Zongshen Norton 850 engine

Whilst I appreciate the thoughts and support the premise that we should produce more in our own Countries most of us are typing these messages on a computer, tablet, phone designed and built in China

Well, not really.
All were, conceived, designed, and engineered in the west, now manufactured in China.
 
Can someone suggest where I can buy a garden strimmer not made in China.
Even motorcyclists have to do the garden.
Flymo are still claiming their products are made in their factory at Newton Aycliffe, Co. Durham.
 
And whilst wearing Chinese clothes, standing in Chinese shoes, listening to a Chinese radio, making a cuppa in a Chinese kettle...

I could go on all day. But it is only further proof of the need to change this. There is no need to desire NOTHING is made in China. But currently the whole world is far too dependant on China IMHO.

My clothes are made from all over the world except China, my shoes are made in India, I have an old UK Roberts radio but I believe VQ radios are made in UK, and I make my tea with a kettle made in Italy (tough one that - only one brand not made in China, Ottoni Fabbrica).

I do agree though we are too dependant on Chinese goods and I'm sure there's all sorts of things all over my house, unbeknown to me, which are of Chinese origin.

The appalling human rights record is well known and that itself is enough for me not to want anything to do with Chinese goods but I'm a little dismayed that there seems to be no mention on this forum of their disgusting treatment of animals. No country that behaves like that deserves to sell anything.
 
My clothes are made from all over the world except China, my shoes are made in India, I have an old UK Roberts radio but I believe VQ radios are made in UK, and I make my tea with a kettle made in Italy (tough one that - only one brand not made in China, Ottoni Fabbrica).

I do agree though we are too dependant on Chinese goods and I'm sure there's all sorts of things all over my house, unbeknown to me, which are of Chinese origin.

The appalling human rights record is well known and that itself is enough for me not to want anything to do with Chinese goods but I'm a little dismayed that there seems to be no mention on this forum of their disgusting treatment of animals. No country that behaves like that deserves to sell anything.
Whilst I in no way belittle your sentiments re animal welfare (I was a fully paid up RSPCA member for a good few years and a volunteer for the wildlife trust), dare I mention Halal practices? In the UK... And after a lifetime in the meat industry including twenty plus years in a slaughterhouse I DO know what I'm talking about.
 
My clothes are made from all over the world except China, my shoes are made in India, I have an old UK Roberts radio but I believe VQ radios are made in UK, and I make my tea with a kettle made in Italy (tough one that - only one brand not made in China, Ottoni Fabbrica).

I do agree though we are too dependant on Chinese goods and I'm sure there's all sorts of things all over my house, unbeknown to me, which are of Chinese origin.

The appalling human rights record is well known and that itself is enough for me not to want anything to do with Chinese goods but I'm a little dismayed that there seems to be no mention on this forum of their disgusting treatment of animals. No country that behaves like that deserves to sell anything.

Hats off to you for making an effort there sir!

Sadly, even if you do succeed in buying such rarities as a none Chinese kettle, you can be sure that the supply chain for said kettle works its way back to China !
 
Thinking that everything manufactured in China is crap is dated thinking. A lot of crap still does come from just about every country, but China is producing some superb items. I work on pianos. In the past decade, China has produced some superb instruments at a decent value. Strange how it works. Japanese companies like Yamaha are now outsourcing to China because of lower production and labor costs. China is outsourcing to Taiwan for lower labor and production costs. All three are outsourcing the lower end of the brand's lines to Indonesia. If England could produce a high quality motorcycle 100% British made and affordable, they would. Same goes for the States. We have all outpriced ourselves.
 
Thinking that everything manufactured in China is crap is dated thinking. A lot of crap still does come from just about every country, but China is producing some superb items. I work on pianos. In the past decade, China has produced some superb instruments at a decent value. Strange how it works. Japanese companies like Yamaha are now outsourcing to China because of lower production and labor costs. China is outsourcing to Taiwan for lower labor and production costs. All three are outsourcing the lower end of the brand's lines to Indonesia. If England could produce a high quality motorcycle 100% British made and affordable, they would. Same goes for the States. We have all outpriced ourselves.

I'm sure you are right but it's not just about quality (having said that, even though they may make some superb items I still maintain they also make a lot of crap) - it's about not wanting to patronise a manifestly vile and unscrupulous regime.
 
I am making every effort to try to source items NOT made in China but it isn't easy. I needed a couple of new sets of pcb drills and pleased that the Japanese company that made my previous drills are still doing just that despite far, far cheaper exact copies can be purchased from China. Wife wanted a new range cooker and was pleased to get one with 'Made in Britain' all over it but it wouldn't surprise me if it had components from the far east, just like our Norton.

Yes, animal welfare is also high on my list of reasons to despise China. Halal and Kosha slaughter methods needs to be addressed for sure but simply cannot be compared to methods used in China, which are as barbaric as your imagination takes you.
 
The crap FAR outnumbers anything of quality (which is still inferior, just surprising for something made in China).

Take a trip to your local China Town and marvel at the sheer number of completely useless plastic trinkets for sale EVERYWHERE. 100% disposable plastic crap that exists only because it is cheap to produce and sell. Chances are you've got some Chinese plastic working its way through your digestive system as we speak.
 
Hats off to you for making an effort there sir!

Sadly, even if you do succeed in buying such rarities as a none Chinese kettle, you can be sure that the supply chain for said kettle works its way back to China !

You are probably right - but you can only do what you can do!!

I suppose I'm going to eat some of my words. Coincidentally I've just taken my Alpinestars jacket from the wardrobe to go for a blast and the flimsy plastic zip down the front has bust. Scanning the jacket for where it was made has revealed an odious little label saying "made in China" - doh!
I suppose it was bought about 8 years ago when I was not so savvy, that's my excuse anyway. I've had to dust off my 20-odd year old retro Hein Gericke jacket - no built-in armour but a substantial metal zip! Unfortunately despite searching all over it there is no label to say where it was made. A quality jacket, nevertheless. It says "59 Club" on it , - I would rather it was 69 club myself!
 
Whilst I in no way belittle your sentiments re animal welfare (I was a fully paid up RSPCA member for a good few years and a volunteer for the wildlife trust), dare I mention Halal practices? In the UK... And after a lifetime in the meat industry including twenty plus years in a slaughterhouse I DO know what I'm talking about.

You are right about Halal, a disgusting way to kill an animal, but I'm sure in your time you must have across a significant number of examples of people being prosecuted in this country for cruelty to animals.

Prosecution is not possible in China - for the simple reason that there is no law against animal cruelty! In fact it is common practice to make an animal suffer as much pain for as long as possible before it dies - it is believed to make the meat taste better!
 
You are right about Halal, a disgusting way to kill an animal, but I'm sure in your time you must have across a significant number of examples of people being prosecuted in this country for cruelty to animals.

Prosecution is not possible in China - for the simple reason that there is no law against animal cruelty! In fact it is common practice to make an animal suffer as much pain for as long as possible before it dies - it is believed to make the meat taste better!
Sadly prosecutions are rare, usually premises are closed only to miraculously open again a few weeks later. Standards nosedived with overseas labour, any miscreants usually moved on to be replaced by those of similarly dubious ethics..
Not all bad news though, had to laugh at images of NHS staff clapping outside in PPE.... My last employ would fire anyone outside the premises in work attire...
 
A Chinese hat no doubt.

Ha ha, that made me laugh!
It actually made me think about my mother telling me about the hat factory in Manchester she used to live near, before the war. It was a rule that the workers had to wear a hat made at the factory and at the end of the day they used to pour out of the factory gate with them on - they were known to everyone as the Mad Hatters!
 
I used to say the only thing made in the US was beer and a part of the female anatomy but most beer company's are foreign owned and having second thoughts on the other one. all I know is we need to become way more self reliant from these commie barstewards.
 
I’m a Refrigeration mechanic in Australia
Chinese commercial fridges are made ok but made from cheap or very thin materials.
It wouldn’t cost much more to use better materials.
They don’t last very long.
Cheap isn’t cheap when the end user has to buy a replacement in a year or two.
Australian made lasts 20 years or more if looked after.
Not many manufacturers left here.

I try to buy things from anywhere except China which isn’t easy.

Graeme
 
Just because we as the West have made a massive mistake in thinking that opening up trade with China would turn them Democratic does not mean we should just carry on. It took 30 years to get to where we are, just means it will take 30 years to remove China's influance.
 
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