2 weeks ago, Adam wrote in with some concerning questions about Pony and Jorgensen, both well-known clamp brands. I did some searching, and could not find a good answer to his questions.
Adam asked:
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Did the Pony vise and clamp company just go out of business?
What will that mean for the lifetime warranties on their products?
(Thank you Adam, for the questions and news!)
A Google image search will show you a great deal of what Pony offered, and you could see the same for Jorgensen. I am rather fond of Jorgensen’s gear clamps, shown above.
The other day, Easy Wood Tools, a company that was acquired by Pony Tools less than a year ago, shared on Facebook an email they sent to subscribers. The email is dated May 26th, 2016.
I am writing to inform you that on May 19, 2016, Adjustable Clamp Company d/b/a Pony Tools Inc. informed its Chicago employees that it was suspending operations in Chicago effective immediately. While this step was necessary due to issues unique to the Chicago business, the Company’s Easy Wood Tools division remains open and continues to operate its business. It is our hope that there will be minimal, if any, disruption to the business of Easy Wood Tools. This suspension of operations in Chicago has not affected our ability to fill Easy Wood Tools orders.
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The company is looking at all options in order to enable Easy Wood Tools to continue to operate. We are hopeful that you will continue to support Easy Wood Tools during this transition and we appreciate your past support. We will put forth our best efforts to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Douglas Holman, President
I don’t know what this means. When news like this breaks, email inboxes become overburdened. I doubt that we will learn anything useful from the sales department, or what has become of it, but I’ve sent an email asking for an official comment.
Update: Nobody ever got back to me.
Does it mean that Pony and Jorgensen are no more? That’s certainly the sound of things.
What would this mean in regard to tool warranties? From what I can tell, cherish the tools you have, and replace them with another brand if they wear or fail. One of my Jorgensen clamps recently broke apart unexpectedly, and I’m 99% sure that I’m out of luck.
Why did this happen? There’s only one thing I could think of, and that’s how big box stores have cemented relationships with Dewalt and Irwin in recent months and years, leaving little to no room for Pony brands’ clamps. When is the last time you saw Pony clamps at a brick and mortar store?
Update: Commenters mentioned seeing Pony and Jorgensen products at their Home Depot stores. I think I remember seeing some Pony spring clamps at mine, maybe pipe clamps too, but the majority of clamps there are Dewalt with certain Bessey clamps mixed in. At Lowes, Irwin dominates the clamp rack.
Maybe there are other factors at play – we’ve seen internal issues bring down major tool brands before.
While surprised and a little disappointed at this news, I find myself thinking about the last time I considered buying a Pony Tools product. It was a few years ago, and I was shopping for a pair of pipe clamps. I ultimately bought a Rockler set, instead of Pony clamps.
As for Jorgensen, I love my gear clamps, but for parallel clamps I favor Bessey, with Jet as a potential second choice. They also make fine wood hand clamps.
When is the last time you bought or considered buying any Pony or Jorgensen clamps?
Still, I hope something can be done to keep the brands and their products alive.
If you know anything more about the situation, please let us know!
Noah
My Home Depots here in Chicago still had full stock of Pony and Jorgensen products as of this weekend.
This is a shame. All the carpenters at my shop are really bumming. everyone. I know uses their pipe clamps. I guess there just isn’t room for good, American made clamps in the general market anymore.
Aaron
I work for EWT, we are for auction 8/17/16
Stuart
Good luck!
For those that don’t know, Easy Wood Tools makes some nice stuff http://www.easywoodtools.com/ .
Aaron
it’s been an uphill battle. pony tools about put us under.
Aaron
high ridge partners are handling things at the moment for the sale
Bruce Erdman
Pony clamps weren’t made in america for many years. They were assembled in america with foreign made parts.
fred
I commented s bit about this in response to others comments under your Post titled:
Misc. Tool News , Early June 2016 Edition
As you say there is scarce information available on the Internet – I posted the only link I could find. There is some speculation that labor costs in Chicago may be a contributing factor – or that this means the company is looking for a buyer.
Meanwhile – also as you point out there seems to be old stock available for sale – and I mentioned that I had just bought some USA-made 18 inch handscrews – about 2 weeks ago before I had even heard of all of this.
Rob
That full Jorgensen/Pony stock at our local Home Depot is all Made in China.
I don’t have any concrete information, but they were obviously getting hammered with pressure to increase margins.
Drew M
I’ve had a bunch of Jorgensen “HD” bar clamps on my shopping list for a while but most recently I ended up getting some StrongHandTools welding clamps since they could do double duty.
Either way, I hope the company survives.
Jon B
Menards stores stock a pretty good selection of Pony/Jorgy clamps. All my parallel clamps are US made Jorgy’s I pick up a few at a time during their Made in the USA sales.
Maybe a year or more ago the style changed slightly and they appeared to be made in China. Nothing was stamped on the bar or on the tag stating COO, but it also no longer had Made in USA stamped on the bar.
Bruce Erdman
Not any more. Irwin now.
james
I work for a smaller tool store that carries Pony and Jorgenson. About a week ago we received a press release the Pony Tool and Adjustable clamp company is shutting its doors for good. The release didn’t say anything about warranty going forward, but they are done.
Adam
At least as of yesterday, the Ace Hardware inventory system didn’t list them as discontinued. Maybe Ace still has a source for stock for the moment.
Lee Hopkins
The Chicago closing is due to the over burden of taxes and employee wages in the state of Illinois and Chicago.
What this means for the tools i am not sure.
Mike
Evidence?
BonPacific
I’ve mostly got Jorgensen clamps in my shop, both the F-style and Cabinet-master line. I can’t say that they were any better made than the couple Besseys in the rack though. I got most through Craigslist and inheriting my grandfather’s shop.
The thing is, F-clamps seem to have been replaced by quick-clamps and parallel clamps for most jobs. Bessey and JET have better reviewed Parallel clamps, and Jorgensen has never competed well in quick clamps. I actually have a pair of their EZ-Hold II’s, which are very strangely engineered.
I don’t think Jorgensen has been competitive in their offerings for awhile, and without retail space nation-wide, well the wriitng was on the wall. In my area Lowes carries Irwin, HD carries Bessey and Dewalt, and Rockler carries Bessey, Irwin, and JET.
fred
I think that the Adjustable Clamp Company (later changed their name to Pony) once dominated the US market for woodworking clamps Their wood handscrews and orange pipe clamps were ubiquitous. The did some innovating. Clamps like their Kerf Keeper, Cabinet Claw , Euro Cabinet Claw, Casework Claw, Spring Edging clamps and Board Boss – I think, were first of a kind tools. But they missed out being first with parallel jaw clamps – and probably lost lots of sales to Bessey while the Bessey patents remained in effect. Meanwhile – Bessey probably gained ground – and other added innovations, like feet, to their pipe clamps. I guess making commodity goods in Chicago and competing is tough – still sad to see them go. Well – there is always Dubuque Clampworks left – down in Iowa
https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/dept/CDC
Joe S.
Hate to be bearer of bad news, but everything is moving to China.
Just left Sears, 1-2 customers on each floor.
Rest of the mall dead.
Sign of things to come.
fred
While I am not part of the target audience for the malls – being too old – I’m not sure that some of them know who is. I see some that have recreated themselves as fun destinations with entertainment and dining as part of the reason to visit. The high end ones near me also seem to be doing OK – but anything smacking of middle-of-the-road looks to be dying. The Internet seems to be on a relentless path towards replacing much of what once was bricks and mortar shopping. The new Neiman Marcus, and Nordstroms at our local mall – may be doing OK – but the JC Penny seems to be dying – and the Macy’s just hanging on. I surmise that Sears with their stand-alone stores – can no longer generate enough traffic in some locations to cover overheads – so that’s why they are closing stores. Our local Prada, Fendi and Ferragamo stores may not be packed – but they seem to do well – because they survive on mark-up and high profit margins and don’t exactly compete with the likes of Walmart and Harbor Freight.
Brian
you see more and more “outside malls”. which are basically upscale shopping centers that are more designed for strolling, but can also be quickly visited for a specific store. They might have 1 or 2 larger stores, typically a belk or home goods type store rather than a macys.
I like them alot more than a mall as I can choose to park right in front of my destination and be in and out, or I can visit several stores and enjoy a meal. Rather than a mall where you roll the dice on what entrance will not put you 2 miles from your desired store in the mall…
KokoTheTalkingApe
Grim news, even if their clamps weren’t always the latest and greatest.
BikerDad
I bought a pair of 18″ Cabinet Masters a little over a month ago, and I have about a dozen assorted ISD clamps. I’ve always found the ISD clamps to be more comfortable to use than the same sized Quick Grips, but the lack of a “mini-ISD” hurt Pony a LOT. Also, the ISD clamps aren’t as reliable in “springing back” when squeezing the handle to tighten them.
About 8 years ago I bought a bunch of the simple “C-clamp” style edge clamps, very happy with them. And the first large clamps I ever bought was a set of 8 Pony pipe clamps which I still have and occasionally use.
Last year I bought some Jorgie handscrews from Epstien, very happy with both the clamps and HJE. For those who don’t have any handscrew clamps, get some, they are able to do some things that no bar clamp can do….
fred
And — handscrews are easily modified (vut a shallow V-notch in the jaws) to become workholders for round or irregular shaped stock.
Brian
well, Im part of the problem I guess… my clamps all came from HF.
Clamps are expensive! and I cant quite figure the difference between them.
BonPacific
Harbor freight clamps will last months (sometimes 18) while other brands will last years. I’ve had some HF clamps, and I threw them all out eventually.
Check craigslist, I got 4 cabinet master’s for $60. It can take some patience, but clamps show up often enough. If your lucky you’ll find someone retiring their shop and you can grab the whole clamp rack.
Jim Felt
I ordered, mostly for nostalgic reasons, several “Made in USA” marked Ponys yesterday on Amazon. Or the day before? And a bunch of tip protectors.
Regardless. I use a ton of A Clamps both at work and on my model railroad(s).
And I agree HF is a throw away knockoff. Great for kids to take on camping and field trips though.
Pablo
I have about 10 cabinet masters, I should’ve spent that money on Bessey K-Body REVOs.
Made in USA is what drew me to the cabinet masters, but I learned quickly that the product is inferior to Besseys. Sad to see the jobs go, but they were on cruise control and failed to come up with anything good for a while.
Dirck Van Lieu
I’ve got dozens of Jorgensen screw clamps at home and in the shop and have been adding with regularity. No more, I guess. If they break, (never happened yet) I’ll have to adapt. Disappointing.
Vaheh
It’s always amusing hearing conjecture being passed off as gospel when armchair economists speak up. Also got a good lol @ concern for warranty thanks for that I still can’t stop laughing lmao.
MichaelHammer
Love the gear clamps too. As a carpenter in the field, they are indispensable. I once used them to clamp staging to a standing-seam metal roof. BTW Jet is waaaay better than Bessey. Bessey sucks. Have a shop full of them and many years of blood blisters.
Pony
The demise had Nothing to do with products being outsourced, it’s definitely an internal thing that caused the demise. I know first hand (laid off employee) Our products were in high demand until the end, we just weren’t able to meet the demand due to “mismanagement of funds” on behalf of pompous, “management” who never held a frigging clamp a day of their lives! Sad how a company that survived the Great Depression wasn’t able to survive technological changes and arrogant “managers”!
Pony
Oh, yeah there was only a 1 year warranty on all products.. Sorry to be the bearer of such tragic news..
Michelle0725
I went for a job interview there last fall.. I guess I’m lucky didn’t get the job. Too bad, feel so bad for everyone.
Riverrat
I switched to Dubuque Clamp Works bout year ago..they are a heavy duty but lightweight bar clamp that don’t leave black marks on yer work piece…I also have several handscrew and cam clamp assortments, very high quality. .they are available at woodcraft, woodworkers supply lie niesen, Carr lane etc.. look em up you won’t regret buying them!
Rich M
In April of this year I ordered a Jorgensen quick release woodworking vice from Acme Tools, it wasn’t shipped. I suspected why and now, thanks to this website, I know why.
What irritates me is that so many other websites for woodworking tools were still displaying the ad for this vice plus a very small “N/A”. This draws a lot of internet search traffic to their websites under some what false pretenses.
I’m retired and wanted to pickup woodworking as a hobby using mainly hand tools. Does anyone have any experience with ordering tools from Dictum? I wouldn’t mind buying tools imported from, i.e. made in, Canada, UK, most of the EU, but the shipping cost are just too much for me.
Marco
Dictum was a Pony Tools distributor so chances are the availability situation will mirror what you experienced with Acme
Mark
Go Bessey Clamps!
Stuart
What a disgraceful way to promote Bessey tools. Shame on you.
That’s a sure way to make sure I never want to work with you or Bessey.
Michelle0725
So those poor people out of a job then. I actually went for an interview there a year ago. Glad I didn’t get the job.
barco
sad news i worked there for 9 years
barco
i went to chicago on august and place was closed.
Mark
Pony/Jorgensen clamps are being rolled into company called Great Star, in the US better know as Great Neck. Great Star is a huge Chinese mfg that produces a lot of tools you love and hate. Goldblatt, Great Neck, Mayes Bros, Shefield, also a bunch of stuff for private label. Blue Hawk, Kobalt, etc.
They have also recently acquired Arrow Fastener and in time all of the products will be shipping from a single location into retail and distribution channels.
Bruce Erdman
Once I learned of Pony”s closing, I immediately sold all my pony pipe clamps except the ones with “made in usa” cast into the casting. I replaced them with Bessy pipe clamps.
Jason E.
Little late on this but just figured I stumbled onto it so someone else might to. But Lowes in Williamsburg Va still sells Pony vise and clamps of all kinds. They recently switched from mostly Irwin to all Pony.