Vaco Tools - Company History & Lore

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.

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

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

Trademarks:
https://www.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
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Index_of_Trademarks_Issued_from_the_Unit/V1Jp_WcjhdUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=vaco+tools&pg=PA577&printsec=frontcover
https://www.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
https://books.google.com/books?id=zIbhAAAAMAAJ&q=vaco+products

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

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

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

Moar Amp vs Vaco - History of Lynn Merger
https://www.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:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US2560318A

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

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

Raymond Silverstien President 1983
https://www.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:
https://books.google.com/books?id=4rcSAQAAMAAJ&q=Vaco+Silverstein&dq=Vaco+Silverstein

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

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

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

Klein moves to Texas 2012:
https://www.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