ATHOL, MA (9/28/2018) – “Nobody makes a gage like the 995,” James Furtardo of Phoenix, Arizona said in a Facebook message to the L.S. Starrett Company account.

In late September, Furtardo contacted Starrett in search of the 995 Universal Precision Gage to replace one he had lost. The gage had been out of production since 2007. Unfortunately for Furtardo, since it had been more than 10 years the part couldn’t be recreated in the factory.

Longtime Starrett employee Scott Robinson knew there must be one on the shelf of a stocking distributor somewhere in the U.S. He called a handful of distributors that might still have the 995. He spoke with a couple before discovering that Ideal Precision in Columbus, Ohio, had some in stock. Robinson explained the situation and got Furtardo in contact with an employee there.

“As a customer, I want to say I really appreciate the level of service I have seen over the last few weeks,” Furtardo said in a message after purchasing the part. “Not really used to it from a "big" business. Not many places would be willing to do that."