It is my understanding that simplicity bought snapper out and briggs and stratton bought simplicity as well as the bankrupt murray corp.Saw some of the new snappers recently,they are going to give craftsman a run for there money as far as quality and price now, its been my view that snapper has always been over priced,course here to fore, they have always been to slow for my taste.I CAN TELL you there old wheel or disc style running gear has worn many an engine out,but now they are going hydrostatic.
http://www.smallenginetrblshtng.com/news

Ain't exactly new, news.... but indeed a good read....
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2002/11/25/daily34.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2004/10/04/story2.html?page=1

been a fact that murray got screwed over litterally when wally world ordered a bunch of mowers, then backed down, and they owed briggs, I beleive 40 some million for engines, so briggs bought em....



Well, give craftsman (and all other ayp made brands, husqvarna, poulan, weedeater a run for it) not saying craftsman is owned by ayp, sears just gets electrolux to make em, but indeed give the cheaper mtd made toros, and mtds themselves a run for it, and the cheap john deeres too. Man I don't like cheap mtds......, and your site link is not a valid url.......

Thanks for the heads up on the url, hope I got it fixed now.

I also wonder if ayp is making the john deeres sold at lowes and home depot now.... being that the new husqvarnas and craftsmans look almost identical with a few changes here and there.