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Eaton Compressor Pump & Motor Made in China?

56K views 68 replies 32 participants last post by  gearheadslife 
#1 ·
I recently ordered (but I have not received) a 2 stage Eaton Compressor. I went with the Eaton because I found nothing but good reviews. I assumed (very stupid on my part) that this was a USA made unit. Until tonight when I came across the Garage Journal and found this:

Reply per Steve Derr (Sales for Eaton Compressor)

The motor is an Eaton brand and is built in China, the pump is also built in China by the same ISO 9000 company that has been building pumps for us for years.
Thanks,
Steve

I hope I did not make a mistake ordering this compressor, I try to avoid tools made in China for obvious reasons. Can someone please chime in with their experiences. Also can anyone confirm that Eaton truly uses Chinese parts?
 
#27 ·
Things that make you go hummmm....

oldred said:
You can have a made in the USA compressor at a decent price. Northern Tool has started carrying Quincy air compressors now. These big ole' Quincy's have Baldor motors and large slow turning pumps and IMHO are simply unbeatable for dependability.



www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/sto...=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial


$1250 will get you a 100% duty cycle 2 stage 4 cylinder cast iron pump on a 60 gal vertical tank coupled to a 5 HP BALDOR motor. That's true HP and the dang thing is rated at 40 AMPs!
Quincy has a fairly large plant in China and offers it's website in both Chinese and Spanish....

hummmm.....
 
#28 · (Edited)
You are right and apparently these pumps are also made in China although I have found nothing as yet to confirm that. Since I made that post I have done a bit of searching because even though they have the prominently displayed "Made in USA" logo in their ads those pumps are not the same design as the old ones I worked with for so many years and I could not help but wonder why all of a sudden they were so competitively priced. My personal Quincy compressor has served me well for many years, has been mounted on several different tanks and been powered by at least 3 different motors. I made my living using this thing when I started and I still have it, it was built in 1968 and it has never been overhauled but it still works great! I sent Quincy an E-mail about the origin of the pumps so maybe we will find out soon enough if they are Chinese imports wearing a made in USA label, I probably should have researched this better before making that post. :spank:

-Edit-

According to their website they have sales and service facilities in China but no manufacturing facilities for reciprocating compressors. They do however have a small joint venture, as of 2004, that manufacturers some parts in China for rotary screw compressors. As of right now, and I hope to learn more from my inquiry, it looks as if they are indeed still built in Illinois and Alabama!
 
#29 ·
Red,

It becomes increasing hard for companies not to move their manufacturing to low cost sites like China. China today manufactures 50% of the world's products and over 70% of the world's computers which is significant since they have no major automobile production - as yet.

In the 50's, products made in Japan had the same junk reputation as products made in China in the late 90's. During the 70's and 80's the Japanese basically redefined quality and cost effectiveness in manufacturing. Today the Japanese are moving much of their production - and manufacturing expertise to lower labor cost countries such as China.

If the Japanese have taught us anything it is that the quality of what is made depends highly upon how the product is designed and specified by the company and not so much the abilities of the work force - actually an idea that was pioneered by Henry Ford with the Model T.

Back on topic, Quincy has a long standing reputation for quality and cost effectiveness. My guess is that their manufacturing facility for rotary screw compressors in China is their first step in learning how to work with the Chinese. I have no doubt that the quality of the compressors that they will manufacture in China will be the same or better than what they manufacture in the USA.

The USA lost it's hold on manufacturing 30 years ago and is in the process of losing its lead in science, engineering and design. The scary part of all of this is that the Chinese are now ahead of the USA in patent filings and their children are better educated in math, physics and science.

I would love to see the two presidential canidates discuss and debate this issue. It is clear to many of us, that the current course our country is on, is not working.
 
#30 ·
Conrad_AZ said:
The USA lost it's hold on manufacturing 30 years ago and is in the process of losing its lead in science, engineering and design. The scary part of all of this is that the Chinese are now ahead of the USA in patent filings and their children are better educated in math, physics and science.

You don't even want to get me started on the education issue! :mad: In the area where I live the only things they teach are basketball and pot 101! :drunk: My children were home schooled up through high school and my son now is a computer systems tech (absolutely none of which has rubbed off on me however) for a medical supplies manufacturer and my daughter is in med school. If we had of sent them to the school system I shudder to think how different it might have been.
 
#31 ·
Eaton Compressor

I happen to own two Eaton compressors and YES I knew buying them they where a USA design but the pumps where built over seas. My EC-10 7.5 Hp has over 8 years and 5000 Hrs on it. I think you put you foot in your mouth when you said in your own words the reviews where good! I will say again I think all you are looking for is a :boxing: . If you business was as busy as mine you would find your time consumed with making money not posting this BS. I would understand you making a posting like this if you had problems but not reading this into your reply. Once again think your look to :boxing: . You might think about taking up knitting in your spare time. Just an idea!!
 
#32 ·
badboyblasters said:
I happen to own two Eaton compressors and YES I knew buying them they where a USA design but the pumps where built over seas. My EC-10 7.5 Hp has over 8 years and 5000 Hrs on it. I think you put you foot in your mouth when you said in your own words the reviews where good! I will say again I think all you are looking for is a :boxing: . If you business was as busy as mine you would find your time consumed with making money not posting this BS. I would understand you making a posting like this if you had problems but not reading this into your reply. Once again think your look to :boxing: . You might think about taking up knitting in your spare time. Just an idea!!


I see you are new here and you need to read the entire thread before you jump in. I don't think you will find anyone knocking Eaton compressors in this thread and the many others here about the same subject. So who put their foot in their mouth? Some people want to buy American products when they can and this thread was started by someone who wanted to do just that but was disappointed to find he was buying Chinese instead, he nor anyone else was negative about the quality. You seem proud of the fact you bought Chinese? My hat is off to the original poster who wanted to buy American and you sir may soon be wondering where all that brisk business has gone to when the inevitable recession sets in from sending all our work overseas, the guy who started this thread is smart enough to see that.



BTW, ONLY 8 years? My AMERICAN made Quincy has never been overhauled and has needed only minor maintenance since it was built in 1968 and it has been in service almost continuously for FORTY years with unknown thousands of hours on it now so don't brag about Chinese crap to me! Come back here in about 20 or 30 years and then we will see what the Chinese can do. :rolleyes:
 
#34 ·
Yes they are somewhat different now but they are still very well built and I have no doubt they are still bullet proof, plus they are backed by one of the oldest names in the industry. Eaton compressors are decent quality and compared to all the outright JUNK that has been sold in the last 20 or so years by outfits like Campbell Hausfeld and a bunch of others they do seem to be impressive. That however is comparing apples to oranges and when you start comparing with the Quincy's, Ingersoll Rand (the T30 series not the Mchome store variety ingersoll), etc then the Eaton is only average. Also the idea that all the old stuff was better is not necessarily true either and just because a compressor is newer and takes advantage of new technology does not mean it is not as good as the old ones.


"well look at the new cars to the heavy duties of the 50's"


Well Ok let's do that, some of the really good stuff that the manufacturers from the 50's have taken from us. There was those absolutely fantastic vacuum wipers and the sizzling hot generators that were replaced with alternators. I really miss those tube radios and other fine amenities that were available, along with the really great air conditioning that was so popular! Oh yeah lets not forget those wonderful mechanical brakes and the REALLY high quality tires that along with the wonderfully engineered suspension made them handle so great. Detroit has really taken all the good stuff from the cars and today there is not much left so yeah you are right, they sure as hell don't build them like they did!

Now about the body styles of the fifties, that is a whole nuther story! :)
 
#35 ·
Just to clarify things here: judging by badboyblasters's email address, and associated website, it looks to be Mark Cain, who seems to be related to Matt Cain, the owner of Eaton Compressor. Brothers?

Anyway, badboyblasters -- Welcome to the Hotrodders Bulletin Board :welcome:

Once again...


...I don't really care if Matt's compressors are made in America, China, or on the moon.

Matt Cain threatened me with a lawsuit if I didn't reveal the identity of a person who posted about how Eaton Compressor's pumps and motors are made in China. That person's post was just a quote from an email that looked to have been sent by Eaton Compressor itself.

It's actually quite sad, because Eaton Compressors do indeed appear to have at least a reasonably decent reputation. But, once again, this isn't about Matt's compressors at all. It's about Matt's behavior.

By extension, this issue is also about the tactics being used to obscure the fact that certain products are technically manufactured in China, while claiming to be "Made in the USA". For example, Matt insisted that if 60% of the total cost of bringing a product to market is American-based, then he's legally allowed to say that it's "Made in the USA". Similarly, I can see on BadBoyBlasters.com that the site has an American flag in the background, AND the Statue of Liberty, AND a bald eagle. In addition, your logo text is red, white, and blue, AND, the "bad boy" figure in your logo is wearing an American flag bandanna. A non-savvy person, when exposed to all that imagery, can reasonably be expected to assume that your blasters are "Made in the USA".
 
#36 ·
What continues to amaze me in these, Eaton, Street Beast, etc threads, is that some of these people are so stupid to think that since they are sitting behind a computer screen, that they are invisible, nameless, or un-trackable. Wake up people, it is the 21st century.
I love it. :D
 
#37 ·
1ownerT said:
What continues to amaze me in these, Eaton, Street Beast, etc threads, is that some of these people are so stupid to think that since they are sitting behind a computer screen, that they are invisible, nameless, or un-trackable. Wake up people, it is the 21st century.
I love it. :D


Yep and the other thing they don't seem to realize is the kind of impression they are making on this huge community, absolutely astounding numbers with just the members alone and when you add the visitors that read all this it is staggering. The thing is this group is made up in large part with people who may very well be in the market for a compressor so what kind of impression does it make when these guys get caught?
 
#38 ·
Recently got a quote from Eaton on one of their units because I'm looking to upgrade to a 7 1/2 HP. After reading this thread I've decided to buy a Quincey instead. Easy to rebuild and last forever. My Buddy was looking for a replacement pump for his system and I suggested he look at the Eaton. I'll email him a link to this thread. I just love the internet!!!!!!

Cheers
Jim
 
#39 ·
I bought an Eaton pump ( the 32 cfm model) and a 7.5 hp motor from them as well. The motor was way less than half of what it would have cost me locally. I called Eaton compressor before the purchase, and they made no bones telling me right up front that the units were made in China, to their own specs. In fact, Matt Cain helped me make my choice of compressor easier. I was tired of talking to compressor sales people that insisted their unit was big enough to run a blast cabinet. I have a friend that let me use his medium size Quincy regularly, and it wouldn't keep up to his blast cabinet. Matt told me I needed 18 cfm minimum, and told me that his 32 cfm unit actual output was 26 cfm. That is what I bought and it does the job very well. That was over two years ago. Very happy, and no problems whatsoever.

I also bought a blast cabinet from Bad Boys, and at the time I was told that the two of them were brothers, although I can't remember which one of them told me that. Very happy with the blast cabinet as well.

Only thing I don't like is someone "slightly" masquerading as an uninvolved third party. I have no relationship to either company, other than being a happy customer.
 
#40 ·
jvo said:
............I called Eaton compressor before the purchase, and they made no bones telling me right up front that the units were made in China, to their own specs. In fact, Matt Cain helped me make my choice of compressor easier...........
Well, based on this information I would say that Mr. Cain has ZERO CREDIBILITY and absolutely no basis for any legal action against this board or anyone else for that matter. What a dork.
 
#42 ·
I probably should have read the "other" post on this, before I posted. Holy crap batman, I might get sued.

Now, if anyone wants to question my honesty, here's another addition to my story. Sorry, this will take a few sentences to explain.

When I ordered my blast cabinet from Bad Boy Blasters, I told them what color I wanted, ..........then I called them back and said I changed my mind. Mark Cain asked if I was in a hurry, 'cause the next container that was coming in wouldn't be for a couple weeks. ( Must be coming from a long ways away,eh?) Anyway, I said no problem, I would wait. Then, he contacted me to ask if I would wait again, 'cause he was shipping a double unit to someone, and wanted to send them mine. I said no problem, as I originally had stated that I wasn't in any big hurry to get mine.

I have my stuff shipped to the UPS warehouse in Sweetgrass MT, and once it arrived, I went down to pick it up. Brought it home, and put the legs on it, used it and have been very happy with the unit.

A couple weeks later, I called down to the UPS warehouse to see if they had received another package, (unrelated to this transaction). They said yes, they had it, but they also had a large crate waiting for me as well. I asked them who it was from, and they said it was from Bad Boy Blasters.

I said they must have made a mistake, as I had already received mine. They said it definitely had my name and address on it. So, I called Bad Boy, and asked if they had sent me a second blast cabinet. They said no. I asked, are you absolutely sure? They checked records, and called me back to say no, they had not shipped a second unit.

I told them to check again, or had they shipped one to the same address for someone else? They replied that no, they had not. So........I was faced with the decision. Do I go down and pick up my new, and FREE blast cabinet, and keep my mouth shut? Or, do I tell them about it, so I can live with myself?

I'm sure that this transaction could be traced, ( just in case I were ever sued, and needed proof of my honesty), and yes, I did the right thing and called them back and told them they had a 2nd blast cabinet sitting there, and I was not going to take it. I told them I was not going to pay the return shipping either, as I didn't order two of them. I have no idea what happened to the 2nd cabinet after that. I gave them the contact info, and I assume they made their own arrangements. Honest *****.
 
#68 ·
So JVO, it's been about 5 years since your post, so maybe 7 since your purchase of an Eaton compressor. How about an update on it's performance and your satisfaction?
I'm just up the road from you in Vulcan county and also thought of having one shipped to Sweetgrass.
Prefer to buy a truly US or Cdn. built product but the Eaton features and warranty do have appeal.
About the only real Cdn. built unit would be a DV Systems for more bucks. Prefer to keep my dollars at home or with friends and neighbours and not send any of them to the far east.
 
#43 ·
jvo, I'm sure you weren't fishing for an attaboy but you deserve one. Even if they are dorks/********* or not, it doesn't justify taking (stealing) a free blast cabinet.

I push myself to a higher standard to set an example for my kids and I would like to think I would have done the same thing.

But back to the issue, yeah Eton compressors are fine, Cain's behavior is not.
 
#44 ·
There is so much discussion going on about Eaton compressors that they need somebody to come and register on this bulletin board to defend their product. I am so impressed, they don't even have the guts to say who they are. I guess it is just like labeling their product made in America when it is made in China. I hope you know how to speak, read and write Chinese, because one of these days this country is going to be theirs, greedy cooperate sellouts.
 
#46 ·
I am kind of full of piss and vinegar these days since I am in the middle of a divorce. Every time I hear about Eaton or Vice-Grip and the word China it just send my blood pressure higher. I guess I shouldn't take it out on the poor old boys at Eaton or Vice-Grip.......Corporate sellouts, Corporate sellouts, Corporate sellouts. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
#47 ·
onebadmerc said:
I am kind of full of piss and vinegar these days since I am in the middle of a divorce. Every time I hear about Eaton or Vice-Grip and the word China it just send my blood pressure higher. I guess I shouldn't take it out on the poor old boys at Eaton or Vice-Grip.......Corporate sellouts, Corporate sellouts, Corporate sellouts. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

How many vise grips are made in China now? :( I bought a few last year and the jaws aren't as well aligned as a pair from the 1970s? my dad has, that feel much more solid (jaws are better aligned and don't move side to side).
 
#51 ·
you better look at your craftsman tools anymore also, alot of there stuff is China now to. Weiand water pumps are made in China. Weiand blower parts are made in China, Eagle & Scat cranks & rods come from China. Im told that all pistons start out in China, some are finished here. alot of wheels, ironically including American Racing Wheels come from China. Proform products are from China. I wont buy any of it.
 
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