Umair Gaines
The invention of the first portable electric drill is credited to S. Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker, who founded Black & Decker (now Stanley Black & Decker). They filed a patent application for a portable drill with a pistol grip and trigger control in 1917, marking the beginning of the modern power tool industry. Black & Decker's drill was inspired by the Colt handgun and could be operated with one hand. The company's early focus on innovation and manufacturing led to the development of various power tools, including the first line of power tools designed for homeowners. Black & Decker's entry into the power tool market spurred other manufacturers to create similar tools, fostering competition and driving advancements in the industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Black & Decker |
| Founders | S. Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker |
| Founded | 1910 |
| Location | Baltimore, USA |
| First Drill | 1917 |
| Drill Type | Portable, electric, pistol grip, trigger control |
| Power Source | Universal electric motor (AC/DC) |
| Market | Industrial |
| Advertising | Full-page ad in the Saturday Evening Post |
| Target Market | Non-professionals and consumers |
| Training | Mobile classrooms in converted buses |
| Merger | Stanley Works (2010) |
| First Cordless Drill | 1961 |
| Battery Type | Nickel-cadmium |
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What You'll Learn
Black + Decker's first drill
In response to this realisation, Black + Decker began advertising to non-professionals in 1921, with a full-page ad in the Saturday Evening Post in 1923. They also created mobile classrooms in the form of converted buses to teach distributors how to sell power tools. By 1924, Black + Decker had expanded its market, with electricians and workers in other trades using their tools. The company continued to innovate, and in 1946, they introduced their first line of home power tools, including quarter-inch and half-inch drills.
Black + Decker's early innovations in the power tool industry had a lasting impact, with the pistol-grip handle and trigger control becoming standard features on electric drills. The company continued to play a significant role in the industry, merging with Stanley Works in 2010 to become Stanley Black + Decker. Black + Decker's legacy in power tools is further highlighted by their partnership with NASA, where they designed a cordless rotary hammer drill for the Apollo space program, showcasing their expertise in cordless technology.
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The Colt handgun inspiration
The history of the electric drill is a fascinating one, with many innovations and controversies along the way. The first electric drill was invented in 1894 by Wilhelm and Carl Fein in Germany. However, it was large and immobile. The introduction of the portable electric drill in 1894 by the Fein company revolutionised the industry, allowing contractors to take on more extensive work.
The Colt handgun played an interesting role in the development of the electric drill. In 1910, S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker, founders of Black & Decker, were pondering the shape of their electric drill. They had set up a machine shop in Baltimore, USA, and one of their clients was gun manufacturer Colt.
On their worktable, there was a Colt Peacemaker handgun nearby. The handgun's grip and trigger layout inspired Black and Decker's design for their electric drill. They incorporated a pistol grip and trigger switch, mirroring the handgun's design. This innovation not only made the drill easier to hold and operate but also contributed to the growth of the modern power tool industry.
The Colt handgun's influence on the electric drill extended beyond its physical design. The gun-shaped drill with its trigger control was an appealing concept to consumers. It tapped into the idea of power and precision, much like the association of a handgun. This marketing angle, combined with the drill's functionality, helped Black & Decker target a wider market, including non-professionals and homeowners.
Black & Decker's innovative drill design sparked a revolution in the power tool industry. Their patent application in 1917 for a portable drill with a universal electric motor and pistol-grip handle set a standard that has endured. The company's early entry into the market and their focus on both industrial and consumer applications solidified their position as a world leader in power tools.
The influence of the Colt handgun on Black & Decker's drill design demonstrates the intriguing interplay between different industries and how inspiration can come from unexpected sources. It also highlights the importance of user-centric design, as the pistol-grip handle improved functionality and broadened the tool's appeal beyond industrial use. This pivotal moment in the history of power tools showcases the impact of combining innovative technology with intuitive design, forever changing the way construction and DIY projects are approached.
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The DIY market
The portable electric drill was invented in 1894 by Wilhelm Fein and Carl Fein, who converted the electric drill into a portable device. However, it was Black+Decker that brought the portable electric drill to the DIY market.
In 1910, S. Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker set up a machine shop in Baltimore, USA. Their first product was a portable air compressor for automobile owners to inflate their tires. However, they wanted to create their own products, and in 1917, they patented the first portable handheld drill, which featured a pistol grip and trigger control. This drill was based on the Colt Peacemaker handgun, which was sitting on a table in their shop. Black+Decker's drill was the first to be designed for home users, and the company soon became a world leader.
In the mid-1920s, Black+Decker began advertising their drills to non-professionals, with a full-page ad in the Saturday Evening Post in 1923. They also created mobile classrooms in buses to teach distributors how to sell power tools. This was the birth of the DIY market, as previously, power tools were only sold to industrial users.
Black+Decker continued to innovate, designing tools for NASA and creating the first cordless drill in 1961. They also merged with Stanley Works in 2010, bringing their tools under the Stanley Black+Decker umbrella.
Other companies that have contributed to the DIY market for electric drills include Bosch, which introduced its first electric drills in the 1930s, and Makita, which created the first cordless drill with a removable battery in 1978.
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A.H. Peterson's Hole-Shooter
In 1918, automotive tycoon Henry Ford was looking for a fabricator to produce a compact, lightweight, and portable version of a 1/4" capacity power drill for his automotive production lines. A young and well-known Wisconsin tool and die maker, A.H. Peterson, accepted Ford's commission and developed the Hole-Shooter. The Hole-Shooter was a lightweight, high-powered, and durable 5-pound drill that could be operated with just one hand. It was driven by a series-type Westinghouse motor and became the benchmark for all subsequent drills. Prior to the Hole-Shooter, most hand-held drills were heavy and cumbersome, requiring immense strength to operate.
In 1922, A.F. Siebert partnered with Peterson to form the A.H. Peterson Company, but their endeavour was short-lived due to a fire that destroyed their factory, followed by a recession. The company went bankrupt and was eventually auctioned off to Siebert, who renamed it the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. Despite this setback, the Hole-Shooter's legacy endured and played a significant role in Milwaukee's future success.
Milwaukee continued to improve the Hole-Shooter, enhancing its gears, switches, brushes, and cords, which earned them a U.S. Government equipment-specification rating. The U.S. Navy adopted Milwaukee's tools as industry-standard, utilising them extensively during World War II on a range of military assets, from airplanes to battleships. The Hole-Shooter underwent various iterations and is still available today, with the name being adopted for several different drill designs, all considered industry-standard.
The development of the Hole-Shooter by A.H. Peterson was a pivotal moment in the evolution of power tools, paving the way for advancements in cordless technology and shaping the future of the construction and automotive industries.
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The first cordless drill
The introduction of the first cordless drill to the electric drill market was a significant milestone. It not only allowed contractors to transport their tools to job sites and benefit from the power of an electric motor, but it also eliminated the restriction of a cord, providing them with a greater range of motion.
The identity of the inventor of the first cordless drill is a subject of debate. Several sources credit Black+Decker with creating the first cordless drill in 1961. Black+Decker, which later became Stanley Black+Decker, was founded in 1910 by Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker in Baltimore, USA. The company's first drill had an electric motor that could run on both AC and DC power and featured a trigger control and a pistol-like grip, inspired by a Colt handgun. Black+Decker's drills were initially intended for industrial use, but the company soon recognised the potential of a consumer market for their tools. In 1923, the company began offering a low-priced, portable electric drill to non-professionals and created mobile classrooms to teach distributors how to sell power tools.
However, others argue that Makita designed the first cordless drill in 1978, with some resolving the dispute by crediting Black+Decker with the original cordless drill design for industrial use and Makita with the first design available to the general public. Bosch, another prominent power tool manufacturer, also introduced its first cordless drill in 1978, followed by its first cordless hammer drill in 1984, solidifying its position as an industry leader.
In addition to the development of cordless technology, Black+Decker also partnered with NASA in the 1960s to design a cordless rotary hammer drill for the Apollo space program, which was used to extract rock samples in extreme temperatures and zero-atmosphere conditions. This collaboration further highlights Black+Decker's contributions to the evolution of cordless drill technology.
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Frequently asked questions
The first portable handheld drill was invented by Wilhelm and Carl Fein in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1895.
No, but Black+Decker did patent the first "modern drill" in 1917. This drill had a pistol grip and trigger, inspired by the Colt Peacemaker handgun.
Black+Decker's first drill had an electric motor that could run on AC/DC and was the first drill to feature a trigger control, also borrowed from a pistol design.
Black+Decker was founded in 1910 by S. Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker. They opened a small machine shop in Baltimore, and their first product was a portable air compressor.
Many companies have contributed to the evolution of the electric drill. Some notable examples include Makita, which designed the first cordless drill with a removable battery in 1978; Bosch, which introduced an electro-pneumatic handheld rotary hammer in 1932 and its first cordless drill in 1978; Milwaukee Electric Tool Company, which acquired and improved upon A.H. Peterson's lightweight, portable drill design in the 1930s; and KBC, an Australian company that produced its first portable electric drill in the 1940s or 1950s.
