No more U.S. General compressor
 

I noticed the black U.S. General compressors at HF have apparently been replaced by nearly identical "Central Pneumatic" models, I didn't get a chance to look them over but there were two of the U.S. General units still on the floor along with a bunch of smaller Central Pneumatics. I asked one of the sales guys there about them and he said they get them from a different place now but I don't know if he really knows because he didn't seem to know anything about the U.S. Generals being American built.These American built re-badged Belaire compressors sold as U.S. General at HF had to be one of the best bargains going for a home shop/light industrial duty compressor and I have often wondered how they sold them so cheap but it looks like the good deal may be over now.


These things were way better quality than what is normally expected from HF and I sure hate to see them replaced with Chinese junk but HF has to keep up their reputation I suppose. :rolleyes:

appears that there the same compressor.. website shows them as a Central Pneumatic but the part number shows " US General air superiority " and then the P/N.. The little U.S general is still on the website as a U.S general

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-hp-60...sor-93274.html

When I bought my Belaire compressor,, I call belaire and asked what was different.. The guy told me the motors was the same.. The difference was in the pump's...He told me the belaire was the better of the two.. So I bought the 7.5 belaire Elite..And I have to say... It's a work horse hands down... My friend speedydeedy has one, And it's well over 15 years old with no trouble yet..You will have to put out a few extra bucks.. But well worth it... Not sure what's going on with the US general.. :confused:

Profits is what is going on,they found a place in China to copy the US General for half the price is what I think.

Do you think that China is some how not trying to make a profit? Such an evil word PROFIT, everybody is trying to make a profit, think about it.

Well that's a bummer, because I assure you they are identical. I pulled the pump off my 5 hp HF compressor immediately after I bought it, and it's stamped Made In Italy. T29S, which is the same ones Belaire use. The 7.5 pump was the same as well from all my research, I just can't remember the IMC pump number (B2000? Something like that). Unfortunately I believe HF stopped selling the 7.5.

Back when it first became known these were re-badged Belaires a couple of us did some research on them and what I found indicated also that the only thing different was the color, however I did not have a newer Belaire to actually compare them to. You are right about the 7.5 and they did stop selling it, that thing was a heck of a deal when it was still available!

I assume the gauge was cheaper too.. I ripped it off and put on a good one (Big investment of $8).