Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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In this video we go over the history of the Vaco Products Company.
An underdog tool company that went head-to-head with Xcelite, making products for the early electronics repair industry.
Vaco was brought out by Klein in 1986, and slowly killed off, only to be revived in 2023.

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Old Vaco Catalogs:
archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Vaco+Products+Co.%22

Vaco Patents:
patents.google.com/?assignee=Vaco+Products+Co

Trademarks:
google.com/books/edition/Official_Gazette_of_the_United_States_Pa/8Y-dAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vaco+tools&pg=PA215-IA1&printsec=frontcover
google.com/books/edition/Index_of_Trademarks_Issued_from_the_Unit/V1Jp_WcjhdUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vaco+tools&pg=PA577&printsec=frontcover
google.com/books/edition/Official_Gazette_of_the_United_States_Pa/U_rQAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Tool+Revolution%22

Jonesville Michigan Plant History
books.google.com/books?id=zIbhAAAAMAAJ&q=vaco+products

Silverstein Becomes President 1953:
books.google.com/books?id=LCR_bBxBMm0C&q=Vaco+pettingell&dq=Vaco+pettingell

1957 Bolt cutter ad:
books.google.com/books?id=Ci0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA232

Amp vs Vaco court case:
google.com/books/edition/AMP_Incorporated_V_VACO_Products_Co/AU7Uly6aFEYC
google.com/books/edition/AMP_Incorporated_V_VACO_Products_Co/Iagdwj9_WqoC

Moar Amp vs Vaco - History of Lynn Merger
google.com/books/edition/AMP_Incorporated_V_VACO_Products_Co/QVz8_c6yXroC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Vaco+Silverstein&pg=RA1-PA43&printsec=frontcover

AMP Industries Bolt Cutter Patent 1948:
patents.google.com/patent/US2560318A

Vaco Bolt Cutter Patent 1960:
patents.google.com/patent/US3089241A

1969 "Tool Revolution" ad (Blue Painted Lady)
google.com/books/edition/The_Industry_Leader/TZT7Q5C3T2UC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vaco+tool+revolution&pg=RA6-PA128&printsec=frontcover

1970 S.D. Pollack Pres, Raymond Silverstein VP, Harry COB.
books.google.com/books?id=GFWyo6wGVXIC&q=Vaco+Silverstein&dq=Vaco+Silverstein

Raymond Silverstien President 1983
google.com/books/edition/USITC_Publication/brAwAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Vaco+Silverstein&pg=RA12-PP8&printsec=frontcover

Klein claims no changes after buyout 1986:
books.google.com/books?id=4rcSAQAAMAAJ&q=Vaco+Silverstein&dq=Vaco+Silverstein

Union Issues 1988:
google.com/books/edition/Labor_Arbitration_Awards/tA1aAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=vaco+tools&dq=vaco+tools&printsec=frontcover

Jonesville plant strike 2006?
antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=202805&hilit=Xcelite+Vaco&sid=a1c18fb05c41754588ba393a00946a0f

Jonesville plant closed 2008:
fox47news.com/neighborhoods/jackson-hillsdale/jonesville-officials-want-to-redevelop-the-former-klein-tool-manufacturing-plant

Klein moves to Texas 2012:
nbcchicago.com/news/local/klein-tools-inc-closing-2-locations/1917093

Chapters:
00:00 Parody Intro
00:28 The Beginnings
01:25 Vaco Trademarks & Innovations
03:04 AMP v Vaco Lawsuit
04:00 The "Tool Revolution"
04:53 Klein Buyout & Union Issues
05:37 Resurrection?
06:53 Outro