Corporate Office HQ

Tools

Harbor Freight Tools Corporate Office

Harbor Freight Tools was founded in 1977 by Eric and Allan Smidt in North Hollywood, California. The original location was a very small building, with the name Harbor Freight Salvage. As the company expanded and grew, Eric became CEO and changed the name in 1985.

Today, Harbor Freight Tools has more than 700 locations in 47 states, as well as an eCommerce site. From the original two employees, the company now has more than 17,000 full time employees. US General, another mail order tool supplier, was acquired in the mid-1980’s. The company now has headquarters in Camarrillo, California.

Harbor Freight tools on a wall

Harbor Freight Tools is a discount tool supplier, as well as offering other kinds of equipment, depending on the location, such as farm tools. The company sells many of its own in house store brands such as Chicago Electric, Portland, and Earthquake.

Close up of Harbor Freight Sign on Building

In October 2019, Harbor Freight recalled one million pocketknives due to an issue with the lock when the blade was retracted.

The coronavirus of 2020 has been a crash for some businesses and a boon for others, such as Harbor Freight.  Long lines and empty shelves for facemasks, an item Harbor Freight usually stocks, along with bottled water, and packaged snacks. 

Harbor Freight Logo Turned to the Right

Harbor Freight Tools

Harbor Freight Tools was founded in 1977 by Eric and Allan Smidt in North Hollywood, California. The original location was a very small building, with the name Harbor Freight Salvage. As the company expanded and grew, Eric became CEO and changed the name in 1985.

History

Today, Harbor Freight Tools has more than 700 locations in 47 states, as well as an eCommerce site. From the original two employees, the company now has more than 17,000 full time employees. US General, another mail order tool supplier, was acquired in the mid-1980’s. The company now has headquarters in Camarrillo, California.

Harbor Freight tools on a wall

Harbor Freight Tools is a discount tool supplier, as well as offering other kinds of equipment, depending on the location, such as farm tools. The company sells many of its own in house store brands such as Chicago Electric, Portland, and Earthquake.

Close up of Harbor Freight Sign on Building

In October 2019, Harbor Freight recalled one million pocketknives due to an issue with the lock when the blade was retracted.

The coronavirus of 2020 has been a crash for some businesses and a boon for others, such as Harbor Freight.  Long lines and empty shelves for facemasks, an item Harbor Freight usually stocks, along with bottled water, and packaged snacks. 

Harbor Freight Logo Turned to the Right

Matco Tools Corporate Office

Matco Tools was founded in 1946. The company manufactures tools for automotive and diesel professionals. Like Snap On and Cornwell, Matco (which is an acronym for Mac Allied Tool Company) offers a lifetime warranty on hand tools. Matco has been criticized for contracting with machinists in China to manufacture some of their tools.

The company originally made tool boxes, but sold off the tool box division in 1979. The company uses franchisers to sell their tools from trucks. Each franchiser has his own territory, very much like Snap on and Mac tools. Most franchisers offer no interest financing to their customers.

Matco Tools has mobile franchisers in Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. The company operates as a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation.

Matco Tools

Matco Tools was founded in 1946. The company manufactures tools for automotive and diesel professionals. Like Snap On and Cornwell, Matco (which is an acronym for Mac Allied Tool Company) offers a lifetime warranty on hand tools. Matco has been criticized for contracting with machinists in China to manufacture some of their tools.

The company originally made tool boxes, but sold off the tool box division in 1979. The company uses franchisers to sell their tools from trucks. Each franchiser has his own territory, very much like Snap on and Mac tools. Most franchisers offer no interest financing to their customers.

Matco Tools has mobile franchisers in Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. The company operates as a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation.

History

Cornwell Tools Corporate Office

Cornwell Tools was founded in 1919 by Eugene Cornwell, a blacksmith, in Ohio. The company manufactures their own line of automotive and diesel tools for the working professional. Two machining plants, one in Ohio, the other in Pennsylvania, produce items such as ratchets, sockets, wrenches, air tools, pry bars, screwdrivers, and chisels. Similar to MAC and SnapOn Tools, hand tools have a lifetime warranty.

Tools are sold by local franchise distributors, each of whom works a given area. Franchise owners drive trucks filled with tools to local works sites. Many franchise owners offer no interest credit to their customers.

While many franchises work their own assigned area, others are also known to sell at auto shows, gun shows, and tool shows to the everyday handy man who is not a professional mechanic.

Cornwell Tools

Cornwell Tools was founded in 1919 by Eugene Cornwell, a blacksmith, in Ohio. The company manufactures their own line of automotive and diesel tools for the working professional. Two machining plants, one in Ohio, the other in Pennsylvania, produce items such as ratchets, sockets, wrenches, air tools, pry bars, screwdrivers, and chisels. Similar to MAC and SnapOn Tools, hand tools have a lifetime warranty.

Tools are sold by local franchise distributors, each of whom works a given area. Franchise owners drive trucks filled with tools to local works sites. Many franchise owners offer no interest credit to their customers.

While many franchises work their own assigned area, others are also known to sell at auto shows, gun shows, and tool shows to the everyday handy man who is not a professional mechanic.

History

Mac Tools Corporate Office

Mac Tools was founded in 1938 in Sabina, Ohio. Originally named Mechanic Tool and Forge Company, the company’s mission statement was that the company intended to make the best tools in the world. The company changed their name to the familiar Mac Tools in 1961.  In 1980, Mac Tools was purchased by the Stanley Black and Decker Company.

Mac Tools began franchising operations in 2011 and is now listed as #17 on the Entrepreneur list of Top Fastest Growing Franchises in America. The company has relationships with third party’s that will finance start up fees, franchise costs, inventory and equipment.

The company sells automotive, truck, and bus tools, tool boxes, and specialty tools which are sold and delivered directly to consumers via trucks which visit body shops, mechanic shops, and automotive dealerships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mac Tools

Mac Tools was founded in 1938 in Sabina, Ohio. Originally named Mechanic Tool and Forge Company, the company’s mission statement was that the company intended to make the best tools in the world. The company changed their name to the familiar Mac Tools in 1961.  In 1980, Mac Tools was purchased by the Stanley Black and Decker Company.

Mac Tools began franchising operations in 2011 and is now listed as #17 on the Entrepreneur list of Top Fastest Growing Franchises in America. The company has relationships with third party’s that will finance start up fees, franchise costs, inventory and equipment.

The company sells automotive, truck, and bus tools, tool boxes, and specialty tools which are sold and delivered directly to consumers via trucks which visit body shops, mechanic shops, and automotive dealerships.

History

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snap-on Corporate Office

Snap-on is manufacturer, designer, and marketer of tools and equipment that are marketed to professional tool users.

Snap-on was founded as The Snap-on Wrench Company in 1920 by Joseph Johnson and William Seidemann.

The company’s first product was a new socket wrench that had ten sockets that snapped on to five interchangeable handles.

Today Snap-on manufactures hand tools such as wrenches, sockets, ratchet wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, punches and chisels, saws and cutting tools, power tools, electric tools, and tool storage products.

The company also provides PC-based diagnostic products and “under car” shop implements for mechanics and car makers.

Snap-on sells products under the Snap-on, Blackhawk, Lindstrom, ShopKey, and Sun brand names.

Snap-on is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SNA, is a member of the S&P 500, is #694 on the Fortune 1000, has 12,600 employees, and had $3.43 billion in revenue in 2016.

In September 2020, Snap-On acquired competitor AutoCrib for an estimated $36 million in cash. 

In October 2020, the company purchased surrounding space in Kenosha to expand their manufacturing capabilities. 

Snap-On maintains a corporate office in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Snap-On

Snap-on is manufacturer, designer, and marketer of tools and equipment that are marketed to professional tool users.

Snap-on was founded as The Snap-on Wrench Company in 1920 by Joseph Johnson and William Seidemann.

History

The company’s first product was a new socket wrench that had ten sockets that snapped on to five interchangeable handles.

Today Snap-on manufactures hand tools such as wrenches, sockets, ratchet wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, punches and chisels, saws and cutting tools, power tools, electric tools, and tool storage products.

The company also provides PC-based diagnostic products and “under car” shop implements for mechanics and car makers.

Snap-on sells products under the Snap-on, Blackhawk, Lindstrom, ShopKey, and Sun brand names.

Snap-on is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SNA, is a member of the S&P 500, is #694 on the Fortune 1000, has 12,600 employees, and had $3.43 billion in revenue in 2016.

In September 2020, Snap-On acquired competitor AutoCrib for an estimated $36 million in cash. 

In October 2020, the company purchased surrounding space in Kenosha to expand their manufacturing capabilities. 

Snap-On maintains a corporate office in Kenosha, Wisconsin.