Jim;

I first noticed marketing dialogue related to misconception of country of manufacturing around 1970. Schwinn Bicycles had a campaign – “Made in the United States”. The company was based in Chicago, Illinois.

During this period Schwinn Bicycles were manufactured in Japan, and sent to Chicago, in a box, to be assembled. The joke is that “Made in the United States” referred to the fact that the bicycle had to be removed from the shipping box and assembled! Yes, Make in the United States meant a lot!

1989 IBM had a national television campaign for its PC’s. Taiwanese clones were very popular and much less expensive than “a real IBM PC”. “Buy American”, the television ad stated! None of the parts or assemblies were manufactured in the United States!

The tags, “Printed in the USA”, and “Boxed in the USA”, must mean something to someone. Manufactured items with such messages are made in other countries.

Tom