I work in Athol Mass every once in awhile and have stopped into Starrett Tool.
Its a dinosaur of the way things used to be and sadly are no longer. The building is the old style, riverside, brick factory which seem to dot many Massachusetts towns that used to be so strong in manufacturing. Unlike the buildings in other towns that have become fire traps and places for junkies to hang out the Athol plant still puts out a great product. I hope they can continue but our penchant for cheaper goods has to be stressing their ability to bring their tools to market. They are enthusiasts and I was impressed by the Harley J model that looked barn fresh parked in a designated motorcycle area closest to the front door of the place. Their WWII E award is proudly posted in the front lobby.
I think Starrett will do a fine job on repairing your precision tools but you should expect to pay for it, probably to the point where you wonder if replacement may be a better deal. That town will be lost if Starrett goes tits up. The company is a big employer in a rural area with not much else to offer unless you want to commute. The community is already pressured by the regular ills of life in a quiet community with kids that want excitement. If Starrett goes worst case scenario is Athol becomes a crap hole like nearby Fitchburg with a flourishing clientele at the methadone clinic and a community of dependents. Your willingness to pay a little bit extra will do a little bit to help prevent that.
