Original Vice Grip plant now reopened.

[67 Malibu]

I do not know if this link will come through as it came to me via email from the local newspaper that we subscribe to. And they have a bad habit of blocking anyone without a subscription from their on-line feeds. Basically it is about the original Vice Grip manufacturing plant being taken over by Malco & them marketing them under the name "Eagle Grip". Being not too far away from DeWitt, it was a big local story when the remaining family decided to sell out & the new owners immediately relocating the manufacturing to China. It was also in the middle of a lot of stories of this kind of thing going on in the country. That is a pretty good looking pair of welding clamps that they show & considering how the prices of the originals have gone through the roof at swap meets, I might have to pick up a pair. I hate to buy anything through Amazon. But for the moment anyway, there is evidently no other choice.

https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/a-town-renewed-factory-in-tiny-dewitt-nebraska-putting-tools-on-the-market-again/article_03a0a6e9-0519-55cf-8480-9050f871c44f.html#utm_source=journalstar.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter-templates%2Fnews-alert&utm_medium=PostUp&utm_content=844e41d6f9bc476707b61ad2881890e1569cfea6

[67 Malibu]

Found this video on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Malco-LP7R-Straight-Locking-Pliers/dp/B0924RJNPQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1F1WPTKUMZNCL&dchild=1&keywords=eagle+grip+locking+pliers&qid=1620581394&sprefix=eagle+%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-1

[Beagle]

It's good to see this. From the article:

"For the average person, these could be the last tools you'll ever need to buy"

I loaned a pair of 7WR's old enough to still say Petersen on them to a buddy recently, complete with a certified death warrant issued upon loss. They came back, unlike many pairs I have owned in the past.

I'm constantly sticker shocked these days, Covid has put a 2x on most of the things I buy... I wasn't real surprised by the cost though. I always, and I mean always from when I was a teen, got shocked in the Snap-On truck. This isn't in the same territory of surprise.

[DanStokes]

SO good to see this. I'll be watching for them to hit our local stores but will buy on Amazon if a need hits before ten.

Dan

[67 Malibu]

I have been buying up any old, original ones reasonably priced at the swap meets. Not many of those left anymore. I may pick up a pair of these even though I hate spending money with Bezos.

[Hemi Joel]

Great that this is happening! Malco is just west of here. They are really going to have to ramp up, though. it says they are shipping 300-600 tools per day with 60 employees. 5 to 10 pliers per day per employee does not sound financially viable.

[Captain]

Back in 2009-10, I worked on the Original Keystone Line.
Past the Town, Big Sign, Home of Vise~Grip Tools! everyday.
it's actually a very small town, it will hide in the shade of the Vise~Grip Sign.......
Maybe if 60+ employees, 25% of Total Population.......
Somewhere I have a pix of the sign, but that was way back when I still
used a "Film" Camera, I have tons of Pix not digitized !!