Starrett Factory Tour!

Come along for a one hour tour of the Starrett factory in Athol, MA where they make everything from calipers to micrometers to levels and more! A big thanks to Starrett for allowing us to film and to our wonderful machinist tour guide and host Bob!

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[gordonmorse]

I got to take the tour yesterday (Bob was wearing the same T-shirt!). I mentioned that my grandfather worked for them (1940-1964) and told them his name. Five minutes later the guy brings out my grandfather's personnel file! It had his original application, rehire application (he was laid off between August 1949 and November 1950 for lack of work), Foreman reviews ("very industrious worker"), etc. He started at 40 cents an hour in 1940 and retired at a whopping $1.99/hour in 1964. They made copies of all his documents for me and gave me his original badge picture! Absolute treasure! Thank you Starrett and Bob!

[lsstarretttools]

Greetings,

We wanted to thank the NYC CNC folks for coming out and taking a tour of our facility. We were happy to have you!

We've been reading the comments on this video and also wanted to thank all of the viewers that have shared their kind words. Starrett has always been proud to be an American Company based out of Athol, Massachusetts.

A common theme that we noticed below is the concern over a lack of skilled workers. One of our major initiatives here at Starrett is education. We are happy to report that in celebration of Manufacturing day, October 6th, we opened our doors to 200 or so students in the region to foster interest and see what opportunities are out there in the manufacturing space. Education is also where the most of our tool donations go, having donated thousands and thousands of dollars worth of tools to helping teach the next generation of workers as well as our returning soldiers that are seeking careers.

Once again, NYC CNC, thanks for the great video and stopping by!

[RexRoach]

This video will become a legend. I actually got tears in my eyes several times just thinking of the impact of this place on America. THANK YOU!!

[toolmaker]

Thank You for this video. I am a tool maker 40 years in the trade. Starrett is the only tool I would own. The quality is outstanding. This country better wake up and realize we are retiring and nobody is replacing us. I am very proud of the special work all the tool makers and machinist can do, this is the real strength of our country it has made us strong, and we are loosing it. May God help us.

[Edwardi]

Starrett is everything I'd hoped a 137 year old precision measuring instrument company would be, picturesque New England town, with a factory that is over 100 years old, that runs off a water wheel, that employs the whole village. It's like a living Norman Rockwell painting, truly an American jewel that is to be cherished.

[kswaynes]

"I have one" said every Starrett tool lover! Left the day to day as a metal patternmaker back in the 80's for modelmaking, then onto mid management. Can still envision the smells and feel the machine handles. My 4 piece Kennedy toolbox still holds all my Starrett tools, waiting for my formal retirement in 2021 at 70.

[denniston]

So I only have one Starrett micrometer, but it's got an incredible story.

One day in 1971 my dad was visiting with his grandfather, Homer, in his grandfather's shop. Homer reached over and took his 1" Starrett micrometer from his set of 1-4" micrometers and gave it to my dad. A few days later, Homer bought a replacement micrometer from his son (my great uncle) to replace the one he gave my dad.

Well, the next month after my dad received that micrometer, my great grandfather died. I'm sure because of the health of his dad, great uncle never cashed the check for that replacement micrometer. Some time later, my great uncle received the micrometer he sold to his dad back from his dad's estate. He then put that uncashed check in the Starrett box with the micrometer.

Years later, after my great uncle passed away, unbeknownst to my dad's cousin, (my great uncle's daughter) she gave that micrometer to my dad. My dad put 2 and 2 together and realized what had happened. This is the story behind the micrometer I have today.

[billybruffy]

My Father was a machinist for 44 years, he passed in 1994 and I inherited all of his tools. I grew up using and cleaning Starrett tools. I still use some that he bought new before I was born. My favorite is the toolmakers hammer that he bought me with my name stamped on it. God bless you and Starrett for this video.

[PowllMorgan]

That Bob guy was awesome. I got the feeling he knew everything worth knowing in that factory.

[ericwolf]

This was an amazing shop tour. Old school American industry. I loved the automatic door closer at 9:05 just a weight, some rope, and a couple of pulleys.

[billmoran]

Awesome tour! I grew up in Springfield, and had family in Athol. Been by that factory many times over the years. For those not familiar with the area, it is no accident that Starrett is located where it is. The surrounding area has been a mecca of American manufacturing going back to the revolutionary war. George Washington founded the first Armory in Springfield, Smith and Wesson is still there, Greenfield MA is home to many tool manufacturers, Rolls Royce automobiles were once built in Springfield, as was Indian Motorcycles, and many more famous manufacturers were located in the pioneer valley.
This video is a priceless look into history.

[timbroderick]

Simply a great video! A Starrett you'll buy once & your great grandchildren will still be using it long after you've turned to dust. Cheap & inexpensive Chinese tools you'll purchase many times & spend more $$$ in the long run. Quality & precision tools save countless hours & make for less mistakes. I'm still using my American made Starrett, Craftsman & Snap-on tools I bought in the mid to late 70's. As an aside; I've had to recover some of those tools from my adult children, LOL. My grandchildren love my Starrett 12" rule.

[dudestuff]

Not only is the factory awesome but the level of understanding Bob has for all the aspects of manufacturing was incredible. I'd go broke if I toured that place, I'd want to buy one of everything. Thanks for the tour.

[ohwingman]

I'm not a machist but i can appreciate what it takes to make and accumulate the tools necessary to do the work required. The one thing though that struck me here was the people. Mostly grey hairs or no hairs like myself who stayed until the last minute before the Christmas holidays, dedicated to their work and doing what they know best for years, in some cases for their entire lives. They are a testament to what can be achieved when people work together and give it their all. Kudos to them wherever they are, for in reality, they are the people who really build nations, not the politians as so many are lead to believe.

[Abom]

Absolutely love it there! Loved the tour of the original machine shop. I will go there and get my own tour one of these days!

[jiminsequim]

I have known the Starrett name ever since the early 1970's when I was a little kid in my dad's pattern shop. Even back then I knew Starrett tools are special. I inherited his tools when he passed and am still adding to the collection. Thank you so much for the tour!

[pupdoggify]

This is absolutely amazing!!! The operator at 24:44 made my day. It's becuase of people like HIM that makes America Great!!!

[margaretshepardson]

My father worked there back in the 1940s and then in 1941 he joined the army with a group of friends that also worked at Starretts. Mr Starrett told them that their jobs would be waiting for them when they got back. My father was shipped to England and spent his time there. When he got back his job was waiting for him. Then in 1962, he got cancer and died in 1966. Mr Starrett presented to my mother the watch for 25 years for working there even though it was just under 25 years. All of my fathers brothers and sister worked at Starretts.

[bikeman]

I actually worked at starretts for 5 years running cnc grinder it's a machinist dream for sure really cool stuff that they can do and a very deep history is awesome.

[timothymallon]

I'm no machinist, but as a woodworker, I do use a lot of measuring tools and I ALWAYS prefer Starrett tools over everyone else. Looking at the poster, I got all happy seeing my depth gauges, combination square, dividers of all types and lengths, micrometers, calipers. It makes me happy to see them still alive and well just a few miles away from me. Now I want to go visit the museum. Thank you guys for the video, and thank you Starrett for allowing a look inside. It makes me so happy to see quality still being alive in the US.