How Flex Came to the US

[Setec Astronomy]

I was thinking today, how Flex went along as a large power tool manufacturer in Germany, but AFAIK, never sold anything here in the US until Powerhouse Distributing brought the Flex 3401 in, when Bob Eichelberg was there. Or do I have the story all wrong? Were they already selling other Flex tools?

I have often mused about how when I started on detailing forums 20+ years ago, people moaned and groaned about paying $150 for a PC, and yet within a few years were willing to pay twice that for a Flex 3401, and people hardly bat an eye today to spend 4 or 5 times what that PC cost for a cordless 24v Flex or a Rupes. Were Flex and Rupes making their now popular (car polishing) tools in their home markets but never thought anyone would pay the money here?

I'm just trying to figure out which came first, the chicken or the egg, whether they had these tools and someone here in the US said "I can sell that here, I'll convince people it's worth the price" or did the lines come here first and people discovered they had these tools, or did the lines come here and someone said to Flex "if you could make something that has the power of a rotary with the safety of a DA, there would be a market for that here". It seemed like once Flex came in with the 3401, Rupes was right behind with the Bigfoot machines.

Anyway Mike, I figured you would know the story on this, having known Bob forever and having visited both the Flex and Rupes factories. I apologize if this is something you covered in one of your books already.

 

[Mike Phillips]

I actually do not know the behind-the-scenes story as to how FLEX evolved from their start to where they are now, but I can find out.


Mike

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Not trying to put you to work Mike, full disclosure I did not try a Google deep dive on the topic.

 

[theamcguy]

In the mid to late 1990s I bought both a Flex PC and Flex rotary via mail order from a lady that had a detailing supply company in the Midwest. They were wood working tools repurposed for the detail industry. I used them for over 10 years and they still work today, although I have moved to completely cordless.

 

[theamcguy]

More on Flex coming to the US. The Porter Cable had just been started to be used by the detailing industry and this lady with a detailing supply mail order business was offering the Flex version of the PC; the price was almost double that of the PC but she said the machine ran a lot smoother and did not stall out as much. I took a chance and ordered it. I was happy with it and when she started selling the Flex rotary I bough one as well. The only problem in the early days of the "PC" was the quality of the pads. After 2-3 washings the adhesive would give up the ghost and the Velcro would start separating from the foam. That and the ridiculous thickness of the foam ads, what they were like 4" thick.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Are you talking about Irene at Top of the Line?

Agree with you on the pads. I had also found that there was some collaboration between Flex and Porter Cable. One thing I found seemed to indicate that Porter Cable had bought Flex, but either way their relationship ended when Porter Cable became part of Stanley/Black & Decker in the early 2000's.

 

[theamcguy]

Top of the Line, that's it.