History of Milwaukee
The Early Years

History-of-Milwaukee

As Milwaukee’s reputation for innovation and top quality grew, other industry professionals began to turn to the company to improve their existing equipment. Welders wanted an easy-to-handle sander/grinder that could stand up to the heavy use it would need to endure. Milwaukee’s solution: a perfectly balanced, 15-pound single-horsepower model. In the post-war years, its sander/grinder line was given a new feature: a spring clutch to prevent backlash and smoother operation. The feature proved to be so popular that it was later added to the circular saw line. But Milwaukee designers did not stop at beneficial features. Pioneering products were underway that were set to change the face of the power tool industry

The spotlight fell initially on the invention of the 1/2-inch right angle drill in 1949, the first tool that would allow electricians and plumbers to carry out their work in confined conditions. The next great step forward was the SAWZALL Recip Saw in 1951. This ground-breaking tool was the first portable electric hacksaw, and employed a reciprocating mechanism with only three moving parts. It was durable enough to withstand the heavy workload it would need to carry out on a daily basis, and a range of SAWZALL Recip Saw Blades enabled the user to saw all types of materials adding to its versatility and market appeal.