[TheForge] Hossfeld Bender and Dies

[Woolley]

Greetings,

I finally found a used #2 Hossfeld right in my backyard, quite by
accident that I got for a good price.  It came with one set of
dies(1.25" tube steel) so I need to buy some for flats.  I have American
Benders literature with price list as well as Hossfeld literature with a
distributor with stock also in my backyard.  Reviewing and comparing
prices between the two companies has brought me to consider what I
consider an ethical question that I'll put to the list to see how others
feel just out of curiosity, not to judge other peoples ethics.  Hossfeld
developes, patents, and markets a very useful, economical bending tool
with an adequate, varied set of dies for years with much success. Patent
runs out, ex employee copies the whole deal, markets as improved because
of CNC technology, and cheaper to buy to end user.  Now in all fairness
to the new guys, I have not seen their dies.  But looking at and having
used a  Hossfeld, we are not really talking a sophisticated (as far as
from a manufacturing standpoint) piece of equipment here.  Does having a
CNC guided machine really benefit the end user?  The holes and pins and
castings etc. on the original seem perfectly fine.  Is it the price?  My
search hasn't found the new guys to be significantly better.  Let me
stress,  I have absolutely no malice nor ill feeling toward the
principals in this new venture, just trying to decide whether or not to
support a company who probably hasn't built a better mouse trap.  In any
case, I'm looking for die sets.  Used is always an option. Anybody?

Regards,
Bill Woolley