Black & Decker history, profile and history video
“Guided by his belief that all people owe something to the society in which they live, Alonzo G. Decker, Jr. gave generously to a variety of organizations by donating his time, money and business expertise. For his extraordinary philanthropic achievement, Mr. Decker was recognized with five honorary degrees and a host of community service awards.
In the spirit of Mr. Decker’s service, Black & Decker has, since 1991, presented the Alonzo G. Decker, Jr. Annual Community Service Award to employees who have contributed exceptional levels of commitment and creativity to worthy causes and who have worked to enhance the quality of life within their communities.”
“Company timeline
Black & Decker Corporation was founded in 1910 by S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker as a small machine shop in Baltimore. Decker, who had a seventh grade education, had met Black in 1906, when they were both 23 year-old workers at Rowland Telegraph Co.
In 1917, Black & Decker invented the familiar portable electric drill, obtaining a patent for a hand-held drill combining a pistol grip and trigger switch Its logo, a hexagon, has been used in one form or another since 1912; it represents a hexagonal nut, a universal fastener.
- 1917 – Received a patent for the pistol grip and trigger switch on its drill. The first factory was opened in Towson; the company is still headquartered there today.
- 1928 – Acquired Van Dorn Electric Tool Company of Cleveland, Ohio.
- 1936 – Common stock begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
- 1943 – Received the Army-Navy “E” Award for production, one of four World War II citations awarded to the company.
- 1949 – First Black & Decker U.S. trademark awarded four years after filing in 1945.
- 1975 – Francis P. Lucier succeeded Alonzo G. Decker, Jr. as chairman of the board, the first time a family member did not hold the post.
- 1984 – Acquired small-appliance business from General Electric Company.
- 1986 – Nolan D. Archibald is named chief executive officer.
- 1989 – Acquired Emhart Corporation, which includes the brand names Kwikset, Price Pfister faucets, Molly wall anchors, POP rivets, True Temper golf club shafts and other consumer and commercial products. Inducted into the Space Foundation’s Space Technology Hall of Fame for its cordless power tool achievements and contributions toNASA’s Gemini and Apollo programs.
- 2000 – Alonzo G. Decker, Jr. resigns from the board.
- 2010 – Black & Decker merges with Stanley Works to become Stanley Black & Decker.”
*Information from Blackanddecker100years.com and Wikipedia.org
**Video published on YouTube by “Black & Decker® Europe, Australia & New Zealand“