Vaughan and Bushnell / Dasco Maybe Closing Soon -

[tltt]

.

Just thought I'd post this incase anybody hadn't seen it. They make a few odd patterns of axes/hatchets and hammers, plus some other things, so it maybe time to stock up.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The Dasco plant will be remaining open, I believe, but the V&B plant will be shutting down. Sad, since their half hatchets are some of the best still available.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Damn America's greatest Hammer Manufacturer may be closing after 150 years ?
Damn damn damn that really sucks a big one, if it happens this will mean you won't be able to buy a proper hickory handled hammer at any big box stores.

 

[garry3]

Guess I will go buy a couple Rigging axes to see me though.........

 

[Hickory n steel]

I may have to order another one of these if they have any left.

 

[The Old Dog]

I have an old Vaughan Super Steel single bit that I put a straight handle on, cleaned it up and put a razor edge on it. I keep it in my yamaha viking all spring thru fall for use on the property. I used it to hew a beam a couple years ago, my one and only attempt, and it worked better than I did. Dog

 

[Hickory n steel]

I was doing some tool shopping with HJE today and they had these little 13oz Vaughan/ Grayvik octagonal handle claw hammers for $7.50.


I decided to check the V&B website to see what a regular 1st quality Vaughan example looks like and what they cost , and their website is MIA.
I was hopeful that they might move to the Dasco plant or something, but it looks like they are officially shut down.


This isn't a hammer I'd normally buy because I prefer a rip claw, but I just had to add one to my order.
The octagonal handles are cool, the 13oz size might be handy, and overall it's just a classic design.

For $7.50, you just can't beat that and it may make a great project.
I'm thinking I might pull the head , adress the cosmetic issues, and blue it or something.
I figure I should probably own at least one curved claw hammer, and maybe this is the ideal one to have.


If you're interested, I'd snatch them up while you can.
They've also go the Grayvik / 2nd #10 " little pro " for the same or a little less as well as the English pattern claw hammer , these will make great projects and or gifts for a kid.

 

[LG&M]

It is my understanding another family owned business bought Vaughan and will continue production. I just got a new Vaughan camp hatchet.

Hammers - Masonry Tools - MARSHALLTOWN®

MARSHALLTOWN offers a versatile selection of hammers suited for various masonry tasks. Our Brick Hammers are available in multiple styles and sizes, designed to help you break, trim, and clean the edges of bricks for any masonry project. The QLT Stone Mason's Hammers are perfect for chipping off...

marshalltown.com

 

[Hickory n steel]

It is my understanding another family owned business bought Vaughan and will continue production. I just got a new Vaughan camp hatchet.

Hammers - Masonry Tools - MARSHALLTOWN®

MARSHALLTOWN offers a versatile selection of hammers suited for various masonry tasks. Our Brick Hammers are available in multiple styles and sizes, designed to help you break, trim, and clean the edges of bricks for any masonry project. The QLT Stone Mason's Hammers are perfect for chipping off...

marshalltown.com

sadly it was that failed buyout which lead to the shutdown.

Anything new you've purchased is just existing stock because they were a large plant with very high volume production and countless distributors.

Just after they officially shut down apparently, HJE reports that V&B had fulfilled their previous order placed before and fulfilled their next large order placed just after which they didn't expect to happen.
They must have had tons of inventory left.

 

[LG&M]

I am not sure, The order I placed was delayed because they had not been made yet. The vendor told me about the change in ownership & the problems, I was told the issue was worked out. According to the vendor he is in the same area, has done business directly with them and was getting updated on the manufacturing.
I will call him ,see if I can get anything new. I hope I am correct & they find a way to make it work.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I am not sure, The order I placed was delayed because they had not been made yet. The vendor told me about the change in ownership & the problems, I was told the issue was worked out. According to the vendor he is in the same area, has done business directly with them and was getting updated on the manufacturing.
I will call him ,see if I can get anything new. I hope I am correct & they find a way to make it work.

If it did end up working out somehow that would be great, but the deal that supposedly fell through was in March or May and their website is currently MIA which is a bad sign to me.

 

[rjdankert]

Marshalltown purchases Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing, eliminating threat of closure
Published: May. 15, 2024 at 10:23 AM EDT
https://www.wgem.com/2024/05/15/marshalltown-purchases-vaughan-bushnell/


Bob

 

[Hickory n steel]

Marshalltown purchases Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing, eliminating threat of closure
Published: May. 15, 2024 at 10:23 AM EDT
https://www.wgem.com/2024/05/15/marshalltown-purchases-vaughan-bushnell/


Bob

So they backed out then decided to go through with the acquisition after all ?

I wonder why their website is MIA ?

 

[Hickory n steel]

I trust HJE to know, and here is the word.

I guess marshaltown dropped out realizing that they could buy them cheaper from the bank.
The word is they probably won't keep the Vaughan name, and it that could explain why the Vaughan website is MIA.

 

[rjdankert]

https://marshalltown.com/search?q=vaughan


Bob

 

[Hickory n steel]

https://marshalltown.com/search?q=vaughan


Bob

Thanks, I'm glad I can still find the entire lineup available in one place.

Now we have to wait and see whether they're just using the name that already on these existing tools, or if they're actually going to keep it.
It would make sense for both parties involved to keep the name if the folks at V&B still have it or Marshalltown acquired it with their purchase.

I sure hope the bank didn't get the name that would likely sell to some Chinese based / Chinese outsourcing company.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Thanks, I'm glad I can still find the entire lineup available in one place.

Now we have to wait and see whether they're just using the name that already on these existing tools, or if they're actually going to keep it.
It would make sense for both parties involved to keep the name if the folks at V&B still have it or Marshalltown acquired it with their purchase.

I sure hope the bank didn't get the name that would likely sell to some Chinese based / Chinese outsourcing company.

One of the articles/videos mentioned that they plan on keeping the name, I believe.

 

[Hickory n steel]

One of the articles/videos mentioned that they plan on keeping the name, I believe.

More great news.

Hopefully they do nothing more than replace the V&B manufacturing with MARSHALLTOWN on the barcode label.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

Some of Vaughan tools were made in China. I hope Marshalltown can keep existing production in USA. If not, they should market them as Marshmallow brand of axes

 

[Hickory n steel]

Some of Vaughan tools were made in China. I hope Marshalltown can keep existing production in USA. If not, they should market them as Marshmallow brand of axes

I think the imported axes all came from India, then for China there were some titanium hammer heads or something from the Dalluge line ?
Then they had some rawhide mallets and stuff like that coming from England.