COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 332212

Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

16companies1868–1983founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedSandvik ABFoundedSandvik AB
1868
FoundedAcorn Products, Inc.FoundedAcorn Products, Inc.
1890
FoundedL.S. Starrett CompanyFoundedL.S. Starrett Company
1900
FoundedNewell Rubbermaid Inc.FoundedNewell Rubbermaid Inc.
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedThe Black & Decker CorporationFoundedThe Black & Decker Corporation
1910
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedFacom S.A.FoundedFacom S.A.
1918
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedQ.E.P. Co., Inc.FoundedQ.E.P. Co., Inc.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedLeatherman Tool Group, Inc.FoundedLeatherman Tool Group, Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Sandvik AB →
Active · founded 1868 · Sweden
Sandvik AB is an industrial engineering group based in Sandviken, Sweden, and trading through an international network…
Sandvik AB →
Active · founded 1868 · Sweden
Sandvik AB is an industrial engineering group based in Sandviken, Sweden, and trading through an international network…
Acorn Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1890
Toolmaker Acorn Products, Inc.
Acorn Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1890
Toolmaker Acorn Products, Inc.
L.S. Starrett Company →
Active · founded 1900
Founded in 1880, the L.S.
L.S. Starrett Company →
Active · founded 1900
Founded in 1880, the L.S.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
c.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
c.
The Black & Decker Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
The Black & Decker Corporation is the leading maker of power tools and accessories in the United States--and is the…
The Black & Decker Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
The Black & Decker Corporation is the leading maker of power tools and accessories in the United States--and is the…
Facom S.A. →
Active · founded 1918 · France
1980s-90s:Company pursues a number of acquisitions, including Bost, Garnache, Virax, Dela, Britool, SK Hand Tools,…
Facom S.A. →
Active · founded 1918 · France
1980s-90s:Company pursues a number of acquisitions, including Bost, Garnache, Virax, Dela, Britool, SK Hand Tools,…
Q.E.P. Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Q.E.P.
Q.E.P. Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Q.E.P.
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
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