SVcummins

Well-known Member
Watching post cards from Nebraska on rfdtv and there is a story about Petersen manufacturing and in 2009 vice grips were still made in Nebraska . Does anybody remember getting vice grips in the cardboard box with the plastic window and the instructions book?
 
As you know, they used to be made in Dewitt, Nebraska, not too far from me. My brother actually did some summer work for them a few decades ago packing Vice-Grips into cartons that were shipped overseas. I guess Irwin, the now parent company thought it was just too costly to made them in the U.S., as they are now made in China. They also used to have another plant in Beatrice, Nebraska, making allen wrenches and a few other specialty tools besides Vice-Grips. I have some of them, still in the factory packaging. That plant closed down also. I guess large companies only care about what their accountants tell them.
I don't remember the packaging you mentioned.
 
Somewhere I still have a couple of brand-new Vise Grips in the packaging you mention. I got them at a yard sale a few years ago for one dollar each when a woman was selling her late father-in-law's tools. (I've never needed to use them. I have probably 30 other Vise Grips in various configurations.)
 
I bought this one two or three years ago. Last ones on the shelf.
Hate to take it out of the case.
My old ones still work.
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Hey SV -- I am not sure what year it was but My wife and I went to a rod run in Columbus Nebr. -- It was at the banquet that they drew names for the door prizes -- They drew my number for a vice grip board with all there vice grips on it -- still got them all -- have not lost one or broke one -- use them all the time -- they still hang on the original board too -- thought I would share that -- Roy PS We went down with a 23 bucket T ( 327 chevy with a two speed slush box behind it--
 
Years ago I broke the spring in one
I wrote to the company and they sent me a new spring free of charge
 
I worked there for 10yrs. part of the peterson family offered to buy back the vice grip part the business. they told her they would sell everything except the name.
 
I delivered steel to the Dewitt plant. Little town they told me to just park across the street overnight. It was fun backing in the building. I thought it was small compared to some of the other factories I had been to.
 
I used to buy Vise grips in a box of ten for $5 each. They where the ones in Yellow box with the plastic window. The Vise grips came out the end of the box. I also remember them being in an older yellow box too. This box opened up flat.

The new ones made in China are not much better than junk. They are made out of a lighter material. You can "feel" the difference by holding them side by side. I buy any originals I can find off Ebay and auctions.
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I?ll have to look on eBay I?ve never thought of that before. I bought a pair of 7 inch at ace a few years on sale for about 4$ and I got screwed .
 
That would be tough but If they could come out with the same pliers that they use to make nobody would buy the junk Irwin?s ever again
 
The local Ace had a spring assortment kit from vise grip. They would give you the spring and even install it for free.
 
It makes me sad that the stockholders don't appreciate the workers who made a great product. They built something for them and their investment, but they value their money more than the people who made it for them.
 
Amen to that , i Cant even loose the busted rivet one i have ,Since it would no longer close tite < i stuck it on the negative battery postcable and it fell off in the field while discing ,. stopped the planter to adjust something and my toe uncovered it when i went back around the tractor 3 days later . LOL
 
I also have the board. Will send a picture when I go out to my shop. Grew up there, by loosing it to the Chinese all but turned it into a ghost town
 
I've got two pairs of NIB Nebraska made vise grips I bought at a hardware store closing. They are in the boxes with the window.
 

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