Milwaukee is one of the most popular tool brands, and many enthusiasts might even know that the company has been around for over 100 years.But what you might not know is that Milwaukee invented many power tools, like the Sawzall, and other new technologies during that century.Over that time, Milwaukee Tool has led the industry in several ways, developed powerful tools, and increased productivity and ease of use for millions.
It has a long and storied history that mostly began in 1924, when the company was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by Albert F.Siebert.Here's what you need to know.
From the beginning Things actually started in 1918 and 1922 Close How well do you actually know your favorite tool brand? While Milwaukee got its start in 1924, that's not its humble beginnings.Everything starts with the original co-founder, A.H.Petersen, who created the "Hole Shooter." It was the industry's first lightweight, portable, one-handed 1/4-inch power drill.
A.H.Petersen developed it for Henry Ford for use in automobile factories, and it weighed only 5lbs.A few years later, Petersen and Albert F.
Siebert co-founded the A.H.Petersen Company, but a factory fire destroyed the business the following year.Then, in 1924, Albert F.
Siebert bought the remaining assets and founded what we now know as Milwaukee Tool.So, technically, Milwaukee Tool was founded in 1924, but its roots date back a few years earlier.Pictured above is a Milwaukee-branded Hole Shooter (rather than a Peterson-branded one) from when the company was again commissioned by Henry Ford in 1924.
A few years later, in the 1930s, the company began producing tools for the U.S.Navy.Pretty neat, right? The Milwaukee 1/2 inch right-angle drill (1949) Loved by plumbers and electricians everywhere Another major invention came in 1949, when Milwaukee Tool introduced the world's first 1/2-inch right-angled drill, enabling plumbers and electricians to reach tight spaces.
Naturally, it looked a lot different from the model shown above and wasn't cordless, but it's still pretty neat to hear about.Until then, reaching in tight spots, corners, or between wood was quite difficult, and Milwaukee's angled tool was a game-changer.This original 1949 tool paved the way for the heavy-duty Hole Hawg tool the company provides today.
That same year, Milwaukee started testing and adding a spring clutch to sanders, grinders, and circular saws to reduce recoil and backlash.Milwaukee's do-it-all Sawzall (1951) "Sawzall" is a trademark owned by Milwaukee I've mentioned this before in some of our power tool coverage, but Milwaukee actually invented the first portable electric hacksaw with a reciprocating mechanism, and trademarked it the Sawzall.In 1951, it introduced the Sawzall, with its unique reciprocating blade that moves back and forth as it cuts.
It's such an iconic, popular, and useful tool that the name is a pretty generic term these days.Similar to every tablet being an iPad or any tissue being called Kleenex, rest assured, Milwaukee owns the term Sawzall.That's why every other brand, like Ryobi and DeWalt, sells a reciprocating saw, but none of them specifically call it a Sawzall.
We call it that, but the company does not.Everything changed in 2005 Lithium-ion battery systems, and a big acquisition A ton happened between 1951 and 2005, like big expansions into Mississippi in 1974 and becoming the first American power tool company to release a 4-1/2-inch angle grinder.The 80s were quiet, though Milwaukee revolutionized the portable band saw category with the introduction of the Deep Cut Band Saw.
Everything changed in 2005, when Milwaukee was credited with introducing the first major commercial lithium-ion battery system.After years of testing and millions spent on research and development, Milwaukee unveiled its all-new V28 cordless power tool platform with lithium-ion battery packs and unrivaled power.Fun fact: Bosch was technically first when it released a lithium-ion powered IXO palm micro-screwdriver in 2003.
And Makita was barely behind Milwaukee when it launched its 18V lithium-ion slide-battery platform, which it still offers today under the Makita LXT brand in 2005.Related Here's who actually makes your favorite power tool brand The 3 companies that own most of the world's power tools.Posts 6 By Cory Gunther The next major change in 2005 occurred when the Milwaukee of old was acquired by the Chinese conglomerate Techtronic Industries, also known as TTI Group.
Before that, Atlas Copco acquired Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation in 1995.For those unaware, TTI owns Milwaukee, Ryobi, HART Tools, ORECK, RIDGID, AEG, Dirt Devil, and more.Yes, the same company owns both Ryobi and Milwaukee, but that doesn't mean they're the same.
Still, you can say that to friends who are giving you a hard time for buying Ryobi.With TTI's help, Milwaukee's engineering team continued to invest heavily in lithium-ion technology and, a few years later, released the first Milwaukee M18 cordless power tool in 2008 with a unified battery design.This was likely inspired by Ryobi, which TTI acquired in 2000.
The initial M18 release in 2008 was a big deal, followed by the M12 a few years later.Both launches laid the foundation for REDLITHIUM batteries in 2010, the high-performance M18 FUEL brushless line in 2012, and much more.Milwaukee continues to lead the charge (pun intended) And now, 18 years later (or 100 years later), the Milwaukee M18 FUEL line is as big, powerful, and popular as ever.
The company has continued its efforts to deliver meaningful products and powerful new technologies, such as the Milwaukee FORGE battery system and the M12 FUEL SURGE, which was the industry's first 12-volt subcompact hydraulic driver.Milwaukee Fuel M18 Hammer Drill and Driver Combo Kit Color Red Warranty 5 Year (Tool), 3 Year (Batteries) Make easy work of any job with this Milwaukee FUEL two-tool combo kit featuring a powerful hammer drill and an impact driver. $399 at Home Depot Expand Collapse
Read More
