bouquet, clean, vibrant pinot noir fruit, with moderate tannins and
classic burgundian expansion of the palate. Superb value.
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards 1985 (California; $15-$18): Good
wine making is evident in this rich, chewy, pinot Should you taste a
bit of Pauillac or Cote Rotie in these wines, however, you'll
understand my sole reservation about winemaker Ken Burnap's
efforts here.
Oak Knoll 1986 Vintage Select (Oregon; $14): A smoky, cherry
bouquet, silky, elegant fruit and firm tannins make this an ideal
pinnot for drinking and enjoying now.
Bethel Heights Willamette 1985 (Oregon; $12): Deep purple color and
lush, lively raspberry fruit, and long, mouth filling finish.
Robert Mondavi 1984 Reserve (California; $16-$18): The smoky,
toasty oak provides a fine counterpoint to the pure pinot fruit of this
offering.
Hacienda 1985 (California; $12-$14) Nicely defined structure, and
well-balanced, complex fruit.
Soleterra 1985 (California; $14): Ripe, earthy, firmly structured and
tannic style. Not particularly burgundian, but a good wine at the
price.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Beer and Wine:
Light Fruity Style Wines
Red Zinfandel
In search of red wines for summer drinking, American wine
consumers have traditionally looked to Europe rather than to our
own vineyards for light, fruity and refreshing reds that can be
served chilled on a hot summer day.
All but overlooked in the search have been the reds produced form
that quintessentially American grape, the zinfandel. That's a shame,
because when it is made in a lighter style, zinfandel can be a superb
summer red,delivering generous dollops of fresh raspberry-like fruit,
along with enough structure to stand up to tangy summer salads and
charcoal-grilled foods. In addition, at prices as low as $4 to $5 a
bottle, zinfandel represents outstanding value.
To those unfamiliar with its many incarnations, however, zinfandel
may at first seem an unlikely choice for a summer red. One rather
fundamental reason is that many wine consumers may be surprised
to discover than red zinfandel exists at all. A whole generation of
wine drinkers is more familiar with white zinfandel, which is made
by fermenting ordinary red zinfandel grapes off their deeply
pigmented skins to minimize color extraction. White zinfandel, which
is really a rose' or blush wine, has achieved enormous commercial
success, but to date little of its success has rubbed off on its red
cousin, which remains a relatively slow seller compared to cabernet
and merlot.
Those who try a lighter red zinfandel will find that it neatly bridges
the gap between the more familiar types of zinfandel. It maintains
most all of the spicy, refreshing notes that have made white
zinfandel such a hit, but unlike most white zinfandels, it is fully dry
and usually more complex. It also captures much of the explosive
fruit of the bigger zinfandels, but its low alcohol, lighter color and
less aggressive character make it a far better choice for summer
drinking.
In an era when the top Beaujolais are fetching $12 or more per
bottle, zinfandel captures the original spirit of Beaujolais even better
than many true French Beaujolais.
By contrast, the summer zinfandels seek only to deliver lots of fresh,
grapy leisure at a modest price. In this regard, they succeed
splendidly. The following are my choices, listed in order of
preference:
Ravenswood 1987 Vintners Blend ($7): Superb; bursts with wealth of
raspberry fruit; harmonious balance between fruit and moderate
tannins; intense without ever seeming heavy.
Parducci Mendocino County 1986 ($6): Brilliant ruby color. Vibrant,
light picnic-style zinfandel, with fresh strawberry notes on bouquet
and palate, and a crisp, clean finish. Guenoc Lake County 1985 ($7):
Spicy, elegant, claret style zinfandel with fruit that is both lush and
well-focused.
Sebastini Sonoma County 1986 ($5-$6): A real bargain; soft, grapy
fruit light quaffing style perfect for patio sipping.
Beringer North Coast 1986 ($8): Medium-weight claret style with fine
complexity; impressive depth of flavor.
Karly Amador County 1987 ($8): Outstanding depth and exuberant
expression of fruit. Drink now for grapy fruit, but hold some for
mellower pleasures this fall.
Kendall-Jackson Mendocino 1986 ($7): Though not necessarily the
best of Kendall-Jackson's stable of excellent zinfandels, clearly the
freshest and grapiest, with some earthiness on the nose.
Pedroncelli Sonoma County 1986 ($7): As always, good value is
offered by Pedroncelli in this light- to medium- weight offering
featuring ripe round fruit and a smooth finish.
Seghesio 1985 Northern Sonoma 1985 ($6): A pleasing, lighter style;
crisp and mature.
Fetzer California 1986 ($6): Light- to medium- weight, clean
strawberry flavors nicely set off by American oak notes.
Marietta Old Vines Red Lot 7 (non-vintage; $5-$6): More muscular
and dense than the fabulously successful Lot 6 offered last year. Still
offers a good value, although the addition of petite sirah detracts
from the former sprightliness of the wine.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Beer and Wine:
Ross and White Zinfandels
As the accompaniment to a light summer meal served after a hot
day, few wines can match the refreshing appeal of a lightly chilled
rose'. Their pink to salmon color suggests how perfectly they fill the
gap between reds, most of which are too heavy in summer, and
whites, which lack the body to match many dishes.
Vintages hardly matter with ross. Drink them as young as possible.
They rarely improve with age. The 1986s and 1987s are at the peak.
Most '85s are also fine.
The top American ross offer a surprisingly high level of quality,
complexity and value. Many can compete head to head in flavor with
the best French ross, and prices are modest, often well under $10.
The best ross:
Bonny Doon's Vin Gris de Cigare, produced in California by the
colorful Randall Graham, is one such wine. Made from the traditional
Rhone grape varieties in a bone dry format, the inspiration for this
wine is the dry ross made near the French village of Chateauneuf du
Pape.
Bonny Doon's label may be the most distinctive ever stuck on a wine
bottle. It's a reverse affair that can only be seen by looking through
the wine. It depicts a peaceful vineyard scene with a flying saucer
hovering overhead. The inspiration for the flying saucers (Cigare
volant) is a Chateauneuf du Pape village ordinance banning such
conveyances from the skies above its vineyards.
Bonny Doon 1988 Gris de Cigare ($9): Made primarily from the
mourvedre, the major grape of Bandol, this one is too good and too
much fun to pass up. The fruit is light and expansive on the palate,
with light peach and orange notes; it has the length to prove that ross
really can have a finish. The first great American rose', and arguably
the tastiest rose' made.
Heitz Girgnolino Rose 1986 ($6): This may be the Martha's Vineyard
of rose'; lots of spicy, gewurtztraminer-like character on the nose and
on the palate.
Amador Foothills 1988 White Zinfandel ($7): Bone dry, yet loaded
with fresh, strawberry-like fruit. A real gem.
Beringer 1988 White Zinfandel ($8): A huge seller, and it's not hard
to see why. Spicy fruit, with loads of charm.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Beer and Wine:
The Challenge of American Wine Making
Having discussed American wines by grape variety, it is also
important to understand what goes into American wines besides
grapes. For although American wines are made from European
varietals, there is a boldness to them that is distinctly American.
While surely this has much to do with climate and wine making
techniques, in my view this character has less to do with these
factors than with something else, more abstract, perhaps, but no less
critical the simple determination to succeed, combined with that
most American of virtues, ingenuity. By all the criteria that the
experts have established as necessities for great wine for example,
proper soil types, climate and grape varieties, high quality American
wine should be an impossibility.
That America is not a natural breeding ground for the production of
great wine might come as a shock to many of us. In some quarters,
we have been led to believe that America is a wine maker's Nirvana.
We are told that in California, every year is a vintage year; that the
French send their wine makers here to study in our schools; that
American wines constantly win in blind tastings against their
European competitor.
Let's start with climate. Compared with the relatively moderate
climates of Bordeaux, Burgundy, northern Italy and even Spain, the
American climate looks like an obstacle course. It's too hot. The
growing season is too short. The day/night temperature variation is
too great. It's either too damp, as in Maryland, Virginia and Oregon,
or it's a virtual desat, as in Napa and Sonoma.
To be sure, some of these conditions are great for producing tanker
loads of jug wines for mass consumption, as Franzia and Gallo have
shown in California's Central Valley. However, such climatic extremes
are anathema to great wine.
To beat the heat, the California's vignerons have been particularly
resourceful. In Napa, an American Airlines pilot turned winemaker,
Tom Burgess, was among the first to move up the valley's eastern
slopes in search of cooler temperatures that would allow for the
slower ripening so essential to the complex chemistry of great wines.
Today, almost two decades later, several of Burgess' early hillside
vintages are still aging gracefully in the bottle. More recently, in the
Stag's Leap area, the high quality of Shafer Hillside Select, William
Hill Reserve, Pine Ridge and other hillside cabernets and
chardonnays have further proved the wisdom of higher elevation
plantings.
Those who have chosen to stay on the valley floor have not been left
behind, however. Among the innovators here is the Robert Mondavi
winery, which along with the Baron Philippe de Rothschild has
introduced Opus One. Though sometimes categorized as a luxury
item, Opus One is in fact a bold, pioneering effort in the use of canopy
management, allowing the grape leaves themselves to provide shade
for the hanging bunches to control the scorching, direct California
sunlight. While the jury is not yet in on the aging ability of Opus One,
the recently released 1985 appears to have all the components to
challenge the Bordeaux first growths in all respects save price where
the Opus is in fact less costly.
Perhaps the first to realize the limitations of our own varietals was
Thomas Jefferson, who believed that palatable wines were an
essential ingredient of a popular democracy. On his return from a
stint in France as the American minister of trade, Jefferson swapped
native American trees and pants then very much the rage in
European popular gardens for cuttings of vines from Europe's finest
vineyards, including Le Montrachet, Chateau Margaux and those of
the Italian Piedmont.
Although Jefferson's own viticultural experiments in Virginia failed,
there's no question who ultimately got the better of the deal. Two
centuries later, American cabernet sauvignons decisively outpointed
the top French bordeaux in a challenge tasting put on by the French
wine makers, known as the Judgment of Paris tasting. By contrast,
the American plants sent to Europe carried in their roots the dreaded
phylloxera louse, which devastated the European vineyards. All
European varieties must be grafted on to phylloxera-resistant
American rootstock.
Innovation continues in East Coast vineyards as well. Little more
than a decade ago, commercial wine making barely existed in
Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, where they are still battling
the same problems that appear to have undone Jefferson's early
efforts, humidity-induced rot in the summer, and sudden vine-
splitting cold snaps in the early spring.
To battle the winter chills, many local wineries have turned to
winter-hearty hybrids with great success. Excellent hybrid bottlings
included the crisp seyval blanc produced by Virginia's Oakencroft
Winery, a toastier, woodier version of the same grape offered by
Maryland's Montbray Vineyards, and the seyval blanc, vidal blanc
blend put out by Pennsylvania's Chaddsford Winery, called
Chaddsford White, a legitimate bargain at around $6. With regard to
vinifera plantings, more careful site selection has helped to improve
the odds against freezing. Examples of highly successful vinifera
bottlings included recent vintages of the impressive Prince Michel
Vineyards Barrel Fermented chardonnay and Montdomaine Cellar's
cabernet and merlot blends.
But ingenuity and pluck are one thing. Taste is quite another. Have
all these qualities given our wines a distinctively American flavor?
To my palate, they have. If there is one single characteristic that sets
American wine apart from the wines of Europe, it is their boldness.
American chardonnays burst with a clean fruit that would almost be
embarrassing in a white burgundy. Our cabernets won the Judgment
of Paris tasting by making their French counterparts looks like black
and white renditions. I can't help but feel this boldness reflects the
bold ingenuity of our winemakers and I sure like the taste of it in
our wines.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Beer and Wine:
Value in American Wines
What also must be appreciated is the value offered by American
wines. Are American wines underpriced? At least one well-known
wine maker, Diamond Creek winery owner Al Brounstein, says the
answer is yes. He priced 1987 Diamond Creek Lake Vineyard
Cabernet to carry a $100 retail price, the highest ever attached to a
newly minted American wine.
Maintaining that other top wineries have underpriced their offerings
compared with other world class competitors, such as Chateau Petrus
and the Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Brounstein predicts that other
American vintners will soon follow his lead. Other worthy $100-a-
bottle candidates include Dunn Howell Mountain, Stag's Leap Cas 23
and Grace Family Vineyards, all of which sell for between $25 and
$40 a bottle, as well as others, he said.
The good news for consumers is that even if Brounstein is correct,
the wines he refers to represent but a tiny portion of California's
premium white wine production. The Lake bottling is itself a prime
example. It comes from a tiny 3/4 acre vineyard near the winery.
Though as many as 200 cases are produced in abundant years, only
75 cases were produced in 1987. Because of its cool micro-climate,
the vineyard's production is sold separately only in exceptionally hot
years, which produce the best wine there. The most recent Lake
bottling was 1984, and the only previous vintage was 1978. It has
already been decided that there will be no 1988 Lake bottling.
The message is clear, however. Since prices can head only one way
up this is a propitious moment to stock the cellar with high quality
American wines. They deserve a place in any cellar that is devoted to
quality wine.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
#IMAGE 1 4 TWPCX \images\pcx\USA14.PCX
Food
The Industry
The United States is one of the richest agricultural nations in the
world. American food products are abundant and diverse. Because
the U.S. is such a large nation, its territory covers a variety of
climates and terrains. Consequently, different regions and states are
known for particular food products. While many nations are limited
by climate to a few food products for example, over 50% of Japan's
farmland is devoted to rice the U.S. seems to have it all. From Maine
to California and Alaska to Hawaii, the United States produces a vast
assortment of excellent food.
Of all the products consumers buy, it is perhaps easiest to buy
American-produced food. Most nations keep the vast majority of
their food production and processing at home, and the U.S. is no
exception. Shipping costs, spoilage and other factors make offshore
production uneconomical. Consequently, U.S.-produced food is almost
always cheaper than its imported counterparts. This is especially
true of imported processed foods, which are often of the gourmet,
specialty variety and are quite expensive.
Food products that come from our closest neighbors are perhaps the
only exception to this American-is-cheaper rule. For example,
Mexican fruits and vegetables are sold in the U.S. at very competitive
prices.
In sum, when you purchase American food products you get high
quality, almost unlimited diversity and bargain prices. Although it
would be nearly impossible to catalogue all of the excellent foods the
U.S. has to offer, here are a few suggestions to get you started eating
American.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Bottled Water
Imported bottled water seems to be everywhere. For many, it seems
to be part of an image to be seen sipping a European bottled water
such as Perrier or Evian. However, it is completely unnecessary to
look all the way to the south of France (Perrier) or to the Alps
(Evian) to find an excellent mineral water.
The U.S. has many springs whose waters rival those from any part of
the globe. Three of the best American mineral waters to choose from
are Quibell from the Appalachians in West Virginia, Saratoga from
the renowned Saratoga Springs in New York and Poland Springs from
the Maine woods.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Coffee
Believe it or not, some of the world's best coffee is made from coffee
beans grown on two American islands, Hawaii and the U.S.
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Kona Coffee is grown on the lush
volcanic slopes of Hawaii's Kona coast. This excellent coffee is
available in different grades, depending on the plantation it was
grown on and the quality of the beans. Kona coffees can be found in
coffee stores nationwide for $17-$20 a pound. You can also order
directly from Mauna Loa.
(800) 832-9993 (Mauna Loa)
Puerto Rican coffee is wonderful. It is also less expensive than
Hawaiian coffees. However, because much of Puerto Rico's coffee is
kept in the commonwealth, it is often difficult to find in the states.
Some specialty coffee shops carry bulk Puerto Rican coffee for
approximately $8 a pound. However, be careful: Puerto Rican coffee
often means that the beans were roasted in Puerto Rican style but
are not really from Puerto Rico. If you can find them, two
prepackaged Puerto Rican coffees to look for are Cafe Jaucano and
Cafe Rico.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Produce
American produce has many advantages. It is fresh, inexpensive and
easier to find than exotic imported produce. It also contains less
dangerous pesticides than fruits and vegetables from many other
countries. For example, although the dangerous pesticide DDT was
banned in the U.S.A., it is still used in many other countries.
Unfortunately, DDT often finds its way into the U.S. on imported
tomatoes and other produce.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Some of the Best American Vegetables:
New Jersey Beefsteak Tomatoes
Idaho Potatoes
Silver Queen Corn (various states)
California Artichokes
California Avocados
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Some of the Best American Fruits and Nuts:
Florida Oranges
Florida Grapefruit
Hawaiian Pineapple
Macadamia Nuts (Hawaii)
Washington State Apples
New York State Apples
Georgia Peaches
Nubiana and Santa Rosa Plums (California)
Cranberries (Massachusetts)
Blueberries (Maine)
Cherries (Michigan)
Pears (Oregon)
Pecans (Georgia)
Almonds (California)
Pistachios (California)
Peanuts (Georgia and Alabama)
All of these products can be found in your local grocery store or
specially ordered through growers, their distributors or specialty
companies. Here are some suggestions for direct ordering:
California Cachet
(San Francisco, Calif.) California
fruits, nuts and wines; worldwide shipping.
(800) 422-2438
Indian River Citrus Specialties
Will ship Florida grapefruits directly from the grove to anywhere in
the world.
(800) 223-7740
Melatchie Farms
(Perry, Ga.)Georgia peaches.
(800) 241-7013
Maine Wild Blueberry Co.
(Machias, Maine)Maine blueberries.
(800) 243-4005
Orchard Pecan
(Albany, Ga.) Georgia pecans.
(800) 841-4350
Pinnacle Orchards
(Medford, Ore.)Oregon pears.
(800) 547-0227
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Seafood:
Alaska King Crab
Maine Lobster
Florida Stone Crabs
Chesapeake Bay Crabs
Gulf of Mexico Shrimp
Chincoteague Oysters
Pacific Salmon
Tuna
Dungeness Crabs (Pacific Northwest)
American seafood can be found in seafood and specialty food stores
across the U.S. American seafood can be directly ordered and express
couriered (usually Federal Express) to almost anywhere in the world.
To order some of America's best seafood, try the following
companies:
Bay State Lobster Co.
Maine lobsters; will ship live lobsters anywhere.
(800) 225-6240 or (617) 523-7960
Clambakes to Go
Complete New England clam bakes (an assortment of lobster, codfish,
mussels, steamers, sausage, potatoes, corn and onions ).
(800) 423-4038
Great Maine Lobster Co.
Lobsters and lobster cooking tools.
(800) 222-5033
Hegg & Hegg
(Port Angeles, Wash.)Alder smoked western salmon.
(800) 435-3474
Key Largo Fisheries
Florida stone crabs. Available approximately Oct. 15 to May 15 only
(305) 451-3782
Nelson Crab Co.
(Tokeland, Wash.)Dungeness crabs.
(800) 843- 8370
A note on Tuna...
Fresh tuna tastes quite different from canned tuna. However, you
can't always get fresh tuna. U.S. tuna canneries are some of the
cleanest in the world and produce such fine canned tunas as
Bumblebee solid white tuna, Chicken-of-the-Sea and Starkist.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Meats
Beef
American beef is the finest in the world. The best American beef
comes from the heartland of the country, the area that stretches
from Illinois and Nebraska to Texas.
Omaha Steaks International Ships high-quality beef to your door.
(800) 228-9055 or (402) 391-3660
Golden Trim
Golden Trim beef, produced by Sun Land Beef Co. of Phoenix, Ariz., is
lower in calories, fat and cholesterol than ordinary beef. In fact, it
contains less than half the calories of the run-of-the-mill beef and is
comparable to skinless chicken. The Golden Trim product line
consists of 27 cuts of beef from filet mignon to stewing meat. Golden
Trim was the first fresh beef to carry the USDA Lite designation.
(602) 279-7977 (Golden Trim)
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#CARD:Food:
Ham
Virginia ham is an American specialty. To order a quality Virginia
ham, call Virginia Provisions Smokehouse (800) 443-7086, or
Padows (Richmond, Va.) (800) 344-4257.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Turkey
Benjamin Franklin wanted to have the turkey declared the official
American bird. The eagle prevailed, but turkey is the official meal of
the first truly American holiday, Thanksgiving. Smoked turkey is
available from Padows of Richmond, Va.
(800) 344-4257 (Padows)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Ribs
Believe it or not, no matter where you live, you can order ribs from
many of the U.S.'s more famous rib joints simply by picking up the
phone. To have a taste of the best of Memphis' famous barbecue, for
example, call Corky's at (800) 284-RIBS, The Rendezvous at (901)
523-2746, or John Will's at (901) 274-8000. With a little help from
Federal Express, your ribs will arrive on your doorstep within a day
or two.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Condiments
Napa Valley Mustard Co.
Napa Valley Mustard Co. is owned and operated by three women
who were inspired by Napa Valley's annual crop of mustard flowers
eleven years ago. The women then decided to pool their culinary
interests with their business talent to create a selection of gourmet
mustards and catsups available by mail order. Today, Napa Valley
Mustard sells almost 20,000 cases of its Country Catsup and
California Hot Sweet, Green Chili and Garlic, Herbs of the Valley, and
Orange Ginger mustards.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Food:
Gift Baskets
One excellent way to support America's food specialties is to
purchase gift baskets that feature a state's or region's best food
products. Many of the items discussed above are available in gift
assortments. There are also hundreds of companies that specialize in
sending off the best of their area's food products as gifts baskets.
For a taste of Vermont, for example, Cold Hollow Cider Mill of
Waterbury, Vt. ships a large assortment of gift collections featuring
Vermont maple syrup, apples, cider, cheeses, preserves and maple
candy.
(800) 2-APPLES (Cold Hollow)
Wherever you live, you can find a local farm market or specialty
food store that will package up the best of your area and ship it off
to friends who are out-of-state or in another country. Whether your
gift features products from your own area or a distant U.S. region,
your gift will help promote the best foods that America has to offer.
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#CARD:Gifts:
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Gifts
This chapter is a collection of gift items that do not fit neatly into any
of the other chapters. However, any of the items discussed in this
book make excellent gifts.
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#CARD:Gifts:
Pens
A pen can be the perfect gift for Mom, Dad or a recent grad. Two of
the most famous names in pens are still made in the USA:
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#CARD:Gifts:
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Cross
A.T. Cross Co. has been making writing instruments in the United
States since 1846. Today, A.T. Cross continues to manufacture all of
its pens in Lincoln, R.I., and maintains a reputation as one of the
world's premier writing instrument manufacturers.
The quality that goes into manufacturing Cross writing instruments is
such that fewer than 2 percent are returned for replacement or
repairs and all Cross writing instruments are mechanically
guaranteed for life. Cross excellence is recognized the world over and
these writing instruments are exported to 150 different countries.
The company sells 90 different styles of pens ranging from $15.50
for a chrome mechanical pencil to $800 for a 14K gold fountain pen.
Cross sells four basic types of writing instruments: pencil, ballpoint
pen, selectip and fountain pen. Each of these is sold in various styles
that include chrome, gray, blue, burgundy and black epoxy, 10K, 14K
and 18K gold filled with 22K gold electroplated appointments, and
sterling silver. It also offers a special series for women. The Cross for
women series is available in each of the mentioned styles with
additional engraving and a separate soft case for each pen.
The company also markets a number of gift sets featuring either one
or two writing instruments in an attractive desk top holder. The
bases come in a variety of materials such as walnut, onyx and
marble.
The vast majority of the Cross gift sets sell for under $100, making
them an affordable, interesting gift idea.
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#CARD:Gifts:
Schaeffer
Schaeffer, Inc. makes all sorts of pens in the U.S., from 23 carat gold
engraved fountain pens to their Sentinel " stainless steel ball point
line, Schaeffer pens are great business gifts, incentives and can even
be used to advertise. Schaeffer will print your company name on the
body of the pen or your corporate logo can be displayed in a cap or
clip emblem. Prices run from $2.25 to $520 per pen.
(800) FINE-PEN (Schaeffer)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Fisher
The Fisher Pen Co. manufacturers certain lines of their ball point
writing instruments in the United States including: Apollos, Field
Pens, Bullet Pens, and their Contemporary Astronaut Pen.
(800) 333-0580 (Fisher)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Parker
Parker Pen Co., founded in 1888 by George Parker, is another famous
name in pens. Over a century later, Parker is the world leader in
sales of gift and luxury pens and proudly notes that its pens have
been used for many famous events, from writing the Sherlock
Holmes stories to the signing of many international treaties.
Parker's product line encompasses up to 150 different styles,
including an extensive selection of gold, silver and lacquer luxury
pens retailing for up to $3,500, more moderately priced writing
instruments for under $100, and fountain pens.
Parker has plants in England, France and Janesville, Wis. The
American-made Parker pens manufactured in Janesville are the
Duofold line, which was recently brought to the U.S. from Parker's
English plant (Duofolds distributed in Europe are still made in
England.), the Classic line and the brand-new Insignia gift lines. Most
of these pens retail for $10 to $100 and make the perfect,
distinguished gift. They also carry an unconditional, worldwide
guarantee. For less expensive gift needs, Parker's U.S. plant also
manufactures the Vector ($7- $8.50) and the Jotter ($5-$7.50).
This year, Parker introduced a special edition pen called The World
Memorial Pen. These pens, available in U.S.-made Duofold Black and
Insignia Black, feature an emblem crafted from the smelted remains
of retired U.S. and Soviet nuclear missiles. The proceeds of the sale of
this pen go to support the England-based World Memorial Fund,
which provides international disaster relief.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Silver, Crystal and China
Kirk Stieff
In 1979 two of the finest names in American silver merged to create
Kirk Stieff, perhaps the most prestigious name in silver. Samuel Kirk
first made silverware in the Baltimore area beginning in 1815. In
1820, Kirk introduced the Repousse style, which featured the
distinctive flower and foliage design that has since become world
famous. Early Kirk silver graced some of the finest American homes,
including those of the Marquis de Lafayette, Robert E. Lee, the Astors
and the Roosevelts.
Charles Stieff did not establish his firm until 1892, but was just as
influential, particularly in its passage of the Silver Laws Registration.
This legislation ensured that only pieces with at least 92.5 percent
fine silver could legally be labeled as sterling silver. In 1939, Steiff
also began crafting authentic reproductions for Colonial
Williamsburg.
Thus the merger of the two companies joined two of the oldest and
most respected American silver firms. Now, Kirk Stieff is among the
most sought-after silver in the world.
The company crafts many different silver products, from official
reproductions for the Smithsonian, Monticello, Old Sturbridge Village,
Historic Charleston and Colonial Williamsburg to flatware sets. A
stunning example of the best Kirk Stieff has to offer is its sterling
silver Repousse waiter. This exceptionally made 22-inch tray retails
for approximately $15,000.
Rest assured, only a small percentage of the Kirk Stieff catalogue falls
into this price range. Kirk Stieff manufactures and sells many
exquisite items that are quite reasonably priced. An excellent,
inexpensive gift from Kirk Stieff might be one of its sterling silver
bookmarks, which retail for $10-$20. The bookmarks are available in
a boxed and a ribbon style. Another economically priced gift item is
the company's letter openers ($30), which come in a variety of
designs. For those interested in spending slightly more money, Kirk
Stieff sells a number of picture frames in silver. The company sells
both 3x5 inch ($150) and 8x10 inch ($295) frames.
Kirk Steiff silver products are crafted in Baltimore, Md, and are
backed by this unconditional warranty: Simply rest assured that if
the manufacture of any Kirk Stieff product should be flawed, we are
going to replace it.
(410) 338-6080 (Kirk Stieff)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
#IMAGE 1 5 TWPCX \images\pcx\227Len.PCX
Lenox
Lenox crystal and china is world renowned. Lenox makes crystal
vases, glassware, dishes, candlesticks and many other beautiful
pieces. Lenox also makes the highest quality china dishes, tea sets
and vases. This U.S. company still manufactures all of its products in
Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New Jersey.
(800) 533-8814 (Lenox)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Steuben
Steuben is the another well-known name in American crystal.
Although the company was founded in 1903, the modern Steuben
emerged in 1933 when Arthur Houghton Jr. (a member of Corning's
founding family) took over the Steuben Division. He hired John Gates
and Sydney, already well known as an architect and a sculptor
respectively, to develop a series of designs for the company. These
designs were highly received when they were unveiled in 1935.
Today the company continues to produce nine of these designs, an
enduring testament to their quality. Modern-day Steuben is a
subsidiary of Corning, which still produces all of its crystal in
Corning, N.Y., in Steuben County.
The Steuben catalogue features hundreds of different pieces in four
major categories. The first category is functional forms, which
includes flower vases, dishes and bowls. Almost all the pieces in this
category range in price from $250 to $700.
Steuben's line of ornaments includes a variety of offerings, including
a crystal apple representing New York, a crystal and silver rendition
of King Arthur's sword Excalibur and crystal pendants.
A third group in the Steuben line consists of crystal animals. These
pieces retail for as little as $125 or as much as $31,150.
Finally, its major works line features exquisite pieces employing
Steuben's finest craftsmanship. Two examples of this are a piece
designed to evoke a cathedral ($14,300) and a work celebrating the
New York skyline ($30,000).
Steuben crystal may be mail-ordered or purchased in the company's
Fifth Avenue store in New York City, at the Stamford Town Center,
Stamford, Conn., in Aspen, Col., and at the Greenbrier Hotel, W.V.
(800) 424-4240 (Steuben)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Pfaltzgraff Co.
The Pfaltzgraff Co. of York, Pa. is a leader in the manufacturing of
casual dinnerware. Founded on five generations of family
management and ownership, the Pfaltzgraff Co. is the oldest
continuously operating potter in the U.S.
(717) 848-5500 (Pfaltzgraff)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Homer Laughlin
Homer Laughlin began manufacturing china in 1871, and is one of
the world's largest manufacturers of dinnerware. Laughlin claims to
have manufactured about one third of all dinnerware that has ever
been sold in the U.S. The company's most popular line of dishes in
the brightly colored Fiesta line. Today, the company continues to
produce quality patterned, solid colored and white embossed
dinnerware.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Watches
The Foundation has uncovered only one company still producing
watches in the United States Hamilton Watch Co., which is owned by
the Swiss SMH Inc. Hamilton produces both contemporary and classic
style watches that have Swiss movements but American cases, bands
and assembly. The company recently switched the hand assembly of
its watches from Lancaster, Pa., to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Hamilton's largest line of watches is its Traditional Classics, which are
reproductions of famous watches from the 1920s through the 1950s.
One of the most striking designs from this collection is the Ventura.
Introduced as part of the world's first electric watch line, this
uniquely shaped design was hailed as a work of art. Hamilton also
offers an authentic reproduction of the watch produced for the 1928
World Series Champion New York Yankees, which has been faithfully
reproduced to include the engraved case back that commemorated
the Yanks' victory. The Wilshire, Benton and Carlisle are some of
Hamilton's classic rectangular shaped watches. The Broadway
Limited is the one pocket watch in the Hamilton line. This watch has
an authentic railroad dial that marks each minute separately in red
and black numerals and comes with either an embossed image of a
steam locomotive back or one that shows the mechanical movements.
Contemporary Classics are Hamilton's contemporary style watches.
The majority of these watches are extremely accurate chronograph
timepieces. The chronographs come with a variety of different dials,
bezels and bands and are available in an impressive array of
features for an analog watch. The Wordtimer Contemporary Classic
gives the time in 24 different time zones at a single glance. By
combining function and style, this watch is perfect for the business
traveler.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Sunglasses
Ray-Ban
Ray-Ban, which manufactures all of its sunglasses sold in the states
in the U.S., has been one of the top names in sunglasses for over 50
years.
It all started in the late twenties when the Army asked Bausch &
Lomb of Rochester, N.Y., to develop sunglasses for its pilots.
Apparently, the pilots often encountered brutal glare that caused
severe headaches and nausea. Bausch & Lomb developed a green
glass that cut glare, checked ultraviolet and infrared rays, and
absorbed various colors of the spectrum in a way that allowed the
pilots eyes to function naturally. The Army's expectations were not
only filled, but greatly exceeded. In 1936, Bausch & Lomb began
commercially marketing these flying glasses under the name Ray-
Ban. Despite the skeptics who claimed that no one would pay $3.75
for a product that normally cost 25 cents to 50 cents, the glasses
were a hit. In their first two decades, the glasses were mainly
targeted at sports enthusiasts, but beginning around the time the
Wayfarer was introduced in 1952, the sunglasses also became a
fashion item, earning the prestigious Council of American Fashion
Designers Award Council of American Fashion Designers Award.
Sales of Ray-Bans have been aided by media exposure and by their
identification with certain pop icons. For example, Wayfarer sales
multiplied more than 50 times after the lead characters in the Blues
Brothers and Risky Business films appeared in these sunglasses.
Bausch & Lomb's Ray-Ban sunglasses come in a variety of styles and
include the Classic Metal designs, driving glasses, sport designs, and
of course the Wayfarers. All Ray-Ban sunglasses provide full glare
control and 100% U.V. protection. The lenses are made of optical glass
and precision ground and polished so they are free of distortions that
could cause eyestrain.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Cameras
American-made cameras are a dying breed. If you are interested in
purchasing an American-made camera, your choices are limited to
the instant and disposable cameras discussed below. There are no
longer any U.S. manufacturers of 35mm or pocket cameras.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Kodak
Eastman Kodak Co. of Rochester, N.Y., has grown into a global
company that manufactures all over the world. Unfortunately, Kodak
no longer produces any of its cameras in the U.S. The closest thing to
an American-made Kodak camera is the Star 235, which is assembled
from mainly U.S. parts in Mexico. However, all Kodak film and its
Fling disposable 35mm cameras are made in Rochester.
The basic Fling takes clear, focused pictures from as close as four feet
at a shutter speed of 1/110 of a second. Other Fling cameras have
specialized uses. The Fling Weekend 35 is aimed at the sports-
oriented user and has the power to take pictures at depths up to 12
feet. The Fling Stretch 35 is a single use camera that takes panoramic
pictures that measure 3 1/2 x 10. Fling disposable cameras sell for
approximately $8-$10 (excluding the cost of developing) and must be
returned in their entirety for developing.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
#IMAGE 1 8 TWPCX \images\pcx\231Polo.PCX
Polaroid
Polaroid has been producing instant cameras in the United States for
nearly half a century. Today, the company still produces the majority
of its instant cameras, including the flagship Spectra, in eastern
Massachusetts.
The Spectra combines the quality of 35mm pictures with the
convenience of instant photography. This camera features sonar auto
focus and a built in-flash that recharges in as little as 1/5 of a
second. The viewfinder also guides the user by signalling too close,
too far away or caution. The Spectra system includes a host of
separately purchased accessories. There are five different auxiliary
lenses to create multi-images, starbursts or other special effects.
Other accessories include a radio-controlled remote allowing
operation from 40 feet away and a tripod.
Polaroid also manufactures the American-made Impulse cameras,
which are a more affordable alternative to the Spectra system. The
Impulse AF (for autofocus) features two different autofocus systems
and a direct viewfinder that shows the user exactly what will appear
in the picture.
In addition, all Impulse AF functions are controlled by a wafer-thin
battery contained in the film pack. Polaroid also manufactures a
more economical fixed-focus Impulse camera that selects the
exposure via infrared light. The flash on this camera has an indoor
range of four to 10 feet.
Like Kodak's, all Polaroid film is made in the U.S.
A note on Keystone cameras...
Keystone cameras, which have been noted in this publication in
recent years, are no longer made in the U.S.A.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Leather Goods
American-made leather products make excellent gift items. Any
person with a hectic schedule would surely appreciate a quality
leather date or address book. Other good leather gift items are
luggage, wallets and purses. Although many people believe most
leather goods are imported, there are a number of American
companies producing top quality leather goods.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Berman Leathercraft
Berman Leathercraft manufactures a range of excellent leather date
and address books.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Coach
Coach, which is based in New York City, is one of the most well-
known and respected names in the leather business. Originally only a
manufacturer of small leather products, the company has been
producing purses, bags and portfolios for a quarter century. Coach
developed its own tanning and dying processes, which greatly
enhance the leather's characteristics. Coach uses only solid brass
fittings manufactured by a century-old equine products company.
These factors all contribute to the high quality and classic look of
Coach products.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Hartman
Hartman is an American manufacturer of fine leather briefcases and
luggage. Hartman's leather briefcases have received top marks from
Consumer Reports. Hartman also makes top-quality vinyl briefcases.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Sun Graphix
Sun Graphix offers a number of fine leather products to help busy
people keep track of their time. These range from a full-size desktop
planner ($45 in genuine leather) to a compact planner that easily fits
into a shirt pocket. The larger planners also include such helpful
extras as area code/time zone maps, interest rate charts, population
statistics and weather charts.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Schlessinger Brothers
A well-made leather briefcase is the type of gift that the recipient
will cherish for a lifetime. Philadelphia-based Schlessinger Brothers
has been making briefcases for almost three-quarters of a century.
Schlessinger claims that its standards are so exacting that only 5
percent of the world's leather is good enough to be used in its
products.
Schlessinger offers a large assortment of styles available in four
different types of quality leather, including a limited number of
crocodile skin cases. All Schlessinger briefcases feature a patented
Schlessinger Casesetter steel spring frame, which ensures a strong,
extremely durable case.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Electric Razors
Remington Products
Remington is an American success story. Before the present owner
(Victor Kiam) acquired the company, Remington had lost an average
of $10 million a year for the preceding three years. Kiam trimmed
corporate fat, brought Remington's manufacturing operations home
and cut the price of razors by a third. As a result, sales tripled and
the defect rate dropped to near zero. Remington electric razors are
now the second-largest selling razors in the U.S.
Remington manufactures excellent electric razors for both men and
women, 90% of which are made in the U.S. One of Remington's
superior models is the Micro Screen XLR810. This razor produces a
quality shave and comes equipped with an excellent trimmer.
The BMS 7600 is another highly regarded Remington product. This
razor, which is especially designed for the shaving needs of black
men, features a special beard lifter which takes care of ingrown hairs
and tough whiskers. It is also available in the BMS 7800
rechargeable model.
Lady Remington shavers for women include the corded WER 4200
and the rechargeable WER 6200. Both of these razors are designed
with women's needs in mind and easily handle longer hair and
stubble.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Knives
Accusharp
Fortune Products Inc. manufactures easy to use, portable scissor and
knife sharpeners sold in sporting goods and grocery stores, bait and
tackle shops, and lumber yards nationwide. Accusharp's average
sharpening time: 10 seconds.
(713) 996-0729 (Fortune)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Lamson & Goodnow
Lamson & Goodnow has been manufacturing high-quality knives in
western Massachusetts since 1837. Lamson & Goodnow now uses
high-carbon, non-staining steel for its knives and kitchen tools. In
1990 it introduced a line of top-notch barbecue tools, available in gift
boxed sets.
800-872-6564 (Lamson & Goodnow)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Cutco Cutlery
The Cutco Tradition began more than four decades ago in Olean, N.Y.
Today Cutco Cutlery Corp. continues to be dedicated to manufacturing
a wide variety of quality American-made cutlery. Sets include The
Pearl Homemaker, The Classic Homemaker, Galley and Studio Sets,
etc. These sets range from four to eighteen pieces and from $208 to
$709. Cutco also offers speciality gift sets, sporting knives, and open
stock items, as well as various other kitchen essentials. Consumer
Digest presented Cutco's Galley Set Plus Six Knife Set and Four Piece
Table Knife Set with their Best Buy certificate of recognition. Cutco is
available through Vector Marketing Corp., the exclusive worldwide
distributor and sister company of Cutco.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Chef'sChoice"
Chef'sChoice" Trizor" Professional 10X knives retain their edges up
to ten times (10X) longer than most popular brands. Chef'sChoice 10X
cutlery is available in popular sizes, including a 6-inch utility knife,
3.5-inch paring knife, 6-inch boning knife, 10-inch slicer, and 8-inch
chef's knife. Chef'sChoice cutlery is presented in attractively designed
gift boxes and wood block sets.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
EdgeCraft
The EdgeCraft Corp. recently introduced a revolutionary new line of
high quality American-made gourmet knives. This is one of the
factors that makes this cutlery unique. Up until now, virtually all
quality forged knives have been imported from manufacturers in
Germany, France, Italy and Brazil.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Miscellaneous
#IMAGE 1 14 TWPCX \images\pcx\235Zipp.PCX
Zippo Lighters
Zippo Manufacturing Co. of Bradford, Pa., has been making world-
famous Zippo lighters for nearly 60 years.
Today's Zippo lighters feature a flint wheel that is good for as many
as 73,000 strikes, and a practically infinite variety of durable,
attractive cases. There are brass, chrome, gold- plated, colored and
pictorial cases. Its collector series features the presidents of the
United States, Wild West heroes, the American Flag, the Desert Storm
insignia and others.
(814) 368-2736 (Zippo)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
Super Pouch
Super Pouch" manufacturers heavy canvas bags that are designed to
organize and carry anything from tools to gardening equipment.
Super Pouch has even designed a bag for articles that may be
cluttering the car trunk: flashlights, rags, jumper cables, etc. each bag
contains a number of different sized pouches to hold these items,
thus the company's name, and is complete with either shoulder strap
or two carry handles and velcro to tightly fasten. The Super Pouch is
manufactured in Metuchen, N.J.
(800) 223-7193 (Super Pouch)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Gifts:
KB Cotton Pillows
Since your pillow is the most intimate object with which you come in
contact, in an environmental sense, KB Cotton Pillows offer their
100% natural pillow...right down to the thread. The fabric is pre-
washed in a baking soda solution to remove any chemical odors from
fabric dyes. Each handmade pillow is perfect for those who are
allergic to synthetics or down.
(214) 223-7193 (KB Cotton Pillows)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
#IMAGE 1 14 TWPCX \images\pcx\USA16.PCX
Toys and Games
The Made in the U.S.A. Foundation would like to thank Debbie Wager,
author of Good Toys: Parents' Guide to Toys and Games, for her
pioneering research on this chapter in 1989.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
The Industry
Toys are big business in the U.S. In 1990, Americans spent
approximately $13.13 billion dollars on toys and games. (This figure
does not include video games.) On any given day, there are 150,000
different items found on the shelves of the nation's toy stores.
Unfortunately, approximately 70-75% of these toys are imported.
Since toy production is usually heavily labor-intensive, many U.S.
companies have been attracted by cheap foreign labor and shifted
production offshore. Some firms combine both domestic and overseas
production, while others make different parts of a toy in several
world locations and assemble them here. Nevertheless, about 42,600
Americans have jobs in the toy industry in the United States, with 70
percent of these in production.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
American-Made Toys & Games
American toys are some of the best. They are usually higher quality,
more durable, non-fad type toys that children will cherish for years
to come. Many of them are time-proven classics that bring adults and
children together. In contrast, imported toys are often poor quality,
mass produced toys that are heavily television advertised and
popular for just a short while.
In many cases, U.S.-made toys are also more educational. Many
imported toys are passive, non-thinking video games or other
complex toys that do everything for the child. U.S. toys, on the other
hand, tend to be either open-ended play toys that allow children to
improvise and use their imagination (blocks and drawing toys, for
example), active toys (balls and outdoor play equipment) or games,
puzzles and books that involve thinking and decision making.
Thus, although all toys appeal to children and are fun for a while, U.S.
toys are usually more durable, remain favorites for a longer period
of time and generally inspire healthy, growthful play. Although in
many cases, U.S. toys may be more expensive than imported ones,
they are worth the extra cost. How many times have you had to
replace or throw out your child's imported bargain because it broke
or your child lost interest in a matter of weeks?
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Balls
#IMAGE 1 11 TWPCX \images\pcx\238Koo.PCX
Koosh Balls
A Koosh Ball is named for the sound it makes when it hits your hand.
It is a natural rubber ball that looks a lot like a porcupine that
jiggles. Tactile, soft, bounceless and colorful, the Koosh ball is made
with custom, computer controlled machinery in which the rubber
goes in one end, and 2,000 fingers of rubber filament Koosh ball
comes out the other. The nature of a Koosh Ball makes it very safe
and easy to catch, not too mention fun.
The Koosh ball was invented by Scott Stillinger, a computer company
engineer, who became frustrated trying to teach his young children
how to catch a ball. He and his brother-in-law, Mark Button, quit
their jobs to start Oddz On Products and introduced the Koosh Ball in
October 1987 in California. It flew off the shelves. In 1991, Koosh
continues to be one of the top 20 non-television promoted toys in the
country, Although some Koosh balls are now produced in China,
around 90 percent are still made in Campbell, Calif.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Nerf Products
In 1972, Parker Brothers introduced the Nerf Football, a 3/4
standard sized, dense foam rubber football that rapidly became the
largest selling football in the world. Over the years, the Nerf line of
safe, soft, fun products has grown to include Nerf Soccerball, Turbo
Nerf Football, which is deeply ridged to allow it to be gripped easier
and thrown further than a standard Nerf Football, and Turbo
Screamer Football, which whistles as it sails through the air. Nerf also
offers soft versions of just about any sport you can think of including
Pro Hoop (basketball) and Nerf Bow and Arrow.
Nerf is currently owned by the Kenner division of Hasbro Inc. and
manufactures its products in Salem, Mass. All Nerf products are
designed to inspire children (and adults) to get out and be active
while avoiding the injuries and damage that can occur with
regulation balls and the passive play inherent in many other toys.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Pinky Balls
Remember them from your childhood, those tennis ball- sized,
wonderful pink-colored balls that bounced really well? Never fear,
they are still made by Hedstrom, in Ashland, Ohio. At about a dollar a
ball, you can't find more economical, American-made fun.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Bubbles and Bubble Toys
Strombecker Corp.'s Chicago factory produces over 50 million bottles
of TootsieToy, Mr. Bubbles and Wonder Bubbles each year, making it
the largest manufacturer of bubble products in the world. TootsieToy
bubble solution is not only loads of fun, but the safest bubble
solution available. Many foreign brands are plagued by bacteria and
other contamination problems.
Strombecker also makes various bubble toys in its plant in Durant,
Okla., including Mr. Bubble's Giant Wand which can create eight-foot-
long bubbles, Mr. Bubbles Million Bubbles Wand, and new in 1992,
Mr. Bubbles Bubble Sword, which creates bubbles when pulled from
its solution-filled scabbard.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Dolls
Middleton Collectible Dolls
Middleton Doll Co. has been making life-like, collectible, limited
edition vinyl and porcelain dolls in Belpre, Ohio since 1978. Lee
Middleton started sculpting dolls in the image of her own children in
her kitchen in 1978. Today, Middleton dolls are at the top of
collectors' demand lists. Lee is especially noted for her babies.
Middleton Doll Co. is a family operation. The founder still works
producing Middleton dolls, and her sister, Sharon Wells, designs some
of the doll's clothing. As a result of Lee's deep beliefs, each doll
comes with its own tiny Bible. Explains Lee, It's our way of giving
credit where the real credit is due.
Middleton dolls retail for $10-$500 and are available in specialty,
gift and doll stores nationwide. Although the company will not ship
directly to collectors, the company will direct customers to the
nearest Lee dealer.
(614) 423-1717 (Middleton)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Collectible Horses
Breyer Animal Creations
Breyer Animal Creations, a subsidiary of Reeves International, makes
its hand-painted, finely detailed collectible horses in Wayne, N.J.
Begun as custom plastic molding company in 1943, Breyer made its
first horse for a clock company, which commissioned it to adorn a
timepiece. In 1950, Breyer went on to market its first horse, a
Palomino, through F.W. Woolworth, and sales zoomed. Breyer has
been producing high quality, hand-crafted models of equine legends
ever since.
Breyer horses begin on a sculptor's table, where commissioned artists
carve the horses out of clay. The sculptors define each detail, from
the animals' muscle tone and bone structure to their proportionate
size and overall shape. They are then cast in steel, injection molded
of cellulose acetate plastic, and hand air-brushed to attain their
realistic appearance.
Due to its loyal collector-base of 6- to 18-year-old girls, Breyer
maintains close ties with youth horse activities, including 4-H, Riding
for the Handicapped and the Camp Horsemanship Association. It also
publishes the magazine Just About Horses five times a year.
Breyer Animal Creations are priced from $7 to $25 and are available
in toy stores and tack shops nationwide. The only Bryer product that
is not made in the U.S. is Breyer's miniature Stable Mates.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
#IMAGE 1 10 TWPCX \images\pcx\242Play.PCX
Colorforms
Colorforms are flexible, flat, vinyl shapes that children can easily
arrange and stick to the sheets of vinyl-covered cardboard that
comes with each set. They can be used again and again.
The first Colorforms set was created in 1951 by Harry Kislevitz in his
apartment in the Bronx, N.Y. It consisted of basic geometric shapes in
primary colors and cardboard dress- up dolls. Today, now world-
famous Colorforms are manufactured in Ramsey, N.J., and features
such characters as Ninja Turtles, Sesame Street and Disney characters
and Waldo, not to mention different versions of the original
Colorforms.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Construction Toys
Learning Materials Workshop
The Learning Materials Workshop carefully crafts a variety of award
winning construction toys in Winooski, Vt. These construction toys
emphasize color, design and creative thinking, and allow a child to
use his or her imagination time and time again.
Learning Materials pieces are well-made and extremely durable.
Every piece is crafted from the finest maple and birch hardwood,
sanded and finished for beauty and smoothness and painted in
bright (non-toxic) primary colors. The pieces are also interchangeable
so that their use grows along with the child.
One of Learning Materials' most popular toys is the Playframe, which
includes pyramids, cubes, bobbins, beams, arches and other pieces,
all on a 2' by 2' play surface. This toy received the 1990 Parent's
Choice Award. Learning Materials toys average about $35 to $65,
although the Playframe sells for $315.
(802) 862-8399 (Learning Materials Workshop)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Lincoln Logs
Lincoln Logs were invented by John Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd
Wright, who got the idea while on a business trip to Tokyo with his
father in 1916. As he watched workers move timbers into place for
the Imperial Palace Hotel, he was inspired by the Japanese technique
for constructing earthquake-proof buildings, and daydreamed of a
toy that children could use to build little versions of the structures of
America's past-such as log cabins, forts and bridges.
Wright worked out details for the toy upon his return to Wisconsin,
and in 1918, he put Lincoln Logs on the market. The name was
meant to invoke the spirit of Abraham Lincoln, but there wasn't
much interest then. By the 1930s, it caught on, and children all over
the country were building log cabins.
Playskool, a division of Hasbro Inc., bought the rights to produce
Lincoln Logs in 1943. Today, Playskool still uses Ponderosa Pine from
national forests in Oregon to produce a variety of Lincoln Log sets in
its factory in Walla Walla, Wash.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Tinkertoys
Tinkertoy construction sets were introduced at the 1914 Toy Fair by
inventor Charles Pajeau. From the beginning these novel toys
attracted a great deal of attention. When a model was first displayed
in a Grand Central Station window, it caused a tremendous traffic
jam. Believe it or not, Lockheed once used Tinkertoys as a design
model to build an airplane wing fuselage testing system.
Tinkertoy sets consist of a variety of spools and sticks which can be
endlessly arranged and rearranged to build whatever a child
imagines. Beginning in 1992, Tinkertoys will be made of plastic
instead of wood. Tinkertoys are made by Playskool (Hasbro Inc.) in
Pawtucket, R.I.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Toys and Games:
Drawing Toys
Crayola Crayons
Crayola Crayons have been made in Easton, Pa., since 1903, when the
first box of eight different colored crayons was sold by Binney &
Smith Inc. for five cents. Eighty-nine years later, over two billion
Crayola Crayons are produced in Easton and plants in Canada,
England and Mexico. Crayolas distributed in the U.S. are made in
Easton. If you are unsure, check the back of the box for a Binney &
Smith, Easton, Pa., marking.
Crayola Crayons still come in a box of eight crayons but are also
available in boxes of 16, 24, 32, 48 and 64 crayons. Binney & Smith
also offers large crayons for beginners, So Big Crayons for the
youngest artist, fluorescent, metallic and pastel colors, wipe-off
crayons and anti-roll (flat sided) crayons. This year, Binney & Smith
will introduce a parent's dream, washable crayons.
Binney & Smith also makes fine colored mechanical pencils, markers,
paints, brushes, tools, modelling clay, art kits and coloring books, all
manufactured in its second U.S. plant in Winfield, Kan.
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Etch A Sketch
Invented by Frenchman Arthur Grandjean, this world famous
drawing toy has been manufactured by Ohio Art Co. since 1960.
Designed to be a long lasting classic, Etch A Sketch allows children
(and adults) to turn its knobs and magically create drawings.
The drawing takes place via a metal stylus that connects the two
turning knobs. Depending on which knob or combination of knobs is
turned, the stylus removes a powdered aluminum and plastic bead
mixture from the glass window (covered with a protective mylar
film) and magically draws horizontal, vertical or curved lines on the
screen. When the box is shaken, the mixture recoats the screen and
the lines disappear.
Ohio Art offers its well-loved classic red and gray models as well as
small Travel Etch A Sketch and a Mickey Mouse Etch A Sketch.
Although Ohio Art has a joint venture in Thailand that manufactures
Etch A Sketch for the foreign market, the Bryan, Ohio, plant still
continues to produce over 8,000 units every day, and all Etch A
Sketches found in the U.S. are from this plant.
Ohio Art, which has been around since 1908, also still manufactures
the metal tops, tea sets and drums it began during World War II, as
well as a variety of other items, including Making Creativity Fun
activity toys and Michael Jordan Jammer indoor basketball sets.
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Magic Slate
In the early 1920s, R.A. Watkins, the owner of a small printing plant
in Illinois, was approached by a man who wanted to sell him the
rights to a homemade device made of waxed cardboard and tissue on
which messages could be printed and then easily erased by lifting up
the tissue. Watkins wanted to think about it, and told the man to
return the next day. In the middle of the night, the man called
Watkins from jail and said that if Watkins would bail him out, he
could have the rights to his device. Watins agreed and went on to
acquire a U.S. patent as well as the international rights for the device,
which he called Magic Slate.
The Magic Slate is a cardboard pad with an acetate sheet you write
on and then lift to erase. It is reusable time and time again, and its
compact nature makes it ideally suited to car trips or other places
where a child cannot bring along other toys. Modern Magic Slate sets
include cardboard backing sheets that feature such characters as
Little Mermaid, Tiny Toons and Disney characters.
Magic Slates are made by Western Publishing in Racine, Wis., and
Fayattesville, N.C.
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Fisher-Price Products
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From its beginnings in 1930 in East Aurora, N.Y., Fisher-Price has
become the largest manufacturer of infant and preschool toys in the
world. Fisher-Price was first known for its pull-toys named Granny
Doodle and Doctor Doodle. After years as a subsidiary of Quaker Oats,
Fisher-Price is again an independent global producer best known for
its brightly colored, durable plastic toys.
Despite its global production, including plants in England and Mexico
and Chinese sourcing, Fisher-Price still makes some old, molded-
plastic favorites in Medina, N.Y., and Murray, Ky., including Rock-A-
Stack, Snap Lock Beads, Cash Register, Little Snoopy Sniffer and
Bubble Mower.
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Games
Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley Co. began as a lithography company in Springfield,
Mass. When the company's best selling product, a picture of a clean-
shaven Abraham Lincoln, fell drastically when Lincoln grew a beard,
owner Milton Bradley created a game to keep his printing company
in business. Bradley called it The Checkered Game of Life and made
the board a checkerboard because he thought life was just that,
checkered and uncertain. It sold 45,000 copies in 1860 and put
Milton Bradley on the road to becoming the largest producer of
games and puzzles in the world.
Today, Milton Bradley is owned by Hasbro Inc. and remains the
world's largest producer of games and puzzles. The majority of its
games are either completely made in its plant in East Longmeadow,
Mass., or printed and assembled in Longmeadow but contain
imported pieces such as dice or timers. (This is true of almost all
board games made in the U.S.A.)
Many classic and well-loved Milton Bradley games are still
completely made in the U.S.A., including Chutes and Ladders,
Candyland, Memory, Connect Four, Perfection, Barrel of Monkeys, The
Game of Life, Scrabble, and The Game of the States.
The Game of Life is the updated version of the original The
Checkered Game of Life. It was revived to celebrate the company's
centennial in 1960. Ironically, each game reflects its times. The
Checkered Game of Life was a morality play. The object of the game
was a happy old age, with right and virtuous choices advancing a
player toward that goal. In contrast, in The Game of Life you choose
to go to college or engage in business, and the object is to become a
millionaire.
Scrabble is the second all-time top-selling board game in America. It
was invented in 1931 by Alfred Butts to occupy his days of
unemployment during the Great Depression. In 1948, a family friend
finally convinced Butts that the game had commercial value and
persuaded him to copyright it. Originally called Criss Cross Words,
Scrabble players pick letters on wood tiles (made in Vermont) and
form words on a large crossword puzzle. An estimated two million
Scrabble games are sold each year, including French, German,
Hebrew, Italian, Russian, Spanish and Braille versions.
The Game of the States is a particularly fascinating game for families
interested in products made in the U.S.A. The game consists of
driving a car across the U.S. and buying and selling products each
state is known for such as Kansas wheat and Detroit cars.
Two new Milton Bradley games that are 100% made in the U.S.A. are
Splat!, in which children try to get clay bugs to the kitchen for a
midnight snack without being squashed by their opponents, and the
wildly popular NASCAR Daytona 500 Race Game.
Some classic Milton Bradley games that are printed and assembled in
the U.S. but include an imported part such as the timer, buzzer,
spinner or die are Cootie, Twister, Scattegories and Taboo.
Since 1990, the boxes for these games, as well as all other Milton
Bradley games and puzzles, are made from 95% recycled post-
consumer waste (as opposed to factory clippings, which Milton
Bradley has recycled since 1971).
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Monopoly
Monopoly is sold by Parker Brothers, another division of Hasbro Inc.
However, this classic game is actually manufactured at Milton
Bradley's East Long Meadow, Mass., plant. Monopoly is the world's
best selling board game and has been translated into 23 different
languages. This classic all-American game, which was invented
during the Great Depression, uses the streets of Atlantic City, N.J., as
the properties opponents buy and sell. As with many board games,
Monopoly tokens and dice are imported.
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Intempo Toys
Intempo Toys manufactures 100% of its board games and puzzles in
Los Angeles, Calif. and Holyoke, Mass. Intempo Toys specializes in
games that help children understand and learn to love art and music.
The company was founded in 1987 by a former art teacher and a
lawyer who could not find toys that would help them introduce
their own children to the fine arts.
One of Intempo's most popular games is In the Picture which has
children search a museum for art clues to solve the mystery of a
missing painting, either a child's re-creation of a famous work of art
or a print of a famous piece. This game has won many awards
including the 1991 Parent's Choice Gold Award and ranking in the
Chicago Tribune's top five children's games of that same year.
Intempo games are reasonably priced at $14-$20 and can be found
in specialty toy stores and bookstores.
(800) 362-TOYS (Intempo)
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Lionel Trains
Electric trains were first developed by Mario Caruso, an Italian
immigrant who took the primitive battery-powered box on tracks
invented by Lionel Cowan and fashioned it into a realistic model
train. Lionel Trains Inc. began making electric trains in 1900.
After decades of tremendous success and growth in which Lionel
became the best loved name in electric trains, the company fell on
hard times and a series of corporate takeovers in the 1980s. At one
point, train production was moved to Tijuana, Mexico, with disastrous
results. The new plant could not maintain the quality expected of
Lionel and often missed delivery dates, which further irritated
retailers. It also vexed model railroad hobbyists like Richard P.
Kughn, a Detroit investor who led a group of investors in buying
Lionel. After becoming chairman and CEO, Kughn immediately
insisted on moving manufacturing back to its prior base in Mount
Clemens, Mich. Kughn rehired many of the plant's former workers,
reemphasized product quality and spread the word among
enthusiasts that Lionel was back on track.
Since Kughn's takeover, Lionel has broadened its product line,
become the dominate producer of a wide array of classic and
collectable trains and tripled its sales volume. Today, Lionel is back
to producing world renowned, high quality train sets for children and
limited edition trains and accessories for hobbyists and adults.
Each Lionel train combines the best of modern technology with
traditional handmade craftsmanship. Aside from its classic offerings,
Lionel is continually developing new electric train products, including
those featuring Disney characters.
Lionel train sets, cars and accessories can be found at toy and hobby
shops nationwide. Although over 90% of Lionel products are made in
Michigan, a few accessories and single cars are made offshore. The
packages on these items will read made and lithographed in Korea,
etc.
(313) 949-4100 (Lionel)
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Large Molded Plastic Activity Toys
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Little Tikes
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Little Tikes toys are all made in the U.S.A. in Hudson, Ohio. As
founder and former president Tom Murdough Jr. said, We wouldn't
have it any other way.
Little Tikes was founded in 1970 by Murdough, with nine employees
and one rotational molding machine with the idea of producing
colorful, durable, plastic play things in a do it right atmosphere.
Since 1984, Little Tikes has been a subsidiary of Rubbermaid and is
currently the largest rotational molder of plastic in the world.
Little Tikes toys, which are designed for preschoolers, are noted for
their clean design, durability and overall quality. One Little Tikes toy
that has won repeated praise is Little Tikes Place, a doll house
furnished with a family of durable, well-built little people, including
black and Asian families. Some of its most popular toys are Tap-A-
Tune Piano, Cozy Coupe Car, Turtle Sandbox, Party Kitchen and
Activity Gym.
Little Tikes has a strong commitment to customer service. It was the
first American toy manufacturer to mold its toll-free number into
every product in 1983, and it has over 45 people on its customer
service staff, which receives over 400,000 calls a year.
(800) 321-0183 (Little Tikes)
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Today's Kids
Today's Kids makes all of its large molded plastic toys in Booneville,
Ark. The company used to be called Wolverine Toy company and
made metal toy kitchen appliances, tea sets and dishes. In 1986, it
switched to colorful, molded plastic for several new toys and changed
its name to Today's Kids. The new toys were very popular and the
company began specializing in colorful, bulky, plastic activity toys for
play schoolers.
The most popular Today's Kids items are All-StarBasketball, Kid's
Workbench, Kid's Kitchen, The Merry Go Round and the multi-
activity Toddler Playground. This large toy has a number of
activities, including crawl-through areas, a slide, steps, a shape
sorter, a xylophone, a telephone and a ball chute.
One of Today's Kids newest products is the 390 Activity Rocker,
which is a little rocker with a console full of busy activities. It is
designed to be a child's first situp toy. Every Today's Kids toy has a
three-year Kid Tough guarantee.
(800) 258-TOYS (Today's Kids)
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Play-Doh
Play-Doh was introduced by Kenner Toys in 1955 and is one of the
company's oldest and most successful toy lines. Play-Doh is a non-
toxic modelling compound that is colorful, soft and easily shaped and
reshaped time and time again. Although originally available only in
white, by 1957 Play-Doh was available in eight standard colors. As of
1992, Play-Doh will include neon colors sets.
Besides the basic Case of Colors, Play-Doh offers a variety of playsets
that include gadgets and molds for Play-Doh. Two of the best and
most popular playsets are Make A Meal, which includes rolling pins
and a spaghetti making machine and Hairdo Dolly which lets a
youngster grow the doll's hair, cut it and begin again.
Play-Doh and Play-Doh Playsets are manufactured in Cincinnati, Ohio
by Playskool, a division of Hasbro.
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Puzzles
Big Ben
Big Ben Puzzles is 50 years old in 1992. These classic 1,000-piece
puzzles, which are designed for adults, are made by Milton Bradley
(Hasbro) in East Longmeadow, Mass. Milton Bradley also makes a
variety of other quality puzzles for both children and adults in this
Massachusetts plant.
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Intempo
Intempo Toys of Palo Alto, Calif., is the only U.S. company that
produces fine art puzzles designed for children. The puzzles feature
reproductions of famous works by artists such as Van Gogh, Renoir
and Miro. The number of puzzle pieces ranges from 80 for smaller
children to 100 and 500 for older children. (Other information on
Intempo Toys can be found in the Games section of this chapter.)
(800) 362-TOYS (Intempo)
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Lauri
Lauri has been making outstanding crepe foam rubber puzzles since
1960. Lauri makes over 150 products for children 2 to 10 years old,
including puzzles, alphabets, numbers, lacing and stringing activities
and construction sets, all made in the U.S. in Phillips-Avon, Maine.
Lauri puzzles and manipulation sets have won many awards of
excellence. Lauri perception puzzles are particularly good and are
praised for their quality design. These perception puzzles show
groupings of animals, cars and people, each one slightly different
from the others in size, type or action. Children must perceive the
subtle differences to fit in the pieces.
Lauri's crepe foam rubber pieces are washable and bendable, but
they won't curl, crease or tear, and the color doesn't fade. Children
love the texture, and if a piece is lost, the consumer can get a
replacement for a 50-cent handling fee. Lauri's Playmill also makes a
line of wooden puzzles and activity sets.
Lauri and Lauri's Playmill products are very reasonably priced and
can be found in gift and specialty stores nationwide.
(207) 639-3555 (Lauri)
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Radio-Controlled Toys
Cox
Cox is the only manufacturer of radio-controlled products made in
the U.S.A. For younger children, Cox makes line control planes, which
have a small line attached from the plane to the handle. Cox also
makes free flight helicopters, a free flight flying saucer,
preassembled rockets that use Estes engines, and gas and electric
powered fail-safe planes.
(800) 451-0339 (Cox)
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Rocketry
Rocketry is as American as Disneyland. In 1958, soon after the first
Sputnik was launched, Estes Model Rocket Co. lifted off in Penrose,
Colo. Estes, which has been owned by TCW Trust Co. of the West since
1990, makes working rocket models that can go more than 1,000 feet
in the air. Children enjoy building and painting the rockets as much
as the launch itself.
Estes rockets are reusable and are available as simple models or as
part of starter kits that include the launcher and rockets necessary
for launches. Modern Estes products include models of the Patriot
Missile, SDI Satellite, SR71 Blackbird and the Phoenix.
(719) 372-6565 (Estes)
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Silly Putty
Silly Putty was developed accidentally in a General Electric
laboratory during World War II, where scientists were trying to
develop an inexpensive synthetic rubber substitute to make Jeep and
airplane tires, tank treads and G.I. boots. Company engineer James
Wright worked with boric acid and silicone oil and created a rubber-
like compound with highly unusual properties. The pink substance
could stretch like taffy, bounce off walls like a ball and, when struck
with a hammer, shatter like glass. Although it became a novelty and
curiosity on the cocktail party circuit, the scientists had no use for it.
After seeing the putty at a cocktail party, a Connecticut marketing
man by the name of Peter Hodgson bought the rights to it. He
packaged half-ounce dabs of the stuff in plastic egg-shaped
containers and sold millions each year. People used it to take lint off
clothes, clean typewriter keys, level wobbly furniture, and plug
leaks. When Hodgson died in 1976, he left an estate of $140 million.
Binney & Smith (the Crayola people) bought the rights to Silly Putty
in 1977 and have been manufacturing it in Easton, Pa. ever since.
Binney & Smith sold 6 million eggs of Silly Putty in 1991 alone.
New uses for silly putty are found all the time. Athletes squeeze it to
strengthen their hand muscles, while Apollo 8 astronauts used it
during the space flights to fasten their tools during weightlessness.
Many people are now hailing Silly Putty as a great tool for stress
relief. Busy executives and others keep a wad handy on their desk
and squeeze and reform it when things get hectic.
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Sleds
Flexible Flyer, the world's most famous sled, turned 100 years old in
1989. This enduring wooden sled, instantly recognizable by its Red
Eagle trademark, was invented in 1889 by Samuel Leeds Allen of
Philadelphia, a brilliant Quaker businessman who manufactured farm
equipment. Afraid that his workers would take jobs on nearby
farms during the slow winter season, Allen began work on a new
product. With a passion for sledding (coasting in those days) and a
love of invention, Allen eventually developed and patented a sled
that revolutionized the sport. He replaced wooden runners with
flexible, T-shaped, steel ones, then fixed the front with a movable,
steerable cross-bar, added a slatted seat and named it the
``Flexible Flyer.''
The sled was hardly an overnight success. His salesmen did not like
selling it, since the sales season cut their vacations short. Department
store buyers were wary of this new impractical invention. However,
by the early 1900s, with a revival of interest in such outdoor sports
as golf, skating and tobogganing, the Flexible Flyer began its climb to
fame.
Today, Flexible Flyer is owned by Par Industries and Flexible Flyer
sleds are produced in West Point, Mich. Although the classic wooden
Flexible Flyer is still churned out at about 150,000 sleds a year,
Flexible Flyer also manufacturers over a million plastic sleds,
including saucers and toboggans.
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Slinky
Richard James was a marine engineer aboard ship in 1943 when a
coiled,circular torsion spring, fell off a table and began rolling around
the deck. Its wild gyrations amused him and he thought it would
make a great toy. James started tinkering with various metals,
thicknesses and proportions of metals, and two years later, he
perfected a coiled, steel spring that could spiral from one spot to
another and walk down stairs. His wife Betty went to the dictionary,
and found the name ``Slinky.'' The Jameses persuaded the Gimbles
store in Philadelphia to allow them to set up a sloped board in the
toy department, where Slinky could walk. Within 90 minutes, all 400
in stock were sold.
In 1945, they set up James Industries in Hollidaysburg, Pa., which
continues to manufacture Slinky products under the watchful eye of
Betty James. In the 1990s, the Slinky line includes a Slinky Junior,
two-color Plastic Slinkys, and Slinky Eyeballs. However, the original
Slinky still outsells the others.
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Stuffed Animals
Most stuffed animals are imported. It is very difficult to find a
domestically manufactured stuffed toy in the U.S. today. However,
we have found three companies that produce quality stuffed toys
here in the U.S.
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Country Critter
Country Critter puppets and stuffed animals are made in Burlington,
Kan. Country Critter, established in 1980, is one of the largest puppet
makers in the world. Its puppets and stuffed animals are extremely
life-like animals, including pigs, cows, bears, rabbits and more exotic
animals. Country Critter also manufactures a variety of Ride-On
Toys, which are large plush animal toys designed for sitting, romping,
or riding on, and pocket-sized stuffed animals called Cottage
Critters. Country Critter stuffed toys and puppets can be found in toy
stores and Hallmark and other gift stores nationwide.
(800) 444-9648 (Critters)
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The Toy Works Silk Screen Dolls
The Toy Works manufactures silk screen dolls, blocks and other
stuffed toys based on characters from classic children's literature.
The company began just 17 years ago when founder John Gunther
tried to reproduce a silk screen Tabby Cat he saw in the Museum of
the City of New York. Gunther perfected the reproduction process
and The Toy Works is now considered the world's best silk screen
printer of antique rag doll reproductions.
The Toy Works reproductions are vividly life-like, they seem to have
stepped off the pages of your favorite children's book and include
such characters as Tabby Cat, Punch and Judy, Pug Dog, Rooster and
the Seven Little Kittens. All Toy Works creations are manufactured in
Middle Falls, N.Y. They cost between $9 and $50 and can be found at
gift, specialty, museum and department stores nationwide.
(800) 237-9566 (Toy Works)
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Vermont Teddy Bear Company
Vermont Teddy Bear Co. makes high-quality stuffed teddy bears
(and an occasional seasonal bunny rabbit) in its factory in Williston,
Vt. The bears come in four different sizes and four different colors
and can be accessorized with a variety of clothing. Gift BearGrams are
also available. Customers can also request a Teddy Bear Gazette that
illustrates and gives ordering information on VTBC bears, or discuss
possible bear choices with a telephone Bear Counselor.
Since VTBC bears are made from Wisconsin fur, North Carolina
stuffing and eyes from New York, whatever you choose, you will
receive a 100% made in the U.S teddy bear.
(800) 829-BEAR (Vt. Teddy Bear)
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Swingsets
Each year, Creative Playthings manufactures tens of thousands of
wooden swing sets, making it the largest manufacturer of wooden
backyard playground equipment in the country. The swing sets are
well-built and made to last each one carries a 25-year warranty. The
swing sets are made in Herndon, Pa., and retail from $499 and up.
Although the sets are unassembled, most stores (including Sears and
Toys R Us) provide delivery and installation services.
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Tonka Trucks
Tonka Corp. was founded in 1946 in the basement of a small
schoolhouse near Lake Minnetonka, Minn. After acquiring both
Kenner and Parker Toys and becoming one of the country's largest
toy manufacturers, Tonka was bought by Hasbro Inc. in 1991.
Although some Tonka trucks are now made offshore, the majority of
are made in El Paso, Texas.
Texas-made Tonka trucks include: Tonka Mightys, which are
lifetime-guaranteed, large all-steel construction type trucks; Tonka
Large Steel trucks, which are smaller 4 by 4s, pickups and monster
trucks made of steel and plastic; and Tonka Large PreSchool vehicles,
which are all-plastic, lifetime-guaranteed, furniture friendly vehicles,
including fire trucks, garbage trucks and school buses.
U.S.-made Tonka trucks sell for $10 to $90 and can be found in toy
stores across the country. Remember, not all Tonkas are U.S. made, so
check the box.
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Wagons and Other Ride-On Toy
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Roadmaster
Roadmaster Corp. makes bright red, classic metal and wood wagons
in Olney, Ill. The Olney factory also manufactures a variety of sturdy
metal and plastic ride-on toys that are pedal-driven vehicles for 2-
to 6- year olds. Roadmaster's ride-on toys include a tractor, a fire
truck, jeeps and trucks. These Roadmaster toys can be found in toy
stores, Kmart and other retail chains. Roadmaster tricycles and
children's bicycles are discussed in the Bicycle chapter.
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Yo-Yo
The yo-yo had its origin as a primitive weapon in the Philippine
Islands long before there was a printed word. It was fashioned from
a sharp piece of flint-like rock with a long thong tied to it. If a
native's aim was poor, at least the hunter could retrieve the weapon,
and the hunting expedition wouldn't be a total loss! During the 17th
and 18th centuries, the yo-yo evolved into a favorite diversion in the
royal courts of Spain and France.
Duncan Toys introduced this toy to the United States in the 1920s,
where it officially became known as the Yo-Yo. Duncan Toys, a
division of Flambeau Products, still makes the majority of its famous
Yo-Yos in the U.S. in Columbus, Ind. All Duncan Yo-Yos are currently
made from plastic and include such well-loved models as the
Butterfly, Imperial and Midnight Special. To find a particular Duncan
Yo-Yo call the number below. And remember,If it's not a Duncan, it's
not a Yo-Yo.
(800) 356-8396 (Duncan)
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#CARD:Tools:
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Tools
Nowhere is the superiority of American craftsmanship more evident
than in the design and manufacture of electric and hand tools.
Anyone, from the beginning do-it-yourselfer to the master
craftsman, can find quality tools made in the U.S.A.
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Hand Tools
American Tool
American Tool Co. manufactures all of its excellent hand tools in the
United States, mostly in Lincoln, Neb. American Tool offers Vise-Grip
locking pliers and specialty locking tools, Quick-Grip one-handed bar
clamps, Unibit step drills, Prosnip tin and aviation snips and Chesco
hex key sets. All of these tools pass a rigid factory inspection and
carry a full warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
(402) 683-5800 (American Tool)
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Channellock
Channellock was started over 100 years ago by George DeArment in
Conneaut Lake, Pa. This company's tongue and groove adjustable
pliers, invented in 1933, evolved into a wide assortment of pliers,
snips, electricians' knives, wire cutting and crimping tools, adjustable
wrenches and ball peen hammersall of which are still made in the
USA.
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Craftsman
Sears offers an excellent line of hand tools under the Craftsman label.
These tools are all American-made and backed by an unconditional
lifetime warranty if a Craftsman tool ever breaks, it will be replaced
free of charge.
In contrast to Craftsman tools, Sears' regular hand tools are generally
lower-quality, imported tools.
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Estwing
Estwing produces all of its top quality hammers, hatchets, picks and
prybars in the U.S.
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Stanley
When one thinks of American hand tools, one thinks of Stanley. This
American company, which was founded in 1843, currently produces
over 2,000 tools and related products, the vast majority of which are
still made in the U.S. in Covington, Ga.
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Vaughn
Vaughn is another U.S. manufacturer of all American-made top-
quality hammers, picks, hatchets and prybars.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Power Tools and Accessories
Dewalt
Dewalt is the new name for Black & Decker's professional line of
power tools. These top of the line tools are all made in the U.S.
To complement its premium Dewalt tools, Black & Decker also offers
a full line of American-made saws, sanders, drills and routers for the
"do it yourselfer." These are quality tools at a reasonable price. (Note:
Black & Decker's ELU woodworking tools are manufactured abroad.)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Craftsman
Black & Decker power tools are sold
by Sears under its Craftsman label.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Hirsh
For securing your project, Hirsh offers a variety of workstations, saw
horses, tool stands, stools and adjustable work supports.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
#IMAGE 1 9 TWPCX \images\pcx\267Mil.PCX
Milwaukee
Ninety-five percent of Milwaukee's line of electric and cordless tools
are manufactured in their plants in Wisconsin, Alabama and
Mississippi. Milwaukee tools are for the professional who requires
performance and durability.
For example, the Milwaukee 7 1/4" contractor's saw ($150) features
heavy-duty construction, all ball and roller bearings and excellent
balance and weighs just 11.5 lbs.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Porter-Cable
Porter-Cable produces a wide range of U.S.-made electric tools. Its
power sanding equipment is considered by many to be the best in
the world. Belt sander models range from $150 to $360. The finishing
sander, Model 505, is available for under $150. This heavy duty
sander has precision balance and a high-speed orbit that allows the
user to remove stock with less fatigue.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Shopsmith
Shopsmith produces a single-unit complete home workshop in
Dayton, Ohio. The Shopsmith home workshop includes a table, lathe,
sander and drill press. Prices start at around $1500.
(513) 898- 9325 (Shopsmith)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Wagner
Wagner offers a variety of Minneapolis-made painting equipment.
The Powerscraper removes old paint, while the Powerpaint applies
paint with an airless spray system for both indoor and outdoor use.
The Powerroller can siphon paint directly from the can, eliminating
the paint tray and cutting your work time considerably.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Wen
Wen makes all of its durable power tools in Indiana.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Vermont American
Consider Vermont American for replacement blades, bits and drills.
This company operates 19 plants in the United States, although a few
of their specialized circular saw blades are manufactured in Canada
and Australia.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Accessories
Tool Boxes
Plano, Flambeau and Akro all produce a variety of quality plastic
tool, tote and utility boxes in the United States.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Padlocks
There are two very good brands of American locks for keeping your
tool box or other shop items secure: Master Lock Co. of Milwaukee,
Wis., which is the world's largest manufacturer of padlocks, and
American Lock Co. These two companies are the top selling locks in
the United States. Most other kinds of padlocks are imported.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
#IMAGE 1 11 TWPCX \images\pcx\269Brin.PCX
Flashlights
Cheap imported flashlights are of- ten poor quality and unreliable.
Both Brinkmann and Maglite offer state-of-the-art aluminum
flashlights that have adjustable beams, waterproof casing and
unsurpassed records of reliability.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Tools:
Lawn Mowers
Although imported lawn mowers are making inroads into the
American market, many U.S. brands are equal in performance and
more attractive in price. The following companies manufacture U.S.-
made quality lawn mowers and lawn care tools.
Ariens
Cub Cadet
Jacobson
Lawnboy
Sears
Snapper
#IMAGE 1 4 TWPCX \images\pcx\270Tor.PCX
Toro
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
#IMAGE 1 19 TWPCX \images\pcx\USA18.PCX
Musical Instruments
The Industry
Domestic market share in this industry has declined significantly
over the past two decades. This has largely been the result of an
infusion of cheap, mass produced imported instruments. Although
American companies have largely lost the low end of this market,
they have retained an internationally respected reputation for
producing some of the world's finest high-quality instruments.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Pianos
#IMAGE 1 8 TWPCX \images\pcx\272Ste.PCX
Steinway
Steinway & Sons was founded in New York City by German
immigrant Heinrich Steinweg, who changed his name to Steinway
upon moving to America. Modern Steinways are hand-built in Long
Island City, N.Y., for North and South America and in Hamburg,
Germany, for European and Asian markets.
Since the company's inception in 1853, the name Steinway has been
synonymous with the highest attainable level of quality and
innovation. Steinway was instrumental in the evolution of the
modern piano, acquiring approximately 133 patents throughout its
history. Some of the major innovations Steinway is responsible for
include the introduction of the overstrung grand piano, an improved
keyboard action and the invention of the double cupola iron frame.
All modern pianos are built with some Steinway System innovations.
Each Steinway piano is painstakingly handcrafted over the course of
nearly two years. The highly skilled craftsmen of the New York
factory, many of whom represent the second or third generation to
work at Steinway, create approximately 2,500 pianos each year. This
small production, which pales in comparison to mass market
manufacturers that churn out as many as 200,000 pianos a year, is a
testament to Steinway's attention to detail and complete devotion to
hand-built quality.
For further evidence of Steinway quality, one need only examine the
concert halls of the world where Steinways take center stage:
Steinway pianos are the exclusive choice of over 90% of the world's
performing artists.
As one would expect, Steinway pianos are quite expensive. A
Steinway upright piano costs around $10,000, while Steinway grand
pianos, to which the company devotes much of its production, retail
for between $22,000 and $65,000.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Mason & Hamlin Companies
In 1989, the Falcone Piano Company acquired the historic U.S. piano
manufacturers Mason & Hamlin and Sohmer, and changed the
company name to Mason and Hamlin Companies. The Mason and
Hamlin Companies continue to produced distinct pianos under the
Mason and Hamlin, Sohmer and Falcone names. All of them are made
in the U.S.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Mason and Hamlin
Mason and Hamlin pianos were first introduced in Boston in the early
1900s. These first pianos played to rave reviews and were quickly
dubbed The Stradivarius of Pianos.
However, following the Depression and ownership by U.S. Piano,
Mason and Hamlin pianos fell on increasingly hard times. Finally, in
1986, the first of what would be a string of modern owners declared
bankruptcy and ceased Mason and Hamlin production entirely.
The current Mason and Hamlin pianos were reintroduced in 1990.
These small production, hand-built pianos are near perfect
recreations of their lustrous ancestors. The rebirth of these great,
distinctive pianos is a result of the newly formed Mason and Hamlin
Companies' decision to reject the common practice of placing a newly
acquired name on generic imported pianos and instead meticulously
recreate these formerly great American pianos in a new Haverhill,
Mass., plant.
Some new additions to these otherwise faithful recreations are its
Renner actions and German Kluge keyboards, which the company
considers to be the best such parts available.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Sohmer
Sohmer pianos were the original creation of founder Hugo Sohmer,
who emigrated to America from Germany and began his piano
company in New York in 1870.
Sohmer pianos are currently produced by the Mason and Hamlin
Companies in Elysburg, Pa., and are hand-built to the same rigid
standards of raw materials and workmanship set forth by the
company's founder.
Sohmer is perhaps best known for its 46 vertical performance
pianos, which have a reputation for superb tonality and touch
response that rivals the best small grand pianos. Indeed, the full
range of sound from a 46 Sohmer Vertical results from a distribution
of strings that exceeds 96% of the strings on the company's 5' grand.
These excellent pianos are designed not only as premium
instruments, but as fine piece of furniture as well, and are available
in a variety of classic hand-finished cherry, mahogany, oak and
walnut exteriors.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Falcone
The Mason and Hamlin Companies craft a limited number of Falcone
(pronounced fal-c-ni) grand pianos in Haverhill, Mass. These custom
grand pianos, which are designed for performance, the serious
student or as an heirloom investment, are often described as the
Stradivarius of Keyboards. These handcrafted instruments feature a
unique, high tension scale that requires each harp (or plate) to be
individually hand cast and precision finished. The result is a family
of grands with a variety of unique personalities favored by many of
the world's great concert pianists.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Baldwin
The Baldwin company proudly claims, More Americans buy Baldwin
pianos than any other brand, domestic or foreign.
Baldwin's large selection of pianos include 36-42 spinets, or vertical
pianos, for the home, larger studio pianos, concert verticals and the
largest Baldwin Classics. These vertical pianos, which make up about
90% of the company's business, are made in Arkansas and
Mississippi. The company's small line of grand pianos is made in
Korea.
Although Baldwin is a somewhat of a mass producer (approximately
35,000 pianos a year), the company retains a high degree of quality.
Indeed, many piano experts consider the Baldwin spinet the best on
the market. Baldwin pianos range from around $3,000 to $42,000.
The best models for home or school use are the Hamilton School
piano ($3,100) and the Home Studio model ($3,600), which is
available in decorator styles.
Baldwin also manufactures a line of electronic keyboards that are
competitive with imported Japanese keyboards.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Walter
The family-run Walter Piano Co. is a relative newcomer to American
piano manufacturing. The first Walter piano was introduced by
company founder Charles R. Walter in 1975. Since then, Walter
console and studio pianos have become well-known for their sound
and superb blending of modern technology and traditional
craftsmanship.
Although the company boasts that Walter pianos reflect a continuing
program of product research, these pianos still embody the personal
touch of old world craftsmanship: Charles Walter developed the
company's W-48 scale using the computer facilities at the University
of Notre Dame, yet all Walter pianos are personally inspected and
signed by a member of the Walter family before being sent out.
This year, this young company, which manufactures all its pianos in
Elkhart, Ind., will complement its top-end upright pianos with the
introduction of the first Walter grand.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Guitars
Foreign companies import large quantities of less expensive, mass
produced moderate quality guitars into the U.S market. To compete,
many U.S. companies use imported guitars or components in their
low-end lines.
However, the world's top-quality guitars continue to be made by
American companies in the U.S. In fact, many of the imports entering
the U.S. are simply copies of American-made guitars. For instance,
Japanese-made Ibanez guitars are copies of the legendary American-
made Gibsons.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
#IMAGE 1 6 TWPCX \images\pcx\277Ste.PCX
Fender
Rock and roll, with the help of the modern electric guitar,
revolutionized the music world. Both are purely American
innovations. The modern electric guitar was, for all intents and
purposes, invented by Leo Fender in 1948 when he introduced the
first commercially produced solid body electric Spanish guitar. Prior
to this, musicians used hollow body electric guitars, which created a
great deal of unwanted feedback and couldn't produce much volume.
The initial Broadcaster (later renamed Telecaster) guitars were
initially designed for country and western but became the starting
place for the rock and roll guitar. These early guitars were followed
by the Precision Bass, the Jazz Bass and the legendary Stratocaster,
which was played by visionaries like Buddy Holly.
Together, these guitars remain the industry leaders and are the
foundation of popular music worldwide. Many of the world's best
rock artists prefer a Fender. Guitar legends Jimi Hendrix and Eric
Clapton have slung Stratocasters throughout their careers. Hendrix,
who owned and played over 100 Fenders, was a driving force behind
a massive 1967 Stratocaster revival that continues today.
Most recently, Fender introduced the Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature
Series Stratocaster as a special memorial to the late Texas blues
master. This special Stratocaster was commissioned by Vaughan
himself and includes all the features that made his instruments
unique. The majority of Fender electric guitars are still made in the
U.S. in Corona, Calif. These guitars sell for between $500 and $1500
and can be distinguished from imported Fenders by examining the
label on the headstock of the guitar. Fender also makes a complete
line of Fender Amplifiers, which are made in Lake Oswego, Ore.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
#IMAGE 1 6 TWPCX \images\pcx\278Les.PCX
Gibson
Gibson stands beside Fender as one of the greatest U.S. guitar
manufacturers.
Gibson guitars were born in Kalamazoo, Mich. at the hands of founder
Orville H. Gibson in the 1890's. In the beginning, Gibson carefully
handcrafted each guitar and mandolin himself. By 1902, Gibson had
formed a company and employed the first of what was to become
generations of skilled craftsmen making world-acclaimed Gibson
instruments.Today, although the company also sells inexpensive,
imported Epiphone introductory guitars, all guitars bearing the
Gibson name remain made in the U.S and the epitome of quality and
craftsmanship.
In fact, Gibson currently manufactures an entire range of highly
acclaimed American-made instruments: Gibson electric and jazz
guitars from Nashville, Tenn., Gibson acoustic guitars, mandolins and
banjos crafted in Bozeman, Mont., strings, amplifiers and pickups
from Elgin, Ill., and North Hollywood, Calif.-made keyboards. Gibson
also makes Steinberger and Tobias American-made guitars and
bases.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Martin
C.F. Martin & Co. was founded by C.F. Martin in 1833 and has been
producing some of the world's top acoustic guitars ever since. The
company has an unchallenged reputation for consistent quality,
which makes this small, privately held company a music industry
legend. Martin quality is so well known musicians joke that as long
as you can say Martin guitar, you can communicate in any language.
Martin currently produces three separate lines of guitars. Top-of-
the-line Martins remain hand-made in the United States in Nazareth,
Pa. and in heavy demand by musicians around the world. The most
popular of these $1,500-$6,000 guitars is the the Dreadnought, or D-
size guitar which is used in every style of acoustic music.
On the other hand, Martin's mid-range guitars, which are found in
the Shenandoah series, are finished in the U.S. from components
entirely imported from Japan. Martin's Sigma line, which contains
economical guitars for beginners and intermediates, is manufactured
in Korea.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Peavey
The Peavey Electronics Corp. of Meridian, Miss. offers both guitars
and basses crafted in the United States. With a wide range of models,
Peavey claims its products "will take you anywhere musically you
want to go."
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Banjos
Some say the banjo is America's only native instrument, and
American banjo makers are still turning out the best. Unlike in the
guitar industry, copies of American banjos hardly exist. Some of the
best American banjo makers include:
Bacon Deering (Calif.)
Flat Iron Mandolin and Banjo Co. (Mont.)
Gibson (Tenn.)
Bart Reiter (Minn.)
S.S. Stewart (Pa.)
Stelling (Va.)
Vega
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Brass/Woodwinds
United Musical Instruments
United Musical Instruments U.S.A. manufacturers a large selection of
woodwind and brass instruments in Elkhart, Ind.
Instruments include piccolos, flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons,
saxophones, trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, trombones, french horns,
euphoniums/baritones, tubas, marching brass and sousaphones.
The company also produces, among many others, the famous King
musical instruments.
(219) 295-0079 (United Musical)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
#IMAGE 1 17 TWPCX \images\pcx\280Eso.PCX
Ensoniq Keyboards
Over 90% of the electronic keyboards sold in the United States are
manufactured in Japan. In the early 1980s, the electronics industry
was awaiting the emergence of a low- cost sampler keyboard from
the most likely source, Japan. However, in 1984 Ensoniq Corp.
surprised many by introducing the first production sampler
keyboard. (Samplers use computer stored, recorded sounds instead
of the digital recreations found on most low-end synthesizers.)
In creating an affordable keyboard, which sported state-of-the art
technology, Ensoniq not only upset the normally Japanese-dominated
consumer industry, but turned itself into a multimillion-dollar
company that exports keyboards all over the world, including,
ironically enough, to Japan.
Ensoniq keyboards include the standard VFX and VFX SD models,
which are state-of-the-art digital keyboards with programmable
synthesizers with reverb and a 24-track sequencer, and the Ensoniq
EPS Performance Sampler, which is a complete workstation capable
of both recording and mixing compositions. Ensoniq keyboards are
made in Malvern, Pa.
(215) 647-3930 (Ensoniq)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Musical Instruments:
Haynes Flutes
The Wm. S. Haynes Co. hand-crafts its excellent flutes and piccolos in
Boston, Mass.as it has since 1888. Contemporary Haynes' artisans,
under the tutelage of Lewis J. Deveau, president and master flute
maker, strive to perpetuate the coveted heritage established by
founder William Haynes.
The fact that Haynes is the instrument of choice for flutists
throughout the world, including legendary artists like George Barrere
and Jean-Pierre Rampal, is testament to the fact that Haynes flutes
are indeed masterpieces of contemporary craftsmanship.
Haynes flutes and piccolos offer not only vibrant, vivid sound but
extreme versatility. Haynes flutes and piccolos include the Deveau
Scale, which offers even intonation through all three octaves, and a
choice of the unique Deveau or traditional head joints. Best of all,
Haynes is committed to complete customer satisfaction and will
gladly exchange or recut head joints to suit individual musicians (for
up to a year after purchase) and will readily customize the
instrument to individual desires.
Such individual attention is an integral part of the Haynes
philosophy. As President Deveau explains, We deal with the
individual...We are 'custom' flute makers.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
#IMAGE 1 11 TWPCX \images\pcx\USA19.PCX
Televisions
The Industry
U.S. manufacturers have lost the television market. Since Zenith
closed the doors of its Springfield, Mo., plant in March 1992, there
are no longer any U.S. companies producing televisions in the United
States.
However, Zenith and many other companies continue to produce
television components in the U.S., and there are several foreign
corporations assembling and manufacturing televisions here:
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Goldstar
U.S. Company: Goldstar of America Inc.
Owned by: Goldstar Col. Ltd. - Seoul, South Korea.
U.S. Assembly Site: Huntsville, Ala.
American Sets: Most 20 and larger Goldstar sets and some Sears and
Radio Shack sets. Note: All small-screen sets (less than 20") are
assembled in Mexico.
American Content: Over 50%, including American-made tubes and
cabinets. Note: Some cabinets are imported from Korea.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
JVC (Japan Victor Company)
U.S. Company: U.S. JVC Co.
Owned by: Victor Col. of Japan Ltd. - Tokyo, Japan.
U.S. Assembly Site: Elmwood Park, N.J.
American Sets: 26"-35" color sets.
U.S. Content: More than 50%.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Kotobuki
U.S. Company: American Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Inc.
Owned by: Matsushita Electric Industrial Col. Ltd. - Osaka, Japan.
U.S. Assembly Site: Vancouver, Wash.
American Sets: 13", 20" and 27" diagonal combination TV/VCRs
sold under the Panasonic and Quasar labels.
American Content: Not available.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Matsushita
U.S. Company: Matsushita Electric Corp. of America
Owned by: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. - Osaka, Japan.
U.S. Assembly Site: Franklin Park, Ill.
American Set: Some 20", 25", 27" and 31" Panasonic
and Quasar brand color TVs. Note: Some models are also assembled in
Canada and Mexico.
U.S. Content: Approximately 70%.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Mitsubishi
U.S. Company: Mitsubishi Electric America.
Owned by: Mitsubishi Electric- Tokyo, Japan.
U.S. Assembly Sites: Santa Ana, Calif., and Braselton, Ga.
American Sets: 40"-120" rear projection and "big screen" TVs; 26",
27", 31" and 35" color TVs.
U.S. Content: 20% for projection TVs; 50% for color TVs. (The company
plans to increase U.S. content to 50% and 60% respectively within the
next three years.)
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Orion
U.S. Company: Orion Electric America Inc.
Owned by: Orion Electric Co. Ltd.- Takefu City, Japan.
U.S. Assembly Site: Princeton, Ind.
American Sets: Most Emerson Electric televisions.
Note: Emerson chose not to reveal which of its sets were assembled
in the U.S. by Orion and would not release any information regarding
content.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Philips
U.S. Company: Philips Consumer Electronics Co.
Owned by: Philips Electronics- Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
U.S. Assembly Site: Greenville, Tenn.
American Sets: Magnavox and Philips brand televisions.
Note: All 13", 19" and 20" sets are assembled in Mexico.
U.S. Content: 75%-85% U.S. content (including U.S-manufactured
tubes, plastic, wood and current boards).
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Sanyo
U.S. Company: Sanyo-Fischer U.S.A. Corp.
Owned by: Sanyo Electric Co.- Osaka, Japan.
U.S. Assembly Site: Forrest City, Ark.
American Sets: 20", 25" and 26" color sets.
U.S. Content: Tries to buy as much U.S. and specifically Arkansas
components as possible.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Sharp
U.S. Company: Sharp Electronics Corp.
Owned by: Sharp Corp.- Osaka, Japan.
U.S. Assembly Site: Memphis, Tenn.
American Sets; 20" and up color sets.
U.S. Content: Approximately 70%.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Sony
U.S. Company: Sony Corp. of America.
Owned by Sony Corp.- Tokyo, Japan.
U.S. Assembly Site: San Diego, Calif.
American Sets: 27" and 32" color sets.
U.S. Content: All of these models contain American-made tubes.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Tatung
U.S. Company: Tatung Co. of America.
Owned by: Tatung Co.- Taipei, Taiwan.
U.S. Assembly Site: Long Beach, Calif.
American Sets: All 27" color sets.
U.S. Contents: Over 50% including cabinet, tubes and packaging.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Thomson
U.S. Company: Thomson Consumer Electronic Inc.
Owned by: Thomson Consumer Electronic- Paris, France.
U.S. Assembly Site: Bloomington, Ind.
American Sets: All RCA and GE television sets.
U.S. Content: Over 50%. Manufactures many of its own components in
U.S. Consumer Reports top-rated 27" model 27230 contains 80% U.S.
content.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Televisions:
Toshiba
U.S. Company: Toshiba America Consumer Products Inc.
Owned by: Toshiba Corp.- Tokyo, Japan.
U.S. Assembly Site: Lebanon, Tenn.
American Sets: All sets larger than 13".
U.S. Content: Generally 50% including American-made tubes, although
some sets are less than 50% U.S. content.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Cars and Trucks:
#IMAGE 1 15 TWPCX \images\pcx\USA20.PCX
Cars and Trucks
Import or Domestic?
Does it matter whether you buy a U.S.-built car? You bet. The U.S.
automotive industry is a huge part of the national economy. It
accounts for 4.5 percent of the gross national product, 2 million jobs
and more than one-fourth of all the rubber, lead, iron stampings,
machine tools, glass and semiconductors sold in this country.
Unfortunately, foreign companies have steadily eroded U.S.
manufacturers' share of this gigantic industry. Today, foreign
manufacturers control almost one-third of the U.S. auto and truck
market, while foreign cars and auto parts account for an astounding
two-thirds of our international trade deficit.
Clearly, purchasing an American car is the single most important
contribution consumers can make to the health of the U.S. economy.
But are there really American cars out there, and are they worth
purchasing?
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Cars and Trucks:
American Cars: Reality vs. Myth
Some people would argue there is no longer such a thing as an
American car. Or they would tell you that buying an American made
car means making a sacrifice, or that foreign cars have it all over
American models.
Some people couldn't be more wrong.
There are many cars designed and built in the U.S by American
companies using American parts. And it is easy to find a domestic car
that costs less and gets better gas mileage than a comparable
Japanese model, yet is equivalent in performance and construction
and safer in an accident.
American cars may lag in one measure of refinement or another, but
often the differences are so subtle they shouldn't sway a rational
decision. In fact, what really keeps many owners of Japanese cars out
of American car showrooms is a lag between perception and reality.
Although many car buyers readily assume they are getting a better
deal by choosing a Japanese import, the statistics suggest otherwise.
A recent study by the Economic Strategy Institute, a Washington
think tank, showed that from 1976 to 1990, Average U.S. quality has
improved over 300 percent as opposed to only 30 percent for Japan.
And Michigan-based automotive consultant James Harbour recently
calculated the quality difference between new Japanese and U.S.-
nameplate vehicles at less than one-fourth of a defect per car.
The Economic Strategy Institute study showed that the numbers of
American car buyers reporting problems has fallen dramatically
from 1976 to 1990, while Japanese buyers' complaints have
increased. U.S. producers have more than doubled the fuel economy
of their fleet, the study also noted, while Japanese producers have let
their ratings slip."
Foreign nameplate cars still lead in some categories. But the domestic
manufacturers aren't always upset about it:
The Highway Loss Data Institute cited the Nissan 300ZX, built in
Japan, as having the highest insurance claims for theft among 88
1990 models surveyed. The same survey found the German
Volkswagen four-door Jetta the most stolen car of all.
Of 15 small cars tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Commission National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the
Toyota Paseo, Tercel and Corolla were the only ones in which serious
head injury to drivers was rated as possible following 35-mph
frontal crash tests with dummies.
#ENDCARD
#CARD:Cars and Trucks:
#IMAGE 1 24 TWPCX \images\pcx\USACAR.PCX
What Is an American Car?
There seems to be an appetite for change among foreign car owners.
A majority of foreign car owners surveyed nationwide by the Detroit
Free Press in 1992 said they sometimes feel guilty about not driving
American cars. But for these and many other Americans, it is not
always easy to determine what is or is not an American car. In fact,
the more one learns about the international nature of the automobile
industry, the more confusing it all becomes. A survey conducted by
the Made in the USA Foundation discovered many Americans are
blissfully ignorant of the national origins of many cars.
Understandably from their perspective, foreign manufacturers
haven't done much to help clear up the muddle. In fact, they seem to
be exploiting it. You might think it's easy to tell a domestic car from
an imported one... until you look at the full picture, says a glossy
brochure of the Association of International Automobile
Manufacturers, a trade group composed mostly of Japanese
manufacturers. The brochure points out that this is a world where
Hondas are built in Ohio, the Pontiac Le Mans is built in South Korea
and the Mazda Navajo is little more than a rebadged Ford Explorer
designed and built in the United States.
Those who wish to use federal government standards to help them
separate the domestic cars from the imports are in for additional
frustration. The best known such standard is the one used by the
Environmental Protection Agency for the determination of Corporate
Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE. The CAFE law requires that the fuel
economy of all of a manufacturer's cars averages 27.5 miles per
gallon, but it distinguishes between each manufacturer's foreign and
domestic fleets. It defines cars with 75 percent of their value in U.S.
or Canadian parts and labor as domestic, while those with 25 percent
or less are termed foreign.
This definition can be very misleading, however. The CAFE law
defines the Mercury Tracer as a domestic, even though it is
assembled in Mexico, because with domestic parts and cheap
assembly, it meets the test. Some U.S. companies create further
confusion by using just enough foreign (usually Mexican) labor and
parts to classify their less fuel-efficient models as "imports" and
consequently reduce the fuel economy average of their domestic
fleet. Ford classifies the less fuel-efficient Ford Crown Victoria and
Mercury Grand Marquis as imports, even though they are designed
and engineered in the U.S., by buying numerous components in
Mexico and assembling these two cruisers in Canada.
But don't despair. It is possible to rationally determine which cars
have a more meaningful American parentage than others. Consider
the following factors:
1. Nameplate
Does the car have the nameplate of an American firm? That matters
because even if the car was designed or assembled overseas, much of
the profits will flow back into an American company and its dealer
network.
2. Design and Engineering
Was the car designed and engineered in the United States? If so,
much of the brain power that created the car resides in this country.
Buying a car that was designed in the United States helps protect the
sorts of creative and high tech jobs that will keep the United States
competitive in the future.
3. Assembly
Was the vehicle assembled in the United States? Those who build
cars are also important to the economy, and keeping manufacturing
jobs in the United States has an important impact on our future.
The best way to determine if a car was assembled in the U.S. is to
check the vehicle identification number, or VIN. This seventeen
character combination is generally found on the dashboard or
windshield pillar. If the first character is a 1 or a 4, the car was
assembled in the United States. (If the first character is a J, it was
assembled in Japan, a 2 Canada and a 3 Mexico.)
4. Content
Were most of the vehicle's parts, in terms of total dollar value, made
in the United States? Again, the manufacturing of car and truck parts
can have a significant impact on our economy. And while it is true
that no vehicle is 100 percent made of U.S. parts, there are many
American models that have more than 90 percent U.S. content.
Each of these factors affects the U.S. economy. The best American
buy or one that will contribute the most to the growth of our
economy is a vehicle that meets all of these criteria. In other words,
the ideal car or truck is sold by an American company and is
designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S. from a high
percentage of American parts.
Remember, do not assume that because a car or truck has a U.S.
nameplate that it meet all of these criteria. Be especially careful
regarding assembly. Many American cars are now assembled outside
the U.S. Only three U.S. nameplates are exclusively assembled in the
United States. These are Lincoln, Oldsmobile and Saturn. All other
nameplates include some foreign assembly cars.
To help you easily identify these American models assembled
outside the U.S., consult the following chart. However, be careful,
some of these models also are assembled in the United States. To
make absolutely sure you are getting a car that was assembled in the
U.S., check the VIN discussed above.
#IMAGE 1 5 TWPCX \images\pcx\USACAR.PCX
Chart
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The Best All-American Cars and Trucks
So much for models to avoid. What should you buy? Using the four
criteria discussed above and the recommendations of consumer and
auto publications, we have come up with a list of cars and trucks that
are not only as American as you can get, but attractive, reliable,
durable, fun to drive and a good value.
Here then, by price categories, are 21 of the best all-American cars
and six of the best trucks and vans the U.S. has to offer. A short
discussion of foreign nameplate cars assembled in the U.S. follows.
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#IMAGE 1 6 TWPCX \images\pcx\294Sat.PCX
SATURN
CATEGORY: Economy coupe and sedan
BASE PRICE RANGE: $8,470-$12,845
ASSEMBLED IN: Spring Hill, Tenn.
Saturn was a $1 billion gamble when General Motors announced it as a strategy to win back buyers of fuel-efficient imports more than half a decade ago. Now it looks like GM may have hit the jackpot. Almost half of all Saturn buyers had formerly driven imports, and the car is earning a well-deserved, cult-like following.
Saturn is arguably the greatest automotive value in the United States, foreign or domestic. Available in coupe or four-door, Saturn features durable plastic body panels, a fuel-thrifty and responsive engine, a spacious interior and a low price. The attention to detail in interior trim and its ride and handling rival the best of the imports. In fact, in a recent comparison test with the Honda Civic, Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Elantra, Popular Science called the Saturn logically the best package overall.
And for 1992, just its second year of existence, Saturn is better than ever, with lower engine noise levels, an optional driver's side air bag and optional leather interior trim. It will also be available soon in a small station wagon model.
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FORD ESCORT
CATEGORY: Economy coupe, sedan, wagon
BASE PRICE RANGE: $8,730-$12,308
ASSEMBLED IN: Wayne, Mich.
Like a faithful old dog, the Ford Escort remains among the most enduring of low-priced car lines. But the Escort is certainly no dog when it comes to taking care of its occupants.
Consumer Reports said the Escort has the solid feel of a larger car, high praise indeed, considering the source. The Escort has a standard economy base 1.9-liter fuel-injected engine that generates just 88 horsepower but can motivate the car with surprising ease.
Available in three body configurations sedan, hatchback or station wagon the Escort can also be had in GT or LX-E models. However, these models feature a Mazda-built 16-valve engine that improves performance dramatically, but significantly lessens the degree to which it is truly made in America.
Also be aware that while most Escorts are assembled in Michigan, some, notably many of the GT models and some of the sedans, are assembled in Mexico.
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FORD MUSTANG
CATEGORY: Sports coupe, convertible
BASE PRICE RANGE: $10,655-$15,683
ASSEMBLED IN: Dearborn, Mich.
Sure, this design is a bit long in the tooth, but the Mustang remains an American classic that, when outfitted with the legendary five-liter V-8 engine, can out perform almost anything else on the road. That's especially true this year, with the V-8 pumped up to a whopping 225 horsepower.
Those who are more interested in profiling than performing can order a Mustang in a more sedate iteration, namely the 2.3-liter engine, which features half the cylinders and less than half the horsepower of its fire-breathing cousin.
The Mustang carries the family's good looks that originated with the Taurus namely the cat-like look of the front and the crisp-yet-curvacious look of the rear.
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CHEVROLET BERETTA
CATEGORY: Compact sport coupe
BASE PRICE RANGE: $11,474-16,06
ASSEMBLED IN: Wilmington, Del.
This is a sporty coupe that does many things well. The Beretta has a smooth five-speed shifter and optional automatic transmission, a suspension system that provides for nimble handling, standard anti-lock brakes and a driver's air bag.
The biggest letdown of the Beretta used to be the bland look of its interior, a failing that was remedied in the 1991 model year. The Beretta also has a fine power steering package and room for five.
The Beretta is available in several versions, ranging from a base model, whose engine generates 110 horsepower up to the GTZ model, with its 180 horsepower, four-cylinder power plant.
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DODGE SPIRIT/PLYMOUTH ACCLAIM
CATEGORY: Compact sedans
BASE PRICE: $11,955
ASSEMBLED IN: Newark, Del.
Boxy and uninspired though their designs may be, these are attractively priced options for a growing family on a tight budget. These Chrysler-built twins provide room for six.
The standard 2.5-liter engine will provide reasonable acceleration and wonderful highway gas mileage. But if you can afford to pay for more power, the optional 3-liter, V-6 mated to the four-speed automatic can make your driving more entertaining. Alas, this engine is built by Mitsubishi in Japan.
After absorbing that low initial sticker price, you can be forgiven for loading your car up with such options as power windows and seats and a high-zoot stereo system.
Those who still yearn for more bang, and have the bucks, should consider the Spirit R/T with a Lotus-modified turbo charged and intercooled four-cylinder that has 224 horsepower and can make a trip to the grocery store a memorable experience.
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OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA
CATEGORY: Compact coupe and sedan
BASE PRICE RANGE: $12,000-$17,500
ASSEMBLED IN: Lansing, Mich.
This is the kind of American car that makes import intenders forget why they meant to buy an import. It has crisply contemporary exterior styling and an interior that looks like it came straight out of an Acura. In fact, anyone considering an Acura Integra should probably stop by an Olds dealership to consider this alternative.
Available in coupe or four-door models, the Achieva features standard anti-lock brakes and an overhead cam four-cylinder engine. It can also be ordered with a 160 to 180 horsepower double overhead cam four, or a 160 horse V-6.
The car has its pros and cons, however. In its favor is a range of lusty engines that want to propel it quickly and all-independent suspension that holds the car on the road. But critics complain its four-cylinder engine is too noisy on hard acceleration. Nevertheless, the Achieva seems to be selling well in its debut year. It is worth a look.
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PONTIAC GRAND AM
CATEGORY: Compact sport coupe and sedan
BASE PRICE RANGE: $12,374-$14,274
ASSEMBLED IN: Lansing, Mich.
To their credit in an age of look-alike cars, Pontiac stylists take more chances than anyone else. Consider the Grand Am, which on the outside may look less like a car than an Origami class project. And the interior design is as swoopy and organic as a modern interpretation of Art Nouveau.
But the results are ergonomically correct. There's more room in the rear seats of this compact model, and the doors swing open wider on the four-door models.
Under the hood, your options include a variety of four- cylinder engines, cranking out from 120 to 180 horsepower, or a 160 horse V-6. In almost any configuration, this car is entertaining on the road, though its four-cylinder engine is known to get a little buzzy in hard acceleration.
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FORD TAURUS
CATEGORY: Mid-sized, four-door sedan
BASE PRICE RANGE: $15,470-$ 24,329
ASSEMBLED IN: Chicago, Ill.; Atlanta, Ga.
For 1992, the Taurus, that workhorse of mid-sized cars, has been the subject of hundreds of refinements from a retuned suspension for better handling to a redesign of the entire interior.
Now the dashboard sweeps around its occupants and features remote radio controls, larger door handles and bluish-tint interior lighting found to be easier to cope with in night driving. The least obvious changes were made in exterior styling. After all, Ford reasoned, why fool around with a design that stunned the world when it was introduced in the early 1980s?
The car has grown 3.8 inches longer and has been updated just enough to remain contemporary. No longer can a Taurus be ordered with a four cylinder engine. The minimum engine is a three liter V-6 with 140 horsepower, but you can opt all the way up to a wild, 220 horsepower V-6 though that engine, in the SHO, is engineered by Yamaha in Japan.
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OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME
CATEGORY: Mid-sized coupe and four-door
BASE PRICE RANGE: $16,200-22,400
ASSEMBLED IN: Doraville, Ga.
This is not supposed to be the kind of car an enthusiast could enjoy. Though nicely proportioned, it seems somehow too sedate, unless you order the car with GM's surprising twin dual cam V-6.
The twin cam is an engine that likes to sing as it works. The twin cam will pull you along with impressive power, yet it delivers good fuel economy and doesn't mind if you fill the tank with regular unleaded gas.
Available in coupe and four-door version, the Cutlass can also be ordered with one of GM's more unique options, head- up display, which allows the driver to have information from gauges projected on the windshield, much the way a fighter pilot does.
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FORD THUNDERBIRD
CATEGORY: Full-sized sports coupe
BASE PRICE RANGE: $16,840-$22,541
ASSEMBLED IN: Lorain, Ohio
For those whose tastes tend toward the sporty, but whose budget and practical considerations dictate something capable of accommodating a family, the Thunderbird, of all models, may provide an entertaining solution.
This is one of those cars that really could get by on looks alone. It doesn't just sit on the road, it seems to hunker. Its aggressive facade features two flared, bumper-mounted air intakes. Yet the interior offers generous back-seat room, and the trunk can handle a surprising amount of gear.
Once under way, the Thunderbird really displays its charms, to the driver, particularly if he or she passes up the standard 140 horsepower V-6 in favor of a 200 horsepower V-8 or even a 210 horsepower supercharged V-6. Handling is well-balanced and predictable.
Anti-lock brakes are optional on the T-bird, air bags are not available and the car can be ordered with either a four- speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission.
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#IMAGE 1 30 TWPCX \images\pcx\304Olds.PCX
OLDSMOBILE EIGHTY EIGHT ROYALE
CATEGORY: Full-sized sedan
BASE PRICE: $18,495
ASSEMBLED IN: Wentzville, Mo.; Flint, Mich.
Auto Week magazine recently tested an Olds Eighty Eight with traction control; a system that uses ABS sensors to stop tire slip on snow and ice, against foreign models similarly equipped. The surprising result was the Eighty-Eight often out performed a traction-control-equipped BMW that cost thousands more.
But even without traction control, the Eighty Eight has a winning combination of crisp exterior styling, responsive handling and a healthy V-6 powerplant. There's plenty of room for five passengers, six in a pinch.
If the Olds has a shortcoming, it is the design of its instrument panel, which seems to have more tiny buttons and knobs than a small airplane. But that is a minor vice when compared to its considerable virtues.
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BUICK LE SABRE
CATEGORY: Full-sized sedan
BASE PRICE RANGE: $19,250-$21,330
ASSEMBLED IN: Flint, Mich.
The Le Sabre comes as close to being the all-American family car as one could hope. It has the same V-6 engine and interior room as its big brother, the Park Avenue, but it is five inches shorter and 200 pounds lighter. That makes for a better power to weight ratio.
The result is a car with smooth, reliable power, plenty of room for people and luggage, and a price that isn't too hard to take. A driver's air bag is standard, and anti-lock brakes are optional. One option worth considering is the Gran Touring Package, which includes a tauter suspension, larger tires and a gear ratio that favors better acceleration.
The previous version of the Le Sabre won high marks for quality in J.D. Power surveys and a large, loyal following in the car-buying public. Buick hopes the same will hold true for its newest Le Sabre, and early reviews seem encouraging.
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PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
CATEGORY: Sports sedan
BASE PRICE RANGE: $19,154-$28,600
ASSEMBLED IN: Wentzville, Mo.
No other car says more about the bold self-assurance of America's best auto designers than Pontiac's redesigned Bonneville. The lines of the Bonneville flow smoothly inside and out, yet no apparent compromises were made in the name of style.
In fact, this is one car in which every control and gauge seems to be perfectly placed and easy to see. Seating is roomy and comfortable, front and back, and the interior abounds in thoughtful amenities such as flip-out cup holders and parcel pass-throughs to the trunk.
Powered by a 170-horsepower version of GM's venerable 3.8-liter V-6, the Bonneville has the sweetest part of its power band where most American drivers need it on the lower half of the speedometer.
All Bonnevilles feature a slick four-speed manual transmission and driver's side air bag. Options include traction control, passenger air bags and anti-lock brakes.
This is what most people mean when they say big car. Car & Driver noted in its 1992 Buyer's Guide that the Roadmaster is so wide, a six-footer could lay transversely in the trunk. But why bother, when there's enough room for four on the back seat alone!
The Roadmaster is also the closest modern-day approximation of what people mean when they talk about a traditional American car. It is powered by a 5.7-liter V-8 engine, which kicks out 180 horsepower. Just the thing for cruising down the turnpike.
But it has some modern innovations that even die-hard traditionalists would be likely to appreciate, such as a standard driver's air bag and anti-lock brakes. And despite its size, it still manages to get 16 miles per gallon in the city, not bad for a car that weighs more than two tons.
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#IMAGE 1 17 TWPCX \images\pcx\308Park.PCX
BUICK PARK AVENUE
CATEGORY: Full-sized luxury car
BASE PRICE RANGE: $25,885-$29,380
ASSEMBLED IN: Wentzville, Mo.
Some cars are more than the sum of their parts. The Park Avenue is such a car. With exterior lines that evoke a Jaguar and a capacious interior that seats six with ease, the Park Avenue is blessed with good performance, fine road manners and a lot of handy features.
Not the least of these features are Park Avenue's available dual climate controls, built into each of the front doors, which allows driver and front seat passenger to avoid interior temperature arguments. The Park Avenue also features a smooth 3.8-liter V-6 mated to GM's wonderful four-speed automatic transmission. The ``Ultra'' version features a supercharger and generates 205 horsepower.
Despite a curb weight of more than 3,500 pounds, the Park Avenue still manages a respectable 18 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway. That means the owner of this car can both have his large luxury cruiser and be a responsible consumer of fossil fuels at the same time.
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CADILLAC ELDORADO
CATEGORY: Luxury performance coupe
BASE PRICE: $33,377-$35,877
ASSEMBLED IN: Detroit, Mich.
Those who want some of the flair of the new Seville (see below) in a more Americanized coupe can find it in the new Eldorado, which is almost a foot longer than the model it replaces. Quiet and powerful in the great Cadillac tradition, it has a Zebrano wood-trimmed interior befitting a European luxury coupe.
The wallowy ride and handling characteristics of the old Cadillac boats is not in evidence here, especially if one opts for the Touring Coupe package. Besides a retuned suspension, the touring coupe also features a different color scheme and high performance tires.
In either configuration, the Eldorado, Cadillac hopes, will appeal to a younger set of drivers than its traditional customer base. We think they will succeed, although the exterior styling lacks the cohesiveness of the spectacular Seville.
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#IMAGE 1 19 TWPCX \images\pcx\310Linc.PCX
LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
CATEGORY: Luxury sedan
BASIC PRICE RANGE: $33, 138-$35, 327
ASSEMBLED IN: Wixom, Mich.
Some cars flaunt their virtues. Others express them in subtle ways. The Lincoln Continental belongs to the second group. Redesigned several years ago, this big Lincoln gets smoother and more solid, in look and feel, year after year.
The power before the driver's throne is a front-drive V-6 with 155 horsepower, a 15-horse improvement over the year before. More impressive is a system of electronically activated shock absorbers and air springs that give the Continental impressive poise in corners or over rough pavement.
The lucky occupants are buttressed from a hostile world by leather-covered seats, a battery of power accessories and a generally commendable stereo system. But in the worst of circumstances, it is also comforting to know they have the protection of standard anti-lock brakes and standard air bags for driver and passenger.
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#IMAGE 1 18 TWPCX \images\pcx\311Vette.PCX
CHEVROLET CORVETTE
CATEGORY: Sports car
BASE PRICE RANGE: $34,604-$69,455
ASSEMBLED IN: Bowling Green, Ky.
Just because this Corvette looks like Corvettes have looked for so many years doesn't mean this is the same old 'Vette. The Corvette has been improved in so many ways for 1992 that it will make your head snap.
So, too, will its acceleration. This year's 'Vette has a 300 horsepower base engine. More important are dozens of refinements, large and small, that have eliminated body squeaks, enhanced instrument readability, upgraded component durability and improved handling through a thoroughly revised suspension system.
The most surprising feature of all about this year's Corvette, however, may be that, in addition to having standard anti-lock brakes, the two-seater now sports standard traction control. Traction control prevents unintended wheel slip on ice or snow. That makes this year's Corvette, though a rear- wheel-drive sports car, a surprisingly easy car to drive all year. That way, the fun never stops.
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CADILLAC SEVILLE
CATEGORY: Luxury sports sedan
BASE PRICE RANGE: $36,133- $39,433
ASSEMBLED IN: Detroit, Mich.
This car has been chosen by Motor Trend as its car of the year and is on the Ten Best lists of every other top automotive magazine in the country. Little wonder.
The Seville, particularly in STS trim, can compete head to head with Lexus and Infiniti. Its low-slung, purposeful body telegraphs the joys that lie within both the cockpit and the engine compartment. The Seville's interior is a symphony of leather and wood, evocative of an expensive Audi. The seats are supportive, the instrumentation is well-placed and easy to read, and every control falls readily to hand.
The engine, a 4.9-liter V-8, cranks out a respectable 200 horsepower, while the fully independent suspension and standard anti-lock brakes make sure you are able to deal with all that power. The fact that customers have been on waiting lists to buy this car from dealerships in domestic-car-phobic Los Angeles says a lot about its appeal even to well-heeled import devotees.
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#IMAGE 1 11 TWPCX \images\pcx\313Viper.PCX
DODGE VIPER
CATEGORY: Raw sports car
BASE PRICE (EST.): $55,000
ASSEMBLED IN: Detroit, Mich.
There is nothing rational about this car. Nobody needs a two-seat roadster without real windows or outside door handles. Nobody needs a 400 horsepower V-10 aluminum block engine that can reach 60 miles an hour from a standing start in less than five seconds.
Nobody needs a pair of side exhaust pipes that, if you aren't careful, can burn your legs as you leave the car after a bout of spirited driving.
Sure, nobody needs the Viper. But many people want one. And once you've seen one crouching, low, mean and wide in a parking lot, or if you get to drive this remarkable car, you may want one, too. The Viper is a sheet-metal embodiment of American car passion.
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PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER /DODGE GRAND CARAVAN
CATEGORY: Minivan
BASE PRICE: $17,281
ASSEMBLED IN: St. Louis, Mo.
No matter how hard they try, nobody, not the Japanese manufacturers, not General Motors, not Ford can make a better minivan than Chrysler, the company that invented the minivan more than a decade ago.
The latest iterations of the Caravan and Voyager only help to prove that point. Redesigned in 1991, the twins continue to dazzle their loyal buyers with performance and utility features the rivals can't match. But now it's all wrapped up in a lovely interior with sweep-around styling.
For 1992, these models, which featured the first driver's-side air bags, in a minivan, also have optional integrated kiddie seats which can be tucked away when adults are riding. Neat, huh? But if your priorities are a car assembled in the United States, be sure to consider only the Grand'' models of Voyager and Caravan built in St. Louis; all other Voyager and Caravan models are assembled in Canada.
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#IMAGE 1 13 TWPCX \images\pcx\315Expl.PCX
FORD EXPLORER
CATEGORY: Sport utility vehicle
BASE PRICE RANGE: $16,339-$24,038
ASSEMBLED IN: Louisville, Ky.
Just how good is the Ford Explorer? So good that Mazda chose to rebadge a two-door version of the Explorer as the Mazda Navajo rather than design and build its own model. It's so good and its sales so strong that it has never been rebated in the two years since its introduction.
What makes the Explorer such a paragon of all-purpose virtue? Just about everything. Its ride and handling are remarkably smooth, either on or off the road. It is big enough inside to accommodate four passengers with ease, six in a pinch, with plenty of room left over for luggage.
In addition, its 160 horsepower V-6 gets the Explorer going in a hurry, while its standard anti-lock braking system helps it to stop in a hurry.
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JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
CATEGORY: sport utility vehicle
BASE PRICE (EST.) $24,000
ASSEMBLED IN: Detroit, Mich.
As good as the Ford Explorer may be, some think the 1993 Grand Cherokee might be even better. It took Jeep designers and engineers six years to cook up this new model, which is 7.7 inches longer and a bit wider inside than its predecessor.
Propelled by a 190 horsepower V-6, the suspension has been tuned so well that those who have tested it say it feels almost as good off the road as on it.
You also are given a choice of three different four-wheel- drive systems. ``We are mightily impressed,'' said Automobile magazine in a recent review. Maybe you will be, too.
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OLDS BRAVADA
CATEGORY: Sport utility vehicle
BASE PRICE: $25,070
ASSEMBLED IN: Moraine, Ohio
The words ``luxury'' and ``truck'' rarely belong in the same sentence, unless you are talking about the Oldsmobile Bravada, an all-purpose vehicle with real upscale appeal.
While the Bravada uses the same chassis as the GMC Jimmy four-door, it enjoys significant enhancements. The Bravada has standard anti-lock brakes and a wonderful full-time four-wheel-drive system, for openers, which can help it stop and go almost anywhere without much effort.
The interior of the Bravada, with its four doors and four seats, is done up with a sort of opulence that may make you think twice about driving it with your work boots on. Once you stick your boot to the accelerator, however, you'll know you're piloting a heavy-duty machine, particularly if you opt for the 200 horsepower V-6 engine.
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FORD F-SERIES
CATEGORY: Pickup truck
BASE PRICE RANGE: $10,921-$21,603
ASSEMBLED IN: Kansas City, Mo.
Contrary to what you may have heard, the best selling vehicle in the United States is not the Honda Accord. For several years now, it has been the F-Series truck. Part of the secret may be variety. After all, you can order your F-series truck in 30 different combinations.
This year the F-10 line includes a stepside bed model and will be restyled in front with new headlights.
When Automobile magazine tested an F-150 XLT Lariat, the reviewer fairly gushed. ``All inconveniences, potholes, curbs, Hyundais become small and trivial,'' he wrote. ``...driving an F-150 gives an unmistakable sense of privilege, and that's good.''
But be aware that not all F-series trucks are built in the United States. Some are assembled in Canada. Be sure to check.
Although times have been tough for domestic manufacturers in the far West, this truck line has done surprisingly well in Los Angeles, of all places, where young people have been buying them like hot cakes.
The reasons? The S-10 prices begin at $9,000, making it cheap, and in the hands of creative young owners the truck seems to lend itself to wild color schemes, which have never stopped being popular in La La Land.
That shouldn't lead you to believe this is a truck for showing off instead of working. There are enough options in terms of engines and payload capacities to handle anything from the boulevard to the brick yard. And if you want to spend more money on this model, there are plenty of ways to do it, by specifying power windows or locks, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, and a high-end stereo.
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Transplants
There are, of course, Japanese companies assembling cars in the U.S. These so-called transplants do provide American assembly jobs and contain significantly more U.S. content than what the University of Michigan Transportation Center estimates to be an average of only 1 percent U.S. content of cars built in Japan.
However, the profits from the sale of these transplants go back to Japan, and the design and engineering generally takes place in Japan, not the U.S. These cars also contain much less U.S. content than their American counterparts assembled in the U.S. Consequently, it is still more helpful to the U.S. economy to avoid these transplants and buy an American nameplate car assembled in the U.S.
But if you feel you just have to buy a car with a Japanese nameplate, be sure to give your strongest consideration to one of the following models, all of which are assembled in the United States.
To give you an idea of the relative good purchasing one of these cars will do the U.S. economy, we have included a rating from the Detroit Free Press Index of American Content for each model. This index considers the relative value of each of the four factors discussed above: nameplate, design and engineering, content and assembly and then assigns the model an index number from one to 100 with 100 being the most American and 1 the least. For comparison purposes, consumers should note that most U.S. nameplate cars evaluated by this same index scored at least 65, with a great many scoring between 78 and 100.
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FORD PROBE/MAZDA MX-6
CATEGORY: Sports coupes
BASE PRICE RANGE: $12,587-$17,255
ASSEMBLED IN: Flat Rock, Mich.
COMPANY ASSEMBLING: Mazda
DETROIT FREE PRESS INDEX: Probe 78, MX-6 46
The Ford Probe and Mazda MX-6 are both sporty coupes built at a Mazda plant in Flat Rock, Mich., and while they share Mazda engines and drive trains, they are very different in the looks department.
The newest MX-6 carries on a Japanese obsession with refinement. It shares the gumdrop looks of myriad cars that all seem to be descended in one form or another from a randy Ford Taurus. The interior and exterior styling, while in no way offensive, can hardly be called exciting.
In contrast, though it is a Ford-designed product, the Probe looks distinctly unlike the rest of its bloodline. It features an aggressive, snout-like nose, flip-up headlamps, and smooth, almost futuristic lines. It has become surprisingly popular in Europe, particularly Germany.
Both cars will be extensively restyled in 1993 and will be available in 1993 with 24-valve V-6 natural power instead of the turbocharged in line four that was top engine in previous models.
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PLYMOUTH LASER/ EAGLE TALON/ MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
CATEGORY: Sports coupes
BASE PRICE RANGE: $11,552-$20,017
ASSEMBLED IN: Normal, Ill.
COMPANY ASSEMBLING: Mitsubishi-owned Diamond Star Motors
DETROIT FREE PRESS INDEX: 68 (Plymouth Laser)
These sporty cars seat two with ease, four in a pinch, but can go and stop with gusto. The five-speed gearbox mated to the turbocharged engine can make for a howling good time.
The sleek exteriors of these cars contrast a bit with the interiors, which feature oddly canted ventilation louvers that may make you wonder if your car was used in side-impact collision tests. But thoughtful touches and a first-class stereo system make up for such eccentricities. Outfitted with optional all-wheel-drive, these cars become particularly fun to drive in the snow and rain. But in any configuration, these cars, though mostly designed in Japan and filled with Japanese parts, are the pride of Normal, Ill.
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HONDA ACCORD
CATEGORY: Family sedan, coupe and wagon
BASE PRICE RANGE: $13,515-$19,285
ASSEMBLED IN: Marysville, Ohio; East Liberty, Ohio
COMPANY ASSEMBLING: Honda of America
DETROIT FREE PRESS INDEX: 46
If the best selling car in America has to have a Japanese nameplate, at least it is assembled in the United States, in addition to being a very good car.
The Honda Accord has a lot going for it. It is well-built, performs like a champ, delivers reasonable fuel economy and has plenty of room for the family and a large load of luggage. At last, the Accord can be ordered with air bags and anti-lock brakes, making it a safer bet in an accident as well.
To Honda's credit, too, the company has made a commendable effort for a Japanese corporation to move even more of the design and assembly process to the United States. Now, for example, the engines in many Honda products are cast and assembled along with the cars themselves, in and near Marysville, Ohio. And much of the design work on the coupe and station wagon versions was done in this country.
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HONDA CIVIC SEDAN
CATEGORY: Economy sedan
BASE PRICE RANGE: $9,900-$14,615
ASSEMBLED IN: Marysville, Ohio
COMPANY ASSEMBLING: Honda of America
DETROIT FREE PRESS INDEX: 46
Once upon a time, the Civic was a tiny car but a great big value, both in price and fuel economy. As the years have gone by, however, the Civic has grown in size and has shrunk in fuel economy. Today, it is about as big as one of the Accords of yore. And its price has bumped it out of the ``econobox'' category.
Nevertheless, the car still makes reviewers marvel with its fine road manners and high quality construction. In fact, Car and Driver called the new Civic a luxury car that has been left in the dryer too long.
The Civic can be had with several optional four-cylinder engines, ranging from a 70 horsepower model to one that cranks out 102 horsepower. Anti-lock brakes are an option and a driver's side air bag is standard. Like its big brother, the Accord, the Civic sedan is assembled in Marysville, Ohio, though other body configurations are imported from Japan.
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NISSAN SENTRA
CATEGORY: Economy sedan, coupe
BASE PRICE RANGE: $8,795-$13,975
ASSEMBLED IN: Smyrna, Tenn.
COMPANY ASSEMBLING: Nissan
DETROIT FREE PRESS INDEX: 46
Those who know the older model of Sentra know it as a sharply angular and somewhat spartan car. But the newest Sentra, built in Smyrna, Tenn., stands in smooth contrast.
Sleeker inside and out, the Sentra features a 110 horsepower, 1.6-liter base engine that is more than adequate to its task. But 140 horsepower turns this meek hauler into a much more aggressive little package.
In fact Car and Driver named the Sentra SE-R to its list of the 10 best cars of 1992. And more than one reviewer has compared it to the old BMW 2002 as a thrifty way to have first-class driving fun.
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TOYOTA CAMRY
CATEGORY: Full-sized sedan
BASE PRICE RANGE: $17,103-$20,803
ASSEMBLED IN: Georgetown, Ky.
COMPANY ASSEMBLING: Toyota
DETROIT FREE PRESS INDEX : Toyota chose not to respond to the Detroit Free Press survey.
Few Japanese nameplate cars have won as many kudos over the years as the Camry, and the latest model carries on the tradition. The newest model Camry, assembled in Kentucky, handles and performs with great elan while it has plenty of room for a family.
It has all the natty interior appointments and sense of exterior bulk and presence worthy of models costing thousands more, especially the smallest model Lexus sedan, the ES 300, with which it shares its chassis.
Little wonder the Camry with the V-6 engine was chosen one of Car and Driver's 10 best cars of 1991.
