A Timeline and Family History of Power Tool Companies

The Stanley Works was founded by Frederick Trent Stanley in 1843, originally a bolt and door hardware manufacturing company.

The Stanley Rule and Level Company was founded in 1857 by Henry Stanley, Frederick Trent Stanley’s cousin.

J. A. Chapman Limited was a Sheffield firm founded in the 1860s by Mr. James Arscott Chapman (1827-1891), producing high quality tools.

The Van Dorn Iron Works was established by James H. Van Dorn in 1871.

Atlas Copco was founded in 1873 by Edvard Fränckel in Sweden making tools and materials for the railways.

AEG was initially founded in 1883 as Deutsche Edison-Gesellschaft (DEG), the company took the name AEG in 1887.

AEG introduced the first transportable drilling machines in 1898.

Porter-Cable was founded in 1906 by R.E. Porter, G.G. Porter, and F.E. Cable.

In 1908, AEG produced the first portable drill with a pistol grip.

In 1910 S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker opened a machine shop.

In 1914, Porter-Cable began to focus on power tools, starting with a line of lathes.

In 1915 The Van Dorn Electric Tool Company became a separate entity from the Iron works, making Electric drills. In March 1915, Mosaburo Makita (b. 1893) founded Makita Electric Works in Japan.

By 1916 Black and Decker were working on designing handheld electric drills.

In 1917 production began by Black and Decker of a pistol and trigger style drill.

In 1918, A.H. Peterson developed the Hole-Shooter, a one-handed electric drill that was lighter than Black and Decker’s.

In 1920, Stanley Rule and Level Company merged with the Stanley Works, and continued operating as its hand tools division.

In 1920 the Van Dorn Electric Tool Company began making bench grinders.

In 1922, A.H Peterson and Albert F. Siebert founded the A.H Peterson Company to manufacture electric drills.

In 1924 Albert F Siebert bought out A H Peterson and formed the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation.

The original DeWalt company was started in 1924 by Raymond E. DeWalt, inventor of the radial arm saw.

In 1926, Porter-Cable began to develop a niche in portable electric power tools when Chief Engineer Art Emmons invented the portable electric belt sander.

In 1928, Black & Decker acquired Van Dorn Electric Tool Co., makers of bench grinders as well as valve and valve-seat grinders.

In 1929, Emmons of Porter-Cable invented the helical drive circular saw, a compact, lightweight design.

From 1930 Milwaukee Tool Co began developing portable hand grinders, electric hammers, sanders, and polishers.

1935, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation developed a lightweight 3/4″ electric hammer drill.

In 1936 J A Chapman Co was bought out by Mr. Norman Neill.

Around 1937, Stanley acquired the British J. A. Chapman company.

The Ryobi Seisakusho Co., Ltd., was founded in Japan in 1943.

 In 1949, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation added a spring clutch to their tools.

In 1949 the American Machine & Foundry Co Inc. bought the DeWalt company.

In 1958, Makita marketed a portable electrical planer.

In 1960 DeWalt was sold to Black & Decker.

In 1960, Porter-Cable was sold to Rockwell International. 

Ryobi began production of power tools in 1968.

In April 1969, Makita introduced, the first rechargeable power tool, the 6500D battery-powered drill.

In 1976 the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation was sold to Amstar.  

In December 1978, Makita launched the first nickel cadmium rechargeable battery drill.

In 1981, Pentair Inc. acquired Porter-Cable.

In 1986 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation was sold to Merrill Lynch.

In 1989, Porter-Cable introduced the first electric random orbital sander.

In 1991, AEG Power Tools become part of the Swedish, Atlas Copco group.

In 1992, Black & Decker began to rebrand its professional quality and high-end power tools as DeWalt. 

In 1994, DeWalt took over the German woodworking power tool producer ELU and used ELU’s technology to expand their tool line.

In 1995, Merrill Lynch sold Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation to Atlas Copco.

In 2004 Black & Decker acquired Pentair’s power tools group, which included the Porter-Cable, Delta, DeVilbiss, Oldham and FLEX lines.

In 2005 Techtronic Industries (TTI) acquired Atlas Copco and therefore the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation.

In 2005, Makita launched the first lithium-ion battery tool, the TD130D.

In March 2010 Stanley Works and Black and Decker merged to form Stanley Black and Decker

In 2011, DeWalt launched a line of contractors’ hand tools as part of Stanley Black and Decker.

In 2013, DeWalt’s line was expanded to include mechanics’ tools.

So, it turns out, that the vast majority of power tools are actually made by only 4 companies, two American and two Japanese.

Power tools naturally get used a great deal. The more they are used the more likely the power cell will degrade, meaning that it will hold its charge less well, need re-charging more frequently and take longer to complete a charge. This could cause a great deal of frustration and even, potentially, loss of hours.

UK Battery LTD stock replacement batteries for a wide variety of power tools from many of the major manufacturers and offer quick turnaround at competitive prices. Even if you’re not ready to replace your battery it is a good idea to have a spare ready and waiting so that you are always ready for any sale. All our batteries come with a one-year manufactures warranty and are made using premium components and ultra-modern processes. If you require a wholesale price for larger orders, please contact us directly.

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