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WarGamer

(16,769 posts) Thu Mar 27, 2025, 01:11 PM Mar 27

The story of Raybestos... and why the UAW supports tariffs. [View all]

In 1919...

1919, Raymark Industries in Stratford CT was manufacturing automotive BRAKE PADS right here in the USA.

They cut the hardened steel, they fired the pad material including asbestos...

They put brakes in early cars... then clutch plates... they supplied parts for WW2 planes and tanks, trucks, AV, etc...

They put parts in space and the men on the moon had Raybestos in their boots.

All made in the USA...

Then by the 90's... they were switching over to Chinese mfg... because of regulatory and labor and cost pressure.

Here's a set of brake pads online... for $9.73... made in China.

They can't be made in the USA for $10.

https://prnt.sc/IdMqrYAmH6pM

12 replies

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Highlight:

The story of Raybestos... and why the UAW supports tariffs. [View all] WarGamer Mar 27 OP

screw the UAW RJ-MacReady Mar 27 #1

Cool, man. ObscurePiton Mar 27 #9

Yeah I see what's up. Kingofalldems Mar 27 #2

You were looking for a story with text, House of Roberts Mar 27 #3

This will help you WarGamer Mar 27 #6

Interesting side note about brake pads in the 1990s: House of Roberts Mar 27 #4

No manufacturer is going to expand manufacturing, build new plants, invest in new machinery because of any ImNotGod Mar 27 #5

This is the crux of all of this durablend Mar 27 #7

People can't afford a new car as it is, add another twelve thousand Meadowoak Mar 27 #8

Then MAYBE... WarGamer Mar 27 #10

good lord, my father was a UAW autoworker, Im sure he's rolling in his grave. Meadowoak Mar 28 #11

In the olden days... WarGamer Mar 28 #12