The Milestones information below was provided  by Lufkin collector Ed Fehn 

MILESTONES OF THE LUFKIN RULE COMPANY                                                                                                                                                                

"1730 HESS STREET    SAGINAW, MICHIGAN”                                                                                                                                                                      

1869    "Founded by Edward T. Lufkin in Cleveland, Ohio.  It was known as Lufkin Board and Log Rule Co.” The company manufactured steel folding rules, tapes, log rules, and lumber related items."                                                                                                                                                    

1885    "The Company was bought by a group of Saginaw Businessmen headed by Alfred F. Marshall,” general manager of Morley Brothers,  (A major hardware distributor in Michigan) and Fred Buck.       "The two men took over the E. T. Lufkin Board and Log Rule Co., with Alfred Marshal as financial"            "director, Fred Buck as general manager, and Theodore Huss as secretary-treasurer.  Fred Buck remained in that position until his death August 12, 1938 at the age of 80.)"                                                                                                                                                         

1887    Lufkin started manufacturing Steel Tapes.                                                                                                                                                

1890    The Headquarters was moved to Saginaw November 1st, into a small factory that was built on Hess Street. The factory manufactured mainly Board and Log Rules.

1892    The Cleveland operation was moved to Saginaw.

1903    The Company was running at full capacity and unable to keep pace with orders. It was the largest manufacturer of measuring tapes in the United States.

1915    Lufkin introduces spring-joint rules.

1914    "With Alfred Marshall's death, Fred Buck becomes president and general manager.

1919    After World War I, Lufkin started manufacturing small precision tools."

1922    Lufkin introduces boxwood folding rules.

1938    Robert C. Thompson named president.  An addition was added to the plant.

1941-45 During World War II,  Lufkin received the Army-Navy E Awards (Flags) five times for its production excellence and efficiency, in supplying weapons and ammunition."

1947    "February 27.  A strike was settled after 142 days, they walked out on October 9, 1946."

1950    Lewis Barnard Jr. becomes president. (He is the grandson of Fred Buck.)

1954    "Additions to the plant and offices have been added, and the address changed to 1900 Hess."

1955    "Lufkin Rule grew to 1,400 employees at the height of operation. An addition was added to the plant. "

1966    Lufkin discontinues making precision tools in November.  Pratt & Whitney Machine Tools Division of Colt Industries Inc., purchases the precision tool business in November of this year."

1967    "William G. Rector, president of Lufkin and E. L. Miller, chief executive officer of Cooper Industries jointly announce their merger on June 1st, that the Lufkin Rule Co. was sold to the Cooper Industries Inc. of Houston Texas, and moved to a new facility in Apex, North Carolina.  Lufkin has plants in Middletown, NY; Cleveland, OH; Madison, ME; Jackson, TN; Ponce, PR; Guadalajara, Mexico; Cleveland, OH: Madison, ME; Jackson, TN; Ponce, PR; Guadalajara, Mexico; and Barrie, Ont."                                             

1968    The company closed after a short union strike.                                          

1969    The Lufkin Building was sold to Erwin and Max Myers on March 1st.                                       

1985    A fire gutted one of the two three story warehouses in the rear of the twenty-five acre complex on Sunday December 22nd.                                            

1994    "April 26.  A fire was set by an arsonist to the main building; half of the building was destroyed;            only the bricks were left and some steel I-beams.                                       

1996    June 8.  A 16 year old boy fell to his death from a third-floor window of the remaining three story warehouse, that didn't burn."

1997    The state Department of Environmental Quality began demolishing buildings in late June.

1997    August 13.  Ed Fehn removed some bricks from the Lufkin Building for Lufkin collectors.

1997    September 12.  This historic site is now an empty lot

History of Cooper Industries and Cooper Tools from its origins in 1833 as a small iron foundry in Mount

Vernon, Ohio, Cooper Industries has evolved into a

diversified, multi-billion dollar manufacturing company with a worldwide presence.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company employs approximately 30,000 people and operates more than 100 manufacturing facilities worldwide.

Cooper Industries manufactures thousands of quality products that are grouped into two business segments: Electrical Products and Tools & Hardware.

Headquartered in Lexington, SC., the Tools & Hardware segment known as Cooper Tools

serves primarily the global automotive, aerospace,

electronic, energy, general industry and DYI markets

through 54 manufacturing and sales/service facilities with 7,200 employees located in North and Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Cooper's well-known brands have grown to 29, allowing them to service practically every industry with products and services that are continually improved, addressing the specific needs of their global customers.

The power tools offering counts with 17 reputable major brands like: Airetool® tube cleaners and expanders, Apex® fastening tools and universal

joints, Buckeye® material removal tools, fixtured drills & power motors, Cleco® assembly and material removal  tools, Cooper Automation automated fastening systems, DGD/ Gardner-Denver assembly equipment, Doler® advanced drilling equipment,

Dotco® material removal tools and power motors, Gardner- Denver® assembly tools, hoists and power motors, Gardotrans modular transport systems,

Geta fastening tools, Master Power® assembly, material removal and finishing tools, Metronix servos, drivers, speed controls, related electronics and

software, Quackenbush advanced drilling equipment,

Recoules drilling tools and cutters, Rotor TM fixtured and portable assembly tools, and Utica® torque measuring and testing equipment. A total of 12 world renowned and dependable brands presently comprise the hand tools offering. Brands like:

Campbell® chains and wire rope grips, Crescent®

wrenches, Erem® high precision cutters and pliers,

Kahnetics® dispensing systems, Lufkin® measuring

tapes, Nicholson® files and saws, Plumb® hammers, H.K. Porter® bolt, cable and strap cutters, Weller® soldering equipment, Wire-Wrap® wire wrapping equipment, Wiss® scissors, and Xcelite® screwdrivers.

Historically, CooperTools has been committed to the ongoing challenge to excel in every aspect of the business, from engineering and manufacturing

to customer relations. We are dedicated to offering the very best technical solutions and service, with a strong focus on providing application solutions

that increases product performance and our customers profitability.