Hecho en China

That phrase is on a lighting fixture I recently installed. It is Spanish for Made in China. I left the decal on for future archaeologists.  That should help the archaeologists identify the era of the lamp fixture.

Why? Because this fixture was sold at the most American of home fixtures stores Home Depot. The fixture could not have had such a label on it before 1996.

First, outsourcing of common American household fixtures to China barely dates back to 1990 when China began its rapid growth into the world of industrial exporting. 

Second, the creation of a domestic American market where the Spanish language was important to the people working in the household construction industry barely dates back to 1996 when significant immigration from Mexico became important. The market for products that have to speak to Spanish speakers only began its significant growth in the late 1990s.a

The combination of Spanish language and Chinese import for sale in America sets the earliest date at 1996.

I personally am happy to see 'Hecho in China.'  The source of this product and the construction workers who buy such products at Home Depot are what has kept our prices very low for more than a decade. Gracias.

Comments

I think you you're spot on with this but not in every instance.

[peter mroz]

i have two lamps that are hecho en china the serial number 92019042179 and the po#o4o4, i am looking for the lamp shades can anyone help