Norman L. Bradford

Norman L. Bradford (June 12, 1877 - May 3, 1957 was the founder of Bradford Tool Industries and known for his relentless commitment to quality, as well as his hurling of insults at industry rival Craftsman.

Personal life

Bradford was born in Johnston, Pennsylvania to Marshall and Marie Bradford. Bradford dropped out of Lancaster High School at age 16 and worked in a local textile factory, rising up the ranks of the company quickly until leaving in 1907 to form his own company, Braford Industries, in 1908.

In 1912 Bradford married Christine Alagory, the daughter of his former foreman at the Johnston textile factory. In 1914 she gave birth to their first son, Brad and gave birth to their second son, Gary in 1916.

Bradford had an intense fear of flight stemming from the death of Thomas Selfridge, the first person to die in an airplane. This not only led to a change in Bradford's business, the switching from airplane manufacturing to tool production, but also resulted in an infamous quote about the future of flight: "The airplane is not a notable, nor viable machine. It will be forever restricted to the use of thrill seekers and dare devils, and anyone else who does not value their own life".

In 1957 Bradford died in his home in Johnston, Pennsylvania from apparent heart failure. Despite his fear of flying, his will stated that his body was to be cremated and spread over the Atlantic Ocean.

Persondata
Name	Bradford, Norman
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Date of birth	1877
Place of birth
Date of death	1957
Place of death