smart , connected products are products , assets and other things embedded with processors , sensors , software and connectivity that allow data to be exchanged between the product and its environment , manufacturer , operator/user , and other products and systems .

connectivity also enables some capabilities of the product to exist outside the physical device , in what is known as the product cloud .

the data collected from these products can be then analyzed to inform decision-making , enable operational efficiencies and continuously improve the performance of the product .

smart , connected products

this full course replaces the following two courses previously offered : the business of smart connected products ( 1945 ) and field course : the business of smart connected products ( 6194 ) .
we help manufacturers to develop innovative smart , connected devices with sophisticated security integrated from the outset . we help customers knowingly take control and secure their iot and smart connected products and environments .
discover our connected products , software , apps and services for building better connected industrial and commercial machines through advanced digital technologies and open standards .
driving technology innovation in the iot to help you develop smart , connected and secure solutions .
everything you need to develop smart , connected and secure things for the iot starts here .
in the november cover story of harvard business review , how smart , connected products are transforming competition , authors jim heppelmann , president and ceo of ptc , and professor michael porter of the harvard business school , examine how smart , connected products are shifting competition in many industries , especially manufacturing .
next : check out the features chart the internet of things at home : 14 smart products compared .
this article provides a framework for developing a strategy and achieving competitive advantage in a smart , connected world .
by the end of the decade , it ' s estimated that there will be 50 billion products connected to the internet of things .
“these new types of products alter industry structure and the nature of competition , exposing companies to new competitive opportunities and threats . they are reshaping industry boundaries and creating entirely new industries . in many companies , smart , connected products will force the fundamental question ,
belkin international manufactures consumer electronics for the smart home , as well as safe drinking water delivery systems , wireless networking products , charging and power products , and accessories for smartphones and tablets .
find and compare the best internet of things devices . narrow your choices and explore the top consumer products and vendors for your connected home .
our connected products for measuring , actuating , device level monitoring , and control adhere to open standards to provide unmatched integration opportunities and flexibility .
whether you’re a homeowner looking for the best products to start building your connected life , or a business leader looking to take your company to the next level — this is the place to begin . we’ve collected the best and most popular options the iot has to offer , from smart home devices to enterprise platforms to the software and tools you need to build your own smart , connected products .
be inspired by smart connected products success stories where the user is enabled to easily manage and understand smart product performance and usage data to inform ongoing product development , quality assurance , and service management , generating increased value for the manufacturer and their customer base .
porter , michael e . , and james e . heppelmann .
how smart , connected products are transforming competition .
harvard business review 92 , no . 11 ( november 2014 ) : 64–88 .
an equally optimistic view was expressed in another excellent article , - how smart connected products are transforming competition , - published in the november issue of the harvard business review by michael porter and james heppelmann .
but in his most recent work , porter himself has shown the cracks in this model of industry definition . in how smart , connected products are transforming competition , he discusses the transformational power of smart , connected technologies when applied to product businesses . he describes how companies can evolve from making products , to offering more complex , higher - value offerings within a “system of systems” . for example , you might sell a tractor today . but once that tractor is smart and connected to the cloud , your products and services will become part of a highly interconnected agricultural management solution . take this example of a smart , connected home bar product . is it in the consumer electronics industry ? the liquor industry ? the home entertainment industry ? all of the above ?
grid connect manufacturers wireless networking products . they also have their own cloud platform integration services and a smart home product line called connectsense .
barcelona - smart cities : the spanish city is one of the foremost smart cities in the world after it implemented several iot initiatives that have helped enhance smart parking and the environment .
an international joint venture between abb , bosch , and cisco . we develop and operate an open software platform for the connected smart home .
information technology is revolutionizing products . once composed solely of mechanical and electrical parts , products have become complex systems that combine hardware , sensors , data storage , microprocessors , software , and connectivity in myriad ways . these
smart , connected products
—made possible by vast improvements in processing power and device miniaturization and by the network benefits of ubiquitous wireless connectivity—have unleashed a new era of competition .
the internet of things contains an enormous variety of sensors and connected smart objects that are making the web wiser . learn what it means for the future .
we live in a smart connected world . the number of devices connected to the internet recently surpassed the total number of humans on the planet . according to industry reports , we ' re accelerating on our way to an
internet of things
that will include as many as 50 billion connected products by the end of the decade . in this new world all manner of sensors , tags , and controls will become a part of both the manufacturing process as well as the smart products that such manufacturers produce . this transformation is taking shape across all manufacturing sectors .
address the challenge of modernizing the electric grid with the cisco services connected grid architecture methodology .
prof . michael e . porter and ptc ceo jim heppelmann introduce their november 2014 harvard business review article on the impact of smart , connected products and the internet of things ( iot ) on strategy and competition . read the article now at urltoken .
ivee sleek may look like just another alarm clock , but it also functions as a voice - activated interface that lets you talk to the nest smart home thermostat , the staples connected home and smartthings smart home monitoring and control systems .
however , the creation of smart connected products is not easy . to capitalize on this opportunity , manufacturers must assess their company’s strategy as it relates to everything from product design to sourcing , production , sales , and service . manufacturers must be able to securely collect and respond to data from customers , suppliers , and now the products themselves .
there are now more devices connected to the internet than the total number of people on earth .
enabling mass - scale product digitization using the gs1 product identifiers already on trillions of products .
the first two it waves helped companies become significantly more productive by reengineering their operations , but their products were largely unaffected . this is now changing with the emergence of cloud computing , internet of things ( iot ) , big data and other major innovations whose combined impact is driving this third it wave and the ensuing new era of smart connected products .
smart home : the smart home is likely the most popular iot application at the moment because it is the one that is most affordable and readily available to consumers . from the amazon echo to the nest thermostat , there are hundreds of products on the market that users can control with their voices to make their lives more connected than ever .
once smart , connected products take hold , the idea of an industry as being defined by the product alone ceases to have meaning . what sense does it make to talk about a “tractor industry” if tractors are just one piece of an integrated system of products , services , software , and data designed to help farmers increase crop yields ? what porter has shown is that in a smart , connected future , industries are defined not by products , but by “jobs to be done” ( somewhere clayton christensen is chuckling ) . saying , “i’m in the crop yield management industry , ” will make a lot more sense than “i’m in the tractor industry . ”
more complex systems mean more types of attack entry points . indeed every smart device is a potential entry point to an organisational network for malicious cyber criminals – which means that every smart device needs the same sophisticated cyber security typically applied to desktops and laptops , yet many embedded devices can not support run - time security solutions . and with thousands of smart connected products manufactured each week , the attack surface is constantly expanding . but with limited processing power available to some simpler smart devices , how can this be achieved ?
companies have to decide how to best incorporate smart connected capabilities into their various products and services , as well as what role they wants to play in the emerging ecosystems and value chains . according to porter and heppelmann , every company now faces 10 major strategic choices in 3 main areas :
you can choose another country to view available products or go to our global website for company information .
the internet of things is producing a lot of interesting consumer products that have the potential . . .
revolv wants to be the unifying smart hub for monitoring and controlling every smart device in your home , regardless of brand , type of product or communications protocol used .
“smart , connected products are changing how value is created for customers , how companies compete , and the boundaries of competition itself , ” says the article in its concluding section . “these shifts will affect virtually every industry , directly or indirectly . but smart , connected products will have a broader impact even than this . they will affect the trajectory of the overall economy , giving rise to the next era of it - driven productivity growth for companies , their customers , and the global economy at a time when the impact of earlier waves of it has largely played itself out and productivity growth has slowed down . ”
we generally think of products as physical entities , - e . g . , clothes , light bulbs , appliances , cars , - some quite simple and some much more complex , built using sophisticated mechanical and / or electrical components . the article introduces a whole new class of smart connected products - “complex systems that combine hardware , sensors , data storage , microprocessors , software , and connectivity in myriad ways . ”
better connected machines open the door to enhanced customer support and digitization - driven business growth , making vital production data available . connected machines improve overall machine productivity and efficiency by cutting downtime for corrective actions by up to 50 % .
historically , they have lost control of their product once it leaves the factory . with smart connected products , manufacturers can now experience true closed - loop , product lifecycle management where they can track , manage and control product information at any phase of its lifecycle at any time and any place in the world .
the internet of things is changing simple homes into smart homes , where everything from your lights to your locks can be controlled from your smartphone . here are products that can help you get started .
connected conservation will help our children enjoy the wildlife we have enjoyed and ensure it is not destroyed for future generations .
but all this comes at a potential cost . device manufacturers previously just had to specialise in hardware production – now they also need expertise in software development , and particularly in cyber security . smart , connected products share some familiar vulnerabilities with it in general and internet security more specifically . however , these products have major new points of vulnerability , they lack common defence mechanisms , and the impact of intrusions can be more severe .
lowe ' s iris smart home monitoring and control system supports a wide range of smart devices and appliances , from home security sensors to a smart sprinkler system that monitors water usage . the home improvement retailer offers a safe and secure startup kit ( $ 149 ) that includes a hub , motion and contact sensors and a keypad ; a comfort and control kit ( $ 249 ) that includes a smart thermostat and smart plug ; and a smart kit ( $ 299 ) that includes all of the above plus a wi - fi range extender .
this new class of products is reshaping and expanding industry boundaries , as competition shifts from individual physical products to increasingly comprehensive systems that encompass a number of related products and services . the article illustrates this shifting industry boundaries using a farm tractor as an example , as it evolves from a classic machine to a component in a farm management system .
in short , the internet of things refers to the rapidly growing network of connected objects that are able to collect and exchange data using embedded sensors . thermostats , cars , lights , refrigerators , and more appliances can all be connected to the iot .
sensors and sensibility by frances berriman documenting the process of turning her home into a smart home .
a spokesperson said it plans to offer smart plugs , dimmers and other sensors later this year .
the smartthings smart home automation system includes a communications hub compatible with the popular zigbee and z - wave protocols as well as ip - accessible devices ; supports a wide range of smart devices , from smart appliances to sonos sound systems ; and lets you manage everything from your smartphone app .
what can internet of things products bring to your home ? here are the features offered by 14 of the . . .
the unit also can stream weather reports and other information from the internet . interactive voice also has announced plans to directly support several brands of smart locks and lighting products as well as the iris and icontrol smart home automation systems . the sleek is currently sold out on the ivee website , but can be found on amazon .
most iot smart devices aren’t in your home or phone—they are in factories , businesses , and healthcare .
discover how a new generation of products will help machine builders achieve new sources of service - driven business growth through advanced connectivity .
almond’s new drink brand “fact” is digitized on the evrythng platform to meet consumer’s growing thirst for knowledge about the products they’re buying .
find and compare top internet of things home products and systems . quickly narrow your choices based on use , price and available integrations
someday soon , connected robots will have the ability to learn from each other and work in teams to increase efficiency and solve scientific problems .
filter based on product type , use case and market segment ( smart home , enterprise , etc . )
almond + is a wireless router / range extender that also serves as a smart home monitoring and control system that supports smart devices and appliances using the zigbee , z - wave and wi - fi communications protocols .
want to know what ' s hot in the iot marketplace ? here are a few of the most popular products in any category .
for discrete manufacturers , the implications are huge . historically , they have lost control of their product once it leaves the factory . with smart connected products , manufacturers can now experience true closed - loop , product lifecycle management where they can track , manage and control product information at any phase of its lifecycle at any time and any place in the world . this will allow manufacturers to :
thingworx is the only platform that offers all of the capabilities needed to build and extract value from smart , connected operations . with rapid development tools and support for on - premise or cloud deployments—thingworx is the best iot choice for companies serious about industrial innovation .
choosing the right industrial iot platform delivers competitive advantage to transform your business . connect your products . optimize your operations . revolutionize your services .
the oem partner program aims to help you manage and expand your business with our solutions , products , and training , right at your fingertips .
the office supply retailer offers its own staples - branded home automation system that includes a smart hub and mobile app .
the iot has a lot to offer businesses , both for tech firms looking to get in on the actions and for the numerous industries that are being transformed by the injection of smart , connected technology into manufacturing processes , supply chains , customer engagement , performance tracking and other areas . today ' s companies need to take full advantage of iot devices , platforms and tools to build business models that will thrive in a more connected world .
through its smart networking with the infrastructure , the active parking - lot management guides drivers directly to the available parking spaces .
a vendor and technology agnostic open source automation software for your home . build your smart home in no time !
a rich and expanding ecosystem of software , sensors , connectivity and processors is enabling manufacturers of previously isolated and ‘analogue’ devices to develop exciting new functionality . products or ‘things’ from simple sensors to highly complex , bespoke machinery can now be connected to cloud systems and the wider internet , sharing information and consequently driving efficiencies and enhancements .
use the irobot home app to schedule , start , pause , or cancel cleaning cycles from anywhere at any time . compatible with wi‑fi ® connected roomba ® vacuuming robots .
iot value - add is composed of the combination of mature iot , which is already yielding benefits , and a high - growth emerging iot opportunity . it is derived from a combination of sector - specific technology ( such as connected , automated manufacturing systems ) , and more generic , widely used technology , such as the suite of
smart building
technologies , including light - emitting diode ( led ) lighting and smart hvac systems .
the world’s digital and physical infrastructures are essentially converging . it is now an integral part of the products themselves . “embedded sensors , processors , software , and connectivity in products ( in effect , computers are being put inside products ) , coupled with a product cloud in which product data is stored and analyzed and some applications are run , are driving dramatic improvements in product functionality and performance . massive amounts of new product - usage data enable many of those improvements . ” these improvements include :
many
entry - level
iot products fit smoothly into the patterns of daily life by simplifying routine tasks . finding your keys , unlocking your door , turning lights on and off — these and other habits can be automated with sensors and intelligent software . a truly smart home is full of products that know your preferences , anticipate your needs and respond dynamically to your behavior , so you can spend less time micromanaging your house and more time living in it .
the internet of things will fundamentally change the competitive landscape . products from appliances to cars to industrial equipment are rapidly evolving into smart , complex , software - enabled systems that connect with their makers , users , and each other to improve their performance and extend their functionality—sometimes far beyond their primary role .
due to the low cost of adding iot capability to consumer products , gartner expects that
ghost
devices with unused connectivity will be common . this will be a combination of products that have the capability built in but require software to
activate
it and products with iot functionality that customers do not actively leverage . in addition , enterprises will make extensive use of iot technology , and there will be a wide range of products sold into various markets , such as advanced medical devices ; factory automation sensors and applications in industrial robotics ; sensor motes for increased agricultural yield ; and automotive sensors and infrastructure integrity monitoring systems for diverse areas , such as road and railway transportation , water distribution and electrical transmission .
in other words , we are about to enter an incredibly powerful virtuous cycle of innovation . first , smart , connected technologies open up huge possibilities for new products , services and value - added offerings : a huge wave of innovation in and of itself . and then , as they do so , this transformation will change how we define industries so that even more innovation is unlocked through our change of perspective . the combination of these two forces will be truly transformative . it’s going to be a wild ride .
the new home appliances and smart home devices with connectivity functions open up completely new possibilities at home . it is possible to control and monitor all appliances and smart home devices ( also from partners ) remotely and conveniently from the smartphone or tablet . this makes the everyday life even easier .
device authority’s keyscaler™ platform allows manufacturers of smart devices to embed them with device authentication and data encryption technologies . unique patented dynamic device key generation ( ddkg ) technology combined with a cloud - based iot platform allows smart devices to be fully secured without relying on excessive in - device processing power .
whether we call it industry 4 . 0 or the industrial internet of things , the next industrial revolution is here … and it will be powered by smart machines
while honeywell offers its own line of home security cameras and sensors , it also supports smart devices from third parties , such as yale locks and lutron lighting .
strategy expert and harvard business school professor michael porter and ptc ceo jim heppelmann have strong views on how the internet of things is changing the competitive landscape . in this harvard business review webinar , porter and heppelmann describe this changing landscape and how companies need to rethink their businesses . they share a framework for developing strategy and achieving competitive advantage in a smart , connected world .
belkin also plans to support small appliances such as mr . coffee smart coffee makers and crock - pot slow cookers . and if you ' re handy with electronics , the wemo maker lets you turn any device that has a low - voltage dc switch or sensor into a smart wemo appliance you can remotely monitor and manage .
compatible on devices with amazon alexa and the google assistant . with amazon alexa or the google assistant , you have hands - free control to start , stop , or dock your wi‑fi ® connected roomba ® vacuuming robot .
we offer a suite of iot solutions that enables you to securely connect smart things , manage and analyze data , quickly create applications , and ultimately transform your business .
consumer product brands need to know their end consumers and scale their direct to consumer channel . amplify enables dynamically personalized product experiences to build trust & understanding , reward purchases , and make buying your products easier .
the connected building solution links together key building equipment inside commercial buildings . the software analyzes and interprets building data and transforms it into valuable information . it enables building owners and managers to remotely monitor and control their buildings along with infrastructure .
smart device manufacturers need to look to the cloud and implement iot security solutions that carry out process - heavy security tasks such as encryption and device authentication separately from the device itself .
bosch is transforming the cities of the future into vibrant , attractive , and sustainable places for people to be . these connected cities are interactive communities where everyday life is easy and efficient and people are in tune with each other and their city .
evrythng is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy , and we’ll only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the products and services you requested from us . from time to time , we would like to contact you about our products and services , as well as other content that may be of interest to you ( you may unsubscribe at any time ) . by submitting the form below , you consent to us contacting you for this purpose .
we are iiot - ready . enabling the design of end - to - end open , connected and interoperable systems based on industry standards . ethernet and opc ua facilitates it / ot convergence , meaning machine builders reap benefits from web interfaces and cloud .
the “internet of things” is exploding . it is made up of billions of “smart” devices—from miniscule chips to mammoth machines—that use wireless technology to talk to each other ( and to us ) . our iot world is growing at a breathtaking pace , from 2 billion objects in 2006 to a projected 200 billion by 2020 . 1 that will be around 26 smart objects for every human being on earth !
the mobile app lets you monitor the status of lighting as well as remotely dim bulbs and turn them on and off . tcp offers one - touch pre - programmed settings (
away ,
night
) and lights can also be programmed to turn off , turn on or have their lighting levels adjusted at specific times of day . tcp currently only monitors and controls smart lighting , and it only supports its own brand of led lighting products .
connected heat generators allow more than just safe remote access for the operators : thanks to a gateway to customer service , the machine’s condition can be assessed remotely and malfunctions reduced or even prevented . operators can also access and control their systems remotely and conveniently evaluate system efficiency .
staples connect can monitor and control a select list of smart door locks , smoke alarms , thermostats , lighting , window shades and other devices from more than a dozen participating brands . it does not currently support any cloud security cameras or small appliances , however . staples also offers professional installation services if you don ' t want to try to get everything connected and working on your own . the connect home starter kit sells for $ 199 . 99 direct ( check amazon price ) .
connected car : these vehicles are equipped with internet access and can share that access with others , just like connecting to a wireless network in a home or office . more vehicles are starting to come equipped with this functionality , so prepare to see more apps included in future cars .
i acknowledge that my personal details will be processed in accordance with ptc ' s privacy policy and that they may be shared with ptc inc . ' s subsidiaries and members of the ptc partner network for the promotion of ptc ' s products and associated services . *
the internet of things may be coming to the office - - but it ' s already in the home . these 14 products let you monitor and control everything from the thermostat on your wall to the crockpot on the kitchen counter - - right from your smartphone .
roomba ® vacuuming robots are powered by a full suite of smart sensors that automatically guide the robot around your home . the robot makes 60 decisions every second , navigating under furniture and around clutter to thoroughly clean your floors .
iadapt ® smart navigation and proprietary vslam ® technology help the robot seamlessly navigate around your home . the robot uses visual landmarks and a stored map to know where it ' s been and where it has yet to clean .
this maternally themed smart home suite includes a
mother
( the hub ) and
cookies
( wireless sensors ) that you attach to objects or people and then program to monitor and analyze movements , temperature and location .
powered by iadapt ® smart navigation , the robot uses advanced sensors and software to make 60 decisions every second . the robot moves seamlessly around obstacles , under furniture and along edges , adapting its path to clean your home more thoroughly .
as this occurs , companies have an urgent need to rethink nearly everything they do , from how they conceive , design , and source products , to how they manufacture , operate , and service them , to how they build and secure the it infrastructure and manage the vast amount of associated data .
by 2020 , component costs will have come down to the point that connectivity will become a standard feature , even for processors costing less than $ 1 . this opens up the possibility of connecting just about anything , from the very simple to the very complex , to offer remote control , monitoring and sensing ,
said mr . middleton .
the fact is , that today , many categories of connected things in 2020 don ' t yet exist . as product designers dream up ways to exploit the inherent connectivity that will be offered in intelligent products , we expect the variety of devices offered to explode .
smart cities : the iot has the potential to transform entire cities by solving real problems citizens face each day . with the proper connections and data , the internet of things can solve traffic congestion issues and reduce noise , crime , and pollution .
tcp ' s home lighting automation system includes a gateway device that plugs into your home router , wireless remote control , mobile app and two smart led bulbs , and it can support up to 250 lamps and control them individually or as a group .
brand - new buildings let owners and occupants “monitor , manage , and maintain all aspects of the building that impact operations , energy , and comfort , ” according to the smart buildings institute , which has certified buildings in saudi arabia and san salvador . 3
why do these semantics matter ? two reasons . the first is that this change of perspective ( from product to “job to be done” for defining industries ) helps crystallize the transformative power of smart , connected products . they aren’t just cool gizmos . if they will even change the way we define industries , then what won’t they impact ? to understand this transformative power more deeply , read porter’s article in full . it’s a must read . the second reason this change of perspective is important , is that approaching your business from a “job to be done” perspective is more likely to inspire you to innovate . “no one buys drill bits . they buy holes , ” go the familiar saying . if you think of yourself as a hole company ( the job to be done ) , you are going to be a lot more open to new ideas than if you think of yourself as a drill bit ( product ) company .
3 accel / exchange , august . com , assaabloy . com , cern , extremetech . com , idc ( shane rau , program director of computing , networking , and storage semiconductors ) , intel , linear . com , national geographic , smart buildings institute .
generally , industries are defined by what the organizations within them produce ( e . g . automobiles , pet products , small appliances ) . one reason we define industries this way is because it’s simple . but it’s also the result of some of the most influential business thinking ever produced . in his seminal 1979 hbr article , how competitive forces that shape strategy , michael porter introduced the concept of “the five forces” that define industries and their attractiveness . these forces — substitute products , buyer power , etc . — are based on defining and industry by the product it produces . thus , this idea has been further ingrained in our thinking ever since .
although the branding is unmistakably ralph lauren—there’s a giant yellow polo logo on the front–the tech within each shirt was developed by omsignal . the shirt is a two - piece affair : conductive threads woven into the shirt , and a small snap - on module that weighs less than 1 . 5 ounces and relays information to a bluetooth - connected iphone or ipad .
understanding the challenges of implementing solutions with frontier technologies is critical to realizing its potential impact on your own organization . what will the bmw brand stand for in the world of autonomous vehicles ? how will digital assistants like alexa and siri control the smart home of the future ?
the internet of things is transforming every corner of life : the home , the office , city streets and beyond . iot products give us greater control over door locks , lights and appliances ; offer insights into resource consumption habits ; streamline business processes ; and better connect us to the people , systems and environments that shape our daily lives .
at & t ; - connected car : at & t ; added 1 . 3 million cars to its network in the second quarter of 2016 , bringing the total number of cars it connects to 9 . 5 million . drivers don ' t have to subscribe or pay a monthly fee for data in order for at & t ; to count them as subscribers .
smartthings offers kits to get you started that include smart plugs as well as basic sensors you can use to detect presence , motion , orientation , temperature and vibration . smartthings isn ' t just a product ; it ' s also an open platform that enables third - party software and smart device vendors to develop hardware and software that connects to the platform . so far , more than 5 , 000 developers and device makers have signed on , according to the vendor . the smartthings home monitoring kit has a price tag of $ 249 direct ( check amazon price ) .
amazon echo - smart home : the amazon echo works through its voice assistant , alexa , which users can talk to in order to perform a variety of functions . users can tell alexa to play music , provide a weather report , get sports scores , order an uber , and more .
the growth in iot will far exceed that of other connected devices . by 2020 , the number of smartphones tablets and pcs in use will reach about 7 . 3 billion units ,
said peter middleton , research director at gartner .
in contrast , the iot will have expanded at a much faster rate , resulting in a population of about 26 billion units at that time .
you ' ll need to have it professionally installed by an authorized honeywell dealer and it only supports z - wave devices , which means it won ' t work with honeywell ' s consumer line of wi - fi enabled smart home thermostats ( controlled through honeywell ' s total connect comfort service ) .
honeywell total connect remote services combine professional security monitoring with personal smart home automation , allowing you to monitor and control everything from security cameras and smoke alarms to lighting and window shades . the system can be monitored and controlled from a mobile app or by way of a wall - or desktop - mounted hardware console .
the base unit uses wi - fi to connect to your home router , so you can place it anywhere , and revolv says it can push flash updates to the on - board computer to support new devices as they become available . ( update : revolv is no longer available and is becoming part of the works with nest platform . revolv products will no longer effect may 15 , 2016 . )
“i work in the automobile industry . ” “i work in the pet products industry . ” “i work in the small appliance industry . ” we make statements like these all the time . so often , that we rarely give any thought to the notion of how we are defining industries in the process . but we do have a way of defining them . and it’s about to be turned on its head .
we all know we should try to use less electricity , water and other resources , but actually changing our habits can be hard — especially when we can ' t see the immediate impact of our actions . a number of iot products take aim at resource use by tracking and displaying real - time data to users , and by automating the operation of lights , appliances and heating and cooling systems to help reduce consumption .
manufacturers must assess their company ' s strategy as it relates to everything from product design to sourcing , production , sales , and service . manufacturers must be able to securely collect and respond to data from customers , suppliers , and now the products themselves . long - term , this data will necessitate the development of advanced analytic capabilities . the more immediate need will be for systems that support remote product monitoring , operation , and optimization .
it can also send a text message via an included app to alert you when , for example , the oven is preheated - - and it integrates with smartthings to allow remote control of smart devices .
neurio is the brain platform
that uses machine learning to understand when you go to bed or leave home , says co - founder ali kashani .
the
smart
part of the shirt is a stretchy band , under the pectorials , that contains conductive threads that contact the skin . a module ralph lauren calls the
black box
or “tech box” snaps into the shirt around the left rib cage ; it receives heart - rate and breathing data from those threads via metal snaps built into the shirt .
this is the first smart garment in polo’s lineup , and because it was built to debut at the us open , the sidecar ios - only app was built specifically with tennis in mind . the training version of the app designed for giron gives a longer - term dashboard of the player’s average respiration and heart rates , court coverage , and stats such as average breathing depth .
this all - in - one wi - fi - enabled smart home security and automation hub includes an integrated 180 - degree wide - angle hd camera with two - way audio . embedded sensors detect motion , temperature , humidity , light and sound . the sound sensor can identify common sounds and notify you remotely that it was a doorbell or a smoke alarm , for example .
new opportunities and challenges are created by the rapid growth of electronic content , the demand for connectivity and networking bandwidth , and the proliferation of smart mobile devices . nxp’s end - to - end iot portfolio , deep application insight and partner ecosystem empower our customers to design cutting - edge solutions and stay ahead of the competition . we enable secure connections and infrastructure for a smarter world .
the system includes a hub that ' s capable of supporting seven different radio frequencies ( although only three are currently turned on , it says ) , and an ios app that supports the most commonly used status and control features for a wide variety of smart devices , including sonos home theater and hi - fi systems . ( revolv says it will deliver an android app in q2 . )
identity & authentication : keyscaler™ provides each separate smart device with a unique and verifiable identity . when added to a corporate network , each device is automatically registered and authenticated to the organisation’s iot ecosystem , giving it managers absolute visibility and control of their expanding iot network . no matter what setting the device is ultimately deployed in , these measures protect sensitive information exchanged among a wide range of devices .
belkin ' s wemo home automation system can monitor and control wemo - branded smart wall switches and plugs , led light bulbs , motion sensors and lighting devices , all from your browser or smartphone app . there ' s no hub required - - everything is managed through belkin ' s free cloud service . the wemo switch is priced at $ 39 . 99 direct ( check amazon price ) .
“this third wave of it not only will create step function improvements in product capability and performance but will radically improve our ability to meet many business and human needs . across many fields , products will be far more efficient , effective , safe , reliable , and more fully utilized , while conserving scarce natural resources such as energy , water , and raw materials . this opportunity to drive rapid innovation and economic growth , and with it a return to prosperity growth , comes none too soon . ”
the small , battery - powered sensors can be attached to anything from your front door , to monitor for intrusions , to toothbrushes , to make sure children are brushing regularly . activity history is tracked online , and can be configured to send alerts . mother doesn ' t work with other smart devices , but the reprogrammable , general purpose cookies can be used to add smarts to any device in the home .
why ? because smart objects give these major industries the vital data they need to track inventory , manage machines , increase efficiency , save costs , and even save lives . by 2025 , the total global worth of iot technology could be as much as usd 6 . 2 trillion—most of that value from devices in health care ( usd 2 . 5 trillion ) and manufacturing ( usd 2 . 3 trillion ) . 2
encryption : data encryption at point of generation , in transit and in storage provides end - to - end protection of all sensitive information transmitted within customers’ iot - enabled networks . keyscaler™ enables each smart device to encrypt data at the point of collection , with the exact encryption policies defined and controlled by the customer . transfer of encrypted data takes place regardless of the network architecture and communications technologies used by the organization , making keyscaler™ a highly flexible and technology - agnostic encryption solution .
one of the unique aspects of these technologies is that they completely change a firm’s relationship with its customers . companies can now monitor the use of their products on a continuous basis in real time . this type of data is made available for the first time through these technologies and forms the key ingredient to build new businesses . while these data form the basis of new product and service innovations , they also present significant challenges to existing approaches to go - to - market , customer adoption , and monetization . enabling existing operations and building new businesses through this data is the essence of the course .
ultimately , the adoption of wearable tech is likely to hinge on product lineups like this . it ' s a similar strategy to the tory burch for fitbit lineup , even if the target market is totally different . rather than buy clothing or watches or glasses or wristbands designed by technology companies , the masses are more likely to buy the brands they have always identified with . they’ll still have smart technologies built into them , it ' s just that those features will take a backseat to the label .
1967 : the philco - ford corporation released a short film titled 1999 a . d looking at the home of the future . - video : walter cronkite in the living room of 2001 ( 1967 ) 1969 : the kitchen computer was featured in the 1969 neiman marcus catalog as a $ 10 , 600 tool for housewives to store and retrieve recipes . with the tagline
if she can only cook as well as honeywell can compute .
1969 : bt research created a film looking at the future of communications at home and at work including a wood - cladded display that is capable of transmitting and receiving documents via a uv light and photo sensitive paper . 1975 : x10 project was created by pico electronics of glenrothes , scotland 1984 : the term
smart home
was coined by the american association of home builders
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pratt-read is an american manufacturing company based in sycamore , illinois , that produces screwdrivers .

it is a subsidiary of ideal industries .

it is one of the oldest companies in the united states , having been founded in 1798 .

pratt - read

re : america ' s favourite screwdriver co . ; the fate of pratt read
pratt read - 46900 - 6 pc . screwdriver set , insulated | sears outlet
donated by pratt , read corporation in 1989 . in addition to the papers donated by the company , several individuals donated pratt , read materials in their possession .
pratt , read and co . closed its doors in deep river as a piano manufacturer
deep river historical society , inc . a history of pratt read & co . 1973 .
america ' s favourite screwdriver co . ; the fate of pratt read - the garage journal board
pratt , read corporation records , 1839 - 1990 , archives center , national museum of american history .
louis e . pratt , master ivory cutter for pratt , read & co . , shows off eight ivory tusks , april 1 , 1955 . courtesy of deep river historical society hide caption
( left ) ivory tusks at pratt , read , imported from portuguese east africa , now mozambique , 1950 . ( right ) a pratt , read worker uses a five - bladed circular saw to cut ivory for a piano keyboard in the 1920s . ivoryton library association hide caption
pratt , read & company . pratt , read & company is one of the oldest companies in the state of connecticut . the firm traces its origins to 1798 , when an essex goldsmith and clockmaker named phineas pratt invented a circular saw to cut the teeth on ivory combs . in 1809 , george read and his brother in law , phineas pratt ii , dammed the deep river in the nearby town of deep river and constructed a waterwheel to power ivory cutting machinery . read left the partnership in 1816 , and phineas pratt ii joined with alfred worthington to manufacture ivory combs under the name of pratt worthington & company . when worthington died in 1830 , two of phineas pratt ii ' s sons , ulysses and alexis , took over the business , operating as u & a pratt . the name was changed in 1844 to pratt spencer & company , when a new partner was added , and changed again in 1850 , to pratt brothers & company . in 1856 the company erected a much larger factory in deep river .
but there was an inner conflict arising in george read , who besides being a founding partner of the ivory manufacturer pratt , read & co . was also a local deacon and founder of the deep river baptist church .
view of an industrial building complex . caption at top left reads :
pratt , read & co . deep river , conn .

records documenting pratt , read and company ; its early competitor and later partner , comstock , cheney and company ; and a number of predecessor , subsidiary and related companies . other topics include the late 19th century african ivory trade and pratt , read ' s production of troop - carrying gliders during world war ii .
in january , ideal took over colorado - based western forge , which was the nation ' s largest domestic producer of screwdrivers , ahead of pratt - read .
at its peak , pratt - read was the second - largest maker of screwdrivers in the united states . the company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year .
the museum ' s pratt - read , now on display in the great gallery , is painted to represent the u . s . navy lne - 1 variant .
in 1863 , the firms of george read & company , julius pratt & company , and pratt brothers & company , were merged to form pratt , read & company . the new company further enlarged its factory in deep river in 1866 . in 1871 , the old julius pratt & company factory in meriden was closed and its operations moved to deep river . though this factory was destroyed by fire in 1881 , a larger factory was quickly rebuilt and the company was back in business early in 1882 .
johnson , curtiss s .
from ivory combs to carnegie hall and today : the history of the pratt read corporation .
[ unpublished history in the collection . ]
records relating to pratt , read and to comstock , cheney can be found in a number of other collections , both within the archives center and in other repositories . the wood & brooks company records ( archives center coll . # 457 ) contain significant information on pratt , read ' s operations and an important record of production statistics gathered by george wood while he was factory superintendent and taken with him when he set up a rival firm in buffalo . while the ernst moore collection ( archives center coll . # 321 ) primarily documents the purchase of ivory in africa ( much of which was ultimately used by pratt , read ) , it also includes a history of pratt , read written by moore while he was employed by them . the sohmer & company records ( archives center coll . # 349 ) document the piano manufacturing firm that pratt read acquired in 1982 .
moore , ernst d .
history of pratt , read & company .
[ unpublished history in the ernst d . moore collection , archives center collection # 321 . ]
e . d . moore , ivory buyer for pratt , read , reclines atop zanzibar ' s largest shipment of tusks — 355 tusks weighing 22 , 000 pounds , circa 1890 - 1910 .
in the meantime , julius pratt , another of phineas pratt i ' s sons , had joined with thomas howard to set up an ivory comb factory in the town of meriden . this firm was known as howard , pratt & company . after howard ' s death in 1822 , it became julius pratt & company . in 1854 , the firm began to produce wooden piano keyboards , which then were fitted with keys of ivory . one half interest in this firm was owned by george read .
the old bridgeport home of pratt - read tool co . on railroad avenue still bears the name and elephant trademark of the company that finally closed in the state after more than 200 years in business .
during world war ii , the pratt read company applied its wood - working skills to constructing waco cg - 4 troop gliders under contract for the war department . this design was utilised during the invasion of festung europa .
though the company pratt , read and co . still exists , it was bought out by the great , great grandson of their chief competitor , samuel comstock who now specializes in the first product samuel comstock ever sold…screw drivers .
e . d . moore , ivory buyer for pratt , read , reclines atop zanzibar ' s largest shipment of tusks — 355 tusks weighing 22 , 000 pounds , circa 1890 - 1910 . courtesy of deep river historical society hide caption
a petition for federal trade act benefits , filed by the company on behalf of workers , is still under investigation , according to the labor department ' s website . in march , ideal industries of illinois bought pratt - read ' s assets .
when read left his original partnership with phineas pratt ii in 1816 , he joined with essex comb maker ezra williams to set up a new ivory working factory in deep river . this new firm was known as ezra williams & company . in 1829 , read became the senior partner and the company ' s name was changed to george read & company . this company later secured a very important contract to supply ivory keys for the first american manufacturer of pianos , chickering & sons of boston .
the issue facing the former workers of pratt - read is whether they will qualify for trade act benefits . generally , to qualify , imports from countries with whom the united states has trade agreements must be shown to have taken market share from the company .
interesting . . . . good read . now let ' s get back to blaming china and harbor freight for everything . .
largest ivory haul ever in zanzibar 1890 - 1910 ( white buyer for pratt lounging on top of the pile ) . ( photo :
the factories and distribution centers are idle and empty , and the last moments in the more than 200 years of history of the pratt - read co . in connecticut have been reduced to shuffling papers at the u . s . labor department over aid to workers .
pratt , read & company , located in the essex area of connecticut , was once the world ' s largest producer of ivory products . beginning with the manufacture of combs , collar buttons , and toothpicks , the company moved on to the production of piano and organ key veneers , and soon dominated the field . eventually , it began to produce complete piano and organ keyboards and actions , becoming the major supplier to the american piano industry . the records in this collection document pratt , read & company ; its early competitor and later partner , comstock , cheney & company ; and a number of predecessor , subsidiary , and related companies . other topics of interest dealt with in this collection include the late nineteenth century african ivory trade and pratt , read ' s production of troop carrying gliders during world war ii .
however , george cheney , read’s main competitor , lived in zanzibar for over 10 years and raised at least two of his children there .
pratt - read was one of the oldest manufacturing companies in the state . the business , which started in 1798 in ivoryton , first made buttons and other objects from ivory . it grew into a piano keyboard manufacturer in the 1830s and also started making screwdrivers in that same decade .
with the election of george l . cheney as president in 1892 , pratt , read & company began a period of continued expansion . in december of that year the company joined with another connecticut piano component manufacturer , comstock , cheney & company , to organize a midwestern manufacturing branch , under the name of the piano & organ supply company . this firm was to serve the territory west of toledo , ohio , operating in competition with its parent companies . in 1929 pratt , read and comstock , cheney combined to buy out the piano & organ supply company and it was dissolved .
i travel up a road that winds from a landing on the connecticut river into town , with marta daniels at the wheel . she ' s a freelance writer by trade , a historian by avocation .
i have always thought of this road as the road of tears ,
she says . between 1840 and 1940 , the wagons of pratt , read & co . traveled this same route , carrying hundreds of thousands of elephant tusks from ships up to the company ' s factories and workshops . pratt , read was the biggest importer of ivory in the world at the time .
in 1958 , the pratt read company , a distinguished maker of piano parts , and recognized as the largest producer of keyboards and piano actions in the world as of the 1970s , moved its piano action division to central , south carolina from ivorytown , connecticut . the home plant continued to produce the keyboards .
most of these records were housed in the pratt read corporation ' s ivory museum , located at corporate headquarters in their factory in ivoryton , conn . the museum material was assembled by peter h . comstock , beginning in 1977 , and had been looked after with loving care by edith m . deforest since 1982 . the remaining records were stored elsewhere in the ivoryton factory . the bulk of the records were donated directly to the archives center by the pratt read corporation on january 6 , 1989 . the corporation made a second , very generous donation to the archives center on june 25 , 1992 , consisting primarily of minute books and ledgers .
though exactly what george read knew of the vast numbers of slaves being captured in zanzibar decades after the emancipation proclamation in 1863 , no one really knows . there is no record of him ever visiting africa but many wonder how it could even have been possible that he didn’t know at least something of the atrocities his company was creating . after all , thirty years after the civil war and slavery was made illegal in the united states the two companies ( pratt , read and comstock , cheney ) were still profiting enormously from it .
the first post - war club was the washington soaring club , formed around 3 pratt - reads and a laister - kauffmann . this group operated in 1946 - 1948 at the old schrom airport at greenbelt , and present m - asa members who were members of that club are bill ebert and jack perine . there were about 8 active members , and when the club disbanded after a few years , one pratt - read , ng0745 , was sold to a newly forming group called the district of columbia soaring club . nate frank was one of its members .
( world’s fair ) with piano keys as white as snow , supplied by none other than pratt , read and co . overnight , the two became the world’s top piano makers and were conveniently located within miles of the ivory manufacturers . orders for pristine white piano keys shot through the roof . if ivory combs had made them thousands piano keys were about to make them millions .
i don ' t know if this has already been discussed here , but i just found out that back in march 09 ' , pratt read filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection . a company that has been making screwdriver from around 1830 could close its doors shut . . . . . or move manufacturing to china or taiwan ? here ' s an article for those interested : urltoken
1936 merger . on december 31 , l936 , pratt , read & company of deep river was consolidated and merged with comstock , cheney & company of ivoryton . the resulting corporation was titled pratt , read & company , inc . by l938 , all manufacturing operations had been consolidated in ivoryton and the deep river factory closed . during world war ii , both the deep river factory and the ivoryton factory were used to produce cg 4a
waco
troop carrying gliders for the u . s . army air forces , along with lne 1 training gliders and the glomb experimental plane for the u . s . navy . production of piano keyboards and actions was sharply curtailed for the duration of the war , and was slow to resume afterward . in l946 the deep river factory was sold .
note : this section borrows heavily from jack perine ' s previously referenced work . a complete copy of his history of m - asa , which includes the clubs that preceded it , can be read on the internet .
the importance of this cannot be over - emphasized . this availability of two - place high performance sailplanes at a price that many could afford , even in those money - scarce postwar days made it possible for many clubs on a limited budget to form and successfully operate . it may be of interest in view of today ' s $ 18 , 000 sailplanes that the surplus pratt - read , brand new and on trailer , sold for $ 350 .
in the mid to late 1800s the part of connecticut referred to as the queen of the valley had risen to become the largest manufacturer of ivory in the world . pratt , read and co . was set up in deep river with their main competitor comstock , cheney & co . in full swing just a few short miles away in the town called ivoryton . as the middle class continued to flourish in the united states so did their appetite for ivory .
the pratt read corporation also donated a number of objects to the national museum of american history at the same time as their 1988 donation of archival records . included were combs and letter openers and other examples of products made from ivory ; piano components , such as gauge boards , key actions , and keys ; and such diverse items as tools used in the factory , world war ii employee i . d . badges , and a uniform from the company sponsored basketball team .
i find pratt reads at the local ace hardware and at northern tool . to me i think they ' re moderately priced and affordable . if you look hard enough you ' ll still find some old pr made craftsman at sears too .
in any case , it is sad to see yet another connecticut tool company dying . i was at a northern store over christmas break and saw some pr drivers i hadn ' t seen before . they were quite nice and a good departure from the old handles ( which i don ' t like so much ) . they were also the first pratt - read labeled drivers i had ever seen ( as opposed to made for some other brand ) - i thought the company was doing better !
in 1913 , harry j . sohmer took over the company and turned it into incorporation in the year 1940 . he was succeeded by his sons , harry j . sohmer , jr . , president , and robert h . sohmer , secretary and treasurer in 1971 . in 1982 , the sohmer brothers sold the rights and assets of the company to pratt , read & co . , then , the largest american manufacturer of piano actions and keyboards , and moved to their facilities in ivoryton , connecticut .
one of the connecticut buyers who sailed to zanzibar was ernst moore , who worked for pratt , read . moore spent years in the trade , and it made him wealthy , but he grew to hate it . he wrote a book called ivory : scourge of africa . yet , says conniff , quoting moore ' s book ,
he is the one who also said , ' our lives were so crammed with our business and adventure that we were perfectly content to take what we had and make the best of it . '
several individuals also contributed pratt , read material to the archives center . hugo nickse , pharmacist in ivoryton , donated a number of photographs of the town , the factory , and the company ' s facilities , in september 1990 . henry z . steinway , who served as one of the company ' s directors in the 1970s and 1980s , donated financial statements , board papers , and reports from that period in august 1992 . hanford johnson , postmaster of ivoryton , donated two letters dating from 1890 in august 1992 . jack spangler of deep river provided a photocopy of the company ' s
west factory
time book , which is on loan to him from the deep river historical society .
or maybe george read had the knowledge but didn’t feel that he could do anything to stop the monster he had helped to create . whichever it was one thing was clear : the cloak of consciousness was whispering down on the deep river valley . whatever wrongs they had directly or inadvertently participated in , the fact that the town of deep river is named as one of the many historical stops along the infamous underground railroad suggests
jeff hostetler , president of the deep river historical society , says it was one machine in particular that brought ivory to this town and this factory .
what happened is phineas pratt , a very good mechanic and inventor , developed an ivory lathe to cut the teeth in ivory combs ,
he explains .
and , of course , all of phineas ' relatives bought one of phineas ' machines and went into the comb business .
then came the piano . in the mid - 1800s , a piano in the parlor became a symbol of middle - class cultivation . pratt ' s efficient , mechanized cutting lathes were modified to make ivory piano keys . piano keys required extra labor , and soon the business sprawled all over town .
pianists liked white ,
hostetler says of the piano keys .
so the way to get a good , uniform white color is to take these thin wafers of ivory and just bleach them in the sun .
billy winters and many of his family members settled into their own homes along main street in deep river . the street would later be renamed winter avenue , ( as it stands today ) after its most famous inhabitant . billy went on to become a successful farmer and a permanent resident of deep river and george read’s church . the two remained close friends until the day they died . so close in fact that their families are buried next to one another in a deep river cemetery called fountain hill ( 1 ) .
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john breunig : look , up in the sky , it’s . . . nothing
final moments : machines were assets , employees were not , as second - largest u . s . manufacturer of screwdrivers shuts its doors , cuts local ties
the company expanded over the years , making pianos and screwdrivers , and at one point had 12 factories , including the one on railroad avenue in bridgeport . in the early 1990s , the company dropped the piano business and dedicated itself to screwdriver manufacturing , and employment in bridgeport was as high as 170 in 2004 , when workers there made 100 , 000 screwdrivers a day . the company moved into the old atrium window facility in shelton in 2007 .
we bought only the assets of pr ,
roberta mcquade , an ideal industries spokeswoman , said in an e - mail .
we never operated the shelton facility . we took the equipment and integrated it into our existing operations . . . . we are making the pr line of screwdrivers today out of our existing facilities .
ed deak , a professor of economics at fairfield university , said any u . s . manufacturer of tools , such as screwdrivers , is facing stiff competition from china because of currency manipulation and low wages across the ocean . some u . s . companies have embraced china and have their products made there and shipped here .
it ' s a difficult situation for u . s . factories to navigate , he said , because the low - cost of chinese goods make products affordable here .
you and i as consumers are better off , but you and i as workers are not ,
he said .
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i am very sad to hear this news i like their screwdrivers ; i wish them all the best and hope that they can keep their doors open for another 100 years .
this is really dissapointing , i wonder if it was bad management that got them to this point ? it seems to me that there screwdriver line is very competitively priced compared to other usa brands , so it makes me think it was just bad business decisions .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ im currently not taking any orders or shipping kits / parts . it ' s always best to patronize local business ' s when possible , if not available there are numerous online suppliers . i would advise that you price check , as there is a wide range of prices across the board . need a seal kit ? contact hydraulic parts supply at 620 - 594 - 2247
they certainly cant sell them any cheaper . the craftsman sets are always priced so low it astounds me .
no big deal we can get screwdrivers from gearwrench and harbor freight , plus those people working there can just sell their homes , move into section 8 housing , go on welfare and collect food stamps . keep buying those asian tools .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . cheap tools are for chumps . . . . the wealthy can currently accumulate many millions of dollars in these accounts , substantially more than is needed to fund reasonable levels of retirement saving .
it * is * possible to let one or two threads go every so often .
one word - walmart the us consumer is addicted to low priced imported goods . all we have to do is pass a law . any good imported into the us must be certified to have been made under the same environmental regulations , worker minimum wage and safety regulations as in effect here . end of story . of course , virtually every consumer good would go up in price 25 % to 50 % overnight .
i ' ve been to china and the third - world hell - holes flooding our markets with low - priced goods and driving our manufacturers out of business . you wouldn ' t want to live there , but by trading short term savings for long - term security , we are headed down to their level sooner rather than later .
that in itself is a clue - - they may have lost a contract , but decided to keep the factory running for as long as they could .
sure i could let it go , sure i could look the other way and move on when i see an elderly person slip on the ice and fall , plenty do . maybe when i walk up to a door to enter a building and there is a person a little ways behind me with their arms full i should rush in , let the door close and let them stumble to open the door rather than hold it open for them , i see plenty of people do it . but thats not my ' style ' , i do something , i say something . should i change my ways to appease you and other people that buy asian imports , to save a few dollars , to make you and them happy ? ain ' t going to happen . to suggest i shouldn ' t say anything as i watch this country fall to pieces when some peoples biggest concern is saving 50 cants rather than helping out there fellow citizens . there ' s an ignore feature on the board i ' m sure someone can explain to you how to use it , that or you could just whine about it , everybody loves a whiner .
keep doing what your doing mickey o . every time i think about buying a chaiwanese tool , i think about you and put it down .
no , they do not . they have the american consumer to thank for that . china isn ' t forcing anything down our throat . we are all willing participants .
and when i write we , above , i mean we as in the citizens of the usa . most members of gj notwithstanding .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ asmc industrial / www . asmc . net / 888 - 660 - 0334 fastener distributor featuring usa made grade 9 , 8 , 5 , bolts / nuts / washers f ree shipping on all website orders . pm me for a coupon code !
no , they do not . they have the american consumer to thank for that . china isn ' t forcing anything down our throat . we are all willing participants . and when i write we , above , i mean we as in the citizens of the usa . most members of gj notwithstanding .
yes , but the american consumer gets tempted by cheaper prices . there is so much chinese stuff flooding the market that in many instances we don ' t even have the opportunity to choose american . it has seriously become an effort to find something us made nowadays .
jesus , pump your brakes . . . im sure the demise of this company is related to harbor freight . . . . we all get it , you dont like asian imports . . hopefully you live by that with everything you purchase in your life .
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nutdriver with cushioned grip . premium chrome plated for smooth feel .
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nutdriver with cushioned grip . premium chrome plated for smooth feel .
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nutdriver with cushioned grip . premium chrome plated for smooth feel .
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nutdriver with cushioned grip . premium chrome plated for smooth feel .
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nutdriver with cushioned grip . premium chrome plated for smooth feel .
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nutdriver with cushioned grip . premium chrome plated for smooth feel .
phillips screwdriver ( # 2 ) with cushion grip . black oxide coating for corrosion resistance .
slotted screwdriver ( 1 / 4” ) with cushion grip . black oxide coating for corrosion resistance .
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fully insulated against electric shock , certified to 1000 volts ac . chromoly alloy steel driver blades for durability . precision machined tips for accurate fastener contact , tight tolerance , sure fit .
slotted screwdrivers : 1 / 8 x 4 in . ; 3 / 16 x 5 in . ; 1 / 4 x 6 in .
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comstock , cheney & company . meanwhile , other manufacturers of ivory products had been at work in the essex area . chief among these was the firm of comstock , cheney & company of ivoryton . the dominant figure in this company was samuel m . comstock . he had learned the ivory cutting trade while working in his older brother ' s saybrook area ivory cutting shop , known as joseph a . comstock & company . by 1838 , samuel had left his brother ' s shop and joined with edwin griswold to set up comstock & griswold company further west up the falls river in centerbrook . in 1848 , the company moved its operations to a new factory in the ivoryton area , where combs , toothpicks , and other ivory products were made . at the same time , the firm ' s name was changed to s . m . comstock & company , reflecting samuel ' s sole ownership .
in 1860 , samuel comstock allied his firm with george a . cheney to form comstock , cheney & company . cheney had invested in comstock ' s firm and was one of the principals in the important new york based ivory importing firm of arnold , cheney & company . the new firm began production of thin slices of ivory for mounting on wooden piano keys . it also had its own agents buying ivory in africa , most of which went toward production of piano keys . the company was formally incorporated in 1872 and in 1873 it opened an even larger factory in ivoryton .
1899 souvenir of essex , connecticut . rpt . , the ivoryton public library , 1979 .
collection items available for reproduction , but the archives center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions . other intellectual property rights may apply . archives center cost - recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions .
additional news clippings and information on related collections were gathered by the archivist while processing the collection .
situated on a large tract of land on the western edge of town , the plant employed many central residents . in 1963 , an addition to the plant was added for construction of the newly developed electronics organ components division , occupying the new space in 1964 .
allen , mattie may morgan ,
central yesterday and today
, faith printing company , taylors , south carolina , 1973 , no library of congress card number , no isbn number , page 71 .
this page was last modified on 26 august 2009 , at 17 : 38 .
elephant slaughter , african slavery and america ' s pianos two new england towns dominated the world ' s ivory market from 1840 to 1940 — transforming imported tusks from african elephants into piano keys and combs . today ' s residents grapple with a dark past .
the illegal trade in ivory from african elephants has tripled in the past 15 years , to the extent that biologists fear for the creatures ' future existence .
most of the ivory is sold in china and vietnam , and these days the u . s . government and international conservation groups urge those countries to arrest the traffickers . but for the better part of a century , from 1840 to around 1940 , the u . s . was the world ' s biggest buyer of ivory . hunters killed hundreds of thousands of elephants , and uncounted numbers of africans were enslaved to carry the tusks to ships bound for america .
most of that ivory went to a tiny town in connecticut — a town that ' s now grappling with this dark part of its past .
deep river is old new england , and its residents take their history seriously . driving into town , i pass a fife and drum corps practicing for a performance on the village green . stone barns from the 18th century , riverside mills and newly painted victorian mansions line the highways .
people called deep river
the queen of the valley
150 years ago . mills and factories and timber made the town well - to - do . but it was ivory that made deep river rich .
stephen beale drives a wagonload of ivory tusks to town from deep river landing . ( date unknown . ) courtesy of deep river historical society hide caption
the big brick factory at the top of the road — it ' s longer than a city block — is now a condominium called piano works . water still cascades through a nearby sluice that ran the factory ' s machines .
and then into making billiard balls , cutlery handles , shirt buttons — all manner of ivory knickknacks .
acres of bleaching houses sprang up — huge greenhouses containing blocks of ivory instead of plants . people fertilized gardens with ivory dust . kids swimming in local ponds came out of the water coated in it . soon , a rival company , comstock , cheney & co . , emerged and built a whole new town nearby for its workers , called ivoryton .
the two towns dominated the piano key business for decades . fortunes were made and spent on grand houses that still stand . one of them is now headquarters of the deep river historical society and home to a startling assortment of the artifacts that made deep river rich . curator rhonda forristall shows me around .
you ' ve got needles ; you ' ve got crochet hooks , toothpicks , buttonhooks ,
she says . handles for straight razors . buttons for corsets . for piano keys , the ivory was sliced thin , into laminates that were secured to wooden keys .
three pieces go into making a key ,
she explains .
you could get 45 keyboards out of one tusk .
pianists liked the feel of ivory , and it wasn ' t until the 1950s that cheaper plastic keys completely replaced those made of ivory .
in deep river , these artifacts are a source of civic pride , but pride that ' s also tinged with shame , especially as the world condemns the current slaughter of elephants to make trinkets . daniels , for one , says if americans are going to condemn others for trading in ivory , they should at least know their own history .
we were the largest importer of tusks anywhere in the world ,
she says passionately .
so we have a special responsibility and we have a unique opportunity to say , ' we are sorry we have done this , but we want in some way to help stop the slaughter now . '
citizens have formed the deep river elephant tusk force to publicize the ivory history here , both its good and bad sides . they organized a conference last year with speakers from the u . s . fish and wildlife service to talk about the u . s . ivory trade . they speak in schools , and they ' re lobbying for a law banning the import of existing ivory into the state . they raised money to buy an elephant statue that sits in front of the town hall .
those efforts aren ' t likely to resonate in china and vietnam . but peter howard , trustee of the historical society and a tusk force founder , says at least deep river residents are now confronting the town ' s past .
there ' s a lot of debt that ' s owed the elephant here ,
he says ,
and a lot of awareness . but it was kind of in the back of peoples ' minds .
dick smith — as first selectman of the town , he ' s essentially the mayor — says he knew about deep river ' s ivory history , but not about the current trade in asia . he says he ' d tell ivory buyers now to stop , even though americans once were just as guilty .
we learn from our experiences ,
he says .
it wasn ' t right .
deep river ' s john guy laplante is more sympathetic to the town ' s forebears . attitudes were different 150 years ago .
you know , we deplore what happened to the elephant . it was brutal , there ' s no doubt about it . but we have to put it in context . these men . . . who ran this industry , were upstanding , moral , high - minded people who didn ' t think they were doing anything wrong .
but there was another ugly fact about this trade that many americans either didn ' t know about or simply chose not to see — ivory slavery . ivory traders needed ivory bearers . so they captured africans and enslaved them to transport the tusks to the ships .
richard conniff has investigated the african end of the trade . he ' s a writer who bought a house in deep river and then discovered its past . he found historical accounts from africa and from deep river ' s ivory barons . they tell of ships from connecticut that sailed to zanzibar , an island off the east coast of africa . americans arrived with cloth , gunpowder and weapons to trade . the ivory came from central africa , brought to zanzibar by arab slavers .
they would seize slaves , seize ivory , and then use the slaves to carry the ivory back to the coast ,
says conniff .
and the descriptions that missionaries gave of those caravans were particularly brutal . . . slaves bound by a log , basically , around the neck to the person behind them , and then carrying a tusk on one shoulder .
often , only 1 in 4 slaves survived the journey , according to british explorer dr . david livingstone , who observed and wrote about them .
conniff , sitting in a gazebo on the deep river landing where the ships once arrived with ivory from africa , says that ' s likely the attitude of people who are buying illegal ivory now .
what they need to realize is what this town has discovered ,
he says ,
that our involvement in that kind of thing is ultimately a source of shame , and that the grandchildren of those people who are buying that ivory are going to look at them with the kind of horror with which we now regard the ivory trade that happened here .
the status - maker of the 19th century with bleach - white ivory keys . “antique chickering piano , stanley hotel” by ajmexico licensed under cc by 2 . 0 via commons .
by leaving them under the new england sun . this made them pristinely white , unlike anything anyone had ever seen before . he soon filed the first us patent on a bleaching house , which was nothing more than a greenhouse , filled with thin wafers of yellowish , bone - colored ivory laid out to bleach white in the sun ( 2 ) .
. a single ivory tusk could make enough keys to fit 45 pianos and yet there still wasn’t enough ivory to accommodate all of the orders ( 2 ) . the white american hunting firm in africa , arnold , hines & co . , was killing elephants by the thousands and still they could not keep up with demand . the slave brokers were raiding more villages in zanzibar ( modern - day tanzania ) to meet the supply the slave trains now required to carry all of the tusks from the elephants they were killing to the coast . any slaves who lived long enough to make it that far were sold to the ships waiting underneath the red flag that signified the main slave market . they too , were shipped out to america making double the profits for the ivory traders . the industrial revolution was still well underway on the east coast of the united states .
. he proved just how deeply he felt about the issue when a runaway slave showed up on his doorstep by the name of daniel fisher .
daniel had escaped from a plantation in south carolina where he had recently been sold . the rest of his family remained slaves on a farm in virginia where he had been born . after nearly being captured several times along his journey north he finally found protection in a quaker community in philadelphia , which directed him to safety .
billy winters lived into his 80’s as a freed slave in deep river . ( photo copyright by
using a large network of safe homes and contacts . many of deep river’s townspeople were in on “the secret” and there were escaped slaves holed up in houses all across the valley . whenever an outsider would visit deep river the black residents would hide and none of the white ones let their precious secret out ; even though ‘slave catchers’ were willing to pay large sums of money for any escaped slaves .
and wear a wig in an effort to throw the slave catchers off his trail when they came looking for him , which they did for years ( 1 ) .
identified stops along the underground railroad . the blue dots represent sites along the valley that were safe houses for runaway slaves . ( photo : courtesy of
. it was his wife’s uncles after all , ( who formed the elephant hunting firm arnold , hines & co . ) who were supplying the majority of the ivory in africa to the west . and they were most certainly creators of the numerous slave trains required in order to get it delivered to the coast .
there is no doubt that , though squeamish about the prospect , george cheney knew exactly what was taking place .
he didn’t have the heart to punish the slaves under his own care using his own hand . when he felt discipline was in order he had someone else do it and , as detailed by his wife in a letter home , was
whichever way you feel about the dark history of deep river the foundation of the queen of the valley was built upon the backs of slaves and the tusks of elephants . the last shipment of ivory was delivered to deep river in 1950 when by this time , there was no such thing as a big tusker anywhere near zanzibar ( 3 ) . the numbers of elephants had plummeted so low that entire ecosystems had begun to collapse . the first laws protecting elephants began to emerge with britain leading the charge . with the days of playing the piano in sitting rooms long past and the price for ivory driven high with scarcity the demand had also fallen .
for the last time in the late 1980s . today the big brick factory that takes up an entire city block has been transformed into a large , fashionable condo complex called piano works in which a single condominium with a gorgeous view of the connecticut river can be sold for as much as $ 250 , 000 .
the piano works condominiums in deep river where so much of america’s history lies .
the deep river museum situated not far from the red , brick building is dedicated to the town’s dark and riveting history . it stands as a place for the ancestors of the valley to come to terms with the fact that they have had a profound and devastating impact on not just africa’s dwindling population of elephants but on the hundreds of thousands of black slaves who never made it as far as the underground railroad .