Channellock
Encyclopedia
Channellock is an American
company that produces hand tools. It is best known for its pliers
—the company manufactures more than 120 types of pliers—particularly its eponymous style of tongue-and-groove
, slip-joint pliers. Its pliers have distinctive blue grips; the company has been using the same trademarked shade of blue since 1956.
It also produces cutting pliers, linemen's pliers, long nose pliers, adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, nutdrivers and special purpose pliers, as well as multi-function tools for the fire service and other first responders. All of its pliers are manufactured at one of its two facilities in Meadville, Pennsylvania
.
from Evansburg, Pennsylvania
, began hand-forging farrier's
tools and selling them from town to town out of the back of a wagon. The business eventually became known as the Champion Bolt and Clipper Company.
In 1904, the company moved to a 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) facility in Meadville, Pennsylvania
and added nippers, pinchers and open-end wrenches to its product line. George B. DeArment’s two sons, Almon W. and J. Howard DeArment, became partners in the company in 1911 and expanded the product line again to include hammers. In 1923, the company moved again to a 33000 square feet (3,065.8 m²) facility at its current location in Meadville
. Four years later, the name of the company was changed to the Champion–DeArment Tool Company.
In 1933, Chief Engineer Howard Manning developed the tongue-and-groove, slip-joint pliers for which the company is known. In 1934, a patent for this design was granted, and in 1949, a trademark for the name "Channellock" was granted, with a first-use date of May 1, 1932.
From this point to the 1960s, the company began to focus more on the fast-growing pliers side of its business, developing improvements to the original design. The word “Channellock” eventually became so synonymous with their product that the company changed its name to Channellock, Inc. in 1963 to capitalize on the popularity of its product.
. With nearly 400 full-time associates, Channellock, Inc. is among the largest employers in Crawford County, Pennsylvania
. The company has more than 4,000 U.S. wholesale and retail customers and ships to customers in 45 countries.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company that produces hand tools. It is best known for its pliers
Pliers
Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, for bending, or physical compression. Generally, pliers consist of a pair of metal first-class levers joined at a fulcrum positioned closer to one end of the levers, creating short jaws on one side of the fulcrum, and longer handles on the other...
—the company manufactures more than 120 types of pliers—particularly its eponymous style of tongue-and-groove
Tongue-and-groove pliers
Tongue-and-groove pliers, also known as water pump pliers, adjustable pliers, groove-joint pliers, and Channellocks, are a type of slip-joint pliers. They have serrated jaws generally set 45– to 60-degrees from the handles. The lower jaw can be moved to a number of positions by sliding along a...
, slip-joint pliers. Its pliers have distinctive blue grips; the company has been using the same trademarked shade of blue since 1956.
It also produces cutting pliers, linemen's pliers, long nose pliers, adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, nutdrivers and special purpose pliers, as well as multi-function tools for the fire service and other first responders. All of its pliers are manufactured at one of its two facilities in Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
.
History
The company's history was founded in 1886 when George B. DeArment, a blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
from Evansburg, Pennsylvania
Evansburg, Pennsylvania
Evansburg is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,129 at the 2010 census. It is a section of Lower Providence Township and is the namesake of Evansburg State Park.-Geography:...
, began hand-forging farrier's
Farrier
A farrier is a specialist in equine hoof care, including the trimming and balancing of horses' hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves...
tools and selling them from town to town out of the back of a wagon. The business eventually became known as the Champion Bolt and Clipper Company.
In 1904, the company moved to a 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) facility in Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
and added nippers, pinchers and open-end wrenches to its product line. George B. DeArment’s two sons, Almon W. and J. Howard DeArment, became partners in the company in 1911 and expanded the product line again to include hammers. In 1923, the company moved again to a 33000 square feet (3,065.8 m²) facility at its current location in Meadville
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
. Four years later, the name of the company was changed to the Champion–DeArment Tool Company.
In 1933, Chief Engineer Howard Manning developed the tongue-and-groove, slip-joint pliers for which the company is known. In 1934, a patent for this design was granted, and in 1949, a trademark for the name "Channellock" was granted, with a first-use date of May 1, 1932.
From this point to the 1960s, the company began to focus more on the fast-growing pliers side of its business, developing improvements to the original design. The word “Channellock” eventually became so synonymous with their product that the company changed its name to Channellock, Inc. in 1963 to capitalize on the popularity of its product.
Today
Channellock, Inc. is now run by the fifth generation of the DeArment family with William S. DeArment serving as president and CEO. The company is based out of two facilities, equaling a total of 230000 square feet (21,367.7 m²), in MeadvilleMeadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
. With nearly 400 full-time associates, Channellock, Inc. is among the largest employers in Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 88,765.Crawford County was created on March 12, 1800, from part of Allegheny County and named for Colonel William Crawford...
. The company has more than 4,000 U.S. wholesale and retail customers and ships to customers in 45 countries.