Swanson Tool Co, Inc.

Wholesale Building MaterialsIllinois, United States51-200 Employees

The Swanson® Speed® Square and the One-Number Method™ of determining the angular pitch of a roof were first developed in 1925 by a carpenter named Albert J. Swanson. As his fellow tradesmen began to appreciate the ingenuity of his idea, they wanted their own Speed® Squares. Swanson began to hand-make the squares to fill requests for the tool. Demand for the work-saving tool continued to grow, and in 1930 the Swanson® Speed® Square was first sold in interstate commerce. By 1945, Swanson started Swanson® Tool Company, Inc., to manufacture and sell the Swanson® Speed® Square through recognized channels of distribution. His son, Ronald C. Swanson, assumed control of the company in 1971 and added other quality tools to the line. 

Today Swanson® Tool Company continues to proudly manufacture and distribute the Swanson® Speed® Square and other fine carpentry tools from its headquarters in Frankfort, Illinois. Under the direction of the Allemand Family, who purchased the company in 1989, the Swanson® product line has been upgraded and expanded to meet the changing needs of loyal customers, contractors and do-it-yourself enthusiasts. 

Quality You Ask for by Name™
A hammer, a screwdriver, a saw... how many tools are requested by name? The Swanson® Speed® Square is one of the few tools whose name is known by contractors and do-it-yourself enthusiasts worldwide. We believe the exacting quality and accuracy of our products have kept the Swanson name on the minds of customers for more than 75 years. 

Some of the recent upgrades included in the Speed® Square are finer gradations for better accuracy, black-filled gradations for easier reading, matte finish to prevent glare and most recently the Diamond™ cut out. This feature makes layout work and seat cuts on common rafters easy and is one of the exclusive trademarks of the Swanson® Tool Company.

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