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11-14-2014, 08:43 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master 
1962 24' Tradewind
Buffalo
, Wyoming
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 686
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Factory Tours
I find manufacturing processes fascinating. As I travel around the country, I like to visit factories and shops and see how things are made. Unfortunately, finding companies that offer tours to the general public is sometimes not well publicized. So I thought it would be neat to have a list of places to visit when in any given area. These could be large factories or little mom and pop shops, aircraft manufactures or cheese makers. I'm particularly interested in woodworking shops.
Obviously, the first on the list has to be the Airstream factory in Jackson Center. Another factory that is high on my list is the Boeing factory in Everett Washington.
What other factories or shops should we keep in mind around the country?
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11-14-2014, 08:53 AM
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#2
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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11-14-2014, 08:58 AM
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#3
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,159
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Several years ago SuEllyn and I toured the GM Truck Plant in Janesville, Wisconsin. It was a very interesting tour. It is where we first learned of the JIT (just in time) system of manufacturing plant operation. Who would have thought that a massive automotive manufacturing plant would have no on-site parts storage.
We also enjoyed seeing the robot riveters. A number of these guys had faces painted on them and would stop and wave at the visitors.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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11-14-2014, 09:44 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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Corvette plant in Bowling Green, KY
Harley plants in York, PA, Oklahoma City, OK and Milwaukee, WI
Tiffin Motor Coach, Red Bay, AL
Louisville Slugger, Louisville, KY
Foretravel Motor Homes, Nacodoches, TX
Mercedes Benz, Tuscaloosa, AL
BMW, Greenville, SC
I enjoy factory tours, too. I like watching factory tours on television.
Even plant tours of the Coca-Cola bottling plant when I was a kid were exciting.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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11-14-2014, 09:48 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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I have toured some factories unintentionally because of my work. I work for a company that changes HVAC filters. I have even been in a "hair jelly" (Brill Cream, Dapper Dan, Fop) factory in Olive Branch, MS. I have been in factories that make clothing, fork lifts, a/c units, paper, you name it-
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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11-14-2014, 09:58 AM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member 
Currently Looking...
Hampton
, Virginia
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 110
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There is a potato chip factory off of Interstate 81 at Winchester, VA!
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11-14-2014, 10:16 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1962 24' Tradewind
Buffalo
, Wyoming
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 686
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Awesome! This is exactly the kind of info I was hoping for.
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11-14-2014, 11:17 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,767
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The Money Factory. US Bureau of Printing and Engraving, Ft. Worth, TX.
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11-14-2014, 11:23 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Do they give free samples?
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11-14-2014, 11:42 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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An ice cream factory would be the best!
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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11-14-2014, 11:44 AM
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#11
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m.hony
An ice cream factory would be the best!
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Not a distillery?
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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11-14-2014, 11:50 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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I guess it would be cool to tour the Jack Daniels factory, but I don't drink-
You could tour the Corvette plant and the Jack Daniel's distillery on the same day.
I do, however, love ice cream and wish I could eat it everyday, especially Blue Bell, Hagen Daaz, and Ben & Jerry's. I know there is a Ben & Jerry's factory tour-
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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11-14-2014, 12:36 PM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member 
2000 30' Excella
Toledo
, Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 493
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Coors Brewery Golden Co. and they give samples
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11-14-2014, 12:41 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1962 24' Tradewind
Buffalo
, Wyoming
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 686
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I toured the Coors brewery in Golden Colorado and the Budweiser brewery in Ft. Collins Colorado several years back. They both offer samples at the end. I really don't drink much, so I think I had a Coke.
Both were excellent tours. Some of the Clydesdale's were at the Bud plant. They were fun to see.
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11-14-2014, 12:43 PM
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#15
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m.hony
I guess it would be cool to tour the Jack Daniels factory, but I don't drink
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That actually works for the best. If memory serves, the Jack Daniels Distillery is in a dry county and they can't legally serve samples there.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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11-14-2014, 12:45 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,767
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No...
Quote:
Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi
Do they give free samples?
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Unfortunately, no free samples. They won't even let you take your cellphone camera inside with you. Think airport security on steroids.
They do sell uncut sheets of bills in their gift shop.
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11-14-2014, 12:47 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,767
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Blue Bell
Quote:
Originally Posted by m.hony
An ice cream factory would be the best!
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Then go to Brenham, TX and do the BlueBell tour. Unfortunately, not open on weekends, and I was there on a Saturday. I understand that they do give samples.
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11-14-2014, 12:47 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1962 24' Tradewind
Buffalo
, Wyoming
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 686
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There is a fairly new distillery between Worland and Thermopolis Wyoming (Wyoming Whiskey). They apparently offer tours. One of these days I'll do that when I'm driving by. It's a nice looking facility from the highway.
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11-14-2014, 12:50 PM
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#19
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mimiandrews
Unfortunately, no free samples. They won't even let you take your cellphone camera inside with you. Think airport security on steroids.
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That lets me out. When I go to the airport, or even to the courthouse for jury duty, I have to bring a note from my doctor about the metal pins in both feet in order to get through security. I would set off metal detectors even if I stripped to my skivvies!
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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11-14-2014, 01:08 PM
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#20
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3 Rivet Member
2007 25' International CCD FB
Holladay
, Utah
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 198
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Protagonist
That actually works for the best. If memory serves, the Jack Daniels Distillery is in a dry county and they can't legally serve samples there.
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Makers Mark and Wild Turkey do. The Bourbon Trail Tour is definitely worth the time. My 87 year old dad doesn't drink either, but he enjoyed the tour. I drank his samples.
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