One man, with hand-selected wood, forged steel, and a sturdy determination to make things the right way. At his West Bridgewater Massachusetts forge, Captain John Ames smiths America’s first metal shovels and eliminates the need for British imports.

During the Revolutionary War, patriots dig in with AMES shovels fashioned from iron bars by an 80 pound, water-powered trip hammer.

Oliver Ames, youngest son of Capt. John Ames, purchases a forge, nailmaking shop, house and several pieces of land in Easton, Massachusetts for $1,600.

The Old Stone Forge is opened in Vermont by Alexander Miller. This Company will be purchased by Lyman Batcheller in 1935 and eventually merges into American Fork and Hoe in 1902. Later, American Fork and Hoe becomes True Temper.

Original trip hammer design patent issued on April 25, 1810 and signed by President James Madison.

American troops rely on AMES shovels to dig life-saving protective entrenchments.

Oliver Ames manufactures the first back-strapped shovels, later modified for easy transport by soldiers in wartime.

The first wood handle shovel was manufactured in 1824 by AMES.

President Abraham Lincoln personally asks Oakes Ames, son of Oliver Ames, to supply shovels for the Union cause during the Civil War. By the time the war between the states ends and the Resurrection Period begins, pent-up demand for shovels and other civilian needs creates a tremendous boom.

Settlers, primarily from the Ohio Valley region and Missouri, battle the elements to migrate West. The main route is the Oregon Trail, leading to the Oregon Territory. The trail begins at Independence, Missouri and ends at Oregon City and the Willamette Valley. The average wagon train endures about six months of confrontations with mountains, rivers, prairie land and desert to reach its destination. AMES shovels are instrumental in the settlers’ efforts to challenge mother nature and to stake their claims in the new territory.

Instead of panning for gold, many successful prospectors dig tunnels to find the richest veins. During the California Gold Rush, demand for reliable AMES shovels is so high they are used as currency.

President Abraham Lincoln personally asks Oakes Ames, son of Oliver Ames, to supply shovels for the Union cause during the Civil War. By the time the war between the states ends and the Resurrection Period begins, pent-up demand for shovels and other civilian needs creates a tremendous boom.

At the request of President Lincoln, crews use AMES shovels to lay rails across the country until the final Gold Spike. The Ames brothers save the project from failure with emergency financing and later serve as the railroad’s presidents.

In 1931, the company is bought by Wooding Forge and Tool which is acquired by AMES in 1997.

Jackson Manufacturing Company begins to produce the first wheelbarrows in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Some settlers use the strong metal tubs of the wheelbarrow as protection during Indian attacks.

AMES shovels win the Gold Medal at the First World Exposition and are later named “Best Made” shovel at the 1904 World Exposition.

Daily production of 5,000 shovels accounts for 60% of the world’s metal shovels.

In Quebec, Garant Company begins as a small family operation offering tools that are fashioned and forged by hand. In 1991, AMES will acquire Garant which has become Canada’s leading manufacturer of snow removal, construction and gardening tools.

Started in Australia as a manufacturer of terra cotta pottery and roof tiles. It is currently Australia and New Zealand’s largest distributor of garden décor products.

President Hobart Ames and Secretary William Hadwen Ames lead the reorganized Ames Shovel and Tool, Inc. This corporation is a merger of T. Rowland’s Sons, Wright Shovel Company, St. Louis Shovel Company, H.M. Meyers Shovel Company and Elwood Steel Plant. Handle-making plants in Maine, Texas and Ohio are also acquired.

The new company is created with the merger of seventeen companies. This conglomerate will later become True Temper.

The shorter, faster and safer route that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans improves economies of U.S. West Coast and nations around the Pacific Ocean.

Leonard Chamber and William Thompson establish Cyclone to manufacture beekeeper hives and accessories. Today, Cyclone is an iconic brand in Australia’s garden and hardware industry.

With financing from American Fork and Hoe, Union Fork and Hoe Company is created by merging The United States Tool Company and the Continental Tool Company. Its first catalog consists of 902 items.

AMES rugged shovels and tools forged the way on many of Admiral Robert Peary’s arctic explorations.

In World War I, soldiers survive rapid machine gun fire and hide from advancing troops in 8-foot deep trenches dug with AMES T-Handle Shovels.

Skelton Shovel Company patents the Solid Shank Shovel with the bend in the steel instead of the handle. Its convenient size and improved shape provide customers with a better grip. Skelton Shovel Company becomes American Fork and Hoe in Dunkirk, New York. With the acquisition of Kelly Axe and Tool and Skelton Shovel Company, American Fork and Hoe becomes the largest hand tool manufacturer in the United States. American Fork and Hoe later becomes True Temper.

AMES merges with Baldwin Tool Works of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Wyoming Shovel Works of Pennsylvania and seven other companies.

Thousands of workers use AMES shovels and Jackson wheelbarrows to construct the Hoover Dam which prevents floods, provides irrigation water and produces electric power.

AMES expands production in Parkersburg, West Virginia to include hoes, rakes, forks and steel goods.

Union Fork and Hoe Company develops a thicker variable steel to create the Razor-Back shovel which, like the wild hog it’s named for, can uproot anything!

During World War II, AMES is honored twice with the Army–Navy “E” for Excellence in Wartime Production for providing 11 million entrenching tools along with armor tank plating and shell casings to our troops. American Fork and Hoe provides bayonets, shovels, snowshoes, and machetes. Union Fork and Hoe produce bayonets, cleaning tools, and Razor-Back shovels for use on military vehicles. Wood Shovel and Tool, which later becomes part of Union Fork & Hoe, provides entrenching tools along with AMES to the military.

During World War II, AMES is honored twice with the Army–Navy “E” for Excellence in Wartime Production for providing 11 million entrenching tools along with armor tank plating and shell casings to our troops. American Fork and Hoe provides bayonets, shovels, snowshoes, and machetes. Union Fork and Hoe produce bayonets, cleaning tools, and Razor-Back shovels for use on military vehicles. Wood Shovel and Tool, which later becomes part of Union Fork & Hoe, provides entrenching tools along with AMES to the military.

AMES production is completely transferred from Massachusetts to West Virginia and its name is changed to O. AMES COMPANY.

True Temper opens its Anderson plant in South Carolina to make fishing tackle. Eventually, the fishing business was sold to Shakespeare. By the 1980s, Anderson was part of the True Temper lawn and garden business. In 1994 True Temper consolidated the Anderson production to Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

AMES becomes a major force in the production of snow tools and hose reels.

AMES creates a lightweight, high-strength aluminum entrenching tool that easily folds into a compact package. The Army orders 275,000 tools for soldiers fighting in Vietnam.

With Kelso and Wesbarrow brands, founder Michael Cantone becomes a leading provider of building and construction materials in Australia. Wesbarrow was later sold and Westmix was established in 1991.

Conquering frozen terrain, three mountain ranges and thirty rivers, AMES shovels play a crucial role constructing the 800-mile Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System needed to transport crude oil.

Adds manufacturing of snow shovels, leaf rakes and decorative accessories.

True Temper, located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania merges with AMES, located in Parkersburg, West Virginia, to form Ames True Temper.

Ames True Temper opens the distribution center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Today the facility is 1.2 million square feet.

Part of the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C, The National Garden highlights the amazing diversity of American plants providing “living laboratories” for environmental, horticultural and botanical education.

Ames True Temper is sold by U.S. Industries to Wind Point Partners, consolidates it’s headquarters to Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, and acquires Dynamic Design entering the planter market.

As a member of Remember Me Rose Gardens, AMES True Temper provides tools for the groundbreaking and planting of the living tribute to those who died on September 11th in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Ames True Temper acquires Westmix, a leading provider of cement mixers, wheel barrows and hand trolleys in Australia. The company brands are Westmix and Kelso.

AMES Community Garden receives the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Community Greening Award. The Camp Hill garden provides the community with a place to put down roots, learn about gardening and harvest nutritious food.

The AMES brand is recognized, in global competition, by Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) with an International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) for its Visual Brand Language Revitalization.

The AMES Companies, Inc. increases its presence in Australia with the acquisition of Cyclone Tools. Brands include Cyclone, Nylex and Trojan. Additionally, they purchase Northcote Pottery in Australia and Consolidated Foam, adding to its capabilities in the planter market.