Trystan Casey
Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company was founded by Samuel George Arnold in 1902 or 1903, with a focus on switchboards. However, newspaper accounts of a Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company date as far back as 1891. In 1927, transportation magnate Errett Lobban Cord acquired a controlling interest in the company, which was one of his favourite companies. Today, Chicago Electric Tools is owned by the larger tool company, Harbor Freight, and manufactures a range of power tools, including welders, chainsaws, concrete vibrators, and more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | Samuel George Arnold |
| Year founded | 1902 or 1903 |
| Focus | Switchboards |
| Controlling interest owner | Errett Lobban Cord (E.L. Cord) |
| Current owner | Harbor Freight |
| Manufacturing location | China |
| Product range | Stud Welder Dent Repair Kit, Electric Chainsaw Sharpener, Welding Cabinet, Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet, Plasma Cutter, Table Top Wet Cut Tile Saw, Spot Welder, Welding Cylinder Cart, Inverter Arc Welder, Concrete Vibrator, Adjustable Steel Welding Table, Red and Blue Design Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet, MIG/Flux Cored Welder |
| Product features | Industrial-grade components, reinforced housings, hardened materials, bonded handles, lightweight, powerful, precise, versatile, durable, laser guides, adjustable fences, depth gauges |
| Product pricing | Significantly lower than competitors |
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What You'll Learn
- Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company was founded by Samuel George Arnold in 1902 or 1903
- Errett Lobban Cord (aka E.L. Cord) acquired a controlling interest in the company in 1927
- E.L. Cord was a transportation magnate with a keen interest in cars and racing
- Chicago Electric Tools is now owned by Harbor Freight, a large tool company
- Chicago Electric's tools are manufactured in China
Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company was founded by Samuel George Arnold in 1902 or 1903
The Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company was founded by Samuel George Arnold in either 1902 or 1903. The company focused on manufacturing switchboards and other electrical and motor products, including automotive lighting and heating devices.
Newspaper accounts of a "Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company" date back to 1891, but it is unclear if this was the same entity or an earlier, unrelated company. By the time of its founding by Arnold, the electrical and motor industries were in their infancy, and Chicago Electric sought to capitalise on the emerging market.
In the early 20th century, Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company was at the forefront of the electrical revolution, producing a range of innovative products. The company's early success can be attributed to its diverse product range, which included not only switchboards but also electric home appliances and automotive lighting and heating devices.
One notable product was an electrified "horse trainer" designed to shock large animals into submission. While it may seem unusual today, animal training was just one of the many applications of electricity that companies like Chicago Electric were exploring at the time.
Over time, Chicago Electric evolved and began to focus more on car parts and housewares, using the "Handy" and "HandyHot" brand names for these product lines. The company's identity shifted, and it found success in providing affordable yet reliable products to consumers.
Today, Chicago Electric Tools is a well-known brand owned by the larger tool company Harbor Freight. Chicago Electric continues to design and manufacture a wide range of tools, known for their performance, durability, and affordable prices. The brand has earned the trust of professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike, empowering people to build, create, and pursue their passions.
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Errett Lobban Cord (aka E.L. Cord) acquired a controlling interest in the company in 1927
Errett Lobban Cord, also known as E.L. Cord, was an American business executive and transportation magnate. He was considered a leader in US transport during the early and middle 20th century. Cord was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, in 1894, and quickly became involved in numerous entrepreneurial activities, including modifying and selling Model T Fords at a substantial profit. He was also a race car driver, mechanic, and car salesman.
In 1924, E.L. Cord was hired to manage the struggling Auburn Automobile Company, with the provision that he could secure a controlling interest if he was successful. Cord assembled a team of talented engineers and designers who introduced powerful eight-cylinder engines, colourful paint schemes, and elegant body styles to the Auburn line. As a result, sales grew exponentially, and Auburn automobiles became known for their performance and design. In 1926, Cord assumed control of Auburn and also purchased the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company.
The following year, in 1927, E.L. Cord acquired a controlling interest in the Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company, which had been founded in 1902 by Samuel George Arnold with a focus on switchboards. This acquisition came less than a year after Cord became president of the Auburn Automobile Company. Known for his supreme self-confidence and unorthodox and highly profitable sales tactics, Cord was convinced that the strategies he applied to the auto industry would also work in other fields. Thus, he expanded his business interests beyond the automotive world and ventured into the realm of electronic appliances.
E.L. Cord's empire continued to grow, and in 1929, he founded the Cord Corporation as a holding company for the numerous businesses he controlled. The Cord Corporation came to own over 60 companies, including Lycoming Manufacturing, Columbia Axle, Checker Cab, Stinson Aircraft, American Airways, New York Shipbuilding, Limousine Body, and Central Manufacturing. Outside of the transportation industry, Cord was also a real estate and land investor, owning property in California and Nevada, including a 2200-acre ranch near Dyer, Nevada. He also ventured into politics, serving as a state senator in Nevada and making a lasting impact on the state.
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E.L. Cord was a transportation magnate with a keen interest in cars and racing
Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company was founded by Samuel George Arnold in 1902 or 1903, with a focus on switchboards and electric home appliances. However, it was Errett Lobban Cord, also known as E.L. Cord, who became synonymous with the company. Cord was a transportation magnate with a keen interest in cars and racing. Born in 1894 in Warrensburg, Missouri, E.L. Cord moved to Los Angeles at the age of 10. He dropped out of school at the age of 15 to pursue his interests in mechanics and cars. He started selling, fixing, and racing cars at a young age, working with Model T race cars, which he would later resell for a profit.
By the age of 25, Cord had sold cars in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Chicago. In 1924, he became the director of the Auburn Automobile Company, and within two years, he moved from General Manager to Company President. Cord was a charismatic and confident businessman, with a keen interest in the automotive industry. He believed in having complete control over his businesses and acquiring a large number of companies. In the late 1920s, he set his sights on expanding his empire and acquired several companies, including the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company, Ansted Engineering, Lexington Motor Company, and the Limousine Body Company.
Cord's success in the automotive industry was not limited to Auburn. He also played a significant role in the development and success of other brands, including the Duesenberg Model J, which was introduced in 1928 and became a status symbol for wealthy Americans. By 1932, the Cord Corporation had a portfolio of more than 60 companies, with assets totalling more than $125 million. His success in the automotive industry and his business acumen earned him recognition, and he graced the cover of TIME magazine.
However, following the death of his first wife, Helen Frische, in 1930, E.L. Cord began to lose interest in running the automobile company and gradually handed over control to others. Despite this, his legacy in the automotive industry and his impact on Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company, which he acquired a controlling interest in 1927, remain notable. Today, Chicago Electric Tools is owned by the larger tool company Harbor Freight, and many of their products are manufactured in China.
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$224.56
Chicago Electric Tools is now owned by Harbor Freight, a large tool company
Chicago Electric Tools is a company that manufactures a wide range of tools, from lightweight welders to powerful 15,000-watt generators. The company has been in operation for over 40 years and is known for its commitment to providing quality tools at extremely reasonable prices, making it accessible to professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.
Chicago Electric Tools prides itself on designing and engineering its products in its own US-based factories, allowing for rigorous pre-shipment testing and complete control over quality. This in-house manufacturing enables the company to keep costs low and pass on significant savings to its customers. As a result, Chicago Electric Tools can offer powerful, precise, and versatile tools at a fraction of the cost of competitor brands.
The company's dedication to innovation and cutting-edge features further enhances the performance and versatility of its tools, ensuring that users can tackle the toughest jobs with ease. Whether it's welding steel, cutting concrete, sharpening blades, or driving screws, Chicago Electric Tools are designed to deliver professional-caliber results.
Today, Chicago Electric Tools is owned by Harbor Freight, a large tool company with over 1,400 stores across the United States and employing more than 25,000 associates. Harbor Freight is known for offering a wide range of discounted tools that pass its quality threshold, selling them at up to 80% lower prices than competing brands. Despite its size and reach, Harbor Freight has faced some criticism for its lack of transparency regarding the manufacturing origins of its private-label brands, including Chicago Electric Tools, which are reportedly made in China.
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Chicago Electric's tools are manufactured in China
Chicago Electric Tools is a brand owned by the larger tool company, Harbor Freight. The Chicago Electric brand was introduced by Harbor Freight in 1983 and includes power tools such as drills, saws, grinders, and impact wrenches. The brand is marketed as a high-quality, discount brand, offering prices up to 80% lower than competing brands.
While Harbor Freight does not explicitly state where its Chicago Electric Tools are made, many consumers have reported that the products they received from the brand had "made in China" labels. This is in line with other Harbor Freight products, such as its U.S. General toolboxes, which are also manufactured in China. Additionally, the brand concept behind Chicago Electric is based on a well-known manufacturer, "Chicago Pneumatic", which operates a factory in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company, established in 1902 or 1903, was one of the earliest predecessors of the modern Chicago Electric Tools brand. Founded by Samuel George Arnold, the company focused on switchboards and built electric home appliances and automotive lighting and heating devices. Over time, the company expanded its product line to include cheap but fairly dependable car parts and housewares under the "Handy" and "HandyHot" brand names.
In 1927, transportation magnate and businessman Errett Lobban Cord acquired a controlling interest in the Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company. Cord's business strategies and confidence fueled his success in the automotive and electronic appliance industries. He believed in the potential of the Chicago Electric company, and under his ownership, it became one of his favorite ventures.
Today, Chicago Electric Tools, owned by Harbor Freight, continues to offer a range of power tools at discounted prices. The tools are manufactured in China, catering to the low to mid-market consumer.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicago Electric Tools is owned by the larger tool company, Harbor Freight.
Chicago Electric tools are made in China. However, the company states that they are "designed and built in partnership with the same factories that many of our top leading competitors use".
Chicago Electric's philosophy is to offer powerful, precise, and versatile tools at low prices. They aim to provide quality tools at extremely reasonable prices to empower people to build, create, and pursue their passions.
Chicago Electric manufactures a wide range of tools, including welders, auto garages, concrete vibrators, and power tools such as chainsaws and tile saws. Their tools are designed to withstand years of daily use and deliver professional-level results.
Chicago Electric has been in business for over four decades, striving to make quality tools accessible to professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.
