Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: 1930 on January 11, 2015, 05:02:24 AM

Title: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: 1930 on January 11, 2015, 05:02:24 AM
Someone at the shop today told me they saw an in-depth re-search study portrayed on TV that basically uncovered the truth concerning the snap-on blue-point relationship in that Blue-point manufacturing and Snap-On were one in the same.

Any truth?
Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: Papaw on January 11, 2015, 09:45:08 AM
AA has them together- https://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/snapon-bluepoint-tools.html (https://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/snapon-bluepoint-tools.html)

And for more info- http://www.collectingsnapon.com/index.php (http://www.collectingsnapon.com/index.php)
Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: lbgradwell on January 11, 2015, 01:39:07 PM
I'm not quite sure what you're asking, 1930.

Blue Point(s) and Snap-on have been connected since the very beginning, so, in that sense, yes. But the Blue Point brand has long been used to sell a secondary line of tools that are often imported, so if you are asking if they are the same product, no....
Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: Chillylulu on January 11, 2015, 01:51:09 PM
Blue Point is Snap-On.

Up to 1948 or so, all wrenches were BluePoint and socket tools were Snap-On.

Snap-On refers to the way their sockets snapped on to the drive tools, so it makes sense that they reserved that brand name for those tools.

But, marketing ideas change, so they decided at some point to offer some of their wrenches under both names. I think it was much later on that Blue Point became known as their "value" line of tools.

Chilly
Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: 1930 on January 11, 2015, 07:03:28 PM
I'm not quite sure what you're asking, 1930.

Blue Point(s) and Snap-on have been connected since the very beginning, so, in that sense, yes. But the Blue Point brand has long been used to sell a secondary line of tools that are often imported, so if you are asking if they are the same product, no....
In a nutshell it was brought to my attention that Blue-point and Snap are in fact one and the same, that the consumer was paying more for a snap-on tool solely for the brand name. That is all
Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: lbgradwell on January 11, 2015, 07:12:20 PM
Then the answer is no; your shopmate has been misinformed.
Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: Nolatoolguy on January 11, 2015, 08:51:00 PM
Just cause associated does not mean they are the same.

In my experience blue point is usually the cheaper version made overseas.
Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: Lostmind on January 12, 2015, 08:02:49 AM
My experience with Blue Point is that they are rebranded items , marked up and sold by Snap On dealers.
Many are /were KD and lisle tools with the Bluepoint name.
Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: Chillylulu on January 12, 2015, 12:08:05 PM
My experience with Blue Point is that they are rebranded items , marked up and sold by Snap On dealers.
Many are /were KD and lisle tools with the Bluepoint name.

That is my understanding of the modern set-up. Either they are value branded or tools not manufactured by Snap-On. Some add to their line, some are just an alternate with lower quality & cost.

Much of Snap-On brand are the same as JH Williams tools. Snap-on renamed the J. H. Williams Tool Group to Snap-on Industrial Brands in 2011, I think. Bahco and others are in the group, too.

Look at the J.H. Williams tool kit below, do those screwdrivers look familiar?

Chilly


Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: lbgradwell on January 12, 2015, 12:53:09 PM
Much of Snap-On brand are the same as JH Williams tools.

I'm not sure I'd say "much". Apart from the screwdrivers, and maybe a ratchet, I can't think of another example...
Title: Re: Blue-point manufacturers Snap-on
Post by: Chillylulu on January 14, 2015, 04:28:48 PM
You are right. Much should have been "some."

The point is that there is crossover. For all I know the steel could be better in one or the other

Last christmas I got a Snap-On multi-tool / flashlight combo. It was made in China and it cost $20 at Cosco.  I wonder how much they get paid to let someone use their name? I think it lessens the brand.

Chilly