Porter-Cable

Porter-Cable

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Manufacturing
Founded	1906 in Syracuse, New York
Founder(s)	R.E. Porter, G.G. Porter, F.E. Cable
Headquarters	Jackson, Tennessee
Key people	Art Emmons
Products	Power tools, pneumatic tools
Parent	Stanley Black & Decker
Website	www.deltaportercable.com

Porter-Cable is an American company that manufactures power tools. The company is known for introducing a number of noteworthy power tools, such as the first portable belt sander, helical-drive circular saw, and portable band saw. It is a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker.

History

Porter-Cable was founded in 1906 by R.E. Porter, G.G. Porter, and F.E. Cable, who, starting with a $2,300 investment, opened a jobbing machine and tool shop out of their garage in Syracuse, New York. In 1914, the company began to focus on power tools, starting with a line of power lathes. In 1917, the company bought a plant in on North Salina Street in Syracuse.

In 1926, Chief Engineer Art Emmons invented the portable electric belt sander, called the Take-About Sander, and the company began to develop a niche in portable electric power tools. In 1929, Emmons invented the helical-drive circular saw, a compact, lightweight design that is still the most widely used circular saw design produced today.

In 1960, the company was sold to Rockwell International. Rockwell made numerous changes, including phasing out the Porter-Cable name, relocating the company's base of operations to Jackson, Tennessee, and creating a lower end of power tools to compete with Black & Decker. These tools had numerous reliability problems and harmed the brand's image.

Porter-Cable nail gun in use

In 1981, Pentair, Inc. acquired Rockwell's power tool group—consisting of Porter-Cable and Delta Machinery—and restored the Porter-Cable name. The company repositioned itself as a manufacturer of professional power tools and ended production of consumer-level tools. In 1989, the company introduced the first electric random orbital sander. Around this time, the company expanded into broader retail channels, including The Home Depot and Lowe's, greatly expanding its production in the process.

In 1996, the Smithsonian Institution established a collection of materials from the company's 90-year history, the first such collection for a power tool company.

In 2000, Porter-Cable consolidated with sister company Delta Machinery, the latter moving its headquarters and distribution center from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Jackson. The same year, Pentair acquired DeVilbiss Air Power Company and, in 2002, Porter-Cable expanded its line-up to include air compressors, air tools, generators, and pressure washers.

In 2005, the Pentair Tools Group—comprising Porter-Cable, Delta Machinery, DeVilbiss Air Power, and others—was purchased by Black & Decker, now Stanley Black & Decker. Since the purchase by Stanley Black & Decker the company has been systematically discontinuing all of the tool models for which Porter-Cable has been known for over the decades. Tool models that had achieved legendary status for durability and effectiveness, such as the Model 504 Sander, (the "Locomotive" belt sander a direct descendant of Porter-Cable's first "Take-About" which put the company on the map) Model 314 4 1/2" worm gear drive Trim Saw, the 9118 Porta-Plane, and the "Locomotive" inspired 9725 Porta-Band to name just a few. These tools were and are icons of the industry, and tools that though costing a premium, were known to be multi generational in their durability.

References

• "History." Delta Machinery/Porter-Cable web site. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
• Berger, Matt. "Dick Jarmon: Ultimate Tool Collector." Fine Woodworking. January 8, 2008.
• Hicks, Jennifer. "Tool Collector is Porter-Cable's Top Fan." Woodshop News. October 2007.

See also

• Delta Machinery
• DeVilbiss Air Power Company

External links

• Delta Machinery/Porter-Cable web site
• DeWalt ServiceNet (parts and service site)
• "Vintage Power Tools To Smithsonian" (Popular Mechanics article from December 1997)