Black & Decker
Primarily known for their power tools, Black & Decker began as a small machine shop in Baltimore, Maryland in 1910, founded by S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker. 1917 marked their successful patent of components for the portable electric drill. Just seven years after Black & Decker was founded, they were able to build a 12,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Towson, Maryland. Expansion followed into Canada in 1922, the United Kingdom in 1925, and Australia in 1929. Upon the start of World War II, they began to manufacture fuses and gun shells for the Allies, playing such a valuable role that they were awarded the prestigious Army-Navy “E” award for production. After the war, Black & Decker continued to expand, pushing into the Southern Hemisphere and Asia. Developing the Apollo Lunar Surface Drill, uniquely designed to remove core samples from the moon. In 1989, they acquired Emhart Corporation, doubling the company’s size, while simultaneously enlarging their global presence. Today, the owned brands include Baldwin, Black & Decker,  Delta Machinery, DeWalt, Emhart Technologies, Kwikset, Porter Cable, Price Pfister, and Weiser Lock