COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 333112

Lawn and Garden Tractor and Home Lawn and Garden Equipment Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1890–1991founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedAcorn Products, Inc.FoundedAcorn Products, Inc.
1890
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedThe Black & Decker CorporationFoundedThe Black & Decker Corporation
1910
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedElectrolux ABFoundedElectrolux AB
1919
FoundedSimplicity Manufacturing, Inc.FoundedSimplicity Manufacturing, Inc.
1922
FoundedAndreas Stihl AG & Co. KGFoundedAndreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedAriens CompanyFoundedAriens Company
1933
FoundedMakita CorporationFoundedMakita Corporation
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAlamo Group Inc.FoundedAlamo Group Inc.
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedCNH Global N.V.FoundedCNH Global N.V.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Acorn Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1890
Toolmaker Acorn Products, Inc.
Acorn Products, Inc. →
Active · founded 1890
Toolmaker Acorn Products, Inc.
The Black & Decker Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
The Black & Decker Corporation is the leading maker of power tools and accessories in the United States--and is the…
The Black & Decker Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
The Black & Decker Corporation is the leading maker of power tools and accessories in the United States--and is the…
Electrolux AB →
Active · founded 1919 · Sweden
Electrolux AB operates as the largest appliance manufacturer in the world with customers in more than 150 countries.
Electrolux AB →
Active · founded 1919 · Sweden
Electrolux AB operates as the largest appliance manufacturer in the world with customers in more than 150 countries.
Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
Wisconsin-based Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc., makes lawn mowers, riding mowers, garden tractors, and a variety of…
Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
Wisconsin-based Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc., makes lawn mowers, riding mowers, garden tractors, and a variety of…
Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1926 · Germany
World War II Years:Stihl plant is destroyed by bombs; production is moved to Waiblingen; German surrender brings halt…
Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG →
Active · founded 1926 · Germany
World War II Years:Stihl plant is destroyed by bombs; production is moved to Waiblingen; German surrender brings halt…
Ariens Company →
Active · founded 1933
Ariens Company is a leading manufacturer of lawn mowers, garden tractors and tillers, and snow blowers.
Ariens Company →
Active · founded 1933
Ariens Company is a leading manufacturer of lawn mowers, garden tractors and tillers, and snow blowers.
Makita Corporation →
Active · founded 1938 · Japan
Makita Corporation is Japan's number one manufacturer and exporter of electric power tools.
Makita Corporation →
Active · founded 1938 · Japan
Makita Corporation is Japan's number one manufacturer and exporter of electric power tools.
Alamo Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Taking its name from the famous Texas landmark, Alamo Group Inc.
Alamo Group Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Taking its name from the famous Texas landmark, Alamo Group Inc.
CNH Global N.V. →
Active · founded 1991
c.
CNH Global N.V. →
Active · founded 1991
c.
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