The year is 1935. The place: the family hardware store Philip Gringer & Sons in Manhattan. Store owner Lou Gringer purchased the concept of a pistol grip hacksaw from a contractor who was short on cash and needed to pay his tab. From his basement, he tinkered with it and thus Ultra Manufacturing was born upon the invention of the ALLWAY® Handy Saw. Selling it to electricians, plumbers and local outlets, a manufacturer’s rep firm picked up the product for national distribution. The Handy Saw became a nationwide sensation: so much so that Ultra Manufacturing was renamed to Allway Tools.
Several decades had passed since then and the company has gone from manufacturing saws in a cramped store basement to the production of several hundred SKUs in the Bronx and overseas. These SKUs run the gamut—from saws, blades and utility knives to paint scrapers, putty knives and paint removal tools. There are also tools for drywall, wallcoverings, ceramic tile, masonry and flooring. As his son and our former chairman Don Gringer put it, the reason for our success is our constant determination to introduce new innovative products. The popularity of our tools have transformed us into the nation’s top manufacturers of paint sundries and hand tools. Our products can be found everywhere from the major home improvement retailers and big box supercenters to the mom and pop hardware stores. We are also increasing our presence in the biggest ecommerce platforms so that no matter where you are, you can find and purchase Allway.
What can you expect to find here? Our team introducing new products, discussing our upcoming appearances in the major trade shows and thoughts on the home improvement industry.