I'll bet you've never heard of Jerome Schnettler or Edward Ristow before. I'll bet just as much that you'd be a little lost without their best-known invention on your jobsite. You see, these men created the first reciprocating saw when they invented the Milwaukee Sawzall in 1952, contributing one of the most indispensable power tools the industry has ever seen. It's no if their names are new to you only a few toolmakers' names have ever become famous or even well-known.
Fame is a rare legacy in the history of tools.
Out of the vast sea of inventors and their inspirations, only a few names drift into our awareness. Despite their genius, the most prolific inventors in the tool industry remain hidden. And, as you'll learn from reading about this year's Hall of Fame honorees, many a tool company can trace its beginnings to humble surroundings like a rented garage, for instance. That's where Herbert Tautz founded Delta Manufacturing in Milwaukee in 1919, and began a career that revolutionized the woodworking industry. Tautz brought woodworking tools to the people.