A Tool Industry Timeline
This page will look at some of the events that have shaped the tool industry over the last 100+ years, with a focus on company foundings, patents, and trademarks.
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This page will look at some of the events that have shaped the tool industry over the last 100+ years, with a focus on company foundings, patents, and trademarks.
The tool industry has been shaped by numerous events, notably the founding of companies, innovations leading to patents, and the establishment of trademarked brands. In an effort to better understand these factors, we have summarized the more important tool industry events into the following table.
The events in the table have been grouped into three categories: Company events, Patents, and Trademarks. These are indicated in the "Type" column by the letters "C", "P", and "T" respectively.
| Decade | Date | Type | Event | Description | Related Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 01/01/1826 | C | C.S. Osborne Founded | C.S. Osborne founded by Thomas English in Newark | Osborne |
| 1850 | 01/01/1856 | C | Mayhew Tools Founded | Mayhew Tools founded in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts | Mayhew |
| 01/01/1857 | C | M. Klein & Sons Founded | Mathias Klein & Sons founded in Chicago | Klein | |
| 1860 | 01/01/1860 | C | Kraeuter Founded | Kraeuter & Co. founded in Newark | Kraeuter |
| 01/01/1869 | C | Lowell Wrench Founded | Lowell Wrench Co. founded in Worcester, Massachusetts | ||
| 1870 | 11/01/1870 | C | Peck, Stow, & Wilcox Formed | Peck, Stow & Wilcox (“Pexto”) formed by a three-way merger | Pexto |
| 01/01/1873 | C | Billings & Spencer Founded | Billings & Spencer Co. founded in Hartford, CT | Billings | |
| 01/01/1877 | C | Bonney Founded | Bonney Vise & Tool Works founded | Bonney | |
| 01/01/1879 | C | Champion Founded | Champion Bolt Clipper Co. founded by George DeArment | Champion | |
| 1880 | 01/01/1881 | C | Herbrand Founded | Herbrand Co. founded in Fremont, Ohio | Herbrand |
| 01/01/1884 | C | Williams Founded | J.H. Williams & Co. founded in Brooklyn, New York | Williams | |
| 01/01/1887 | C | New Britain Founded | New Britain Machine Co. founded in New Britain, CT | New Britain | |
| 1890 | 01/01/1893 | C | Armstrong Founded | Armstrong Bros. founded in Chicago | Armstrong |
| 01/01/1895 | C | Bridgeport Hardware Founded | Bridgeport Hardware Mfg. Founded in Bridgeport, CT | Bridgeport | |
| 01/01/1895 | T | “New Britain” First Use | New Britain Machine first uses “New Britain” trademark | New Britain | |
| 01/01/1895 | C | Utica Founded | Utica Drop Forge & Tool founded | Utica | |
| 01/01/1895 | C | Vlchek Founded | Vlchek Tool Co. founded in Cleveland | Vlchek | |
| 01/01/1896 | C | Barcalo Founded | Barcalo Mfg. Co. founded in Buffalo, New York | Barcalo | |
| 09/01/1897 | T | “Strong-Arm” First Use | Armstrong Bros. First uses “Strong-Arm” trademark | Armstrong | |
| 01/01/1898 | C | Smith & Hemenway Founded | Smith & Hemenway founded in New York City | S&H | |
| 01/01/1899 | C | Mossberg Founded | Frank Mossberg Co. founded in Attleboro, Massachusetts | Mossberg | |
| 1900 | 01/01/1900 | C | Bay State Tool Founded | Bay State Tool Co. founded in Boston | Bay State |
| 02/02/1904 | P | Contal 751,055 | Camille Contal patent for Auto Clé ratchet wrench | Mossberg 751055 | |
| 01/01/1905 | C | Champion Moves | Champion Tool Co. moves to Meadville, PA | Champion | |
| 01/01/1905 | C | Moore Founded | Moore Drop Forging Co. formed in Springfield, MA | Moore | |
| 12/01/1905 | C | Auto-Clé socket set offered | Auto-Clé socket set (developed in France) first offered in US | Mossberg | |
| 01/01/1906 | C | Miller Combination Founded | Miller Combination Tool founded in Syracuse, NY | Miller Combination | |
| 01/01/1906 | C | Walden Founded | Walden Mfg. Co. founded in Worcester, MA | Walden | |
| 02/01/1906 | C | Miller Combination Set Offered | Notice for Miller Combination Tool “Giant” socket set published | Miller Combination | |
| 10/01/1906 | C | Syracuse Wrench Founded | Syracuse Wrench Co. founded in Syracuse, NY [date uncertain] | Syracuse | |
| 01/01/1907 | C | Champion Set Offered | Syracuse Wrench advertises “Champion Ratchet Wrench” socket set | Syracuse | |
| 01/01/1907 | C | Plomb Founded | Plomb Tool Co. founded in Los Angeles | Plomb | |
| 02/26/1907 | P | Miller 845,716 | Charles Miller patent for ratchet wrench | Miller Combination 845716 | |
| 07/23/1907 | C | Crescent Tool Founded | Crescent Tool Co. incorporated in Jamestown, New York | Crescent | |
| 01/01/1908 | C | Diamond Calk Founded | Diamond Calk Horseshoe founded in Duluth, Minnesota | Diamond | |
| 01/01/1908 | T | “M-Circle” First Use | Moore Drop Forging first uses M-Circle trademark | Moore | |
| 03/01/1908 | C | “Yala” Socket Set Offered | Syracuse Wrench advertises “Yala” socket set | Syracuse | |
| 12/01/1908 | C | Bay State Autokit Offered | Bay State Autokit socket set advertised | Bay State | |
| 12/01/1908 | C | Mossberg Acquires Auto-Cle | Frank Mossberg Co. acquires the Auto-Clé socket set line from Q.M.S. | Mossberg | |
| 05/01/1909 | C | Vlchek Opens New Factory | Vlchek opens a new factory at East 87th street in Cleveland | Vlchek | |
| 06/01/1909 | C | C.M.B. Wrench Founded | C.M.B. Wrench Co. founded in Syracuse, New York | C.M.B. | |
| 1910 | 01/01/1910 | C | American Grinder Founded | American Grinder Mfg. Co. founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Blackhawk |
| 01/01/1910 | C | United Hardware Established | United Hardware & Tool Corp. established in New York City | ||
| 12/01/1910 | T | Utica Registered | Utica Drop Forge registers “Utica” trademark | Utica | |
| 01/01/1913 | C | McKaig-Hatch Founded | McKaig-Hatch founded in Buffalo, NY | McKaig | |
| 01/01/1913 | C | Sears Autokit Socket Set | Sears offers its first socket set, the Aristocrat No. 1 Auto Kit | Craftsman Bay State | |
| 11/11/1913 | P | Mossberg 1,078,059 | Mossberg patent for reversible ratchet wrench | Mossberg 1078059 | |
| 01/01/1914 | C | Charles E. Hall Acquired | Charles E. Hall Company acquired by Barcalo Manufacturing | Barcalo | |
| 01/01/1914 | C | Alloy Steel for Pliers | Kraeuter uses nickel steel for 2801 “Dreadnought” lineman's pliers | Kraeuter | |
| 01/01/1914 | C | Sherman-Klove Founded | Sherman-Klove founded in Chicago | S-K | |
| 01/01/1915 | C | Cold-broached Sockets | Will B. Lane introduces cold-broached machined sockets | Lane | |
| 01/01/1916 | C | Duro Metal Founded | Duro Metal Products founded in Chicago | Duro-Indestro | |
| 12/01/1916 | C | Walden Renamed | Walden Mfg. Co. renamed to Walden-Worcester | Walden | |
| 01/01/1917 | T | “None Better” First Use | New Britain Machine first uses “None Better” trademark | New Britain | |
| 01/01/1919 | T | “Diamond” First Use | Diamond Calk Horseshoe Co. first uses “Diamond” trademark | Diamond | |
| 01/01/1919 | C | Hinsdale Founded | Hinsdale Manufacturing Co. founded in Chicago | Hinsdale | |
| 05/01/1919 | C | Blackhawk Founded | Blackhawk Mfg. Co. founded as division of American Grinder | Blackhawk | |
| 07/01/1919 | C | Blackhawk Socket Set | Blackhawk socket sets first advertised | Blackhawk | |
| 11/14/1919 | C | Cornwell Founded | Cornwell Quality Tools founded in Cuyahoga, Ohio | Cornwell | |
| 1920 | 05/20/1920 | C | Snap-On Founded | Snap-On Wrench Co. founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Snap-on |
| 01/01/1921 | C | P & C Founded | P & C Hand Forged Tool Co. founded in Lebanon, Oregon | P&C | |
| 01/01/1921 | C | Charles Miller Renamed | Charles Miller Company renamed to Miller Wrench Company | Charles Miller | |
| 01/20/1921 | T | “Indestro” First Use | Sure Seal Bottle Capper first uses “Indestro” trademark | Duro-Indestro | |
| 03/08/1921 | P | Myers D57,252 | Myers (design) patent for handles on “Vacuum Grip” pliers | Forged Steel | |
| 07/25/1922 | P | Blackmar 1,424,069 | Blackmar patent on 12-point wrenches, used by Snap-On | Snap-on 1424069 | |
| 11/01/1922 | T | “CV” First Use | Bonney first uses “CV” trademark for alloy wrenches | Bonney | |
| 01/30/1923 | P | Johnson 1,443,413 | Johnson patent for early Snap-On ratchet adapter | Snap-on 1443413 | |
| 02/27/1923 | T | “Truth” Registered | Truth Tool Co. registers “Truth” trademark | Truth | |
| 09/15/1923 | T | ”Blue Point” First Use | Snap-on first uses “Blue Point” trademark | Snap-on | |
| 11/01/1923 | T | “Van Chrome” Advertised | Earliest known public use of Herbrand “Van Chrome” trademark | Herbrand | |
| 01/01/1924 | T | “Husky” Registered | “Husky” trademark registered for Husky Wrench Company | Husky Wrench | |
| 01/01/1924 | C | Husky Wrench Founded | Husky Wrench Company founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Husky Wrench | |
| 01/15/1925 | C | Champion Tool Renamed | Champion Tool Co. renamed to Champion DeArment | Champion | |
| 08/01/1925 | C | American Grinder Renamed | American Grinder renamed to Blackhawk Manufacturing | Blackhawk | |
| 09/01/1925 | C | OTC Founded | Owatonna Tool Co. founded in Owatonna, Minnesota | OTC | |
| 01/01/1926 | C | Stevens-Walden Formed | Stevens-Walden-Worcester formed by merger | Walden | |
| 01/16/1926 | C | P & C Box-End Wrenches | P & C begins offering 12-point box-end wrenches | P&C | |
| 01/01/1927 | C | Apco-Mossberg Formed | Frank Mossberg Co. reorganized as Apco-Mossberg | Mossberg | |
| 01/01/1927 | C | Wright Tool Founded | Wright Tool founded in Barberton, Ohio | Wright | |
| 05/20/1927 | T | “Craftsman” First Use | Sears, Roebuck first uses “Craftsman” trademark | Craftsman | |
| 07/01/1927 | C | Cornwell Moves | Cornwell Quality Tools moves to Mogadore, Ohio | Cornwell | |
| 12/01/1927 | T | “Boxocket” Registered | “Boxocket” trademark registered, used on Blue Point tools | Snap-on | |
| 01/01/1928 | C | Husky Wrench Renamed | Husky Wrench Co. renamed Husky Corporation, moves to Kenosha | Husky Wrench | |
| 07/01/1928 | C | Vlchek Cr-Mo Wrenches | Vlchek Tool announces chrome-molybdenum wrench sets | Vlchek | |
| 08/27/1929 | P | Gillett RE17,417 | Gillett wrench patent reissued, assigned to Blue Point Tools | Snap-on RE17417 | |
| 1930 | 01/13/1931 | T | “Duro-Chrome” First Use | Duro Metal Products first uses “Duro-Chrome” trademark | Duro-Indestro |
| 10/13/1931 | P | Klein 1,827,202 | Klein patent for early Snap-On ratchets | Snap-on 1827202 | |
| 04/19/1932 | P | Hummel 1,854,413 | Hummel patent for reversible ratchet, used by Snap-On | Snap-on 1854413 | |
| 05/01/1932 | T | “Channellock” First Use | Champion DeArment first uses “Channellock” trademark | Champion | |
| 09/01/1932 | C | MTF Merged | Milwaukee Tool & Forge merged to form Lectrolite Corporation | MTF Lectrolite | |
| 12/01/1932 | T | “S-K” First Use | Sherman-Klove first uses “S-K” and S-K Diamond logo | S-K | |
| 01/01/1933 | C | Husky Corporation Acquired | Husky Corporation acquired by New Britain Machine [date uncertain] | New Britain | |
| 01/01/1933 | T | “Bet'R-Grip” First Use | J.P. Danielson first uses “Bet'R-Grip” trademark | Danielson | |
| 04/25/1933 | C | Plomb Combination Wrenches | Plomb announces the combination wrench in company newslatter | Plomb | |
| 05/01/1933 | C | Bonney Combination Wrenches | Bonney announces Zenel combination wrenches in catalog supplement | Bonney | |
| 06/01/1933 | C | Indestro Acquired | Indestro Mfg. acquired by Duro Metal Products | Duro-Indestro | |
| 10/03/1933 | T | “Zenel” Registered | Bonney registers “Zenel” trademark | Bonney | |
| 03/06/1934 | P | Manning 1,950,362 | Manning “Channellock” patent for Champion DeArment | Champion DeArment 1950362 | |
| 05/08/1934 | P | Kress 1,957,462 | Kress patent for reversible ratchet, used for Williams S-51 | Williams 1957462 | |
| 08/21/1934 | P | Pfauser RE19,287 | Pfauser patent for Blackhawk Mfg. socket release button | Blackhawk RE19287 | |
| 11/20/1934 | P | Rueb 1,981,526 | Rueb patent for S-K, first fine-tooth ratchet design | S-K 1981526 | |
| 05/28/1935 | P | Pfauser 2,003,155 | Pfauser patent for gearless ratchets used by Blackhawk Mfg. | Blackhawk 2003155 | |
| 01/14/1936 | P | McNaught 2,027,982 | Duro Metal patent for hot-broached sockets | Duro-Indestro 2027982 | |
| 07/07/1936 | P | Phillips 2,046,840 | Phillips patent for cross-point screws and screwdriver | 2046840 | |
| 01/01/1937 | T | Indestro “Streamlined” Design | Indestro Mfg. registers “streamlined” wrench design | Duro-Indestro | |
| 01/23/1937 | T | Dunlap First Use | Sears first uses Dunlap brand | Craftsman | |
| 01/01/1938 | C | Moore Craftsman Contract | Moore Drop Forging Co. gets Sears Craftsman contract | Moore Craftsman | |
| 07/11/1938 | C | Mechanics Tool Founded | Mechanics Tool and Forge Co. (later Mac Tools) founded in Ohio | MAC | |
| 03/06/1939 | T | “Bonaloy” First Use | Bonney first uses “Bonaloy” trademark | Bonney | |
| 1940 | 01/01/1940 | C | Cragin Tool Acquired | Cragin Tool (Bog Manufacturing) acquired by Plomb Tool | Bog Plomb |
| 01/01/1941 | C | Penens Formed | Penens Corp. formed as a reorganization of Cragin Tool | Penens Plomb | |
| 01/01/1941 | C | P & C Acquired | P & C Hand Forged Tool Co. acquired by Plomb Tool | P&C Plomb | |
| 02/18/1941 | P | Rueb 2,232,477 | Rueb patent for fine-tooth ratchets used by S-K Tools | S-K 2232477 | |
| 06/30/1942 | P | Chapman D132,891 | Chapman (design) patent used for Snap-On tool handles | Snap-on | |
| 01/01/1946 | C | Mac Allied Tools Founded | Mac Allied Tools founded as an associate of Mac Tools | MAC | |
| 01/01/1946 | T | Plomb Sued for Infringement | Plomb Tool Co. sued by Plumb for trademark infringement | Plomb | |
| 02/26/1946 | P | Odlum 2,395,681 | Odlum patent, first asymmetrical dual-pawl ratchet | Duro-Indestro 2395681 | |
| 08/01/1946 | T | “Armaloy” First Use | Armstrong first uses “Armaloy” trademark | Armstrong | |
| 01/01/1947 | C | J.P. Danielson Acquired | J.P. Danielson Co. acquired by Plomb Tool | Danielson Plomb | |
| 01/01/1948 | C | Forged Steel Acquired | Forged Steel Products (“Vacuum Grip”) acquired by Snap-On | Forged Steel Snap-on | |
| 01/23/1948 | T | Proto Registered | Plomb Tool registers “Proto” and begins using on tools | Plomb Proto | |
| 1950 | 01/01/1950 | C | Pexto Acquired | Pexto acquired by Billings & Spencer [Date approximate] | Billings Pexto |
| 03/14/1950 | P | Lang 2,500,835 | Lang patent for laminated ratchet box wrenches | 2500835 | |
| 03/25/1950 | T | Last Date for “Plomb” mark | Final date for use of “Plomb” name on tools | Plomb | |
| 01/01/1956 | C | Utica Acquired | Utica Tool acquired by Kelsey-Hayes | Utica | |
| 12/04/1956 | P | Johnson 2,772,763 | Johnson patent for dual-pawl fine-tooth ratchet (e.g. Williams S-52) | Williams 2772763 | |
| 01/01/1957 | C | Bonney Moves | Bonney moves from Allentown, PA to Alliance, OH | Bonney | |
| 04/16/1957 | P | Able 2,788,690 | Able patent for socket reinforcement (Proto “Dyna-Ring”) | Proto 2788690 | |
| 12/18/1959 | C | Vlchek Acquired | Vlchek Tool acquired by Pendleton Tool Industries | Vlchek Proto | |
| 1960 | 01/01/1961 | C | Herbrand Acquired | Herbrand acquired by Utica Tool | Herbrand Utica |
| 01/01/1961 | C | Mac Tools Formed | Mechanics Tool and Forge Co. renamed as Mac Tools Inc. | MAC | |
| 04/25/1961 | P | Kilness 2,981,389 | Kilness patent for high-strength fine-tooth ratchet | New Britain 2981389 | |
| 01/01/1962 | C | S-K Tools Acquired | S-K Tools acquired by Symington-Wayne Corp. | S-K | |
| 01/01/1962 | C | Lectrolite Acquired | Lectrolite Corp. acquired by Symington-Wayne Corp. | Lectrolite | |
| 01/01/1962 | C | Utica Moves | Utica Tool moves to new factory in Orangeburg, SC | Utica | |
| 01/04/1962 | C | Billings Acquired | Billings & Spencer Co. acquired by Crescent Niagara Corp. | Billings Crescent | |
| 01/24/1962 | C | Williams Acquired | J.H. Williams acquired by United Greenfield Corp. | Williams | |
| 05/08/1963 | C | Channellock Formed | Champion De Arment renamed to Channellock | Champion | |
| 01/01/1964 | C | Bonney Acquired | Bonney Tool acquired by Utica Tool | Bonney Utica | |
| 01/24/1964 | T | SK Wayne Registered | Symington-Wayne registers “SK Wayne” trademark | S-K | |
| 02/01/1964 | C | Proto Acquired | Proto Tools acquired by Ingersoll-Rand | Proto | |
| 04/28/1964 | C | Fleet Tool Formed | Penens Corp. renamed to Fleet Tool Corp. | Proto Penens | |
| 02/01/1965 | C | Kraeuter Acquired | Kraeuter & Co. acquired by Dresser Industries | Kraeuter | |
| 09/20/1966 | P | Knudsen 3,273,430 | Knudsen patent for Snap-On “Flank Drive” | Snap-on | |
| 01/01/1967 | C | Triangle Tool Formed | Triangle Tool Group formed to acquire Utica Tool | Utica | |
| 01/01/1968 | C | Crescent Niagara Acquired | Crescent Niagara acquired by Cooper, Inc. | Crescent | |
| 01/01/1968 | C | Moore Acquired | Moore Drop Forging Co. acquired by Easco | Moore | |
| 01/01/1968 | C | S-K Tools Acquired | S-K Tools (Symington-Wayne) acquired by Dresser Industries | S-K | |
| 01/01/1968 | C | Torque Controls Acquired | Triangle Tool acquires Torque Controls, Inc. | ||
| 01/01/1969 | C | Vlchek Factory Closed | Vlchek factory at East 87th street in Cleveland closed | Vlchek | |
| 09/16/1969 | P | Haznar 3,467,431 | Haznar patent for quick-release ratchet used for Craftsman “V” | Craftsman V | |
| 1970 | 01/01/1977 | C | Vlchek Plastics Acquired | Vlchek Plastics purchased by Flambeau from Ingersoll-Rand | Vlchek |
| 01/01/1979 | C | Matco Formed | Matco formed when Mac and Mac Allied Tools split | MAC | |
| 1980 | 01/01/1984 | C | Proto Acquired | Proto Tools Division of Ingersoll-Rand acquired by The Stanley Works | Proto |
| 01/01/1985 | C | S-K Tools Acquired | S-K Tools acquired by FACOM | S-K | |
| 12/09/1989 | C | Duro Metal Products Closes | Duro Metal Products/Indestro cease operations | Duro-Indestro | |
| 1990 | 01/01/1990 | C | Easco Acquired | Easco acquired by Danaher Group | Craftsman V |
| 01/01/1993 | C | Williams Acquired | J.H. Williams acquired by Snap-On | Williams | |
| 12/01/1994 | C | Armstrong Acquired | Armstrong Bros. acquired by Danaher Group | Armstrong | |
| 01/01/1999 | C | Bahco Acquired | Bahco Group AB acquired by Snap-On | Snap-on |
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