China, toolmakers to the world

[J White]

This may be greek to some of ya, but anyway, here at work
we had to buy a new Rockwell hardness tester - the one we've
been getting by with for five years has got to where it can't be
calibrated, or really trusted, acting whacky...

So we bit the bullet and ordered a brand spankin' new Starrett -
when it came in yesterday, was looking all over the box and seeing
all the familiar stuff - Starrett, toolmakers to the world, Athol Massachusetts
then finally found what I suspected down on lower corner of the crate -
yep, you guessed it

If, for whatever reason, we HAD to start making everything here again,
from rubber chickens to electronics - I figure it'd take at least 20 years
to get back up to speed We have very few if any quality machine tools
made here, and we're losing the capacity to make anything, both in
factory floorspace, AND more important to me, experienced maintenance
folks, and machinist. Anybody could build a new building, but the knack
of being able to fix gizmos by the seat of your pants like folks used to
is going, going, gone. You can go to school, but nothing like experience.

[DonG]

Originally Posted by J White

This may be greek to some of ya, but anyway, here at work
we had to buy a new Rockwell hardness tester - the one we've
been getting by with for five years has got to where it can't be
calibrated, or really trusted, acting whacky...

So we bit the bullet and ordered a brand spankin' new Starrett -
when it came in yesterday, was looking all over the box and seeing
all the familiar stuff - Starrett, toolmakers to the world, Athol Massachusetts
then finally found what I suspected down on lower corner of the crate -
yep, you guessed it

If, for whatever reason, we HAD to start making everything here again,
from rubber chickens to electronics - I figure it'd take at least 20 years
to get back up to speed We have very few if any quality machine tools
made here, and we're losing the capacity to make anything, both in
factory floorspace, AND more important to me, experienced maintenance
folks, and machinist. Anybody could build a new building, but the knack
of being able to fix gizmos by the seat of your pants like folks used to
is going, going, gone. You can go to school, but nothing like experience.

Very good post Jeff..Depressing isn't it....

I always go back to our auto makers moving out of the country and going broke while the foreign auto makers moved to the USA & make money..Just doesn't make sense to me..

Like Tom L says, He, Frank & myself just taking up space...Not our world anymore....

How are the Bandits doing?

[J White]

I try not to think about it, but slip up and get on a rant now and then

You can put me down for the "taking up space" club too - I shoulda
been here in the fifties - maybe 1850's?

Bandits doing purty good, I'm just not as motivated in hot weather as
I used to be. Been better this week though - didn't even run the A/C
yesterday or day before.