It all began in 1918. World War I was coming to an end and automobile business tycoon Henry Ford was looking for an engineer who would be eager to design a small lightweight, portable model of the 1/4″ capacity power drill. A young Wisconsin manufacturer named A.H. Petersen A.H. Petersen was able to accept Ford’s offer, and came up with what became called the Hole-Shooter. With a weight of just 5lbs, this innovative tool was powered by an asynchronous Westinghouse motor. It it was the very first drill for industrial use light enough to operate using just one hand yet powerful enough to withstand the rigors of heavy-duty use.
A few years later, in 1922 Petersen became a business associate Albert F. Siebert, and they created The A.H. Petersen Company. Tragically the company was destroyed by a fire in their manufacturing facility later in the year and the financial loss caused the company to shut their doors. The year 1924 was the year Siebert managed to buy the remaining assets of the company through auction and it was able to reopen the business with the name Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, in the hope of making use of the potential sales possibilities of Petersen Hole-Shooter. It didn’t stop there. Here are some of the most memorable moments in Milwaukee’s innovative tool company time.
- Incredibly, in its early times of the second part of 1920 The Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation relied more on repair work rather than manufacturing tools to remain in the business. As they kept a close eye on the demands of their clients and the weaknesses of the tools supplied to their business to maintenance, Milwaukee employees were able to determine the exact niches that required filling within the market. This knowledge, in conjunction with the countless hours of analysis and research conducted by engineers on staff and technicians, resulted in a stronger and longer-lasting Hole-Shooter that became a must-have device for people working in the metalworking and automotive industries.
- The year the year 1930, Milwaukee Tools established their standards higher after obtaining an accreditation for equipment specifications through the U.S. government for its new electric drill. After that, the company began to apply Navy specifications to the manufacturing of their tools for portable use such as a portable hand grinder, electronic hammers and sanders, and polishers.
- In the year 1935, Milwaukee had developed an extremely light 3/4″ electric hammer drill, which was designed to drill anchors as well as sink them into concrete. Because it could be converted to an ordinary drill of 3/4″ drill device had a great success in the market and was the catalyst for the creation of a smaller thinner, more precise drill.
- Due to their enviable reputation gained among welders in the end of the 1930s, Milwaukee was asked to utilize their expertise to make improvements to the existing line of metalworking tools and equipment, with a particular focus on the most frequently used sander/grinders. The company stepped up to the task and Milwaukee engineers soon created an easy-to-use, single-horsepower sander/grinder , which weighed just 15 pounds, yet could endure any punishment it encountered on the job.
- As a response to military increasing demands for power tools in World War II and the Milwaukee Electric Tools Corporation began making even more efforts to create tools that were stronger than they had ever been. Milwaukee Hole-Shooters became vital to the manufacturing of military aircrafts, and, savoring the fact that these tools were constructed according to the standards of the military and specifications, they were pleased that the United States Navy placed a large number of orders with the company.
- in 1949, Milwaukee Tools took their sander/grinder line into the upper echelon, including a spring clutch on their models. The new design resulted in an extremely smooth-running machine with minimal recoil. It was so popular that it was included in the company’s circular saws.
- 1949 also saw Milwaukee’s invention and the introduction of the very first 1/4″ right-angle drill that enabled electricians and plumbers to drill holes into steel and wood in extremely tight spaces.
- Milwaukee once again revolutionized the field of power tools with their innovations in 1951 in the year they introduced The Sawzall(r) Reciprocal Saw. The Sawzall(r) is still an essential Milwaukee tool until today it was the first handheld hacksaw that had an articulating mechanism. To satisfy their clients’ needs for versatility, Milwaukee followed the Sawzall(r) up with a complete line of blades to cut every kind of material.
- Through during the 1960s and into the 1970s in the 1960s and 1970s, the Milwaukee Electric Tools Corporation grew rapidly as well. In along with expanding its product line and expanding their manufacturing facilities, too. When they opened in 1965 the company relocated from their home located on State Street in the City of Milwaukee and established a new office in an area of 212,000 square foot facility in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
- In response to a brand new significant market emerged with their product within their products in the Southeast, Milwaukee made their first departure from Wisconsin. Wisconsin in 1974.. Although their headquarters remained in Brookfield Milwaukee, the company added a 60,000 square feet manufacturing facility located in Jackson, Mississippi.
- In the 1970’s, Milwaukee had another impressive period of product development and also created the Hole Hawg(r) that was the first drill ever developed for large-hole drilling of the joists and studs in new constructions for homes. In the following years Milwaukee introduced their Magnum Hole-Shooter, their first 1/2″ professional pistol drill and was their initial American manufacturer to make four-1/2″ angle mill.
- The year was 1991 in 1991, following two years of testing Milwaukee’s Super Sawzall reciprocating saw was released for sale. With a built-in counterbalanceand a clutch for gear protection and five different patents that it was the Super Sawzall set a new world standard for quick high-quality, non-vibration reciprocal saws.
- In in the 90s, Milwaukee developed a new Miter Saws line, and expanded their product line by introducing a wide range of 18-volt Contractor Cordless tools that could be powered by the same charger and battery system.
- The year the year 2008, Milwaukee developed Ice Hardened(tm) strengthening technology which is a cryogenic method of hardening that allows a range of Milwaukee’s equipment to last for up to 50percent longer than that of their competition.