I was clearing out a stack of junk I moved about 5 years ago and found a Sears steel dado set with the price tag on it. I bought it about 1972 for $27. Last year I bought a Freud carbide set for about $100. 4% inflation compounded for 33 years makes the old Sears blade $100 in todays money. I would bet it is even more if I looked up the CPI figures.
It made me appreciate the value, quality and selection we now have available to us from numerous sources. When I bought that Sears dado, I couldn’t have imagined having the stationary tools I now own, as the only choices were the heavy commercial lines.
Look in a 5 year old magazine and notice how few web addresses there were even a short time ago and think how relative easy it now is find high quality tools at great prices. I remember when Sears was about the only choice and it’s been decades since I’ve been in a Sears.
Bob
Replies
Bob,
I share your observations.
When I graduated in 1984, I wanted a Worm Drive saw, so with my first paycheck I got one. I could buy that saw today for the same amount or even slightly less money.
I'm also amazed at how the internet and computers have changed so much in so little time. Take this conversation, less than a decade ago, this may not have been possible, or in use by only computer specialist. Today, I can send photos, participate in forums such as this, attract customers, and find a wealth of information just sitting in my bedroom. The other day I wanted a gilders wheel, a few strokes on the keyboard and one is on its way to me from England. Before I had a computer, there is no telling how long that search would have taken.
Rob Millard
I'm not sure it is all just computers, a lot of the thanks has to go to China. Any tool whos patent has expired will be knocked off over there and sold cheaper than you can buy the raw materials here. Nothing will be made in the USA as long as it is this way.
I bought my first right angle grinder from Skill back in the late 70's for about $120. I bought 2 at Harbor freight for under $10 each. I couldn't replace the cord on my old grinder for that little.Looking through a mail-order Home and Lawn magazine last week, there was a nice teak setee and arm-chair of a very nice design for a price that was less than I could buy the teak lumber for before I could even touch it with a tool.The more they figure out our marketplace, the better the deals will be until we are so dependent on them we will become until we now longer have the capabilities to make anything for ourselves. It has started, and we are screwed.
You do realize that China hasn't generally cared about patents and copyrights, right?
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
Sure. They will steal any design or copyright to sell over there. But if someone is going to sell their stolen knock-offs here is setting themselves up for a law-suit here aren't they?
China is starting to enforce copywrite laws. actually they've been doing so for about 4 years niow and while their level of enforcement isn't where it should be they do admit the problem and have attempted to correct it..
Don't expect overnight success however since they are deveolping their own high tech industry you can bet that future enforcement will become very real..
Actually in certain segments of industry they already are far ahead of much of the world..
Their compliance coincides with their being granted favored nation status, since they didn't care about intellectual property rights. It was one of the requirements for them getting that status. Not like we weren't importing a lot from China/Taiwan before.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
To a certain degree I share your concerns about China, but in the case of the saw they aren't directly to blame . A check of the Skil website says the worm drive saw is still made in the USA.
Rob Millard
Kind of makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it...................?
Find my old post on Sears Roebuck 1902 planes..
Other stuff...
Remington double barrel shotgun $20.00
Winchester Repeating Shotgun $17.82
Sharps $2.90
Spencer 8 shot rifle $3.65
Colt 44, 15 shot rifle $12.50
Marlin .32 Long Rifle $10.40
Winchester Model 1892 GEEEE.. $12.50!
I could go on!
God I love this old catalog!
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