I got to take the tour yesterday (Bob was wearing the same T-shirt!). I mentioned that my grandfather worked for them (1940-1964) and told them his name. Five minutes later the guy brings out my grandfather's personnel file! It had his original application, rehire application (he was laid off between August 1949 and November 1950 for lack of work), Foreman reviews ("very industrious worker"), etc. He started at 40 cents an hour in 1940 and retired at a whopping $1.99/hour in 1964. They made copies of all his documents for me and gave me his original badge picture! Absolute treasure! Thank you Starrett and Bob!

Greetings, We wanted to thank the NYC CNC folks for coming out and taking a tour of our facility. We were happy to have you! We've been reading the comments on this video and also wanted to thank all of the viewers that have shared their kind words. Starrett has always been proud to be an American Company based out of Athol, Massachusetts. A common theme that we noticed below is the concern over a lack of skilled workers. One of our major initiatives here at Starrett is education. We are happy to report that in celebration of Manufacturing day, October 6th, we opened our doors to 200 or so students in the region to foster interest and see what opportunities are out there in the manufacturing space. Education is also where the most of our tool donations go, having donated thousands and thousands of dollars worth of tools to helping teach the next generation of workers as well as our returning soldiers that are seeking careers. Once again, NYC CNC, thanks for the great video and stopping by!

This video will become a legend. I actually got tears in my eyes several times just thinking of the impact of this place on America. THANK YOU!!

Thank You for this video. I am a tool maker 40 years in the trade. Starrett is the only tool I would own. The quality is outstanding. This country better wake up and realize we are retiring and nobody is replacing us. I am very proud of the special work all the tool makers and machinist can do, this is the real strength of our country it has made us strong, and we are loosing it. May God help us.

So I only have one Starrett micrometer, but it's got an incredible story. One day in 1971 my dad was visiting with his grandfather, Homer, in his grandfather's shop. Homer reached over and took his 1" Starrett micrometer from his set of 1-4" micrometers and gave it to my dad. A few days later, Homer bought a replacement micrometer from his son (my great uncle) to replace the one he gave my dad. Well, the next month after my dad received that micrometer, my great grandfather died. I'm sure because of the health of his dad, great uncle never cashed the check for that replacement micrometer. Some time later, my great uncle received the micrometer he sold to his dad back from his dad's estate. He then put that uncashed check in the Starrett box with the micrometer. Years later, after my great uncle passed away, unbeknownst to my dad's cousin, (my great uncle's daughter) she gave that micrometer to my dad. My dad put 2 and 2 together and realized what had happened. This is the story behind the micrometer I have today.

Starrett is everything I'd hoped a 137 year old precision measuring instrument company would be, picturesque New England town, with a factory that is over 100 years old, that runs off a water wheel, that employs the whole village. It's like a living Norman Rockwell painting, truly an American jewel that is to be cherished.

My Father was a machinist for 44 years, he passed in 1994 and I inherited all of his tools. I grew up using and cleaning Starrett tools. I still use some that he bought new before I was born. My favorite is the toolmakers hammer that he bought me with my name stamped on it. God bless you and Starrett for this video.

That Bob guy was awesome. I got the feeling he knew everything worth knowing in that factory.

Awesome tour! I grew up in Springfield, and had family in Athol. Been by that factory many times over the years. For those not familiar with the area, it is no accident that Starrett is located where it is. The surrounding area has been a mecca of American manufacturing going back to the revolutionary war. George Washington founded the first Armory in Springfield, Smith and Wesson is still there, Greenfield MA is home to many tool manufacturers, Rolls Royce automobiles were once built in Springfield, as was Indian Motorcycles, and many more famous manufacturers were located in the pioneer valley. This video is a priceless look into history.

This was an amazing shop tour. Old school American industry. I loved the automatic door closer at 9:05 just a weight, some rope, and a couple of pulleys.

"I have one" said every Starrett tool lover! Left the day to day as a metal patternmaker back in the 80's for modelmaking, then onto mid management. Can still envision the smells and feel the machine handles. My 4 piece Kennedy toolbox still holds all my Starrett tools, waiting for my formal retirement in 2021 at 70.

Absolutely love it there! Loved the tour of the original machine shop. I will go there and get my own tour one of these days!

I'm not a machist but i can appreciate what it takes to make and accumulate the tools necessary to do the work required. The one thing though that struck me here was the people. Mostly grey hairs or no hairs like myself who stayed until the last minute before the Christmas holidays, dedicated to their work and doing what they know best for years, in some cases for their entire lives. They are a testament to what can be achieved when people work together and give it their all. Kudos to them wherever they are, for in reality, they are the people who really build nations, not the politians as so many are lead to believe.

Simply a great video! A Starrett you'll buy once & your great grandchildren will still be using it long after you've turned to dust. Cheap & inexpensive Chinese tools you'll purchase many times & spend more $$$ in the long run. Quality & precision tools save countless hours & make for less mistakes. I'm still using my American made Starrett, Craftsman & Snap-on tools I bought in the mid to late 70's. As an aside; I've had to recover some of those tools from my adult children, LOL. My grandchildren love my Starrett 12" rule.

I have known the Starrett name ever since the early 1970's when I was a little kid in my dad's pattern shop. Even back then I knew Starrett tools are special. I inherited his tools when he passed and am still adding to the collection. Thank you so much for the tour!

Not only is the factory awesome but the level of understanding Bob has for all the aspects of manufacturing was incredible. I'd go broke if I toured that place, I'd want to buy one of everything. Thanks for the tour.

Great video John! I have been waiting for this one. I really hope that all the jackasses out there in the forum world who argue that all Starrett tools are now made in China watch this video. I knew they still made all those tools right there in Athol. So great that they let you film there so we can all see how the factory looks and is set up. It really is an amazing place! I loved the tour. Thanks for taking us along buddy! 👍🏻

This is absolutely amazing!!! The operator at 24:44 made my day. It's becuase of people like HIM that makes America Great!!!

When you mentioned your Grandfather it really hit home with me. My first job in high school was pushing a broom and deburring parts in a machine shop, the day I graduated I became a full time machinist. Starrett was what I got when I could. My last job was actually as a millwright. Thank you for posting this video, it was amazing.

John, Thanks so much for sharing this video. It's always great to see where things are made. Special thanks to Starrett and Bob!

I actually worked at starretts for 5 years running cnc grinder it's a machinist dream for sure really cool stuff that they can do and a very deep history is awesome.

Awesome video thank you so much! I just enrolled in a Machinist course... been there for 3 weeks now and loving it. My ultimate goal is to become a TRUE machinist which would be a person that can be given a piece of raw stock and a drawing and come back with a product to spec in an efficient amount of time. But my short term goal is to have all Starrett machinist tools. This video pumped me up big time with inspiration to work even harder at achieving my goals... and proud to be American. Thank you so much.

I'm no machinist, but as a woodworker, I do use a lot of measuring tools and I ALWAYS prefer Starrett tools over everyone else. Looking at the poster, I got all happy seeing my depth gauges, combination square, dividers of all types and lengths, micrometers, calipers. It makes me happy to see them still alive and well just a few miles away from me. Now I want to go visit the museum. Thank you guys for the video, and thank you Starrett for allowing a look inside. It makes me so happy to see quality still being alive in the US.

AMAZING!!!!! It crushes my soul, to think how much industrial & precision manufacturing this country either lost or gave away. Having jobs like these where generation of families went to work with a great amount of unstoppable pride, of which clearly still shows at the Starrett factory. What an honor to have seen this in person. Nice work. I think I will take the time out to email the Starrett Company for allowing you to take this huge tour. Just powerful to see, Thank you for sharing this one. Drew

John, I have been watching your channel for a long time and this was the most awesome video I have seen. Thank you for giving us this privilege and it will be unforgettable. Your work is greatly enjoyed and appreciated.

Incredible tour and video! It makes me so proud to be a american because of this company and many others like it. The world wide impact the products they manufacture have fills me with pride. The enthusiasm of the technicians restores some hope in me of the american worker. Thank you Starrett for the quality products you produce. Thank you for the fights you have endured to keep your production in the USA!

Bought my Starrett tools 25 years ago. It's hard to put my pride of ownership in words... especially after viewing this AMERICAN ICON. Thank you John

Yep I’ll buy only Starrett from now on simply because they have the confidence to let you guys look around and take the rest of us along. I don’t work in machining so I’ve always been a little cost conscious, but now I see why you pay a little more, makes all the difference when you are proud of your tools.

Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship born and made in the US of A! Awesome tour John thank you for taking us along.

Great Tool Porn. What a great factory, and its still in the US. I have used thier dial gauges at work and they are a joy. never a glitch. Precision to the 10th degree. Buy starrett, keep America Great

This is the finest factory tour that I’ve ever seen. Truly outstanding company. I have been in love with their tools and products forever. I’m only a collector really but have used their dial Calipers at work before I retired. Fantastic video and company. Thanks for the trip to heaven for a collector.

I've spent most of my adult life using Starrett tools. They are to me, the best quality there is. Thank you.

Definitely don't start watching this 5 minutes before bed!

64 minutes of eye candy. Thanks for sharing. I love my Starrett tools. I could almost smell the factory while watching this.

As a 1950's journeyman machinist it is a joy to see "old school" at work. People don't realize the talent that it takes to work in a place like this. Each machinist has thousands of dollars of personal tools in their tool box. I'm surprised they let you in when the men were not there. When I started in 1959 I was told to buy only Starrett Lufkin or Browne and Sharp tools because that was the industry standard. I retired in 2002. I have worked everything from 14' VBM to clean room. Thanks again for taking me back to the good old days.

Thank you for the amazing video tour of the Starrett factory. It took me more than two hours to watch because of I had to pause, return and study the still pictures. There was so much to see and appreciate.

It is mind boggling to think every major American historical moment probably had at least one tool from that factory used on the project...from the Atomic program to the Apollo missions.

This is truly american craftsmanship. These are the types of jobs we need again. I bet all those employees take pride in the parts and tools they create.

Can't thank you enough for the tour this one of the coolest videos I've ever seen I have used their tools since I was a kid and still have some of them.

That was totally worth an hour of my time. Thanks so much for doing this! Amazing to see so much vintage machinery still being used and making them money. I live very close and have always wanted to tour it. I will for sure now. Thanks again.

This video was so cool. Just so much to see, I want to go!

john this video WOW i can't wait to buy another STARRETT tool thank you buddy

Thank you so much for taking the time to film this tour. Looks like a fascinating and wonderful place. This folks clearly love what they do. Their passion for their work really comes across. More power to them!

I watched this video non-stop and tears well up in my eyes at the pure and unadulterated mastery that has come out of that shop since it’s beginning. Just trying to grasp the amount of industry that starrett tools have been used in, is almost beyond the scope of concept. It makes you feel such pride that a fellow American worker made a tool as fine as one out of the starrett factory. Truly heirloom quality implements.

All I kept thinking, "American made is BAD ASS!!" This was an awesome tour.

The sad thing I see is the average age of the people working there. Without more young people like yourself interested in machining , I see very little future for the tooling industry in the US.

John, this was the coolest video ever. thank you Starrett for allowing the video and thank you John for sharing this.

I really wanted to go to school for machining when I graduated in 2011 but ended up joining the military which I also love. But I never thought I was good enough at math to be able to give it a try. I'm a mechanic now working on air craft but man sometimes I wanna get out and go back to school to be able to work in a factory like this. To be able to use my hands to make such amazing tools is an exciting thought.

Where would this country be without companies like this...

LOVED THE VID! I watched the whole thing, great tour.

Started out as an aircraft mechanic in 1978. Have owned and used Starrett tools almost from day one. A few weeks from retirement from Boeing and I still have all my Starrett tools! Hard to beat their quality!! Thanks for sharing!

You have no idea how this video makes me feel! My entire life has been in machining ! I have my grandfathers tools from when he worked at the Ford Rouge plant steel mill! I also have my dads from Ford Trade School! Plus my own!Starrett Tools are my passion!

24:44 That guy loves what he does!!!

Just stared at my monitor without blinking for an hour.

25:00 that guy was great. I just love people like him that are informative and just happy as can be to show you what's going on.

I actually liked the guy at 24:42, he's just an original having fun while working what he loves, fascinated like on day one :D

I've watched this 15 times, I notice something different every time.

Forget Disneyworld... I'm going to Athol!

Idk about Starrett’s, but Section 5 is the top secret facility at the heart of the General Dynamics that houses the most dangerous and restricted projects, it’s located deep underground. Hope that answers your answer. Probably not many people will get this, but to those that do, cheers!🤣🤣🤣🤣 So lovely to see all those machine tools lovingly cared for! 🥰🥰🥰🥰

After seeing how many skilled people who work for this company, i will only be buying Starrett from now on. These are tools made by real machinists, for machinists.

Double thumbs up John, Great video!

In Thailand we have some like this verry old equipment but not in so good running conditions but can hold .0001 with the best of them🙃 But will say AMERICAN is the way to go! Strong,true & reliable 🇺🇸👍

I own a number of Starrett tools, some being new purchases and some being very old ones. They all have a few important things in common: they are precise, they are easy to use, and they are VERY WELL MADE. I love them all and hope to increase the number of Starrett products in my shop over the next few years. I will purchase them new, by the way, because this video showed me where my money goes and who it helps to keep employed. BRAVO, Starrett, for making such fine things.

Love Starrett! As a machinist then as a mechanical engineer, Starrett tools were the best for any application. Even now that I am retired and dedicated to woodworking I still use my Sarrett tools, probably overkill for woodworking but old habits die hard.

So mitutoyo next? :)

Uh oh... Adam is going to be a little jealous! I know I am.

ive been a machinest for 33 yrs. i learned to run every thing and just love to watch this stuff.

I live less than a mile from this plant. I have never been inside. This video was excellent and I am amazed at what goes on in there. Thanks for this video. I shared it on Facebook and my friends are sharing it. Some of my friends actually work there. Most people that work there have worked there for decades. Thanks again!

The unsung genius of the world wears blue oil stained overalls.

It's very interesting but a big part is essentially a working museum.

No matter what your political views are, this factory tour is a porthole view to what made America great. I love the fact that I have had an opportunity to see what the inner workings of the tools I use everyday are made of, and that men and women who, like me, have a passion for precision. Many thanks to the marketing department for allowing this tour, as well as NYC CNC for broadcasting it for many to see. I know this comment is a year too late for initial rush of YT views but it has hit home with me. I know the value of good tooling and I can see ( as a machinist who sidelines as an auctioneer) the continuous value of these tools. If you need a tool for a one time use and will not have a use for it again that yea maybe that cheap alternative will suit you fine, but if you put food on your table with the tools you use everyday then these tools are worth the investment. As far as I can tell when we sell out a machine shop the Starrett precision tools all hold really close to retail value and imports seem to fall in with the chaff of other tooling sold. So if you look at the grand scheme of things, if you take good care of your tools, they don't cost too much to own for a lifetime, as there is someone out there looking to have the quality this brand carries in their toolbox, and they are willing to spend their money on a brand that they can trust. Thanks Guys... looking forward to more videos of the same content.

Awesome tour, I'm just a few miles north in N.H. Being in this business for about 45 years as a machinist/toolmaker, I can appreciate every minute of this tour. I too owned many Starrett tools myself and I grew up with a father that had a machine shop in the basement, so I started learning at a young age back in the 60's... Thanks again, loved it...

AvE instant shmoo release.

No. The yellow face is the correct one. :D

Thank you! I've now spent 5 hours trawling through the Starrett on-line catalog :D Also looked into some of my old tools handed down to me - great to feel a connection to where they came from!

A once in three lifetimes for the opportunity to visit this company.. There has never been a shop that I worked in that didn't have Tools made by this company in its possession.. Rex Roach..... I agree with you.. This video is SO Nice.. Gents.. What a PLACE.. Thank You.. for posting this video.. I had trouble keeping the tears from my eyes as I watched the Warehouse Image where the Tools are prepared and stored for shipping.. AND.... The dial indicator Assembly Desk.. Before I graduated From Vocational School in 1961 I worked in a machine shop in the summer months that was driven by a Single Motor with Overhead Shafts that powered the Drive and Counter Drive shafts for the Machine Shop.. WELL.. that was a long time ago.. However, Starrett Measuring Tools were common Place in that Shop.. I learned to operate a Metal Forge in that Shop.. Whenever I worked in that shop, it was my task to Fire up and keep the Forge from going out..

How about a little less cool, holy cow, wow, and cutting off the host in mid sentence.

Sorry guys, great video and your are doing a nice job, but its just too many superlatives with too many exclamation marks and hand-in-the-air "oh-oh-oh teacher i know he answer, i am smart, i know what is happening here"... chill out, you get points for not knowing and asking questions too.

Great video. I'm not a machinist of any kind, I just find this stuff interesting. That was fun to watch.

i am only a woodworker i think i am going to watch this video a thousand times thank you and Starrett

Very SAD!!! Thanks for the tour tho. That hardinge horizontal mill looks identical to a Wigglesworth we still use. The Bridgeport CNCs look slightly different than the CompuMill we ran 20 years ago. Great example of how we have lost our manufacturing base to China...alot of old tech and empty rooms. Today many Starret products will show up with Made in China stickers on them ...VERY sad. We can only hope this can be reversed!!!

Nothing goes over German engineering. Just saying.

Thanks for getting that recorded. The skills of those workers is amazing. Starrett, thank you for opening your doors so your story could be told.

To have these tools from 40 years and to see them made is just I don't have words..

Starrrett is the King of Machine Tools. Our world today could not function without these tools

I have my Starrett #98 8" precision levels from 45 years ago. They still have the price tag on them of $19.00, and I the original brown waxed crinkle paper..and , yes, the red boxes. They were used to level the Tormach 1100 when I got it; our local machine mover jokingly offered me $25 each for them .. I said 'uh...No" I also still have 3 and 4 inch Brown and Sharpe Digit mikes with the mechanical tumbler digits, from about that same time. Quality vintage tools are a joy to use. What a great video!

As a boy, I remember my father going to work for a New Jersey ship yard as a machinist/ tool and diemaker. Unfortunately he now afflicted with dementia and lives in a nursing home. I recently acquired his Kennedy machinist toolbox and was intrigued with its content. I wish I had learned how to use a lathe and milling machine, although I’m considering getting into it and learn the basic so I can make car, motorcycle, gun, and household parts. Your KZfaq channel and a few other publishers provide me with knowledge and inspiration to get started. This particular video was very informative about the company that made a lot of my dad’s tools. I really enjoyed it. Thank you. Thumbs up and subscribed.

Thanks so much for sharing! I absolutely love Starrett tools. Still the worlds greatest tool makers.

The Mother of All Shop Tours! Thanks Starrett; and what a great American Company.

Wow, that place is just overwhelming. Could spend days just wandering around there. The excitement in your voice was infectious.

What a terrific video! Just a DIY'er myself but there is a joy to using well designed and built tools and so I enjoy the Starrett tools I've acquired over the years. Wonderful to see the facility and appreciate the role it's played in so many facets of life in last 100 + years.

Starrett must be considered a national treasure, this tour makes me even more proud of my Starrett tools, thank you so much for sharing this video!

My uncle Ed Arsenault worked at that factory in Athol, MA for over 40 years before retiring and passing on. Great video. What a great look at American quality and heritage.

Tour guide has such a phenomenal memory & knowledge about seemingly EVERYTHING in the never ending factory ! Great job, all 👍

Wow. I have a lot of Starrett that was probably built in that museum. To see see the old machines still running was such a joy. This is what made USA great.....

I am sorry but this is my second post within the hour. This was the best action, horror or any movie I have ever seen in my life. I nearly flipped when I seen all those dial indicators. Yellow is metric because we in South Africa only uae yellow most of the time. Once again thank you to you John and the guy that took you through the factory. This is history.

Just wow! Amazing products, factory and people! So much heritage and knowledge. May Starrett live forever!

My father worked there back in the 1940s and then in 1941 he joined the army with a group of friends that also worked at Starretts. Mr Starrett told them that their jobs would be waiting for them when they got back. My father was shipped to England and spent his time there. When he got back his job was waiting for him. Then in 1962, he got cancer and died in 1966. Mr Starrett presented to my mother the watch for 25 years for working there even though it was just under 25 years. All of my fathers brothers and sister worked at Starretts.

This is the longest youtube video I've ever watched.....I love machines and what can be made with them. The factory is AWESOME, what a walk through time. I also save ALL of my Starrett boxes, they just represent quality. Thanks for posting the tour, I wish I could have smelled that factory.

John that was freakin awesome. Also having Bob, a machinist do the tour and not some corporate shill in a suit do the used car pitch you usually see on factory tours, really makes this video stand out.