Leatherman
| Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
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|---|---|
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| legal form | Corporation |
| founding | 1983 |
| Seat | Portland , Oregon , USA |
| Branch | Pocket knives , hand tools |
| Website | www.leatherman.com |
Leatherman is an American company that manufactures multitools, knives and flashlights and distributes them worldwide. The company name has become synonymous with a multifunctional tool which, unlike pocket knives, consists of a central element of collapsible combination pliers. The name is protected by trademark law.
history
The Leatherman was developed between 1975 and 1980 by the American engineer Timothy S. Leatherman and is manufactured in the company of the same name in Portland, Oregon, which he founded. As Timothy Leatherman likes to tell again and again, he came up with the idea of the multifunctional tool in 1975 while on vacation in Europe when he missed the toolbox on his Fiat 600 when his car broke down . He urgently needed a pair of pliers back then.
The tool, patented in 1980 and referred to by Leatherman as the Pocket Multiple Tool , first caught on with craftsmen and technicians who had to be mobile, for example with stage technicians or film lights. These could not always carry a heavy toolbox with them, but the Leatherman was always ready to hand in the supplied leather case on the belt. The Leatherman can also be attached using a pocket clip. Some models also have a lanyard that can be pushed out. With the Leatherman Wave, for example, this is located under the saw.
The best-selling model from Leatherman so far is the Leatherman Wave .
In January 2011, Leatherman acquired shares in the German flashlight manufacturer Ledlenser GmbH und Co. KG (manufacturer of LED Lenser lamps). Until February 28, 2019, the Solingen-based company was responsible for marketing and sales of the Leatherman brand in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In December 2018 the Leatherman Tool Group sold its shares in Ledlenser to the Munich-based Afnium Management GmbH. Since March 1, 2019, the newly founded Leatherman Europe GmbH has been solely responsible for all activities of the Leatherman brand.
function
In the meantime, similar multifunctional tools, also called multitools , are also manufactured by other companies (e.g. Victorinox ). The real “Leatherman” currently comes with a 25-year guarantee.
In addition to the pliers (with gripping and cutting function), practically all models include at least one knife and a screwdriver .
In addition to the classic version with pliers, Leatherman now also manufactures many other types of knives. So is z. B. to use the small "Micra" as a key ring and instead of the pliers has a small pair of scissors, the Messer Hybrid and Genus a pair of secateurs. The Leatherman MUT and MUT-EOD were presented for military use in 2010. Leatherman also has hunting knives and simple one- hand knives .
Some Leatherman models are designed so that you can use them partially with one hand, e.g. B. Wave and Charge (AL / ALX / TTi) . In 2012 Leatherman introduced the OHT (One Hand Tool) , all of which are externally accessible with just one hand.
The FREE series presented in 2019, which is divided into the P, T, and K series, has a magnetic construction that enables all tools to be opened and closed with just one hand.
Tools
The following types of tools are currently available for the Leatherman models:
- Needle nose pliers
- spring-loaded needle-nose pliers
- pliers
- spring-loaded gripper
- Wire cutter (wire / hard wire)
- spring loaded wire cutter (wire / hard wire)
- exchangeable wire cutter (wire / hard wire)
- wire cutter
- Electric crimping pliers
- Crimping pliers
- knife
- Serrated knife
- scissors
- (Wood) saw
- Wood / metal file
- diamond coated file
- Pry hook
- large bit holder
- small bit holder (precision mechanic screwdriver)
- Cross-head screwdriver ( Phillips recess )
- Screwdriver (large, medium, small)
- awl
- Carabiner tool
- Plastic cutter (opener for transparent packaging )
- Hex bit holder
- Strand cutter
- Can opener / bottle cap opener
- Eyelet (for attaching the tool, can remain unfolded permanently)
On the case of most models, two measuring scales in centimeters and inches are also engraved. The tools cannot be freely selected, but are available in pre-made combinations for special users and price categories.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Arte TV ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ U.S. Patent 4,238,862
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Leatherman establishes European subsidiary | Category: International / Personal details sport-SPECIALIST TRADE. Retrieved September 12, 2019 .
- ↑ Leatherman Introduces a True, 100% One-Hand Opening Powerhouse. Retrieved February 6, 2017 (American English).
- ↑ n-tv NEWS: Leatherman Free protects fingernails. Retrieved September 12, 2019 .
- ↑ Package insert Full-Size Tool User Guide , as of 2012
