COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 3429

Hardware, Not Elsewhere Classified

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

11companies1852–1971founding years11still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe Stanley Works
1852
FoundedVictorinox AG
1891
FoundedKnape & Vogt Manufacturing Company
1898
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedEljer Industries, Inc.
1904
FoundedSteelcase, Inc.
1912
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedValhi, Inc.
1932
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedLifetime Hoan Corporation
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedPremier Industrial Corporation
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedFastenal Company
1968
FoundedHillenbrand Industries, Inc.
1969
FoundedWaxman Industries, Inc.
1971
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

The Stanley Works →
Active · founded 1852
The Stanley Works is a manufacturer of a broad range of tools and hardware for home improvement, consumer, industrial,…
Victorinox AG →
Active · founded 1891 · Switzerland
Victorinox AG has spent the 20th century perfecting and popularizing a cultural icon: the Swiss Army knife.
Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company →
Active · founded 1898
Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company is one of the United States' leading suppliers of large adjustable steel shelving…
Eljer Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1904
Eljer Industries, Inc.
Steelcase, Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Known since 1984 as "The Office Environment Company," Steelcase, Inc.
Valhi, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Valhi, Inc.
Lifetime Hoan Corporation →
Active · founded 1945
Lifetime Hoan Corporation designs, markets, and distributes household cutlery, kitchenware, cutting boards, and…
Premier Industrial Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
Premier Industrial Corporation is one of the United States' largest broad-line electronics distributors.
Fastenal Company →
Active · founded 1968
Fastenal Company sells nuts, bolts, and other industrial and construction supplies.
Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Hillenbrand Industries, Inc., is the largest manufacturer of caskets and hospital beds in the world, and also supplies…
Waxman Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Waxman Industries, Inc., a company based in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, has grown from a small family concern to one of…
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