OT: Imports

[Roger Hicks]

Specifically, EU-US and vice versa. Most of us use some Japanese kit, and buy Chinese goods if we can't avoid it. But what would you REALLY miss if you couldn't buy US-made goods in the EU and EU-made goods in the US?

Living in the EU, I'd nominate Kodak, Leatherman tools, Maglite torches (flashlights) and Weber barbecues for a start. When I lived in the USA there'd obviously be Ilford, Leica, Billingham, BMW and Moto-Guzzi motorcycles, Swiss Army knives and quite a range of foodstuffs, especially olive oil.

Try to keep it to goods manufactured in the respective areas, e.g. not Levis jeans (the pair I'm wearing as I type this, bought in the USA, were made in Colombia) or Marks and Spencers underpants (Egypt). On the other hand, by all means include things bought in the other area and brought home with you (Craftsman tools and Fruit of the Loom T-shirts, for me in the EU; Overbury bicycles when I lived in the USA).

This was prompted by discussions elsewhere on the forum about the weakness of the dollar and what people buy from outside their own economic bloc. It is NOT intended to 'bash' either side: rather, to explore what either side does best, and how aware people are of good products from outside their own economic bloc.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Paul T.]

While the US has exprted too much of its industry, you can find the real thing (like Levi's) if you look hard enough.

My staples, without which life would be unbearable:
Fender Telecasters (mine was made in Orange County in 1952, but the Custom SHop designs are excellent).
Levi's 501 (buy the LVC range, they're made in the US using the original narrow loom fabric eg http://www.manufactum.co.uk/Produkt/174190/1394799/JeansLevis501XX.html)
Red Wing boots... (manufactum do them too, at a premium of course)
and french's american mustard. Sweet, cheap, vinegary and perfect on a bacon'n'egg butty.

(and if i was in the US, I'd still be eulogising the MIni, and Tricker's boots).

 

[Spyderman]

probably lots of good deals on american ebay ?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Wow! I'd no idea they still made 'proper' 501s -- but at $185 for a pair in the US, and around $250 in the UK -- I suppose I'll live with the Colombian variety!

Thanks very much for this fascinating piece of news.

French's mustard is definitely a matter of taste. In the US I bought Colman's (and still do in France).

Cheers,

Roger

 

[dexdog]

It sounds trivial, but I would miss French mustard- my favorite is Pommery green peppercorn. Wonderful stuff.

 

[feenej]

Really good Belgian and English beer. Some English beer has a malty flavor that is not duplicated here at all. All our good beer in the USA tastes like German beer.

 

[Paul T.]

LOL, good point. I was in Ashley's bar in Ann Arbor Michigan a couple of weeks ago, and was overjoyed to see they had Meantime beer, which is brewed just down the road from me.

Booze and entertainment - Britain's great gift to the world.

 

[Krosya]

Well, I live in US. And I cant even think of what I buy that is American (made here that is). I'm sure there is something, but nothing comes to mind.
Things I like:
Food - I like Mexican, Japanese and Italian.
Cameras, Electronics and Auto - Japanese.
Clothes - dont really care, so I suppose made some place in Asia.
Watches - again - Japanese.
Beer - Non American. Wine - Australian or French. Hard stuff - Ukrainian Vodka, Mexican Tequila and Jamaican Rum.
So, if I moved to...lets say Europe, or Australia, or Asia - I wouldnt miss much it seems.
Maybe Cigarettes? I found that I prefer American made ones.

 

[oftheherd]

Interesting thread Mr. Hicks. But actually, I long ago learned to adapt, as I am sure you have. What I couldn't get, I just did without. Besides, my tastes are fairly simple. I got a 50mm f/1.4 lens on the cheap, loved it and wanted more. I still haven't done so due to cost. I had acquired some Fujinons and they are quite good. I have a tendency to go for used Japanese and German folders now. But that's not what this thread is about.

I guess I just learn to get what I need from wherever. But you raise an interesting point. What if for some reason, all overseas commerce was interupted for some reason. No more inexpensive clothing, watches, or good vehicles. Most oriental food my wife and I would want is grown in the US, but not all, and not always of the same taste.

Fact is, I don't think there is anything I depend on that I couldn't get here in the US, if not of the same quality. But that is just me. Well, actually, I just thought. I sure would miss my green tea.

 

[dexdog]

Really good Belgian and English beer. Some English beer has a malty flavor that is not duplicated here at all. All our good beer in the USA tastes like German beer.

I don't agree that all USA beer tastes like german brews. Many of the biggest microbrews (yes, it sounds like a contradiction, but isn't) are in the style of a British beer, an india pale ale. Sierra Nevada is an example, and a many brewers make an IPA, a bitter or an ESB. Similarly, there are lots of Belgian style brews available out of Colorado, such as Fat Tire, or Ommegang out of Kentucky.

Speakin of Beer though, I would miss Belgian Trappist-style ales and Samuel Smith's from England

 

[Roger Hicks]

But actually, I long ago learned to adapt, as I am sure you have. . .

Very true. There are some things you just put up with not being able to get, such as clotted cream and pork pies, and others where you adapt: Anchor Steam beer, or the SLO Brewery instead of Marston's Old Roger.

It just intrigued me that the manufactured goods I bought were so unexpected -- such as the Weber barbecue. My other barbecue is made of substantial chunks of bent steel and was made in France, but of course I can't smoke-cook food with it.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[kevin m]

I am old, but will never be old man enough for a Mercedes or a Porsche.

Allright, I'll take your bait: What does that even mean?

To the question: I miss affordable European cars already. In this great capitalist shopping center of ours, we haven't had a French or Italian car available for twenty years or more. Now that gas is over $4.00 a gallon here, perhaps that will change. I hope so.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Monfrotto tripods (or Gitzo, also made by Monfrotto in Italy now)

Gossen Lightmeters. Well ok, you can buy Sekonic or get a used Minolta that are just as good. But I don't know any tripod maker in Asia or the USA that is up to Monrfotto/Gitzo quality. Tiltall tripods used to be USA made....are they still around?

 

[wlewisiii]

Heh. Let's see, EU product I'd miss...
Zeiss
Triumph Motorcycles
Guinness & Samuel Smiths
Foma film
Scotch Whisky
Irish whiskey
Various & sundry munchies from all over Europe

William

 

[Graham Line]

Let's see. From the EU, Ilford, Beck's, Reissdorf, O.K./Okocim, BMW, Volkswagen (though the kid's is from Mexico), all sorts of cheeses . . . there's a pattern here. Then there are kitchen knives and rieslings.
The man who mentioned Red Wings needs to look into Danner boots.
I'm not sure anyone in the US makes a really crisp pilsener yet, and Portland here is overstuffed with brewers.

 

[Graham Line]

Tiltall tripods used to be USA made....are they still around?

Tiltalls now seem to come from China and don't feel like the same grade of aluminum or quality of machining at the N.J. ones.

 

[kevin m]

....just took out the recycling and noticed several empty bottles of Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand so, evidently, I guess I'd miss those. 😀

 

[Pablito]

just foods and booze. What else matters?😀

 

[ferider]

Funny that nobody mentions electronics.

How about the American sensor in your German camera, Roger ?

For more complex systems, nowadays, they typically come from a variety of countries, and "made in ..." only means assembled in.

For example, anybody who uses a modern AMD chip, it might come from Dresden.

Or a SmartCard, might mostly come from Munich. Etc.

Living in the US, I truly miss German bread and Wurst. 🙂

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[Roger Hicks]

How about the American sensor in your German camera, Roger ?

Dear Roland,

I was under the impression it was a Kodak KAF-10500. Kodak was the first US company I named in the original post. And that was one of the products I had in mind.

Funny how no-one thinks of Kodak as an electronics company...

Cheers