MTD Products is a manufacturer of outdoor power equipment for the mass market. Based in Cleveland, Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

, USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, the company began in 1932 and is a family-owned, private company. It originated as a tool and die maker

Tool and die maker

Tool and die makers are workers in the manufacturing industry who make jigs, fixtures, dies, molds, machine tools, cutting tools , gauges, and other tools used in manufacturing processes...

 (Modern Tool and Die Company). MTD's main competitors are Ariens

Ariens

Ariens is a Brillion, Wisconsin-based equipment company which has a long history manufacturing snow blowers and lawn tractors for commercial and high-end consumer markets...

, Toro

Toro (company)

The Toro Company is an American manufacturer of turf maintenance equipment , snow removal equipment and water-saving irrigation systems for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential lawns, and agricultural fields...

, Snapper

Snapper Inc.

Snapper, Inc. is a United States company that makes residential and professional lawn care and snow removal equipment, based in McDonough, Georgia...

, Murray

Murray (bicycles)

Murray was an American company whose assets are now owned by Briggs & Stratton and Dorel Industries. The corporate brand is a descendant of the Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company, which manufactured bicycles and lawn and garden equipment ....

, John Deere and Husqvarna

Husqvarna AB

The Husqvarna Group is the world's largest producer of outdoor power products including chainsaws, trimmers, lawn mowers and garden tractors. The Group is also the European leader in consumer watering products and one of the world leaders in cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction...

.
Theo Moll, Emil Jochum and Erwin Gerhard formed a partnership to purchase the assets of Modern Tool and Die Company located on Power Avenue in Cleveland.