The above two items are the extent of the Vaco tools I've picked up over the years. The company dates back at least into the 1940's, but I can't find any online information on when or by whom it was founded.
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| October 1948 |
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| Popular Mechanics, December 1959 |
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| Popular Mechanics, December 1960 |
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| 1970 |
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| Radio Electronics September 1983 |
In 1986, Vaco was acquired by M. Klein & Sons of Chicago where it remains as just a brand. In 2006, Klein demanded wage cuts, leading to a strike. Klein announced that the Vaco factory was to be closed, with most production moved to China. Only 11 of the 127 workers would be retained in the new organization. The surviving employees would see their health insurance benefits disappear, and their wages would be cut from $14.80-19.25 down to $9.75. The union rejected this proposition, and "production" (which now consists of placing chinese made rubber guards on chinese made molded screwdrivers) moved to the Mansfield TX "Advanced Manufacturing Facility".
Update Feb. 2022; I'm informed that the above statement is wrong and that the complete screwdrivers are now made in Mansfield, Great to hear, people like these tools! (see comments)
Update, an almost perfect set of nut drivers.
Thanks, Lance
Vaco was a top quality tool in the 1970's. They also maufactured the Craftsman brand screwdrivers back then. Vaco and Switches Inc. were owned by the same Chicago based investors in the late 70's.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contribution!
ReplyDeleteHubby has a Vaco tool his dad owned, combo bolt cutter, stakehole pliers, he is 3rd gen IBEW electrician
ReplyDeleteHubby has a Vaco tool his dad owned, combo bolt cutter, stakehole pliers, he is 3rd gen IBEW electrician
ReplyDeleteI'd love to add it to the post, you can send pics to gerald@vanwyngaarden.ca Thanks!
ReplyDeleteVaco used to be owned by Ray Silverstein and his father, Harry,in the 1970's. I worked there.
ReplyDeleteI have TONS of vaco tools from my dad who was a fermilab electrician for 30 years. Best hand tools made in my opinion, and his.
ReplyDeleteI've got my trusty VACO reversible screwdriver (DUH-4) in my desk drawer. I also have VACO allen wrenches amongst other tools.
ReplyDeleteI have a Vaco USA MODEL 8104 bent needle nose pliers. They were originally owned by my grandfather back in the sixties. They look old but work like they just came out of the box.
ReplyDeleteSo many stories with the same message. Thanks for the notes!
ReplyDeleteI have a VACO PRODUCTS tool :
ReplyDeletePart no.70376
Patent no. 4173070
Trent
I loved Vaco tools. I had a few reversible screwdrivers that I cannot locate; I lost them when I moved to my new home.
ReplyDeleteI still have individual nut drivers I purchased in a hardware store in Lower Manhattan years back. There has to be a website that sells whatever Vaco tools are left.
I didn't realize Klein did Vaco dirty like they did. Brutal.
Thanks for the note! Hope the screwdrivers turn up.:-)
ReplyDeleteI would rather save my dollars than spend them on bad tools. I found a single set of Vaco nut drivers. They look pretty nice. Also, they come in sizes that I don't have in my Wera set. Remember that there are other tool brands that are still made in the USA: SK, Wilde, Lang, Council, Klein (some), etc. You can find high quality and good prices with these.
ReplyDeleteJust picked up a vaco 70341 for 25cents at a garage sale.
ReplyDeleteMy Vaco impact driver bits were indestructible never found a replacement for them.
ReplyDeleteWell, a Vaco duh4 came along with the wife in 1987. I've used it rather roughly over the years but not the Mrs. It has gone with us wherever we've lived (Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia, then back to Michigan). It was made in Jonesville,MI. I am just now finding the facts about this screwdriver. I'm pretty sure I'll treat it better now. I'm glad I married it with the wife. American made and made to last.
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ about the last line. Those nut drivers and the rubber handles over molded screwdrivers are completely made in Mansfield TX.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear, I will change that. Thanks for the input!
ReplyDeleteHi .
ReplyDeleteWhere can I find a case this case of tools
Bought 4 screw drivers, 2 straight & 2 Phillip back in the early '60's which I still use regularly with very little wearshowing. I've had Craftsman over the years, some good and some bad, makes me wonder when they were made???
ReplyDeleteVaco, my goto drivers!
Can anyone tell me what a Vaco An-2 is specific for? When it was made? Is it some sort of specialty tool? It looks like a plain flathead screwdriver that fits in a front shirt pocket. I can't find much on it. Any info is greatly appreciates.
ReplyDeleteNeon inside
DeleteAs an electronic parts distributor I sold Vaco Tools, along with Xcelite and Klein from the 50's through the 70's. Vaco was great quality and covered many specialty tools that the others didn't carry. I have several Vaco tools in my roll-around tool cabinet. They still come in handy.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was the a manufacturer rep ( salesman) for Vaco in New England from the 50’s until he died in 1966.: I still have a number of tools. At that time there was only mom and pop hardware stores. My favorite was Pill Hardware in Cambridge.
ReplyDeletePill hardware still exists! https://www.loc8nearme.com/massachusetts/cambridge/pill-hardware/3002994/
ReplyDeleteI have a VACO No. 1963 wire stripper/crimper that I had lost but now found. It kind of ruined me since I have gone through a bunch of cheap made in China knock offs that are no where near the quality and I gave up on this type of tool completely - just found them buried underneath my bed tonight and the quality difference is unreal.
ReplyDeleteMy family's electric motor repair shop in Bismarck, North Dakota is loaded with old Vaco tools. Mostly nut drivers, but also some wrenches, snap ring pliers, T handle Allen wrenches, and others. The tools were distributed by electric motor parts supplier Essex Brownell out of Fort Wayne, IN. There are some old, illustrated catalogs of theirs with Vaco products I can share if I can find them.
ReplyDeleteMy father just recently got a full set of metric nut drivers from Vaco, I had never heard of them before which lead me to this forum. He got them through Kimball Midwest, who only I believe only sells to companies and businesses. Full set from 4mm-11mm (plus 4.5 and 5.5) and SAE set has not arrived yet.
ReplyDeleteI have a Vaco 70008 continuity tester, I can't get it to work, could be I'm not putting it back together correctly or it could be the bulb is bad. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a Vaco manufacturing representative for New England in the fifties until his death in 1966.,I used to travel with him to hardware stores . My favorite was Pills Hardware in Cambridge. At my bar mitzvah we gave out mini screwdrivers with my name on it. Sometime in the early 60’s the owner out of Chicago bought a controlling share of Holiday Inn. He asked my dad to invest but he didn’t because of his illness.
ReplyDeleteJust came acrossed a vaco 70341 4 and 1 Screwdriver.I had no clue it was so old. I mean it looks old but everything is in such good shape you wouldn't believe it was 60 plus years old. I was going to give it to an electrician buddy but i think I'll keep it now. Just goes to show about made in USA tools I also have a 1960s Husky 1/2in break over cs570, that I have put the hurt on and it's still the best break over I've ever owned
ReplyDeleteSteven Pitman
Lead Mech/Shop Mgr
BLUESTREAK AUTOMOTIVE
Claremore, Ok
I have a Blue Screwdriver made by VACO. At first I thought this was vermont American Company but I am super happy I ran across this thread. The part number was VACO 70446. Thanks for all the posts.
ReplyDeleteMy husbands parents worked at Vaco Products in Chicago in the forties. His dad remained with Vaco for 42 years. In 1964 he moved his family to Hillsdale MI and worked at the Jonesville plant until his retirement. We have just about all the tools Vaco made and still use them today. Terminals are still used by my husband in his many projects. Happy to see people know Vaco Products.
ReplyDeleteI purchased a Vaco screw holding screwdriver in the early 70's, it's a joy.
ReplyDeleteIt makes fitting slotted screws in very hard to reach locations easy, even trivial.
Russell
i worked for Vaco from 76 to 86 when Klein bought them. worked downtown Chicago office they moved to northbrook in late 70s i went with.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the history, guys!
ReplyDelete