Allen (brand)

Allen

Owner	Apex Tool Group
Country	Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Introduced	1910
Previous owners	Allen Manufacturing Company, Danaher Corporation
Tagline	"We are the Original!"
Website	www.allenhex.com

Allen is a brand of hand tools, most widely known for its wrenches, known generically as "Allen wrenches". It is owned by Apex Tool Group.^[1][2]

History

Originally named Allen Manufacturing Company,^[3] the business produced hexagonal set screws and wrenches to fasten them. The terms "Allen wrench" and "Allen key" are derived from the Allen brand name and refer to the generic product category "hex keys."

W.G. Allen filed the first related patent in 1909 for its recessed hex-driven safety screws,^[4] a safety improvement over fasteners which protruded from machinery.

Apex Tool Group currently manufactures Allen-branded products in Dallas, Texas and Shanghai, China. They are made in L-key, folding, and T-handle styles.

Gallery

• 

  A set of long arm hex keys.

• 

  A set of folding hex keys.

• 

  An Allen brand ratchet.

External links

• Allen web site

References

1. "Allen Brand". Apex Tool Group. Apex Tool Group.
2. "Allen Trademark". Serial Number 85451338. USPTO. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
3. "Allen Manufacturing Company". Allen Manufacturing Company. Alloy Artifacts. Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
4. "Allen Manufacturing Company". Allen Manufacturing Company. Alloy Artifacts. Archived from the original on 2011-12-30.