"Oh, about a month," I said when my wife asked me how long it would take to make a prototype and get started in business.

Eight years later, I finally had a prototype you liked, we got an order (thank you Cabela's), and into business we went (thank you Steve Berliner). Now 25 years have passed, but in my mind some of the memories of some of the events are just as fresh as if they had occurred yesterday.

The first task was to invent the tool. The next task was to sell the tool. And then the next task, perhaps the most challenging and fun of all, was to invent a way to make the tool. With high quality, but on a shoestring budget. Some of those 40 year old machines looked more like antiques than modern production machines, and some of those jigs and fixtures sure looked jury rigged, but by golly, they worked.

And there were the go-go years, when we grew from 250 tools shipped in 1983 to over 1,000,000 tools shipped in 1993. I remember one year when we decided to double our production from the year before, but by the end of March our entire year's production had already sold out. One year every employee, including everyone in the office, helped with packaging and shipping during the holiday rush.

I remember doing year end inventories on New Year's Eve. I remember personally disassembling and reassembling a giant punch press with a bad bearing. And writing an employee handbook. And dealing with personnel, financial, legal, and all kinds of other issues.

But most of my memories are good memories. I still have a wonderful relationship with my business partner Steve Berliner, who still remains a good friend despite the beating he gives me twice a week on the tennis court. And of the wonderful, dedicated employees we have had over the years. And conversations and correspondence with customers. And the travel I have done. And best of all, of all the friends I have made, here and all over the world.

So, how about the next 25 years? And the 25 years after that? Despite the best laid plans, I am sure there will be many surprises and many changes. But in 50 years I look forward to Leatherman still offering products that please its customers and then reflecting back over the last 75. See you then, if not before.

Tim Leatherman
Founder, Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.