manufacturing founded 1916 in chicago illinois founder j. walter becker headquarters sycamore illinois products connectors hand tools testers meters website www.idealindustries.com ideal industries is an american company that produces connectors hand tools testers and meters for the electrical and telecommunications industries . 1 the company manufactures many of its products in the united states . 2 it also owns western forge and pratt read the largest and second largest american made producers of screwdrivers respectively at the time of their acquisitions . 3 it is a competitor to klein tools and its tools are sold at lowe s and ace hardware stores as well as many independent distributors . 4 contents 1 history 2 gallery 3 see also 4 references 5 external links history edit ideal was founded in 1916 by j. walter becker as the ideal commutator dresser company in chicago illinois manufacturing commutator dresser stones . 5 in 1924 becker relocated the company to its current location in sycamore illinois . 6 by 1949 it had become the united states leading producer of wire nuts . 7 in 2010 ideal acquired three american hand tool manufacturers western forge in january 8 9 pratt read in march 10 11 and sk hand tools in august . 12 13 14 gallery edit speed screwdrivers . multi bit screwdriver and f connector tool . a punchdown tool . a wire stripper . a 75 steel fish tape . see also edit list of companies of the united states i references edit ideal industries . about us . retrieved 2010 03 26 . mccrea bridget 2012 10 24 . tapping into the power of made in the usa . the electrical distributor magazine . retrieved 2014 01 16 . varnon rob 2010 06 25 . workers hope for aid in closing . the advocate . retrieved 2014 01 16 . murphy h. lee 1996 07 08 . pliers poker . crain s chicago business . retrieved 2014 01 16 . ideal industries . company history . retrieved 2010 03 26 . ideal industries . recruiting brochure pdf . retrieved 2010 03 27 . wire nuts for radio city . kiplinger s personal finance . december 1949 . p. 36 . heilman wayne 2010 01 04 . western forge to be sold to ideal industries . the gazette . retrieved 2014 01 16 . heilman wayne 2010 01 05 . new owners to pump millions into western forge . the gazette . retrieved 2014 01 16 . ideal acquires tool manufacturer pratt read press release . ideal industries . 2010 03 22 . retrieved 2010 03 22 . ideal industries acquires pratt read to add hand tool lines and made in u.s. capacity . electrical marketing . 2010 03 26 . retrieved 2014 01 16 . yue lorene 2010 08 23 . sk hand tool assets sold to ideal industries . crain s chicago business . retrieved 2010 10 06 . ideal acquires premier tool manufacturer sk hand tools press release . ideal industries . 2010 08 23 . retrieved 2010 10 06 . deutsch stuart 2010 08 23 . it s official ideal industries purchases sk hand tools . toolguyd . retrieved 2014 01 16 . external links edit ideal industries web site ideal industries networks web site v t e hand tool manufacturers current dasco pro inc. apex tool group allen armstrong tools crescent diamond gearwrench k d tools lufkin nicholson plumb sata tools wiss xcelite bondhus buck bros. channellock cornwell tools digitool solutions disston saw works ega master eklind emerson ridgid empire level estwing felo few fiskars gerber gardner bender gedore gray tools dynamic tools hazet hans tools heyco ideal industries pratt read sk hand tools western forge klein tools knipex kukko leatherman lie nielsen toolworks lisle corporation lowell corporation matco tools martin tool & forge newell brands irwin lenox otc park tool pb swiss saltus sandvik senco snap on bahco cdi torque products williams stahlwille stanley black & decker blackhawk bostitch dewalt facom mac tools proto sidchrome stanley hand tools textron greenlee klauke paladin tools techtronic industries milwaukee thorsen manufacturing tom f teira toptul vaughan victorinox wenger wera tools wescott westward tools wiha tools witte tools wright tool historic coes wrench company easco hand tools forest city screwdriver and drill company goodell pratt hinsdale holtzapffel indestro mathieson mckaig hatch new britain machine company norris north brothers manufacturing company h. d. smith & co. utica tools bonney forge herbrand vlchek house brands ace hardware ace tools autozone duralast blain s farm and fleet duracraft canadian tire mastercraft the home depot husky lee valley veritas lowe s kobalt menards masterforce montgomery ward powrkraft sears craftsman retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title ideal industries & oldid 742646980 categories electrical tool manufacturerstool manufacturing companies of the united stateselectrical wiring and construction supplies manufacturersmanufacturing companies established in 1916privately held companies based in illinoiscompanies based in dekalb county illinoisideal industries navigation menu personal tools not logged intalkcontributionscreate accountlog in namespaces article 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