retro-man Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) I'm going to start a thread to celebrate the best of Made in USA. So, following are a few of my favorites: In the world of high-end audio: Decware Carey (in my opinion, the best in the world - especially the single-ended triode amplifiers - which, incidentally sound best with Western Electric 300B tubes - the best audio tube in the world) Last, but not least in audio, McIntosh Cool TVs - maybe a bit past their prime with flat-screen and digital coming on: Predicta Incidentally, these are modeled after the Philco (which was acquired by Ford in the early 60s) Futura televisions of the 50s. Wristwatches: RGM If you have time, watch some of the videos. Incredible. These are clearly for the wealthy. For someone in my economic strata - the idea of buying a $7,500.00 watch raises a few ethical issues: What else might I be able to do with that money? Like buy a $35.00 Chinese-made timex, give a few thousand to charity, and bank a few thousand for a rainy day..... Still, I'm glad this kind of work is able to go on here. Bicycles: Cannondale Flashlight: Maglite Machined aluminum alloy case, designed and made in the US. A few bucks extra - but will last forever: much better than grabbing that plastic import and sending a few more bucks out of the country. Compact Fluorescent bulbs: Lights of America. 70% of CFLs are made in China - not this brand. I believe the products above to be equal or superior to their competitors from anywhere. Add your own - whether it be Zippo, Harley, Burton, K2, Bass Weejuns, Carhart, whatever. By paying attention, we can chip away at the trade deficit and slowly rebuild our own capacity. Edited January 3, 2009 by retro-man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Blue Jeans http://www.gussetclothing.com/ These are really nice jeans, but I have found that you have to go one size up to be as comfortable as the current size you are wearing. Flags and flagpoles http://www.uncommonflagpoles.com/ I love my flagpole, and have not found another American flag that lasts as long as these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retro-man Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 (edited) That's it? Nobody else has any U.S. made products they want to tout? We've got high-end audio, hand-made watches, and also staples like Jeans and fluorescent light bulbs. Here, I'll add a couple more: Clothes and underwear: American Apparel link "Made in Downtown LA - Vertically integrated manufacturing" They cost a bit more - but they are made in the U.S. and the quality is way above the import stuff the mass merchandisers sell. Tableware: Lennox link Laura Bush just bought half-a-million dollars worth for the White House. I think it's all still made in the U.S.. And in my opinion, for fine China, I haven't seen better anywhere in the world. I don't own any fine china at home (nor, for that matter, do I have a formal dining room) - but our cupboards are stocked with pottery plates, bowls, and cups handmade in the raku tradition by a couple of older Japanese emigrant friends of the woman who does my wife's hair - so "made in U.S.". These women don't depend on the work for their living, so they sell the pieces for a very reasonable price, and the stuff looks great. In the world of flatware, I was disappointed to see that Oneida closed their last plant in their namesake city in New York in 2004 and now imports from Indonesia and other places. Here's a different challenge: What stuff can't you find - to save your life - made in the U.S. anymore? Corollary question: of those things, which ones to you really need? Edited January 8, 2009 by retro-man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theripper Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 bicycles again: trek www.trekbikes.com moots www.moots.com snowboard and motorcycle and bicycle helmets: bell www.bellhelmets.com it's tough to find stuff made here, guys! a side note on american flags...you know those little flags everyone seems to have on the 4th of july? yep, made in china! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
streetline51 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Boots Justin Work Boots Made in the USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Apple I-Pod I-Phone Macbook - Boeing (With Rolls Royce engine) - Craftsman - Ford - Motown Sound - Snap-On - Stax - Just a few things that l like use & love on this side of the pond, a bet a lot of it is Made in China today it should be "Made in the USA". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Forgot about this one. Body wash. Nivia is made in Germany. Old Spice is made in Mexico. Axe is made in the U.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suv_guy_19 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Apple I-Pod I-Phone Macbook China. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadtrip Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 (edited) Not that I personally own any of the products these companies manufacture, but Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon make some good-quality defense-related hardware. I'm sure our men and women in uniform would agree. Also, I read somewhere (but I can't verify it) that Boeing is the largest exporting company in the United States in terms of dollar sales, thus pulling its weight when it comes to the U.S. trade deficit. Edited January 9, 2009 by Roadtrip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
napfirst Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Northrop Grumman has a ship yard in this ares that produces aircraft carriers and nuclear subs...employes about 13,000 people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadtrip Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Northrop Grumman has a ship yard in this ares that produces aircraft carriers and nuclear subs...employes about 13,000 people I asked Santa for an aircraft carrier for Christmas. I guess it must have been too big for his sleigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadtrip Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 This may seem boring, but I admire companies that add to the value chain through innovation, and/or economy of scale. In the innovation department, I nominate Air Products, Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of gases for all kinds of applications, from industrial to healthcare. Air Products was founded in Detroit in 1940, and distributes its products and technology worldwide. Of its many innovations, it created "on-site" production of oxygen ("mini" oxygen plants) for high-volume hospital users. It has done the same for other users of other gases. This technology reduces distribution costs (since gas containers weigh five times as much as the gas itself), and also reduces greenhouse emissions when over-the-road transportation of the gases is no longer necessary. Just like gas itself, Air Products is unseen, but it no doubt touches your life in many different ways. http://www.airproducts.com/index.asp In my Master's thesis, I argued for a merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railroad, based on the fact that, in the railroad industry, economies of scale creates value and reduces costs for customers. (Keep in mind that, in 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act, which was meant for the construction of a transcontinental railroad. To this day, we do not have a transcontinental railroad.) My suggested merger would correct this problem. Why is it a problem? Because of docking, switching, loading and unloading, and administrative costs associated with transferring freight from one railroad to another. A truly transcontinental railroad would eliminate these costs. Moreover, it would link the manufacturing sector from coast to coast - and because intermodal freight (shipping containers) is a big part of the railroad business, it reduces the cost for those companies on the East Coast who wish to export their goods to China or the Far East, and vice versa. For those who cry "Monopoly!" at the suggestion of a transcontinental railroad, I would suggest that it be regulated just like every other monopoly in this country (and there are plenty of them). The fact is: There are now four Class I railroads in the U.S. There used to be many more, but they all got swallowed up. Why? Because of economy of scale and the synergy that was accomplished through the mergers and aquisitions over the years. A synergy will be realized throughout our economy if we gain a transcontinental railroad. The railroad industry is far more efficient and environmentally friendly than the trucking industry. From my paper: Class I railroads began employing environmental specialists in the early 1970s, and they currently budget tens of millions of dollars to ensure regulatory compliance. The railroad industry has comparative advantages over the trucking industry in terms of emissions, with trucks emitting 13.6 times railroads in diesel particulates, 12.5 times railroads in hydrocarbons, and 3.6 times railroads in carbon monoxide per ton-mile of freight. Railroads exceed the trucking industry by approximately 2.5 ton-miles in fuel efficiency. On its Web site, Union Pacific claims that “Railroad fuel efficiency has increased by 72 percent since 1980,” and that, as of 2001, on average, one gallon of fuel can move one ton of freight 406 miles. Further, Union Pacific claims that railroads are “2-4 times more efficient that trucks on a ton-mile basis,” and “3 times cleaner than trucks on a ton-mile basis” (up.com, 2008). Admittedly, the railroad industry is not a product, but a service. But it is truly an amazing service that adds value to our economy. It always has! And because their intermodal services constitute a major part of their overall operations, the railroads are a major conduit for exporters' access to overseas markets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbb Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 That's it? Nobody else has any U.S. made products they want to tout? http://www.sasshoes.com/ Very comfortable and long lasting casual shoes. About all I wear. American made with excellent quality. gbb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbg49229 Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 http://www.sasshoes.com/ Very comfortable and long lasting casual shoes. About all I wear. American made with excellent quality. gbb Carhart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomaro Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Here goes: 1. Purdy paintbrushes - Home depot 2. Little Tree - car airfreshners 3. Certain New Balance products - nbwebexpress.com 4. Most Nintendo Wii games 5. Electrosol automatic dishwasher cleaner 6. Crayola crayons I will keep adding...now that I'm unemployed, I have a lot of free time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerM Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I'd like to add: Furniture Manufacturers from across North America and Carolina Not all pieces are American-made, so you have to be careful, but I've done work for Drexel, Thomasville, and Broyhill, so I can confirm they still have operations here. Best of luck, Atomaro. I do some work in NJ from time to time. What did you do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retro-man Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 (edited) http://www.sasshoes.com/ Very comfortable and long lasting casual shoes. About all I wear. American made with excellent quality. gbb There's a store right in my town. I'll check them out. Atomaro - I hope you pick up something soon. I'm praying for everybody who is in that situation. Let's hope for the best this year. Edited January 12, 2009 by retro-man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retro-man Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 I'd like to add: Furniture Manufacturers from across North America and Carolina Not all pieces are American-made, so you have to be careful, but I've done work for Drexel, Thomasville, and Broyhill, so I can confirm they still have operations here. Best of luck, Atomaro. I do some work in NJ from time to time. What did you do? Before I was an Architect I was a cabinetmaker / custom furniture maker. Some of the best work in the world is done here. That's one area (along with major appliances) that is under serious assault from imports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerM Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 (edited) Before I was an Architect I was a cabinetmaker / custom furniture maker. Some of the best work in the world is done here. That's one area (along with major appliances) that is under serious assault from imports. When I was doing work for American Heritage, the plant manager told me that the Chinese had a "waste" factor of .5 (50% of all product defective), and the American plant with less than a .1 still could not compete (on price). The line of demarcation needs to happen at the product itself, and not the price. People will pay for quality (if they perceive an advantage). This is how I am intending to thrive in this economy. I intend to focus on the value of my services. Edited January 12, 2009 by RangerM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadtrip Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 People will pay for quality (if they perceive an advantage). This is how I am intending to thrive in this economy. I intend to focus on the value of my services. Bingo! If everyone in the American workforce had your attitude and gumption (focusing on the value of your services - thus contributing to the value chain), then we wouldn't be in the position of having to rely on a bunch of empty suits in Washington attempting to play God with the economy (not that there's much likelihood that any of their efforts will succeed). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aneekr Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 HEMTT A4, one of many marvels of engineering from Wisconsin based Oshkosh Corporation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomaro Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 (edited) Best of luck, Atomaro. I do some work in NJ from time to time. What did you do? I am an engineer, but I was the the Director of Sales for a company that makes replacement parts for commercial printing presses. So I am pretty familiar with rotogravure and flexographic printing processes. I also never left the family business. Dad has owned a garage longer than I've been breathing. As time went on I started spending less time turning wrenches (nights and weekends, etc)...but, guess where I may end up very soon??? We also did a lot of business with the furniture industry in Carolina. Vinyl coverings, laminates, and lacquers are actually "printed". BTW here are some more made in USA Corky - Replacement parts for commodes. At Home Depot Performance Select paint rollers -Home Depot Norton Abrasives Dap Products - Caulk...made and printed in the U.S. Edited January 15, 2009 by atomaro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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