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Companies change hands so much over time and move production to the far east to save money and people still associate the brand name with the quality it once produced. A good example of this is Record, they used to make awesome quality Vices, clamps, planes, chisels etc. All made in Shefield with decent steel, but now the company was bought by Irwin and it's all made in China. People still buy the Chinese made vices, thinking they're buying a quality 'Record' product and pay £80 for it, when the exact same vice can be bought for like £20 without the record logo.
hi yep along with Marples Chisels utter crap now made out of monkey metal steel. Bosch joined many sending there gear out there while rubbish now 9" angle grinders was the holy grail everyone and his dog used them but now rubbish bits fail in them so quickly. ive one of the originals still plus a 4 1/2 my 5" is Hitachi there great kit something have to love as going to have for a long time!
Have an old AEG 9" (reminded me need to sort to sell!)it is so smooth running none of that grr grr grating get on new ones.
Fein and Festool are great have a fein Multi tool can do more or less anything with it sand/cut/scrape even bang nails in with it!
Friends using the festool guide saw circular saw with plunge action you run it along a guide plate/rail now Dewalt and Makita have copied it.
Vices/grips are something have to check! many vices was made in india! Hand tool wise like Bhaco they make a god set of Chisels also but have there socket sets.do have two of the original Stanley Steel master hammers 16 and 20oz made in england! i also had the hatchet but like a dumbo gave it to someone but do have an Estwing one which holds an edge! also there hammers are the chippies love child.