General Tools & Instruments has been acquired by High Road Capital Partners, a private equity group. Founded in NYC in 1922 as the General Hardware Manufacturing Co., the company originally sold hardware and specialty tools made by others. In 1930 it began to produce tools and by 1946 was among the companies that produced Craftsman tools for Sears.
After acquiring Mannix Instruments in 2006 the company changed its name to General Tools & Instruments and added detection tools (electrical testers, borescopes, and the like) to its roster of hand tools, measuring tools, and woodworking jigs.
The existing management team will remain in place. According to Joe Ennis, CEO of General Tools & Instruments, the investment by High Road will enable General to accelerate its growth, taking the company’s longstanding tradition of “Precision, Specialty and Innovation” to the next level with increased product development and distribution, and new synergies across the board.
