The Black & Decker Corporation is the world’s leading maker of power tools and accessories–and is the firm most responsible for the creation of the post-World War II consumer market for power tools. Black & Decker (B&D) also leads the world in the production of electric lawn and garden tools, specialty fastening systems, glass container-making equipment, steel golf club shafts, and security hardware (locks and locksets). The company is also the largest full-line supplier of small household appliances in North America. B&D products are sold in more than 100 countries and are manufactured in plants located in 14 countries.
Under its original name—the Black & Decker Manufacturing Company—the Black & Decker Corporation was founded in September 1910 when S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker joined forces to set up a machine shop in a rented warehouse in Baltimore, Maryland. After several years of contract manufacturing such products as a milk bottle cap machine and a cotton picker, Black and Decker began to design and manufacture their own electric-powered tools in 1916.
Black and Decker designed a universal motor—the first for electric tool use—which used either alternating or direct current, and also a trigger switch modeled after the mechanism in the Colt revolver. The first tool incorporating these innovative elements was a 1/2–inch portable drill with the innovative “pistol grip and trigger switch” that have remained standard for electric drills ever since. In 1917 the company was awarded patents for its pistol grip and trigger switch and it constructed a factory on the outskirts of Towson, Maryland. By 1918 sales surpassed $1 million. On March 12, 2010, Black & Decker merged with Stanley Works to become Stanley Black & Decker. It remains as a wholly owned subsidiary of that company.
According to today.yougov.com; en.wikipedia.org. Source of photos: internet
