Western Forge
Encyclopedia
Western Forge is an American
manufacturing company. The company manufactures hand tools to be sold under other brands, including private-label brands
such as Craftsman
and Husky
. It is a subsidiary of Ideal Industries
.
in 1965 by C. William Schlosser. The company originally produced torque wrenches. In 1966, it relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado
, where it built a new manufacturing facility. In the next few years, the company began producing screwdrivers, punches
, chisels, adjustable wrenches, and pliers
.
In 1976, Western Forge shipped its 100 millionth Craftsman
screwdriver.
In 1981, the company was acquired by Emerson Electric.
In 2009, it was acquired by Ideal Industries
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manufacturing company. The company manufactures hand tools to be sold under other brands, including private-label brands
Store brand
Store brands are a line of products sold by a retailer under a single marketing identity. They bear a similarity to the concept of House brands, Private label brands in the United States, own brands in the UK, and home brands in Australia and generic brands...
such as Craftsman
Craftsman (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 Husky
Husky (tools)
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...
. It is a subsidiary of Ideal Industries
Ideal Industries
Ideal Industries is an American company that produces connectors, hand tools, testers, and meters for the electrical and telecommunications industries.- History :...
.
History
Western Forge was founded in Defiance, OhioDefiance, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,465 people, 6,572 households, and 4,422 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,562.4 people per square mile . There were 7,061 housing units at an average density of 670.0 per square mile...
in 1965 by C. William Schlosser. The company originally produced torque wrenches. In 1966, it relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
, where it built a new manufacturing facility. In the next few years, the company began producing screwdrivers, punches
Punch (tool)
A punch is a hard metal rod with a shaped tip at one end and a blunt butt end at the other, which is usually struck by a hammer. Punches are used to drive objects, such as nails, or to form an impression of the tip on a workpiece...
, chisels, adjustable wrenches, and pliers
Pliers
Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, for bending, or physical compression. Generally, pliers consist of a pair of metal first-class levers joined at a fulcrum positioned closer to one end of the levers, creating short jaws on one side of the fulcrum, and longer handles on the other...
.
In 1976, Western Forge shipped its 100 millionth Craftsman
Craftsman (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....
screwdriver.
In 1981, the company was acquired by Emerson Electric.
In 2009, it was acquired by Ideal Industries
Ideal Industries
Ideal Industries is an American company that produces connectors, hand tools, testers, and meters for the electrical and telecommunications industries.- History :...
.