Went to use my ancient #5449 teardrop ratchet the other day and discovered that one of the retaining screws had fallen out. Figured what the hey, let's see what happens and gave their customer service number a call.
Got to speak with about the friendliest girl (to ever have to deal with the public in customer service) who went far out of her way to see if the repair kit they have now would fit my unit.
Asked how much, figuring this is as old as dirt, has to be a charge, she said no charge

To top it off it I had it in NJ from Atlanta the next day ! Now my old partially rounded off gears are brand spanking new as well as a new set of (Loctited in) screws. The only thing that didn't fit was the faceplate that was off by a tiny bit - didn't need it anyway.

She probably felt sorry for you living in Joisey.

I would be insulted if it weren't pretty much true

It's always so nice to run into one of the old school companies.  Adjustable Clamp (Pony and Jorgsensen clamps) is similar.  I picked up one of their deep pipe clamps (see pic) for pretty much free because the fixed jaw had been destroyed by some lout; called them; had a free replacement a few days later.

I had pretty good luck getting springs for Vise-grip Pliers. Even though they have switched to Irwin, the springs still fit the original Petersen Vise-Grip Tools, no charge for the springs. I can't recall, but I may have thrown in a couple bucks for shipping. Now, if I could just remember where I put them....

Quote from: lptools on February 22, 2016, 06:02:12 PM
I had pretty good luck getting springs for Vise-grip Pliers. Even though they have switched to Irwin, the springs still fit the original Petersen Vise-Grip Tools, no charge for the springs. I can't recall, but I may have thrown in a couple bucks for shipping. Now, if I could just remember where I put them....

They'll be in the last place you look, so look there first.

Or just after you give up finding them and purchase more they will turn up out of thin air right in the middle of your work bench.

Quote from: Bill Houghton on February 22, 2016, 09:26:30 PM

Quote from: lptools on February 22, 2016, 06:02:12 PM
I had pretty good luck getting springs for Vise-grip Pliers. Even though they have switched to Irwin, the springs still fit the original Petersen Vise-Grip Tools, no charge for the springs. I can't recall, but I may have thrown in a couple bucks for shipping. Now, if I could just remember where I put them....

They'll be in the last place you look, so look there first.

The problem with that theory is you forget what you're looking for just before you find them and keep looking.

I to have been pleased with proto. Nowadays a majority of my tools are proto an support is great.

I think this thread gave me bad luck or something. Today I was using my proto flex head ratcheting wrench an it broke. The industrial supply guy who's place deals proto comes Monday's to stock our consumable vending machine.

Last time I gave him my tourque wrench and three days later a new one came to work.

Quote from: Nolatoolguy on February 25, 2016, 01:23:58 PM
I think this thread gave me bad luck or something. Today I was using my proto flex head ratcheting wrench an it broke. The industrial supply guy who's place deals proto comes Monday's to stock our consumable vending machine.

Last time I gave him my tourque wrench and three days later a new one came to work.

Congrats Nola 99% correct spelling.

What's a consumables vending machine? 
Explain & post pictures.

Make sure to spell correctly too.

Hello, Aunt Phil. I am going to chime in with a guess about the consumables vending machine. They keep threatening us with one at work. Looks like a candy , or, soda machines, filled with blades, bits, hole saws, electrical tape, etc. Stocked by a company Like Grainger, except guys lower on the food chain , like me, can't buy from one. Our supers & truck drivers have the magic credit card to buy with. Haven't seen it yet, but when it shows up, I will give it a Fonzie kick & see what happens. Regards, Lou

Ours is several large cabinets with drawers. Basically you walk up to it enter your employee number an use your fingerprint. You then select what you want to get. It tells you what drawer an compartment is stocked with the product. You then walk to the drawer an open it as far as you need or it lets you. Some companies set there's to limit what or how many a certain employee can get. My company doesn't limit what we get. Then our local industrial supply gets a weekly report of what to bring an fill it with. When your done with the product you toss it in a drawer or bin whatever it tells you. If it's worn an unusable you toss it in a special garbage bin. If it's still useable you put it in the drawer compartment it tells you.

Some companies keep everything in them from screws to air tools. They can be very controlled or less controlled like ours. It sounds like a pain but honestly I like it. I have access to what I need when I need it. It's there an never runs out. It really benefits our machinist as well. They can get whatever end mill or collet or whatever they need when they need it. It's always in stock. No running around looking for one. It's always in good shape an rarely worn because it's inspected every week. From a company perspective it cuts down on cost.

So, somebody crossbred the tool crib with a hospital ICU drug locker and replaced the tool cage man with a computer.  Bet that computer talks to the time management computer and as soon as some Goob gets the program installed you'll spend 3 hours sitting on the bench at HR waiting to explain why you took #88 tape instead of 33 when you're on an inside job.

More damn money spent on stupid so there is no money to invest in teaching kids like Nola to become mechanics.

Bet your butt there are people behind this with Degrees on their wall that belong on a protractor where they'd accomplish something.  I love telling them boys we built this world they can't manage, without google.