Ames True Temper is a

multinational corporation A multinational company (MNC), also referred to as a multinational enterprise (MNE), a transnational enterprise (TNE), a transnational corporation (TNC), an international corporation or a stateless corporation with subtle but contrasting senses, i ...

headquartered in

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania Camp Hill is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It is southwest of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area. The population was 7,888 at the 2010 census. There are many large corporations bas ...

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. It is a

wholly owned subsidiary A subsidiary, subsidiary company or daughter company is a company (law), company owned or controlled by another company, which is called the parent company or holding company. Two or more subsidiaries that either belong to the same parent company ...

Griffon Corporation Griffon Corporation is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in New York City. The company conducts its operations through five subsidiaries: The AMES Companies, ClosetMaid, Clopay Building Products, CornellCookson, and Telephonics Cor ...

. Ames True Temper specializes in the manufacture of non-powered lawn and garden products. Their manufacturing plant is located in

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...

, and produces 85% of the

wheelbarrow A wheelbarrow is a small hand-propelled vehicle, usually with just one wheel, designed to be pushed and guided by a single person using two handles at the rear, or by a sail to push the ancient wheelbarrow by wind. The term "wheelbarrow" is mad ...

s in the United States and Canada producing 1.7 million wheelbarrows each year. The Harrisburg plant has been in continual operation since 1876. Ames , which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1974, is among the oldest still-extant business corporations in the United States.

History

Formation

Blacksmith and pioneer Captain John Ames began making metal shovels in America in 1774. Ames underwent a merger in 1931 including Baldwin Tool Works of

Parkersburg, West Virginia Parkersburg is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, West Virginia, Wood County, West Virginia. Located at the confluence of the Ohio River, Ohio and Little Kanawha River, Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's fourth-largest city and ...

, the Ames Shovel and Tool Company of

North Easton, Massachusetts Easton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,058 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Greater Boston area. Easton is governed by an elected Select Board. Open Town Meeting acts as the legislative bran ...

; the Wyoming Shovel Works of

Wyoming, Pennsylvania Wyoming is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located north of Wilkes-Barre, along the Susquehanna River. The population was 3,097 as of the 2020 census. Etymology The name "Wyoming" de ...

; Hubbard & Co. of

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

; and the Pittsburgh Shovel Co. of

. It later absorbed the Skelton Shovel Co. Inc. of

Dunkirk, New York Dunkirk is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. It was settled around 1805 and incorporated in 1880. The population was 12,743 as of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Dunkirk i ...

. The result of the merger was called the Ames Shovel and Tool Company. The company was renamed the Ames, Baldwin, Wyoming Company in 1933. In 1952, it became known as the O. Ames Company. The Old Stone Forge of

Wallingford, Vermont Wallingford is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,129 at the 2020 census. Wallingford also contains the villages of East Wallingford and South Wallingford. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau ...

, founded in 1808, became the American Fork and Hoe Co. In 1949, the name was changed to True Temper. Ames purchased True Temper from the

Huffy The Huffy Corporation is a supplier of bicycles with headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, United States. Early history It has its roots in 1887 when George P. Huffman purchased the Davis Sewing Machine Company and in 1890 moved its sewing machine f ...

Corporation in 1999 to become Ames True Temper. In 2002 Ames, then based in

closed one of its two plants manufacturing lawn and garden tools in Wood County, West Virginia.

Problems and controversies

Ames True Temper Company closed its facility in West Virginia in September 2005, unable to reach a contract agreement with the

United Steelworkers The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, commonly known as the United Steelworkers (USW), is a general trade union with members across North America. Headquar ...

Union.

Brands

Ames True Temper currently owns the following brands: * Ames * Dynamic Design * Garant * Harper * Hound Dog * Jackson * Razor-Back * Southern Patio * True Temper * Union Tools * Westmix

AMES Australasia

currently owns the following brands: *Cyclone Fence & Gate Company *

Hills A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit. Terminology The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally considered to be not as ...

Nylex Nylex Plastics, founded in 1927, is an Australian manufacturer of a range of plastic goods. It was originally called the Australian Moulding Corporation but changed its name in 1948. The founder was John Derham. It is continued by its gardening ...

*Kelso *Northcote Pottery *Tuscan Path *Trojan Tools *Supercraft *Gardenmaster *Westmix *La Hacienda

References

External links

{{Griffon Corporation Garden tool manufacturers Camp Hill, Pennsylvania Manufacturing companies based in Pennsylvania Companies established in 1774 Companies based in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania 1770s establishments in Pennsylvania Tool manufacturing companies of Australia Australian subsidiaries of foreign companies