January 25, 2015

Was Made in USA. Paul Revere rides again, in Indonesia?

The older cooking pot in this picture (top) was purchased in Blacksburg Virginia. We were just married and I was working in my first post-doc at Virginia Tech, Biochemistry Department. My wife was working in the VTech-Bookstore and our first child would soon be on the way.

These Revere Ware pots and pans are 20 years old and made in USA. At least the bigger one is. One of my Daughters recently cooked the smallest Revere Ware pot to warped status and then discovered why a pot needs to contain some liquid when on a red-hot burner.

My wife and I were reminiscent of buying these for a moment, then she found a new replacement on Amazon from Revere Ware. They are good kitchen ware. Never a broken handle or lid. Served us well in Virginia, Maryland and Michigan. I just noticed this new pot (bottom of picture) is made in Indonesia, and no longer made in Clinton Illinois USA.

To me that is sadder than losing the original pot. Same design, but i can see some poorly ground seams on the edge of the thin cap base-plate, facing up in this pic. Those seams are invisible on the older pot. No doubt heating, use, and liquid exposures will start to separate this new pot's base-plate in a few years at most, and this one will never last 20 years.

Did it really need be made outside of the USA to avoid paying American workers a living wage and benefits? Do you think we are not willing to spend a few more bucks for pots that will last 25 years or more rather than a few?
If you think so, manufacturers of America, then I think you are wrong in your thinking.

Dr Mitton.

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