Klein Tools - History & Lore

Today we're covering the history of Klein Tools. A company that started out in Mathias Klein's blacksmith shop, where through his reputation he was able to score a contract with Western Union to provide tools for telegraph lineman.
Klein has become one of the most popular tool brands in the electrician's and HVAC industries, and is one of the oldest family run tool companys in America.
Still making most of their tools here in the US at their Mansfield Texas facility.

Moar History:
https://www.kleintools.com/history
http://alloy-artifacts.org/klein-tools.html
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Telephony/QALnAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mathias+klein&pg=PA600&printsec=frontcover
https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/while-other-toolmakers-moved-overseas-klein-tools-kept-it-made-in-america/

Old Klein Catalogs:
https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Mathias+Klein+%26+Sons%22

Mathias Klein biograpy:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Manufacturing_and_Wholesale_Industries_o/jy_PAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mathias+klein&pg=PA154&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Historical_Encyclopedia_of_Illinois/WA1PYyJsVMQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mathias+klein&pg=PA792-IA120&printsec=frontcover

1904 Ad:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Electrical_World/3-VAAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=klein+Tools&pg=RA1-PA11&printsec=frontcover

1913 New Factory Articles:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/New_York_Review_of_the_Telegraph_and_Tel/yUI_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mathias+klein&pg=PA1210&printsec=frontcover
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Electrical_West/Sv0_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mathias+klein&pg=PA117&printsec=frontcover

Mathias retirement announcement 1917:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Telephone_Engineer_Management/77cCWdRhL70C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mathias+klein&pg=PA284&printsec=frontcover

Mathias Death 1918:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Bell_Telephone_News/b5rmAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=mathias+klein&pg=RA3-PA19&printsec=frontcover

1924 Color Ad:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Southern_Hardware/clw-AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=klein+Tools&pg=RA4-PA8&printsec=frontcover

1924 Ad:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Electrical_West/2Oc_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=klein+Tools&pg=RA2-PA53&printsec=frontcover

1925 "I'll Fix It!" ad:
https://books.google.com/books?id=likDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA123&dq=mathias+klein&hl=en

Joseph Klein Death 1937:
https://books.google.com/books?id=7aoTAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA50&dq=klein&hl=en
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hardware_World/A4CenEUMhX8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=klein&dq=klein&printsec=frontcover

Mathias A. Klien president 1950:
https://books.google.com/books?id=9pLmAAAAMAAJ&q=mathias+klein&printsec=frontcover&sa=X

1996 Home Depot Announcement:
https://web.archive.org/web/20230709185146/https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/19960706/ISSUE01/10006963/pliers-poker

Mansfield TX Plant:
https://contractorsupplymagazine.com/pages/News---20140416-Exclusive-Inside-Klein-Tools-Texas-Manufacturing-HQ.php

Klein moves to Texas 2012:
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/klein-tools-inc-closing-2-locations/1917093/

1982 Pliers Insulation Lawsuit:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/California_Court_of_Appeal_2nd_Appellate/Nb5m_GJHDbkC?hl=en&gbpv=1

2011 Irwin v Klien Lawsuit (step drills):
https://www.scribd.com/document/59416699/Irwin-Industrial-Tool-Company-v-Klein-Tools

Richard Klein Lawsuit:
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20061209/ISSUE01/100026968/uncivil-war
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/topic/klein-tools-inc

Milwaukee Packout Lawsuit:
https://archive.org/details/gov.uscourts.ilnd.460151

Old Chicago Maps:
https://chicagoinmaps.com/historicmaps.html

Chicago Fire Map 1871:
https://blogs.loc.gov/maps/2021/10/the-city-which-would-not-be-cowed-the-great-chicago-fire-of-1871/

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:44 The First Pair of Kleins
01:22 Chicago Fire & Expansion
02:36 Early Klein Tools
02:58 Belmont & Kedzie Factory
04:04 The Cushion Grip Screwdriver
04:32 Company Acquisitions & Deals
05:48 Mansfield Texas Plant
06:10 Lawsuits
07:25 Outro