General tools is no more

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:21 am

Posted on another forum that the North American made General tools will no longer be manufactured. They will still stay in the General International line of tools. Another forum member said he called General Tools and they confirmed the above info.
Anyone have more info on this?

"We have been mandated to sell all assets of General Manufacturing Ltd on October 2012 , 9:30am. Open to public."

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:45 pm

This is another shame. Still another tool company lost to the overseas manufacturers.

This would not be so bad except that the quality of their tools is lost too. I don't believe General was a US company (I think they are Canadian) but they manufactured quality products that may no longer be available to us or anyone else.

I don't know anything about this but I would be willing to bet that the high cost of quality steel is a primary factor.

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:14 am

Could you clarify which of the many entities that call themselves "General Tools" you are referring to?

The one I know the best, General Tools and Instruments is not going anywhere, and are not Canadian.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:22 am

foxtrapper wrote:Could you clarify which of the many entities that call themselves "General Tools" you are referring to?

The one I know the best, General Tools and Instruments is not going anywhere, and are not Canadian.

There apparently are several divisions within General]at least one[/URL] is Canadian.

I do hope that you are correct, foxtrapper, and that these divisions which we know as wood workers are remaining in tact.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:29 am

I'm with Dusty on this one. The General Tool that I know is a Canadian company that makes high quality stationary tools. They have always had a hard time being competitive on a consumer level because of exchange rates and tarriffs. However in the commercial side they did well.

My guess the economy plus the increase of insurance rates, and added Government regs collapsed their market. I think we are going to see a lot more of this. From the ads in the wood working mags I see manufactures drawing back more than I think the economy dictates.

Did anyone see the article on Rikon making a big push to get tools back into the schools? Apparently they have committed big bucks to trying to restart the many shop programs that once existed in schools.

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:02 pm

That's the problem, there are a number of companies which are known by the short hand version of their full title as "General Tool".

Though I see the OP has modified his post somewhat, somewhat clarifying that it appears to be "General Manufacturing ltd".

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:20 pm

foxtrapper wrote:That's the problem, there are a number of companies which are known by the short hand version of their full title as "General Tool".

Though I see the OP has modified his post somewhat, somewhat clarifying that it appears to be "General Manufacturing ltd".

Looks like a General to me.

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:32 pm

dusty wrote:Looks like a General to me.

But not
General or General or General or General

Now maybe it really is this General. Or, more likely, one of the splinters of this General. Though they don't indicate so anywhere on their pages that I see.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 5:00 pm

Now you have made your point.

When I think General it is General that comes to mind.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 5:18 pm

Yes, The General brand of woodworking tools made in Canada. They are the only "General" brand name tool I know of that also makes a "General International" line of tools as referred to in the original post.