Greenlee Tools

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Greenlee Tools is one of the oldest toolmaking institutions in the United States of America, being barely beat out only by Klein Tools (at least as far we know). This longevity in making tools is of course a testament to Greenlee’s continued tradition of quality. At least in terms of strict toolmaking, Greenlee tools traces its roots back to 1859. At that point and before, Edmund Greenlee had invented a machine used in barrel-making which was fortuitous because in 1859 the sudden demand for oil in Pennsylvania created a huge demand for barrels to store it in. Edmund’s twin sons helped meet that demand and a few years later when the Pennsylvania demand died down, Ralph and Robert Greenlee moved the cooper work to Chicago, IL and this is where Greenlee Tools started as the Greenlee Bros. Company in 1866.

It was founded to manufacture their invention, a drill surrounded by four chisel blades, used in making the pockets for a mortise and tenon joint, for the furniture industry in Rockford.[1] This device is still used in cabinetmaking. The brothers later diversified into a variety of hand woodworking tools as well as machinery for making wooden barrels.

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