1908 Diamond Calk
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The Swedish blacksmith Otto Swanstrom founds Diamond Calk in Duluth, Minnesota and introduces patented horseshoes and calks for horses transporting lumber from the deep woods of northern Minnesota. The innovation catches on and eventually leads to a new name: Diamond Calk Horseshoe Company.
1912 Start factory building in Duluth
A factory is built in Duluth to manufacture horseshoes and calks.
At its peak, the factory employed more than 800 people and produced 3.500 adjustable wrenches per day.
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WW I
Diamond supplies the US troops with shovels, picks, mattocks and barbed wire cutters, leading to the production of other hand tools.
1920 Cars vs horses
As cars continue to grow in popularity, the company is further expanding its product line with adjustable wrenches, leveraging its expertise in forging.
Diamond becomes the second American company to manufacture adjustable pliers.
1923 Opening second factory in Canada
1931 "Diamalloy" Alloy Steel
In 1931, Diamond begins using alloy steel for its adjustable wrenches, eventually registering the trademark “Diamalloy”.
More than 350 tool types
Diamond Tool evolves further and grows into a manufacturer of more than 350 types of pliers, snips, nippers and wrenches. It also continues to produce a full range of horseshoes and farrier tools, as well as pitching horseshoes, which remain an important part of its business.
1943 Army-Navy “E” Award
Diamond receives the Army-Navy “E” Award. It stand for quality and delivery performance during WWII.
1958 Diamond Tool and Horseshoe
The company name changes to Diamond Tools and Horseshoe, which removes the reference to calks.
1969 GSA Vendor Certification Award
In 1969, Diamond Tool was awarded the GSA Vendor Certification, a long-term contract granted by the General Services Administration. This certification allows federal agencies to purchase products more efficiently from approved vendors.
1981 Acquisition by Triangle Corporation
Triangle Corporation of Connecticut buys Diamond Tool with $20 million in industrial revenue bonds issued by the city of Duluth, which wanted to avoid closure of the plant.
Until then Diamond Tool remained a family-owned business.
1993 Acquisition by Cooper Tools
Triangle begins dismantling key equipment and shipping it to another of its plants. In 1993, Trangle sells the company to Cooper Tools.
1994 Cooper Tools shuts down the West Duluth plant.
On Oct. 28, 1994 the West Duluth plant is shut down. The Diamond Tool building on 47th Avenue West and Grand Avenue was torn down in 1996. Now, the Denfeld Retail Centre and St. Luke's Denfeld Medical Clinic are there.
2010 Diamond is now part of Apex Tool Group
In 2010, Cooper Industries and the Danaher Corporation joined forces to create a joint venture by merging their respective tools divisions. Eventually, this new venture was sold to Bain Capital in 2012.
2015 Diamond by Royal Kerckhaert
Kerckhaert Acquires Diamond Brand Tools and Horseshoes from Apex.
2019 Part of the Kerckhaet House of Brands
With the House of Brands, Kerckhaert unites all its brands. It means one house, one partner with the original and most specialized brands in their field, providing all the supplies for the professional farrier
DID YOU KNOW?
• The longest legacy in the farrier tool industry.
Founded in 1908 and still operating under the Diamond brand.
• The largest tool manufacturer in the world.
Originated in the USA and available worldwide.
• Kerckhaert brand since 2015
Development, engineering and production following the known high standards of Royal Kerckhaert Horseshoe Factory.
