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Wilde Tool Products

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Timeline

1920
1922	Paul and Otto Froeschl founded Wilde Drop Forge and Tool Co.
1927	Wilde Tool had the idea to angle the nose on a plier. Creating there original 6N and 8N pliers.
1930
1933	Height of Depression
1936	Private label started with Montgomery Ward, Sears, Roebuck & Co, and Western Auto J.C. Penney's followed
1940
	War time
1941	Bayonets & Air Force Ignition sets
1945	Tongue & Groove Pliers (aka Groove Joint Pliers)
1950
1955	Wilde Tool Company, Inc. started and moved to Hiawatha, Kansas Started production and offices in approximately 32,500 sq. ft. 2nd Generation takes over day-to-day management in Hiawatha
1957	Stop operation and dissolve Wilde Drop Forge & Tool Co. of KCMO
1960
	Grip Tight Clip trademarked
1967	Expansion 1 - 5,801 sq. ft. (Addition to Polishing room)
1969	Expansion 2 - 3,924 sq. ft. (Assembly/Packing/Shipping room) Expansion 3 - 6,105 sq. ft. (Steel Storage and Cut-Off room)
1970
	Witco® brand and line born - Industry standard gripped pliers 3rd Generation begins full employment Wilde®/Quality Hand Tools/Witco® "Triple Circle Logo" introduced
1971	Expansion 4 - 4,496 sq. ft. (Automatic Nickel-Chrome Plating room)
1972	Paul Froeschl Jr. becomes President of Wilde Tool.
1976	Expansion 5 - 10,907 sq. ft. (Forge & Heat Training room)
1980
	Developed Pipe Wrench Plier® line
1981	Tongue & Groove Pliers develloped with 90^onose and longer handles
1984	Phil Froeschl Sr. becomes President of Wilde Tool.
1988	Expansion 6 - 9,339 sq. ft. (Warehouse, Shipping & Offices)
1989	Technology - Packaging barcodes Bilingual
1990
	Technology - Packaging barcodes Bilingual Expansion 7 - 8,433 sq. ft. (Tool and Die Shop & Maintenance Dept.)
1992	3rd Generation takes over day-to-day management in Hiawatha Dan Froeschl becomes President of Wilde Tool.
1996	3rd Generation begins purchase of stock from 2nd Generation
2000
	4th Generation begins full employment Internet presence Move towards Lean Manufacturing Shelf Stock New Terms and EFT's
2010
	Low Minimums Vendor Managed Replinishment Green Manufacturing
2011	New Wilde logo and New marketing and sales initiative
2020