The L.S. Starrett Company Factory Tour Part 1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 เม.ย. 2024
- We were invited up to Athol, Massachusetts to be given a personal tour of the @lsstarretttools factory and see where and how all of their tools are made! This was very exciting and extensive tour of their facility, one that spanned two whole days. We'll have three videos of the tour to help break up the length of each. In this video, Part 1, we'll get to take a look at the Toolroom. micrometer assembly, rules, surface grinding and No. 120 dial calipers.
The Starrett factory is so large and vast that it's difficult to show everything going on in each department but what I can say is that they have over 500 employees working each day to build high quality precision tools that we have all come to love and use! Follow along as we take a closer look inside the factory! #starrett #toolmaker #precisiontools
www.starrett.com
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Im a retired engineer 44 years in big auto world wide still have my Starrett 6" rule, micrometers, vernier calipers, scribers, square the list goes on. Those tools were hellish expensive on a 16 years olds wages but wow still using them now in my home workshop, now thats value. So good to see how our favourite tools are made after 50 years of using them, brilliant video thank you.
Definitely, I cringe at the prices sometimes but they're worth it cause if taken care of will out live you and are something that we take pride in and can pass down will be just as accurate and elegant as the day you bought it, you definitely do get what you pay for and with tools made of the highest standards you only buy them once! They're an investment!
Good quality tools last, I can’t remember if it was Rolls Royce or Bentley but one of them said “long after the price is forgotten the quality remains”.
I ended up picking up an old pair of Mitutoyo dial calipers and doing a deep dive into their logo history I found that they were made 1962-65 and still work great.
Wow, what awesome company. What America used to be, and needs to bring back.
The L.S. Starrett plant is about a mile from my childhood home. My dad worked for them for 53 year.
Spent my career in the hydroelectric industry here in Northern Ontario. Starrett was vital to the precision required in our industry.
Love. My 120.
Thanks Adam.
I am aware of the tremendous history of fine tools that Starret makes.
They are the bench mark for quality,,, Recently I purchased some new tools to add to my collection.
There was a small problem with one tool.
Starret customer service went above and beyond, to fix this small issue.
Incredible service, but that’s what I expected, but I need to tell everyone,,
Starret always was and still is a first class tool company.
The price, the quality,the customer service, the selection of tools,,,, absolutely without peers.
There’s a reason Starrett is number one.
Shout out to Debbie! You’re the best. Thanks for keeping the quality high out there, Starrett.
A big thumbs up Adam. I love Starrett stuff even if I can't always afford it. I hadn't been there but having spent several years in New England I knew exactly what the building would look like and that it would be next to a river with a water fall. The old machines were run with water power. Those old mill buildings had big windows to let the natural light in. I love seeing all those tools getting made. I can't wait for part 2.
As a tool and die maker / machinist with over 40 years of experience and having gone through buyouts and new owners with several companies, I encourage all employees to watch closely for any changes to the process of the parts they are making. No matter what story they give you, if your position or job is changed, or you suddenly don't see as much work on the floor as normal, you are witnessing work being farmed out.
Once any company is sold, like Starrett was 6 weeks ago at a 63% premium over the stock price, and turning it over to a private investment firm, major changes are about to occur. Whether it be processes farmed out to another company at a cheaper price, or parts to be made completely overseas, history and known business tactics related to any buyout of a manufacturing company in America tells us that this will likely result in many of these employees losing their job. You don't pay that much money for a company and not expect a quick ROI. Believe it or not, the white-collar workers are more at risk of losing their jobs because making parts requires experience. I truly wish the best for all the employees.
I agree, these are indicators of what is to come down the pipe. Beware, not ignorant.
I was so incredibly disappointed in the starrett calipers we use at work, that we cleaned our facility out of starrett calipers and bought about $15,000 worth of mits calipers. The starrett calipers are now junk.
@@Seveneleven44 Explain why. Calling something Junk is nothing but verbal garbage. Explain why you said that.
The tour guide mentioned "Lean manufacturing " numerous times. Once they start with that propaganda it's the beginning of the end. I wish the hard working folks in this video nothing but the best.
there's nothing like the quality of Starrett tools that you can see and feel with an experienced toolmaker or machinist! Thanks for sharing your joy of the tour.
My favorite. I’ve had mine well over 40 years. Toolmaker/Engineer.
This is where quality starts. Without toolmakers like this we'd all be in big trouble! Thanks for sharing this.
The Mass accents in this video are like a family reunion for me.
You can see how proud and contentiously the workers go about their work. It shows in the products. America was built from these products and like everyone watching this video, I also hope Starrett stays around for another 140 years producing the same high quality for talented American workers to keep this country going.
Starret just got a priceless free U tube 40 minute best in class presentation. Thanks Adam and looking forward on the jobs at the new shop.
One thing I noticed was how well kept the building has been over the years. Nice paint, clean rooms and so on.... :-)
This is totally amazing and great. I really like the American flags so prominently displayed. Good job Abom!
Crazy how much weight must be on that level of the building. Good good stuff!
What a magnificent factory
Amazing coverage of a genuine American icon. People don't realize how much of their lives is reliant on the work done by the people at this company. Thank you Abom!
That caliper lady was cute. What a wholesome lady. Wish her the best
Man that's awesome!
I worked in Metrology as a calibration tech in the Marines and for Lockheed for many decades and have calibrated and/or used thousands of Starrett tools. I need to take a tour like that one day. Thanks for showing us this!
Aside, my great-great-etc-grandfather was Governor of New Hampshire, John Page, and is from Haverhill, NH, only a few hours from Athol, MA. He died only 15 years before Starrett started. Small world.
Confirmation that the one who didn't want to be on TV, and acted in disbelief when told that we'd love her - yes ma'am, we do! Thanks for your hard work in Bea part of American manufacturing!!
I have a few Starrett tools for my woodworking shop here in NYC. Great tour Adam.
I just love the old brick factory with all the old manual machines still in use. It makes me nostalgic for a time before I even existed. I'll have to make sure my next caliper is a Starret.
Great opportunity. Thanks for sharing. Love to see those old industrial buildings. Such character.
Kinda leaves ya speechless. American craftmanship at it's finest. Thanks you two
what an amazing experience that must of been good old school and modern manufacturing at its best.
If I need a tool and Starrett makes it, I always go with them. Their tools have never let me down.
Very interesting video of how factories used to look. I can't believe that this company is making a profit - we saw 1000 machines and 10 employees working!
Can't imagine the workshop smell in here. Love that.
As always, an A+++ from the Abom Team! Fantastic to see you two go through all of this and present it too us the way you do. Congratulations on all your accomplishments Adam.
Guy's, Mr. Starrett and his office people at the very beginning of Adam's presentation laughingly said it all, said it all! Starrett's hand crafted and quality made tools are made to last forever .....but the few today, who are even thinking about entering into ANY profession where precision tools are used, can afford Starrett's prices today as compared to other brands today!
Hope the private equity firm that bought the company keeps the company alive!!!
That announcement was sticking a fork in it. The name will live on but not the local manufacturing.
You will hope in vain. They bought a brand. They will milk it for profit and strip it for parts. Its the entire model.
Back in 1968 I was in 8th grade and took some what of the same tour. The machines back then were even older. No CNC or lasers. The thing I remember the most about the visit was the use of light to calibrate the solid steel squares. Very similar to what they still use on the scale production. Great Vid.
Did a little background check of L.S. Starrett Company. Turns out it was just recently (march 2024) SOLD to a private company "MiddleGround Capital" that says the following about themselves: "We partner and align ourselves with management teams to execute a customized value creation program that drives equity value back to our investors as well as management". What I read from that statement is: CHINA here we come, make room for all our production facilities to maximize profit to us in a transition phase where customers still think they are getting US made quality tools while we charge the full price until they realize the product is made from tinfoil in China and the company plummets.
Having worked as a "manual machinist" in companies for the last decades, the idea that ANYONE is actually producing precision equipment--let alone, tools--is a misnomer. Consumers WANT to believe, but it is a long lost history. I've come to realize that China makes better, more accurate, reliable tools if they are given that task. The USA? We make mostly garbage, and it is not the fault of the employees. It is the business culture... hence, "sold to an equity company." I recently bought three items of Starrett origin. One needed sending back for service, the other was missing an item. I have little faith; although, I wish it weren't so...
I mean, I know that's the fear, but it looks like MiddleGround is acquiring US and European companies to keep them where they are, and separating them from Wall Street. Can't have investors pushing a race to the bottom to meet quarterly earnings expectations if you're not a publicly traded company. As best as I can tell, they haven't yet saddled a company with the debt that was used to acquire it and then liquidate it. On the flip side, I could certainly see them moving the factory somewhere else and then converting the factory into apartments.
If I'm right about the purpose of the company, though, look forward to them buying a US-based semiconductor company or two in the future.
Hey Adam, while you are that far North; you should check out the American Precision Museum in Windsor Vermont. the building is the Old Robbins & Lawrence Factory from 1846. IT's COOL! The first place that in the U.S.A. where a factory used precision interchangeable parts.
They have a C-Head Bridgeport in there from 1937 i think
@@RMRockstarthey also have Bridgeport serial# 1 there as well
from Australia. dont have many Starrett tools but what I do I like a lot. Thanks Abom AAA+
Great video very tidy and clean we also have Starrett here in Scotland been here since the 1950s I think
Great video Adam . It's great to see you proudly showing your grandfathers and fathers mics. Cheers mate from Australia 🇦🇺
I'm only 12 minutes in, but that would be an amazing place to work in!
I finally got to finish watching. WOW, what a feeling you must have had to not only invited, but welcomed.
FASCINATING. Love to see how things are made. Something you will always remember.
Would love to visit there myself someday. What a privilege.
Last look before the private equity firm drives it into the ground and sells it for parts?
They were just sold to an investment group. That usually is not a good sign, hopefully they don't go downhill and start offshoring more production.
Pretty much: they went private with the help of an investor, and it’s being sold as a move to be free of restrictions that come with being listed on the stock market. Sounds fishy, of course. My guess is that there will be a new line of affordable tools, i.e. crap, and the price for the good stuff will go up even further.
The current portfolio of that investment company (MiddleGround Capital) doesn't read to me as if they have a history of cheaping out on their investments, but I could certainly be wrong.
My dad was making aircraft deicing pumps during WWII. He later trained and worked as an aircraft mechanic in the army. Ended his working career managing precision sheet metal manufacturing. Most of the tools I inherited from him are Starrett.
@@wbfaulk I don’t think the goal is to break the company up and sell the divisions for profit, but for a huge investment to make sense otherwise, they will probably require growth, and achieving growth will be difficult without exploiting the brand name somehow.
They already sell a carpenter’s square for 10 bucks that isn’t right: I once checked a few against each other in the store: oh boy. It’s dangerous to put your stellar reputation on the line like that.
@@mm9773 The Starrett privatization was announced a month ago and hasn't even taken effect yet (the stock is still traded on the NYSE), and you're blaming a product that's already in stores that you perceive as poor quality on the sale? Personally, I'd argue that public ownership is more likely to drive them to make a quick buck than private ownership, and may be why they decided to go private. The company was taken private for $122 million. That doesn't feel like a huge investment from an investment company, and it feels like Starrett can make that back in profits pretty quickly.
What I'm saying is that I feel like this move is actually positive for Starrett continuing to make high-quality tools. I realize that goes against the grain of "corporate investment group bad", but not all of them are corporate raiders. I could definitely be wrong, but I don't think it makes sense to write off Starrett yet.
This is just great! Wonderful American manufacturing....a dying breed.
This was a terrific episode. Thank you for taking us there. I have so many of those same tools. Neat to see the folks make them. Looking forward to part 2.
Thanks for sharing this; it's very enjoyable for me to watch and learn more about Starrett.
Great video,Adam.Thank you.
Videos about tools and toolmaking are my favorites. There is nothing worse than fighting with your tools to get your work done; whatever the price it's worth it to have tools that help and not hinder you.
Great job Debbie and the other workers!
Fantastic tour. I'm from Oz downunder and love the way they still are manually checking and doing the fine adjustments. It's a credit to the Starrett company. Pity these type of manufacturing businesses are slowly dying out.
Starrett do make wonderful tools though.
This is something I could only dream of doing back when I was a machinist. I still have a couple of Starrett scales I bought back in the 70's. Thanks Abom.
Working in the QC department at the Snapper mower MFG plant in McDonough Ga. we used the Starrett tools, loved their tools & it brought back great memories, thanks to you & Starrett for allowing this to be produced!
This is the kind of content I love. Domestic manufacturing with people you can relate too and looking like they love and care about what they do. No matter how small the task it is all a crucial part of the finished product, rightdown to the packaging. It's to bad we can't all afford to have the best of everything all the time but when you can it's sure a treat and we usually take the best of care of it, not because of the cost but the pride in quality and what it represents, usually because of the hard work it took to earn it
I don’t think I’ll be crying about the prices so much anymore
So true! Notice right up front Adam mentions that Starrett reached out to him, so this whole thing is their doing, which means it is a marketing exercise, but it's a good and valid exercise to get some appreciation for what Made In USA should be all about.
Adam what a great video….
What amazes me is that those many levels of floors can hold all of the weight of those big machines !
Abom, you should have taken Mr. Pete with you on that tour.
Glad to see you FINALLY made it!! I toured there 3-4 years ago and found it absolutely FASCINATING!! Beautiful old building.
Incredible! Enjoyed every minute of that! So well put together! Thank you so much for sharing!
Starrett and mitutoyo are the names that I always trust
as ave has said. i appreciate watching over the shoulder of giants. thank you so much Adam for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. i remember watching your stick welding of huge pats and making my welding do much better. thank yo0u so much for helping a crap welder .
Exciting indeed! I've always wanted to see their operations since I was about 12 years old when I saw some of my father's Starrett precision measurement tools. At that age, I simply could not believe the engineering of such things as micrometers that could actually measure two ten thousands of an inch. Thank you Adam!
This is the only guy ever to be happy to visit Athol.
American at its finest!!love it
Fantastic Video. Thank You.
I love STARRETT tools. The quality and function is better than every other brand I've tried. Especially their digital calipers that turn on and off automatically.
Thankyou! Just wonderful!
I live in the Netherlands and bought a Starret scriber. Even that breathes quality. Love it.
Abom is very respectful to the employees as he tours this facility...wish all factory tourists would learn this etiquette...remember, employees have specific duties and need to be completed in specific time parameters, your tour messes with that, and the tour guides rarely visit the floor to understand the issue...also noticed a mostly GENX workforce...
Some younger even, which is encouraging.
This is what every factory in Rhode Island and Mass use to look like, many of them are long gone. These are the tools that helped build America, I'm happy but surprised to see them still in buisness. This place is so clean, so well organized; and they let their guys wear shorts to be comfortable and beat the heat. I wish our government operated like this company...
My first career was as a machinist in the 1970's. All my tools were Starret! When I left that field I gave all my tools to a very good friend that was racing and rebuilding engines. After I retired I decide to get back into hobby machining. I made sure all the tools I gathered were once again Starret. As was said the problem for the company is that the tools they make are indestructible and impervious to wear. Good for the user but no planned obsolescence.
Thanks for the insight of a company that truly "Built America"!!
Adam great video Thanks for sharing
New England is such a great place to live. I love it here in New Hampshire.☘️
Great video! Nice to see craftspeople take pride in their work!
A national teasure. Hope they can get some money with the inflation reduction act and upgrade their factories and employ more americans. Still have my Starrett tape from school in 1991, works great. In 🇮🇪 Ireland btw
I used to be a Browne & Sharpe guy. I love starrett.
I was brown and sharpe until Hexagon bought them. Hexagon messes anything it buys
Excellent video and excellent tools. Thanks Adam AND Abby.
Thanks for making this video Abi and Adam. Brilliant to see all this.
Nice, great work, I love their tools
That's my idea of heaven on earth.
The dream of every machinist to be a little mouse in this factory
Thanks, Adam. Totally amazing tour. You're a kid in a candy store ! 😂
Great video both, thank you for sharing
I guess this factory looks very similar as it did 80 years ago. Wild.
I have been waiting for this tour video! Thank you for such great content
Absolutely great video! Thanx for sharing.
Wow! Adam; what a fantastic tour of the Starrett factory! And another part to come! Great work!
Big Big BIG Respect ABOM !
They make the BEST TOOLS out there.
Well, they USED to.
sure, 30 years ago.
Beatifull Abom ,for my Starrett is the best ,thanks fron Argentina,
Wow! So much history. The old wood tool boxes, wood floors etc...
30 years ago when I finally scraped up enough cash to setup a hobby shop, I only bought Starrett measuring tools. I sometimes doubt my measuring capability, but never theirs.
Great to see this tour. I’ve been a longtime Starrett fan, not because I need that precision, but because if I’m going to use a tool then I like them to feel good and look good and I’ll know they’ll last, and for the few times that I might need that precision, i know it will be there.
Anyway, I enjoyed your front entryway display case reveal. I’m all “Oh oh! I’ve got one of those, and that, oh! and that one, and that one…” Fun!
Great video. Starret instruments are best over the world
This is amazing! So awesome!
Quite the gift you got to have there seeing that place. Awesome.
Fantastic company.
I moved to Western MA in late 2022, and toured the factory in Athol 4 months ago. While I was there, I couldn't help but wonder if you had ever been there or not. Glad you made it.