Illinois Tool Works was established in 1912 to make gear grinding machines. Their first president was also the principal investor, Byron L. Smith. He was succeeded by his son, Harold C. Smith, and then his grandson, Harold Byron Smith. Over the decades the company pursued a strategy of diversification through acquisition. During World War II, ITW made a die filer.
From 1919-01-02 American Machinist
Information Sources
- The ITW website's history page provides some key dates and gives some details of the company's acquisitions.
- Directory of Metalworking Machinery, 1951, pg. 23