Uhlmann & allstar "the same company" ?

[simonc]

Hi fencers,

I've heard from several folks that the venerable German equipment manufacturers Uhlmann and allstar are "the same company", although when challenged, no-one (yet) has been able to explain exactly how this is so, or has come about.

Can anyone here shed some light? From my recent dealings with both firms, they don't seem to have very much in common, and do seem quite competitive with each other...

(new member) simonc, ANU Fencing Club, Canberra

[neevel]

Allstar bought Uhlmann something like 15 years ago. The two companies still each have their own factories and retain a significant degree of independence in terms of day-to-day operations and sales (think of how Ford owns a majority share of Mazda, or GM owning Saab). Most of their products, particularly uniforms and masks, are essentially the same except for trim color (red for Allstar, blue for Uhlmann) and some differences in cut (Allstar uniforms tend to be cut a bit more slender in the body than Uhlmann). Some items (such as reels and scoring machines) are still different. At many competitions where set up a vendor booth, they operate out of the same booth, with Allstar on one side and Uhlmann on the other.

-Dave