Found out last week my stretch-in tool was from 1986

I was cleaning out my van and found the date stamp on my old Roberts stretch-in tool. Looked it up online and it was made in 1986. That thing has outlasted three of my knee kickers and I've used it on over 200 jobs. I've been blaming my bad seams on new tools when this antique was doing just fine. Anyone else got a tool that's older than they are and still works better?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler_kim2d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, 1986? You sure that's not the patent date or something? Those Roberts tools didn't start getting date stamps until the early 90s from what I remember. I mean, I've got an old Roberts bar from my dad's shop and I thought it was from the 80s too, but the stamp was actually a model number. Either way, you're totally right about old tools being better. I swear they just don't make metal the same way anymore. My 1993 power stretcher is still going strong while my buddy's new one already has a crack in the handle.

patriciamoore2d ago

Honestly I used to think that whole "they don't make em like they used to" thing was just old guys being nostalgic, lol. But then I picked up an old Roberts stretch bar at a garage sale for five bucks, didn't even know what year it was. I took it apart to clean it up and there was a tiny stamp on the inside of the metal frame that said "84". I've got a 2020 model from the same company sitting in my truck right now and the metal on the old one is noticeably thicker, like the gauge is way heavier. The handle on the old one has maybe a little surface rust but zero cracks, while my newer one has a hairline fracture starting near the adjustment pin. I don't know what changed in manufacturing but it's hard to argue with holding both in your hands at the same time, you know? So yeah, I'm fully converted now lol, you can't fake that kind of difference.