[Fot] Harbor Freight

[TeriAnn J. Wakeman]

On 1/7/13 10:29 PM, Bill Tobin wrote:
> Funny how "China Freight" always uses cutesy names for their stuff: US 
> General, Chicago Hydraulics, etc.
After WWII and well into the 1960's Japanese products for export to the 
US followed the same strategy. Provide a name that Americans would be 
comfortable with that would give the impression of quality and reliability.

Growing up my first sewing machine was made in Japan and carried the 
brand name "Stradivarius" .

My first tools were acquired on an as needed basis one at a time as I 
needed to get something done when I could not afford a pro to perform 
the task.  I would go to a shop.  They would diagnose the problem and 
give me an estimate I could not afford.  I would then go to the library 
and read everything I could find about that part  of a car.  Then I 
would go to the parts store and purchase the part. Then I would give it 
a go. Usually the process would look more like a keystone comedy skit 
from the Lucille Ball show with me accidentally taking off wrong parts, 
breaking things because I didn't know how to use a tool properly or 
taking off too many parts.  I once or twice had a spark plug launch 
itself off the engine whilst driving down a road because I didn't get it 
on tight enough. And of course by the time I stopped work on a project I 
had more grease and grime on me than the vehicle had on it.

At first a car project would usually include multiple trips to purchase 
a tool I did not have but perceived I needed for the next step of the 
project.  My first breaker bar, short extension and spark plug socket 
carried the brand name "J.C. Penny".  Yes Penny's used to sell tools 
that carried their name.

TeriAnn
If I'd had enough money back then to pay a mechanic I would never have 
learned how to turn a wrench.