While working on one of my rifles this thought popped into my head: "Who really makes this Kobalt screwdriver I am using?" Well... I did a little research and found this link that I think that many of the members would like to know about:

http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html

So Kobalt is the retail brand of Snap-on tools; Franco-Americaine de Construction d'Outillage Mecanique owns SK-Tools; for the last 5 years Danaher Tools makes Craftsman; Craftsman tools older than 5 years were made by Stanley; Stanley also owns MAC Tools & Proto Tools;  Husky brand is made by Stanley Mechanics Tools, a division of the Stanley Works; Danaher tools manufactures  K-D Tools, Matco Tools, and GearwrenchTools.

Be aware that Answers.com says "Kobalt tools are currently manufactured by Danaher (June 2009). " So Kobalt is probably made by multiple vendors depending upon the tool.

By the way, I have a Kobalt Torque wrench and it was better made than Craftsman (China) , Husky (Taiwan) plus it was made in the USA! Go figure!

Can anyone add to this?

I do know Black & Decker bought DeWalt and Porter Cable which is why I will not buy another Porter Cable tool since they shipped a lot of the manufacturing off-shore or to Mexico/Central America.

This is true for a lot of products. But you have to understand, it doesn't mean they're the same. I read somewhere that there are only three manufacturers of car batteries. I don't recall who they are but that doesn't mean there are only three kinds of batteries. If, for example, Sears and Interstate have their batteries made by Bosch, that doesn't mean Sears and Interstate batteries are both just as good. They could be completely different and one could be good, the other could be lousy. They're made to different specs and they're only manufactured by the same company.

Just because SnapOn (who makes excellent tools) also makes Kobalt, doesn't mean Kobalt tools are as good as SnapOn. They're almost certainly not.

There are dozens of manufacturers of flat-panel televisions but there are only three manufacturers of the panels themselves. You won't find the same panel (for example) in a Sony as you will in any other TV. The panels that go into Sony TV are made only for Sony.

Quoted from BLAMMO

...There are dozens of manufacturers of flat-panel televisions but there are only three manufacturers of the panels themselves. You won't find the same panel (for example) in a Sony as you will in any other TV. The panels that go into Sony TV are made only for Sony.

I have to disagree. Below is a list of display makers and the manufacturers they serve that I got from one of the AV forums I reference for data center monitoring display work that I do from time to time. As you can see Sony appears several times in the list.

• LG Display: TN, IPS, S-IPS, SA-IPS, H-IPS:Samsung, LGE, Philips, Vizo, Panasonic, Toshiba, Hitachi, AmTRAN and Skyworth
  
• Sharp Japan: ASV (variant of VA): Toshiba, Philips, Sony, Pioneer (LCD) and Sharp
  
• Chi Mei Optoelectronics: TN, S-MVA and LCS MVA:Samsung, Philips, Funai, LGE, Toshiba and Sony
  
• AU Optronics: TN, P-MVA and A-MVA:Sony, Samsung, Philips, LGE, Toshiba, Proview, Panasonic
  
• Chunghwa Picture Tubes: TN and MVA variant:Sony, Samsung and Konka
  
• Samsung SDI: TN, PVA and S-PVA:JVC, Samsung, Sony, Philips, Sanyo and Panasonic
  
• Wistron Optronics: Sony
  
• IPS Alpha Technology (Hitachi-Matsushita): IPS Pro :Hitachi and Panasonic
  
• Delta Electronics: Unknown
  
• TPV Technology Limited: Unknown

Also not all Sony TVs are made in house due to demand and cost. According to Digitimes, Foxconn has been manufacturing TV's for Sony since 2007.

That is good info, thanks for sharing. I have the Matco guy that comes to my shop. Other then their batteries for the power tools I have been very happy with them. One thing to add to your list. Matco screwdrivers and nut drivers are made by Witte of Germany.

Quoted from IRWFO

...Matco screwdrivers and nut drivers are made by Witte of Germany.

Good to know!

I have a set of Witte insulated screwdrivers and hex socket set. The things have saved my life literally more than once. It is amazing how some computer chassis and racks all of a sudden become charged when he equipment is installed by some fly by night gypsy or village idiot.

For those members who are British car buffs, the tools made by Gedore Tools SA (Pty) Ltd  (established in South Africa in 1965) were made in India  during the 1970's -- Gedore now has plants in Germany (Remscheid, Solingen, Waldkirchen, Förderstedt, Donaueschingen, Vaihingen / Enz, with other production plants in Brazil, South Africa, Turkey for local consumption) making tools. I guess their fling with outsourcing to the third world was an object lesson for others to discover.

Gmirsky I been in the tool business for as long as I remember, My dad has a snap-on tool route, Some tools snap-on does not make but other companys make, I could make a list, Snap-on makes all there iron themselves. I know the fuel pressure testers are not made by snap-on. Snapon owns Blue point, Balco and sun. Recently snap-on started a new program called RWD, It allows dealers to purchase other manufactors tools to make more money in hard times. (also makes snap-on money) I made a few calls and from everyone I spoke to, Kobalt is not made by snap-on. On went to that web site and found this...


(ED: I've received 3 follow up emails; updating the information about who is making Kobalt tools:
The first is from Bob Payne of Cornwell Tool Distributor - He indicates that Kobalt is not made by Snap-On.
The second is from Heidi Schuck of Husky Tools with more information on Kobalt tools not being made by Snap-On.)
The third from Dave Johnson about the new vendor for the Kobalt line of tools.)

Snap-on has sold there lic a bit more since the new CEO came in, you can find cheap snap-on flash lights in ace hardware... but there nothing great.

If you have questions about tools send me a pm,

IMHO Snap-On is the best, I also own SK AND KD, which make awsome tools also...

Quoted from noarguy

If you have questions about tools send me a pm,

How do I just say NO to another tool that I will probably only use once a year when my tool man comes on Tuesday? I'm like a kid in a toy store.  

My father was in the manufacturing business all his life, with 99% of the business being hand tools. The business was my grandfathers. I spent many years working with him when I was younger. So, I'm not a complete stranger to the industry.
We spun out Great Neck, Stanley, Craftsman, and in the last few years, Home Depot along with so many brands that I can't bring to mind.
Manufacturers would bring their own specs, designs and colors, but it basically broke down in to old Sears Roebuck addage - good, better, best.
All from the same factory right here on long Island. Same raw materials, although some grades were better than others.
If you are paying attention when you plop down your dollars, you are usually getting what you're paying for.
Quality raw materials are costly. Additional labor is costly.
Of course it doesn't always hold true, but that's whay you need to pay attention to what you're getting.
I had a friend who owned a large tool fabrication outfit in MA who just hung it up about 10 years ago.
He said he couldn't compete with the overseas manufacturers, who were selling (hand) tools completely carded and ready for retail for less than he could buy the raw steel.
I'm currently using (german) screwdrivers on my guns. Haven't found better, but always looking.

Just my 2cents.

Quoted from noarguy

Gmirsky I been in the tool business for as long as I remember, My dad has a snap-on tool route, Some tools snap-on does not make but other companys make, I could make a list, Snap-on makes all there iron themselves. I know the fuel pressure testers are not made by snap-on. Snapon owns Blue point, Balco and sun. Recently snap-on started a new program called RWD, It allows dealers to purchase other manufactors tools to make more money in hard times. (also makes snap-on money) I made a few calls and from everyone I spoke to, Kobalt is not made by snap-on. On went to that web site and found this...


(ED: I've received 3 follow up emails; updating the information about who is making Kobalt tools:
The first is from Bob Payne of Cornwell Tool Distributor - He indicates that Kobalt is not made by Snap-On.
The second is from Heidi Schuck of Husky Tools with more information on Kobalt tools not being made by Snap-On.)
The third from Dave Johnson about the new vendor for the Kobalt line of tools.)

Snap-on has sold there lic a bit more since the new CEO came in, you can find cheap snap-on flash lights in ace hardware... but there nothing great.

If you have questions about tools send me a pm,

IMHO Snap-On is the best, I also own SK AND KD, which make awsome tools also...

I think we have a misunderstanding here. I was not making any judgements about Snap-on, Kobalt, et al. I think that everyone would agree that almost any OEM brand (Crafstsman, Kobalt, Husky) are most likely made by multiple suppliers and that the whole OEM line is not made by any one manufacturer. I definitely agree with you that Snap-on is one brand to be considered as the "gold standard" of tools. I did not create this thread to denigrate any one brand or manufacturer. I created this thread to educate so that the members of this forum could make more intelligent choices ecspecially in these tough economic times. I would love to have a chest full of professional industrial strenght tools but sometimes economics and usage dictate to the contrary. Knowing that my preferred tool maker of choice makes another brand that I have to settle for is plus. I know that my toolmaker of choice is still getting part of my business even though circumstances prevent me from buying their top of the line flagship brand.

Also the source on the web site you quoted was a distributor. Further on down in the page was a letter from a Snap-on designer from their own production plant:

Quoted Text

I just wanted to add my 2 cents. Well a nickle really, considering that I work for Snap-on and we over charge for everything

I was reading on your site about 'who makes what tools' http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html. One part explians that the various manufactures use 'the exact same forgings' for all the various brands they sell. This is NOT true for Snap-on tools. Our retail brand Kobalt sold through Lowe's stores, shares very little if any traits with our traditional Snap-on line. They are made in the same plants, but most of the manufacturing tooling is different. They are made by the same UNION skilled machinists useing the same tried and true processes. The designs for these tools are completly different. They use different material and are heat treated differently.

I hope this clears things up slightly
Dan Peronto
Tool Designer
Snap-on Tools
Kenosha Mfg Plant

I think I'll believe the word of a company designer over a distributor.