portland Oregon.

[Brytani]

All-Clad cookware - expensive but the last set of cookware you'll ever have to purchase. Made in Pennsylvania and worth every penny.

[HungarianGypsy]

Reviving an old thread BTTT!!