Cool Stuff Being Made - Hipwell Flashlights

Travel to Pittsburgh, PA to find out how Hipwell Manufacturing makes flashlights on another episode of Cool Stuff Being Made.

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Filmed: 2002

Hipwell Manufacturing is one of a handful of flashlight manufacturers currently in the United States. Back in 1887, when Hipwell got started, the company made parts for oil lamps. They made the screw for turning the wick, and the brass prongs for holding the glass chimney in place. When natural gas was discovered, Hipwell responded by making parts for lamps that used natural gas for fuel.

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The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation's largest industrial trade association, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing has a presence in every single congressional district providing good, high-paying jobs. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor blog, Twitter and Facebook, visit http://nam.org

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• NAM
• manufacturers
• manufactures
• manufacturing
• business
• industrial
• advocacy
• US
• American trade association
• cool stuff
• How It's Made
• factory floor
• flashlights
• lights

[SubliminalKnowledge]

2008 and this process is not automated?

"I don't want to live on this planet anymore!"

[rob99201]

Fred Rogers covered this plant in one of his episodes (picture picture!).

[SuPrAmAd101]

Shame the guy showing us how they are made doesnt have a clue about where he works.

[abbyrox314]

My last name is Hipwell, but i live in Ohio ^_^ :)

[jbranstetter04]

Now the Chinese are operating machines like those for 10 cents an hour. It's hard to compete with competition like that.

[guitartec]

Seems like an antiquated and inefficient process. I LOVE IT!

[no1saphead]

@wheely132 well I am the Led buyingist fool that was ever born. I have a couple $55 snap on LED floodlights.The only thing that is not bright about them is the fool who gave 55 bucks for them .lifetime warranty.Instead of going out of business he should make LED's as well as his other good stuff.

[wheely132]

@no1saphead ya i know what you are talking about but i bet one of those flashlights can outlive those cheap flash lights.

[Hollrobb]

Sad to hear the business is now closed down , i bet many people spent theif life working in that plant and was very happy working there.

[otef434]

Wow, talk about antiques. Not the product, but the process and machines involved. Some statistical process control would have helped a great deal, and could have made the difference between still profitable, or being converted to Condos.