COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 421710

Hardware Wholesalers

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

10companies1929–1983founding years10still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedAlleghany CorporationFoundedAlleghany Corporation
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedPendleton Grain Growers Inc.FoundedPendleton Grain Growers Inc.
1930
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.
FoundedBarnett Inc.FoundedBarnett Inc.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedHome Hardware Stores Ltd.FoundedHome Hardware Stores Ltd.
1963
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.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
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

Alleghany Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Alleghany Corporation operates as a diversified conglomerate with holdings related to insurance, industrial minerals,…
Alleghany Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Alleghany Corporation operates as a diversified conglomerate with holdings related to insurance, industrial minerals,…
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc.
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc.
Barnett Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
Barnett Inc.
Barnett Inc. →
Active · founded 1958
Barnett Inc.
Home Hardware Stores Ltd. →
Active · founded 1963 · Canada
Home Hardware Stores Ltd., is an Ontario, Canada-based dealer-owned cooperative, supplying more than 1,000…
Home Hardware Stores Ltd. →
Active · founded 1963 · Canada
Home Hardware Stores Ltd., is an Ontario, Canada-based dealer-owned cooperative, supplying more than 1,000…
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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