Ridgid vs Reed

[MS]

I've been looking at pipe threaders, reamers, pipe vice, etc. over the last week or so. What struck me as interesting is how similar many of the Reed tools are to Ridgid.

Look at pipe threaders & reamers. It is obvious that one is copying the other - their designs are almost identical, at times. The last straw, so to speak, came when I looked at the pipe chain vices. Same story, both manufacturers have almost identical designs.

I am curious as to which company came first and - who is copying whom? Anyone know?

[John Hines]

Ridgid was making pro quality plumbing tools before Emerson took the name into other tools, after they lost the Sears contract.

I don't know of Reed, but I heard of Ridgid a couple of decades ago.

[*CBHVAC*]

Reed tools came about in 1896. Rigid came about in 1923.

Wont own anything but a Ridgid pipe tool...at least until Emerson bastards them out to the Japanese and Chinese like they have the electronic division.

[Norm De Plume]

In real life, was Miss Ridgid Tool married to Mr. Ridgid Tool?