American brand names that are not produced by American manufacturings anymore
Chuck Taylors (Sport Shoes)
The granddaddy of all sneakers, the All-Star entered production in 1917 and took on basketball player and salesman Chuck Taylor’s name in 1923. Countless Americans used the high-top, rubber-soled kicks to establish their cred—from NBA star Julius Erving to the Ramones, Dr. House to Kurt Cobain. But when Nike bought Converse for $305 million in 2003, it moved production of all the company’s shoe lines abroad—even the cherished Chucks.
Fender Stratocaster (Electric Guitar)
Since Buddy Holly started slinging the Strat in 1957, it’s been the most recognizable electric guitar on the market and the ax of choice for guitar heroes like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and John Mayer. If you want the classic Stratocaster, made in California, you’ll have to ante up as much as $600 more than you would for the standard model—now made in Ensenada, Mexico.
Etch A Sketch (Children's Toy)
It still says “Ohio Art” on the frame, but the magnetic drawing toy isn’t made in the Buckeye State—or any other state, for that matter. After 40 years, Ohio Art Co. shut down domestic production in 2000, seeking labor cheaper than the unionized, $9-per-hour workers who had been making the toys. The Chinese factories that now make Etch A Sketches have been the subject of unflattering allegations about work conditions.
Radio Flyer wagons (Children's Toys)
The makers of the classic red wagon tout the toys as true “icons of Americana,” but today they’re only consumed in the U.S., not made here. In 2004 Radio Flyer decided its Chicago plant was too expensive, so it slashed about 45 jobs and began making its wagons, scooters, and tricycles in China. It’s only one of the many iconic American toy brands that are now made overseas—including Barbie and the Fisher-Price line. Radio Flyer displayed this gigantic vehicle at the American International Toy Fair in New York in February 2004, just one month before announcing the switch.
Levi jeans (Garments)
Since Levi Strauss, a German immigrant, began manufacturing denim pants in San Francisco in 1853, bluejeans have become as potent a symbol of America as McDonald’s, popping up on Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. record cover and lending their name to an Eastern European revolution. But if you want jeans that are born in the U.S.A., you’ll have to go elsewhere: the last American-made pairs of Levi’s were sewn and riveted in 2003. Production now takes place in Latin America (including this factory in Haiti) and Asia.
Craftsman and Stanley tools (Handtools and DIY Tools)
These two leading tool brands have been challenged by consumers and the government, which question whether some products deserve the “Made in the U.S.A.” label. The Federal Trade Commission mandates that goods can be called American-made only if they’re entirely or mostly made in the U.S. The FTC fined Stanley $205,000 in 2006 for mislabeling some tools that didn’t meet that standard. Craftsman, owned by Sears, has also been caught and fined by the feds. In 2006 consumers filed a class-action suit against the company, but lost because the court ruled that the plaintiffs had failed to prove any injury from the mislabeling.
American flags (Flags)
Next time you wave your Stars and Stripes, check the label. Foreign-made flags aren't all that common, but they exist. They represent only about 1.5 percent of the market, thanks in part to America’s protectionist policies on flag production. Several states have laws that ban sales of American flags not made in the United States, and Oklahoma Democrat Dan Boren has introduced a similar bill in the House, which, if passed, would prevent importation of American flags made overseas.
Rawlings baseballs (Sport Goods)
They’re the official game balls of America’s pastime and used to be made here at home, but these days, Rawlings stitches them together in Costa Rica. The company’s factory moved there in 1990, after stints in Haiti and Puerto Rico. However, the parts that make up the balls—yarn, cores, and cowhide—are all imported to Costa Rica from the U.S.
Cannondale bicycles (Bicycles - Sport)
The high-end bike maker used to construct its frames by hand in the U.S., but since Montreal-based Dorel bought Cannondale in 2008, it has shifted gears, moving production from a plant in Bedford, Pa., to China, where Dorel makes parts for a variety of other venerable American bike brands, including Schwinn and Roadmaster. At left, Lance Trappe of the Volvo Cannondale Mountain Bike Racing Team leaps over a man at the 2001 New York City Bicycle Show.
NBA uniforms (Sport Uniforms - Garments)
After German sports-apparel maker Adidas became the NBA’s official uniform supplier in 2006, the company contracted out the actual production of jerseys, shorts, and the like to American garment manufacturers. But in late 2009 Adidas announced it would cut short a contract that had been set to expire in 2014 and use factories in Thailand instead. The plan elicited boos from fans and politicians alike. One upset employee of American Classic Outfitters in Perry, N.Y.,told Fox News, “I think it’s horrible. They’re American teams, they should all be wearing American garments.”
Brach’s confections (Candy Makers)
Caramel and candy-pumpkin powerhouse Brach’s was once a cornerstone of Chicago’s sweet-making industry, back when the Windy City owned the market. In 2001, Brach’s announced that it would close its Chicago plant and move production to Mexico. Executives said U.S. sugar regulations make the cost of U.S. manufacturing artificially and impracticably high. At left, then-CEO Kevin Kotecki in Brach’s Chicago office in 2001.
IBM personal computers (Computer - High Tech products)
Once the dominant name in personal computers, IBM doesn’t even make them anymore. Opting to leave a market it took by storm in the 1980s, the blue-chip company sold its PC business to the Chinese manufacturer Lenovo for $1.75 billion in 2004. The sale allowed IBM to focus more directly on high-end computers, consulting, and software, while Lenovo now makes and markets best-selling brands like the ThinkPad laptop. At left, a model poses with new Lenovo models in New Delhi in 2009.
The above are not including any of the softwares jobs that are outsourced to India and other places.
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