Author Topic: A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory  (Read 5886 times)

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Offline dimwittedmoose51

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A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory
« on: July 20, 2011, 11:02:09 PM »
I was riding along with my wife and daughter to Clarinda Iowa as the daughter had some internship research to do on German POW camps in Iowa during WWII.  While they were at the Page Co. historical museum, I drove around town looking for consignment shops and just missed an auction at "Antique John's"  the night before.  While driving around I stumbled upon Lisle Manufacturing and it downed on me that Lisle tools were still made in the USA and right here 4 hours SW of our house in Clarinda.  I stopped in the lobby and  one of the higher ups greeted me.  He apologized for not being able to give me a tour of the factory due to them being in the middle of changing shifts and I was okay with that.  He did show me some new automotive specialty tools they're working on and gave me a current catalog, but the 100 degree heat made my brain foggy and I forgot to ask if they had a "museum,"of the sold school tools.  Guess I'll have to go back down there another time, likely on a Tuesday night and catch the shade tree auction too.

Most of us that work on cars have a Lisle tool or two in our stash and they've been in business since 1903.  Wish I had more pix of the inside, but these will have to do for now....the operation is spread over several buildings including the one with the 1903 inlaid on the brick facing.
Champion Pawn/Flea Plunderer
Old Tools and Music.....My drugs of choice

Offline Branson

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Re: A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2011, 06:01:27 AM »
Still in business, still in the US.  This makes me want to go out and buy a Lisle tool of some kind. 

Offline bc_z

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Re: A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2011, 12:06:21 PM »
kinda softens the blow on missing the auction - you just never know what is around the next corner!!
bc_z

Offline dimwittedmoose51

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Re: A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2011, 04:37:43 PM »
I will sheepishly admit that the main reason for gong to Clarinda with the ladies was that back in 1970 or 71, I lived in Ames and ran across these hippy-fied folks at the VW dealer.  They had just had a piston burn a hole in it in their 1960 VW Bus driving it up from Texas and the engine repair was way out of their price range, so we cut a deal.  I'd tow the bus up from Clarinda(where it had a $3.61 compression charge that needed to be paid) where it was sitting at the local IH dealer in town.  They didn't have the title with them(and I got a legal one later anyway) to Ames where I was to deliver all the head shop supplies(and Gawd knows how many drugs), tapestries, incense etc. to the local head shop in Campustown. I stuck the money in an envelope and shoved it through the mail slot and proceeded to tow it home on a wondrous Saturday night..  I delivered on my end of the bargain, and about 12 hours later, I slapped a fresh used piston in that sucker and was driving it all the rest of the summer. 

Long story short, I went down to try and find the location of that IH dealer and actually was successful in finding the address, but the IH became Case IH and eventually changed to a John Deere Dealer under new ownership.  Mission accomplished I guess.

I later gave the bus to my roommate, who was over 21, in exchange for him co-signing a bank loan so I could buy this $2100 1963 356B Porsche Coupe.  It took 85 hours a week working at Bill's Gulf Station for $1.85/hr. to make those payments.  I'll answer your first question....YES, I shoulda never let go of EITHER vehicle!!!!

Going to put memory lane back in it's little bitty box now


DM&FS

Champion Pawn/Flea Plunderer
Old Tools and Music.....My drugs of choice

Offline Nolatoolguy

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Re: A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2011, 06:20:22 PM »
Even I have just a few lisle tools. I rember buying the one versus the other one just cause the Lisle brand was made in the USA
And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

Offline dimwittedmoose51

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Re: A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2011, 08:34:44 PM »
Speaking of tool factories just around the corner,  the wife and daughter finished their research tour in Algona today.  Stumbled upon a Snap On Factory in that Northern Iowa town.  Who knew???



DM&FS
Champion Pawn/Flea Plunderer
Old Tools and Music.....My drugs of choice

Offline lbgradwell

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Re: A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2011, 12:58:28 PM »
...back in 1970 or 71, I lived in Ames...

Now there's a coincidence!

I too lived in Ames from 1968 to 1970 or 71. Mind you, I was 3-5 at the time! Still, my earliest memories are from University Village where we lived while my father took his doctorate at Iowa State...

Kijiji King

Offline fflintstone

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Re: A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2011, 12:53:42 AM »
take a longer road trip to the WILDE factory in kansas, still makin tools here!

Offline Ken W.

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Re: A Trip To Lisle Tool Factory
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2011, 09:11:42 PM »
I've always wanted to get a lisle valve seat cutter set.I couldn't afford a new one.I used one in Shop class.You don't see very many of those at garage sales.