Husky (tools)
Encyclopedia
Husky is a line of hand tools, pneumatic tools, and tool storage products. It is the house brand of The Home Depot
, where it is exclusively sold. Its hand tools are manufactured for Home Depot by the Stanley Works
. Its slogan
is "The toughest name in tools." Home Depot also carries a higher-end line of tools marked Husky Pro.
Husky hand tools were formerly manufactured exclusively in the United States
but are now largely made in China
, Taiwan and USA. All Husky hand tools have a lifetime warranty; and offers a hassle free replacement of any Husky hand tool equal in value as published in an internal Home Depot Memo in March of 2010. Currently packaging is being reformatted to reinforce this policy and avoid confusion of requiring a receipt.
on January 29, 1924 by Sigmund Mandl, who had immigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia
. By 1928, Husky had established a significant collaboration with the J.H. Williams Tool Group, with Williams distributing Husky wrenches in its mechanic's tool sets.
In January 1929, the Husky name was sold to the Olsen Manufacturing Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin
. The company relocated to Kenosha and changed its name to the Husky Corporation. Mandl went on to work for Blackhawk Manufacturing
of Milwaukee.
Sometime before 1932, the Husky name was again sold, this time to the New Britain Machine Company
of New Britain, Connecticut
, which was purchased by Litton Industries
in the 1970s. When Litton dissolved its hand tools division in the 1980s, it sold the Husky brand (and other assets, including the Blackhawk brand) to National Hand Tool. The Stanley Works
acquired the Husky brand with its 1986 acquisition of National Hand Tool. In 1992, Stanley began supplying the Husky brand exclusively to The Home Depot
, and sometime later transferred the rights to the name to Home Depot.
The Home Depot
The Home Depot is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services.The Home Depot operates 2,248 big-box format stores across the United States , Canada , Mexico and China, with a 12-store chain...
, where it is exclusively sold. Its hand tools are manufactured for Home Depot by the Stanley Works
Stanley Works
Stanley Black & Decker , formerly known as The Stanley Works, is a manufacturer of tools and hardware and provider of security products and locks headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut...
. Its slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
is "The toughest name in tools." Home Depot also carries a higher-end line of tools marked Husky Pro.
Husky hand tools were formerly manufactured exclusively in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but are now largely made in China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, Taiwan and USA. All Husky hand tools have a lifetime warranty; and offers a hassle free replacement of any Husky hand tool equal in value as published in an internal Home Depot Memo in March of 2010. Currently packaging is being reformatted to reinforce this policy and avoid confusion of requiring a receipt.
History
Husky Wrench was founded in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
on January 29, 1924 by Sigmund Mandl, who had immigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. By 1928, Husky had established a significant collaboration with the J.H. Williams Tool Group, with Williams distributing Husky wrenches in its mechanic's tool sets.
In January 1929, the Husky name was sold to the Olsen Manufacturing Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
. The company relocated to Kenosha and changed its name to the Husky Corporation. Mandl went on to work for Blackhawk Manufacturing
Blackhawk (tools)
Blackhawk by Proto—casually and traditionally known simply as Blackhawk—is an American brand of hand tools. It is currently a sub-brand of the Proto division of the Stanley Black & Decker.- History :...
of Milwaukee.
Sometime before 1932, the Husky name was again sold, this time to the New Britain Machine Company
New Britain Machine Company
New Britain Machine Company, was a tool company that was headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut. The company started to sell sockets and drive tools. New Britain was the main supplier for NAPA tools until its closure in the mid 80's. New Britain owned Husky and Blackhawk tools as well as making...
of New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
, which was purchased by Litton Industries
Litton Industries
Named after inventor Charles Litton, Sr., Litton Industries was a large defense contractor in the United States, bought by the Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2001.-History:...
in the 1970s. When Litton dissolved its hand tools division in the 1980s, it sold the Husky brand (and other assets, including the Blackhawk brand) to National Hand Tool. The Stanley Works
Stanley Works
Stanley Black & Decker , formerly known as The Stanley Works, is a manufacturer of tools and hardware and provider of security products and locks headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut...
acquired the Husky brand with its 1986 acquisition of National Hand Tool. In 1992, Stanley began supplying the Husky brand exclusively to The Home Depot
The Home Depot
The Home Depot is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services.The Home Depot operates 2,248 big-box format stores across the United States , Canada , Mexico and China, with a 12-store chain...
, and sometime later transferred the rights to the name to Home Depot.
See also
- WorkforceWorkforce (brand)-OEM brand:Tools under the Workforce brand are made by various OEM manufacturers and the same tools may be made by different manufacturers. Therefore, as long as the products meet the specifications, parts may not be interchangeable and tools may operate differently...
—Home Depot's low-end tool brand. - CraftsmanCraftsman (tools)Craftsman is a line of tools and lawn and garden equipment controlled by Sears Holdings Corporation; the brand is owned by KCD IP, LLC, a special purpose entity created by Sears Holdings for securitization purposes....
and KobaltKobalt (tools)Kobalt is a line of tools operated by the American home improvement chain Lowe's as their house brand.Lowe's and manufacturing partner J.H. Williams launched Kobalt in 1998, with the intention of competing against rival retailers Sears and The Home Depot and their respective Craftsman and Husky...
—Husky's primary retail competition.