Mac (and Matco) Tools - Company History & Lore

[@Toolaholic7]

My father remembers When Mac and Matco split in 1979.Matco was the toolbox division for Mac until 1979,made Mac's toolboxes.

[@djsi38t]

Ohio is such a Mecca for American made tools.Its pretty amazing all the factories that existed at one time.I personally want to tour Ohio one day and visit all of these locations that may or may not exist.I know Apex in Dayton Ohio is still there...and For myself Apex Tools are one of my favorite USA made brands.Although they too have Taiwanese tools...Apex screwdriver bits made in USA are by far my favorite...I have an extensive collection of USA made Apex bits...And also there USA made Industrial sockets and extensions are as good as you can get in my opinion.They only have impact rated sockets and extensions and they are bad ass top notch anywhere in the world...IMO..

[@ballinator]

I found the old Sabina & WCH plants on Google Earth. One is a tech company now and the other a diesel shop. www.google.com/maps/@39.4911887,-83.6380394,209m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu www.google.com/maps/@39.5247555,-83.4252469,209m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu I'll do a full video on Apex at some point in the future.

[@filobeto1691]

The Apex bits used to remove aviation fasteners are second to none.

[@joecooper2263]

Not to mention cornwell which is the oldest tool truck brand in America

[@4by_yotaguy373]

I love your tool company videos! Thanks!

[@ballinator]

Thanks! You're welcome!

[@dalerolison6360]

his voice???????/

[@Traderjoe]

There was a neighbor near me for years who had a MAC tool truck in his driveway and I guess he was a distributor. I grew up with a Snap-On bias that stayed with me under an assumption that they were the pinnacle for quality. Until I got some individual pieces and found that they were largely hype. I was disappointed to see that. Now a days I see that MAC tools are actually superior from the few examples that I have gotten my hands on. But I really used to love the Snap-On screw driver handle. It was like the holy grail of screw drivers to me.

[@BigChillingGoingDown]

I can't imagine thinking Mac was the pinnacle of anything.. Mostly rebranded junk.

[@smoil]

Confusing and interesting. Thanks

[@ballinator]

You're welcome. Yeah, this was probably the trickiest one for me to piece together.

[@4by_yotaguy373]

​@@ballinator I agree all this wonderful info you find is certainly not easy! And I appreciate it!

[@ballinator]

@@4by_yotaguy373 Thanks!

[@chrxx4327]

Interesting what happend to matco.... that explains why matco tools and gearwrench tools often share the same design patents. Like the locking ratcheting wrenches, and their pinless universal impact swivel sockets. I'm assuming in the split, matco was able to retain rights to those IP's.

[@ballinator]

Very possible. It's cool to see how all these companies are inter-connected.

[@jimhaines8370]

The tool box company in Jamestown NY was Yorktowne Tool Box industries as I still have mine bought in 1976 while in auto shop in high school as the teacher had connections at a long gone tool warehouse

[@ballinator]

Very cool. Nice to know people with connections like that.

[@stevenslater2669]

I still have a couple of Bonney refrigeration flare but wrenches that make the stuff on the market today look like junk! We called them “cut” wrenches for obvious reasons. They are at least 79 years old. I was raised in Philadelphia, and remember buying Bonney tools at the refrigeration supply house my dad used, but didn’t until seeing your segment that Bonney is a Philly company. I’d like to see you explain the history of the aircraft companies that litter the landscape since 1903. I know that’s out of the scope of tool company history, but if you ever run out of material…

[@ballinator]

@@stevenslater2669 Yeah, even just limiting myself to US based tool companies, it might be a while before I run out. Aircraft companies would be interesting though.

[@mococaboy17]

i have a few old mac screw drivers they are my favorite

[@RandyJurgens]

I own many Mac tools before they started selling over sea stuff and I have lots of Matco tools and a Matco tool boxes I have been using them for over 40 years . Thanks for sharing 🪛🔧🪛🔧🪛🔨🔨🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍

[@ballinator]

You're welcome!

[@Toolaholic7]

Mac has USA made tools

[@gills3141]

man this is like cod zombies lore! Thanks for the awesome content! I had no idea about how long Stanly owned mac for! What about channel lock, sk, wright tools, and the ol snap on? God bless and all things for Gods glory!

[@ballinator]

Thanks! I got my inspiration for making this series from watching Fallout lore videos. SK was the first video in the series. The other companies are all on the list for future videos.

[@gills3141]

@@ballinator im hyped! I also have a little something something to share with you. Did you know that JC penny had a full professional line of tools? I actually have one of their sockets. I heard SK made their sockets but, am unsure. Would really enjoy a video on that because there is like none on it.

[@ballinator]

@@gills3141 It's very likely SK made some of the Penncraft tools, they did a ton of contract manufacturing. I'm not ready to tackle the store brands yet, but do plan to at some point in the future.

[@4by_yotaguy373]

​@@gills3141 JCPenney's once had an automotive shop side just like Sears did. My grandmother bought JCPenney's "Lifetime" battery, and shocks for her 1977 Chevy Nova that she bought new, and frequently had serviced by them. It's been decades since JCPenney's closed their automotive shops in the 80s, but whenever my grandmother needed new battery or shocks she went to JCPenney's management I made an argument with all of her paperwork. Each time they reluctantly sent her to Sears (both stores were in our same mall) and paid the bill in full lol. The last time she did this was in 2017 before she passed. And now our Sears is long gone too. 😥

[@louisriverin2295]

Thank You !

[@ballinator]

You're welcome!

[@drengskap]

Cool video. I'd forgotten that Matco was a spinoff from Mac. Old Milwaukee? Isn't that more of a Snap-On kinda beer? 😉

[@ballinator]

Yeah, I should have found an Ohio beer for this video..

[@4by_yotaguy373]

Lol I haven't had Old Milwaukee in forever. It actually sounds kind of good 🍺

[@MechAnonymous]

Thank you sir

[@ballinator]

You're welcome!

[@john_barnett]

Okay, Stanley Tweedle was a hell of a deep cut

[@ballinator]

Thanks! Yeah I figured not too many would get that reference.

[@dinomares5697]

Good job love you From Dino Mares Fontana CA

[@ballinator]

Thanks!

[@TopGarageTV]

Wait….. they still sell Old Milwaukee?

[@ballinator]

Oh yes. Old Mil, PBR, High Life, Hamms and Old Style frequently make guest appearances on this channel.

[@4by_yotaguy373]

Lol I thought the exact same thing! 😅

[@johnn2557]

I have not seen Old Milwaukee in a very long time!

[@jakecoye738]

The local Mac guy went away for murder, tried to put out a hit on the prosecutor too. Late 80's Bought lots of tools from him.

[@ballinator]

Wow. They weren't lying about the tool truck business being a cut-throat business.

[@chrishensley6745]

Remember back in early 90,s mid..working at Nissan dealership were All the makes were good....Mac/matco /snap-on/ and cornwell...Craftsman was the stepchild...Matco tool men called Mac Made around China! but they were all good for the most part...Mac Ratchet heads were the worse after replaced after warranty....But ALL were Made In U.S.A....People only bitched on sears/craftsman stuff where they were first starting out....worked 30 years as a mechanic....Nissan/Chev./Local gov. Looking back they were all good and so sad were the Japes have took over....Time will tell and so glad I have all old set of U,S, made tools from up North.

[@john4kc]

Stanley IS going to Stanley! LOL

[@jeep2003]

Can you do a Thorsen video? Iv got alot of them. They are atleast as good as s-k and williams.

[@ballinator]

@jeep2003 Thorsen is on my list. They'll get covered at some point.

[@andrewscott8892]

If i want mistake Clem Poole most be related to modern day Tim Pool

[@TopGarageTV]

Looks awfully similar!

[@calparsons2502]

Very interesting, thanks. Does Old Milwaukee pay you for advertising? Probably should. LOL

[@ballinator]

You're welcome. LOL, no Old Milwaukee sponsorship here...

[@1pcfred]

I don't know how I feel about all of that. I'm certainly not jumping for joy. Yeah Max is a tool truck brand but I wouldn't put them on par with Snap-on. If you put Mac and Snap-on tools in front of me and made me choose I wouldn't hesitate. I'd be like, pfft and just grab the Snap-on. At least when it comes to sockets and wrenches. Someplace in my travels I picked up an imported pair of Mac pliers. They're in my junk tray of pliers. I also have a small set of Mac combo wrenches. Don't ask how I ended up with those. OK if you have to know I took them as part of collateral for a loan that was never repaid.

[@ballinator]

Yeah, from what I read, even in their heyday, Mac was never able to out-sell Snap-on.

[@1pcfred]

@@ballinator Mac had the truck distribution model but their tools always seemed second class to me compared to Snap-on. Just how I always felt about it. Mac aren't bad tools but I wouldn't say they're great tools either. If anyone's going to manufacture in the far east I might as well get that from Harbor Freight too. You should cover Harbor Freight, I've a feeling there's an interesting story there.

[@4by_yotaguy373]

​@@1pcfred Hope you're aware many tools Snap-On produced since 2010 are manufactured overseas. And more and more every year. Also they took their Blue Point line 100% overseas decades ago. And all through the 2000s Snap-On has licensed out their name for all sorts of random overseas junk.

[@1pcfred]

@@4by_yotaguy373 Blue Point has always been branded tools. I don't think Snap-on ever manufactured anything Blue Point branded. Overseas doesn't have to mean made in the far east either. There are other places overseas besides just there.

[@ballinator]

@@1pcfred I've hesitated on covering Harbor Freight since other channels have covered them. Maybe I should and give my own take on it. There is an interesting story there.