Defining Innovation Since 1808

Our history follows the history of America as it developed from a collection of rural villages where nearly everyone farmed at least a small plot of land through the industrial revolution and the growth of corporate America. True Temper was there every step of the way.

1808

Blacksmith Alexander Miller begins forging hoes, axes, nails and other tools in “The Old Stone Shop” in Wallingford, Vermont.

1830

Lyman Batcheller and sons acquired the shop and began forging a variety of agricultural forks and other implements.

1902

Batcheller & Sons merged with 16 other forging companies to form the American Fork & Hoe Company.

1930

Following numerous mergers and acquisitions, American Fork & Hoe becomes the largest garden and farming tool company in America, supplying about 90 percent of the nation’s farming tools.

1945

American Fork & Hoe makes machetes, bayonets, entrenching shovels and other tools for WWII through plants in Geneva, Ohio; Evansville and Akron, Indiana; Ashtabula, Ohio; Charleston, West Virginia; Dunkirk, New York; and Wallingford, Vermont.

1949

The company takes its name from the quality pledge associated with its tools: True Temper. By this time, the company is manufacturing a range of products including fishing rods, golf club shafts and ski poles.

1967

True Temper is acquired by Allegheny-Ludlum Steel Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1981

True Temper moves operations to Camp Hill and Carlisle, Pennsylvania and the company is divided into two divisions: True Temper Sports and True Temper Hardware.

1990

True Temper Hardware is purchased by Huffy Corporation.

1999

True Temper merges with the Ames Company to form Ames True Temper, which today is known as The AMES Companies, Inc.

2010

The AMES Companies, Inc. is purchased by the Griffon Corporation, a New York holding and management company.

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