Spoons and forks, the metal flatware that everyone uses, are no longer made in the United States

[The Straight Story]

SPOONS and forks, the metal flatware that everyone uses, are no longer made in the United States. The last factory in an industry stretching back to colonial times closed eight months ago in Sherrill, N.Y., a small community in the foothills of the Adirondacks, and 80 employees lost their jobs.

No one paid much attention beyond the people in the town itself, even though the closing represented the demise of an industry that had flourished in this country for generations. Paul Revere, in fact, was a flatware craftsman.

Sherrill Manufacturing, which owned the factory, said in a statement that production had succumbed to less expensive Chinese imports. Robert A. Comis, the Sherrill city manager, said, “It is too common a situation.”

Losing an industry or ceasing to manufacture a particular product, in this case stainless steel flatware, has indeed become a fairly frequent event. Just in the last few years, the last sardine cannery, in Maine, closed its doors. Stainless steel rebars, the sturdy rods that reinforce concrete in all kinds of construction, are now no longer made in America. Neither are vending machines or incandescent light bulbs or cellphones or laptop computers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/business/13every.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=1298559603-r+uUSVLCG7MJwmHJ/l+q/g

[damntexdem]

1. This just proves that we're really forked.

;-)

And the tines, they are a'changin'.

[LongTomH]

2. Ouch!!!!

:hurts:

[xchrom]

3. making things like cutlery and flatware are part of a nations history

and culture.

there is just something horrifying to see furniture, flatware, etc -- that go back to our origins being so easily
sent off shore.

[Kennah]

4. This demonstrates at least one upside to much higher fuel prices

When it's no longer economically feasible to ship Chinese made crap to the U.S., without any stimulus spending or tax code revisions, industry will move back to the North American continent.

So it will all be made in Mexico.

[MineralMan]

5. Never mind.

[LisaM]

8. Are you positive that's not the same company?

It's the same town.

[MineralMan]

9. Yeah, it was. That's why I killed the post.

[Raksha]

6. I'll always love and treasure my American-made flatware

and also the classic Revere Ware pots and pans I use. I find them in thrift shops now--the same kind my mother used in the 1950s when I was growing up.

It may be a romantic Luddite dream, but for years I've dreamed that we could revive those industries. That was simply the best stuff ever made! One flatware pattern I collect and treasure is the Oneida Community pattern called "Paul Revere," which isn't stainless but silverplate. It was made in the 1930s-1940s. I don't know how they did it, but the plating never seems to wear off as with other silverplate.

Oh yeah...and I like the name too!

[DJ13]

7. Lead is so cheap and abundant in China, who wouldnt make cutlery there?

[disillusioned73]

10. .....

:cry: that is alll..

[Chipper Chat]

11. Chopsticks are more fun anyway.

I have a pair of plastic chopsticks that say "Made in the USA" on them. (possibly a joke?)

[gimama]

12. fig newtons "hecho en mexico"

..ALL the produce at my grocery store is brought in from south o'the border..
in my pantry, "chicken of the Sea" tuna, "product of VietNam";
another can,"Top of the Line" tuna,"product of the Philippeans";
& "Healthy Way" brand "100% natural" Canola oil spray,"made in Canada"..

I am a label reader, & can't make sense out of importing food..
how can it possibly be efficient & economical, let alone healthy & safe?

I need a cookie.

[bdamomma]

13. why don't we list what IS made in the US?

this is so sad.

[pansypoo53219]

14. we make potato chips.

and i think soda.

more reason to do my shopping at estate sales. good old american clothespins. american made fans. METAL fans. tho, i will vintage foreign stuff.