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Vernon Hills, IL, United States
When 20-year-old Danish blacksmith Vilhelm Petersen sailed into Boston Harbor, little did he know that his journey would lead to the establishment of American Tool Companies, Inc. In 1902, "Bill" Petersen settled in Minden, Nebraska, where he worked for a fellow Danish blacksmith, keeping horses shod, plow shares sharpened and wagons repaired. Bill Petersen was an inventor at heart. With the introduction of the automobile and farm tractor, blacksmithing was on the decline. During the long Nebraska winters, Petersen experimented with his ideas. In 1921, he invented and patented a unique wrench with a "vise-like" grip. By 1924, Petersen had refined his invention by adding a locking lever. He patented the enhanced tool and gave it an innovative name that would become world famous: VISE-GRIP® locking pliers. He registered the distinctive clasped hands logo, a symbol that today represents the most recognized hand tool brand in the world. American Tool Companies, Inc., led by Allen Petersen, the founder’s grandson, has evolved into a leading global manufacturer and marketer of hand tools, cutting tools and power tool accessories. The company has more than 4,400 employees and manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe, Brazil, and the Pacific Rim. Today, its product lines include VISE-GRIP locking pliers, clamps and wrenches, IRWIN® wood boring and cutting tools, QUICK-GRIP® clamping products, RECORD® hand tools, MARPLES® woodworking tools, JACK® hand saws, POWERPRESS® pipe clamps, TURBOMAX® drill bits, PROSNIP® snips, MARATHON® and SPRINT® saw blades, UNIBIT® step drills, HANSON® taps, dies and drills, CHESCO® hex tools, SPEEDBOR® wood boring bits, and STRAIT-LINE® marking tools. Quite a dramatic change from the day a young Danish immigrant traveled to America and established his place in history. To see some of the historic events from American Tool and from around the globe, choose a period of time below.