Last week, we had the privilege of getting an exclusive look into the world of American tool manufacturing, thanks to our esteemed friend Chris Hill. Chris, the expert behind the renowned woodworking site Chiefs Shop, recently attended “Tool School” hosted by The AMES Companies in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. This unique event offered an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the heart of AMES’s operations, explore their rich history, witness their advanced manufacturing processes, and discover their latest innovations in landscape, construction, and lawn tools.

Chris brought back a comprehensive report, providing us with an in-depth perspective on one of America’s most enduring and pivotal manufacturing success stories. His insights shine a light on not just the tools themselves, but the enduring commitment to quality and American craftsmanship that defines The AMES Companies.

In an era witnessing a resurgence of American manufacturing, The AMES Companies stands as a shining example. Tucked away in the unassuming yet industrious towns of Camp Hill and Carlisle, Pennsylvania, AMES is relentlessly producing some of the most robust and reliable hand tools available today. Whether you’re a professional in landscaping or construction, or a dedicated home gardener, brands like RAZOR-BACK®, JACKSON^®, TRUE TEMPER®, and AMES itself are likely familiar. What many might not fully realize, however, is the profound extent to which this essential equipment is proudly made right here in the U.S.A.

A Legacy Forged in American History: The Story of AMES Tools

The history of The AMES Companies is inextricably woven into the fabric of American progress. Established in 1774, AMES holds the distinction of being one of the oldest continuously operating companies in the United States. Its roots stretch back to the Revolutionary War, with shovels meticulously crafted by blacksmith Captain John Ames reportedly aiding the Continental Army at the historic Battle of Bunker Hill.

This early foundation of resilience and quality set the stage for remarkable growth. By the 1870s, AMES had become a global powerhouse, producing over 5,000 shovels daily – an astonishing figure that accounted for approximately 60 percent of all metal shovels manufactured worldwide at that time. Throughout subsequent centuries, AMES tools have played an instrumental role in shaping the nation’s infrastructure and iconic landmarks. Their implements were vital in colossal undertakings such as the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, the carving of Mount Rushmore, the erection of the Statue of Liberty, the engineering marvel of the Hoover Dam, and the monumental Panama Canal. This rich heritage underscores AMES’s enduring commitment to building, supporting, and contributing to the very foundations of America.

The AMES Manufacturing Powerhouse: A Look Inside American Production

Fast forward to the modern era, and The AMES Companies continues to evolve and innovate. In 2014, the company embarked on a strategic rebranding, transitioning from “AMES TRUE TEMPER” to its current identity, The AMES Companies. This shift reinforced a unified corporate vision while proudly retaining the strong individual brand identities that customers trust, including AMES, TRUE TEMPER, RAZOR-BACK, and JACKSON. Adding to this impressive portfolio is the introduction of the new TRUE AMERICAN by TRUE TEMPER line, specifically designed for smaller retail outlets like independent garden centers and hardware stores. What makes this line truly exceptional is its unwavering commitment to being 100 percent U.S.-made, with every single component sourced and manufactured domestically – a testament to AMES’s dedication to American jobs and quality.

The Camp Hill Facility: Where Quality Takes Shape

The Camp Hill facility is a bustling hub of innovation, producing an impressive 16 million units annually. Here, visitors can witness the intricate process of creating hardened steel shovel heads—from firing and stamping to final coating. Under the same expansive roof, skilled artisans transform ash wood dowels into ergonomically designed handles, while advanced machinery molds plastics into durable planters. Moreover, state-of-the-art pultrusion machines are constantly at work, fabricating the long-lasting fiberglass handles that define many of AMES’s robust tools. This integrated approach ensures complete control over quality and materials, embodying the true spirit of American manufacturing excellence.

The Carlisle Facility: A Distribution Juggernaut

Complementing the Camp Hill plant is the monumental 2.5 million square foot Carlisle facility, which serves as the company’s largest assembly and distribution hub, churning out over 19 million units annually. While a significant portion of this expansive footprint is dedicated to sophisticated storage solutions and efficient fill dock bays, its logistical prowess is truly remarkable. Thanks to streamlined processes and strategic design, trucks can drop off an empty trailer and pick up a fully loaded one in mere minutes, ensuring that AMES products efficiently reach retailers and consumers nationwide. This unparalleled distribution capability is a cornerstone of AMES’s commitment to customer service and market responsiveness.

Innovation in Action: Discovering AMES’ Latest Tool Lineup

The AMES brand itself has undergone significant enhancements, reflecting a continuous drive for user comfort, durability, and performance. New AMES-branded tools now feature vibrant green D-grips and long handle caps, designed for superior handling and control. Shovels boast a new rugged finish for enhanced resilience and are proudly stamped with the updated AMES logo, featuring the “Est. 1774” moniker, a nod to their deep historical roots. These tools are backed by an updated and robust 15-year warranty, demonstrating AMES’s confidence in their product quality.

Enhanced User Experience: The Comfort Step™ Footstep

A standout innovation on AMES shovels is the revolutionary Comfort Step^TM footstep. This design goes beyond typical shovel footsteps by offering a deeper platform with raised perforations. This thoughtful addition provides significantly improved footwear grip, reducing slippage and enhancing user safety and comfort during heavy-duty digging tasks. The Comfort Step allows users to apply more leverage with less strain, making tough jobs easier and more efficient.

AMES Ergo Gel Grip Tool Line: Comfort Meets Performance

AMES is expanding its popular Ergo Gel Grip hand tool line with three essential new additions: a Multi-Tool Hoe/Cultivator, a Multi-Tool Weeder/Transplanter, and a Hand Rake. This comprehensive line offers year-round gardening solutions, from spring tilling and summer planting to autumn harvesting and winter pruning. Each tool is meticulously designed with an ergonomic handle featuring a soft gel-grip insert, providing exceptional cushioning and maximum comfort to reduce hand fatigue during prolonged use.

“The gel grip handle has proven to be an extremely popular style since the introduction of the line, and end-user testing confirms comfort is a priority for consumers,” affirms Jim Maffei, Director of Marketing, New Products. “The three new Ergo Gel Grip hand tools round out a line that allows our customers to accomplish garden tasks in comfort.”

Beyond the signature gel grip, these tools are built for versatility and durability. The 2-in-1 cultivator/hoe features a high-quality stainless steel, dual-purpose head, perfect for both tilling soil and light digging. The 2-in-1 weeder/root cutter also boasts a robust stainless steel head with a serrated edge, ideal for effectively slicing through stubborn roots. The hand rake is designed with wide tines, making it excellent for gathering leaves and other garden debris with ease. Individual tools are available at a competitive price point, offering exceptional value for their enhanced comfort and utility.

AMES NeverLeak^® Aluminum Water System: A Revolution in Hose Storage

Addressing a common homeowner frustration, AMES proudly announces 14 new storage options for its patented NeverLeak^® Aluminum Water System. This expanded product line provides customers with a diverse range of choices, allowing them to select options that perfectly align with their personal needs and outdoor aesthetics, all while delivering the unparalleled durability and reliability of an aluminum water system.

“The number one complaint homeowners have with the typical plastic hose reel is that it can leak,” explains Erin Kelly, Sr. Product Manager. “The NeverLeak Aluminum Water System effectively eliminates this worry by offering eight times more strength and durability than traditional plastic reels. It also provides superior resistance to cross-threading at connection points, a common issue stemming from wear and tear or exposure to the elements. AMES NeverLeak Hose Reels are engineered to meet best-in-class durability standards, significantly increasing product life season after season.”

The new storage options are thoughtfully designed, including versatile wall-mountable units, elegant cabinets, and convenient swivel carts, all available in a variety of styles and finishes to complement any outdoor space. User-friendly features such as easy-spin crank handles and manual hose guides make extending and retracting hoses less labor-intensive. Wall-mount units arrive fully assembled and include a practical accessory tray for nozzles and attachments. The cabinet models are built with sturdy bases, ensuring stability on decks or patios, even when the hose is actively in use. These 14 new storage options for the NeverLeak Aluminum Water System offer a range of prices, starting from an accessible price point to premium configurations, catering to diverse budgets and preferences.

TRUE TEMPER: Mastering Winter Conditions with Innovative Snow Tools

TRUE TEMPER Scratch Free Snow Brushes: Gentle Yet Effective Snow Removal

TRUE TEMPER introduces its innovative Scratch Free Snow Brushes, designed to protect vehicle finishes while effectively clearing snow. Unlike traditional brushes that rely on bristles which can degrade in winter conditions or, worse, scratch sensitive car paint, these brushes feature advanced EVA foam. EVA foam is a material commonly used in professional car wash brushes, known for its gentle yet highly effective snow removal capabilities. The unique wrap-around head design further enhances functionality, making it simple to clear snow from smaller, hard-to-reach areas around mirrors and wipers.

“Through our extensive end-user research, we learned that consumers are most concerned about traditional bristle snow brushes wearing out, scratching cars, clogging with snow, or freezing,” explains Jim Maffei, Director of Marketing, New Products. “The new EVA material we chose for the TRUE TEMPER snow brush is soft, sturdy, durable, and exceptionally effective—perfect for long winters or whenever the snow strikes.”

The brush and scraper combo is available in three convenient sizes: 28-inch, 32-inch, and 36-inch lengths, offering multiple options to suit individual user preferences and specific use cases. The TRUE TEMPER Scratch Free Snow Brushes are available at Lowe’s and other authorized retailers, offering various sizes at competitive price points.

TRUE TEMPER Aluminum Combo Snow Shovel: Power and Comfort Combined

TRUE TEMPER proudly presents the industry’s first aluminum snow shovel capable of handling loads 30 percent larger than a traditional poly shovel. This innovative design is engineered not only for highly efficient snow removal but also to provide unparalleled comfort to the operator, redefining the experience of shoveling snow.

“Consumers tell us they are discouraged by traditional small, metal snow shovels that are often off-balance and difficult to lift when fully loaded,” notes Jim Maffei, Director of Marketing, New Products. “The new 20-inch Aluminum Combo Shovel effectively solves these frustrations and more, adding another first-of-its-kind snow shovel to an already impressive lineup of TRUE TEMPER snow removal products.”

The patented aluminum blade design features unique side supports, ingeniously crafted to prevent snow from falling off during transfer—a common and frustrating problem with traditional flat blades. An ergonomically curved handle significantly reduces the need for bending and stooping, promoting better posture and reducing strain while shoveling. An oversized, D-handle grip further assists in balancing larger loads, making each scoop feel lighter and more controlled. Durability and strength are reinforced by a robust wearstrip on the blade, which makes it easier to break through packed snow and ice, ensuring a final clean scrape against concrete or pavement. The TRUE TEMPER Aluminum Combo Snow Shovel is available at Ace, True Value, Do It Best, and other retail stores, with the new 20-inch model retailing for $34.99.

RAZOR-BACK: Tools Built for Professional Strength and Unmatched Durability

RAZOR-BACK Professional Roofer’s Spade: Engineered for Tough Roofing Jobs

RAZOR-BACK introduces a new model of professional roofer’s spade, meticulously designed for superior ease of use, exceptional durability, and ergonomic compatibility. Traditionally, spades with multiple weld points at the head are prone to wear and tear and can easily snag on shingles, hindering efficiency. The innovative, one-piece steel head of the RAZOR-BACK Professional Roofer’s Spade ingeniously solves this common problem, providing unprecedented durability and ensuring smooth, snag-free operation. This robust design guarantees a longer tool life and a more productive workflow for roofing professionals.

The D-handle on the larger model offers enhanced comfort and control, allowing operators to maintain a firm grip and precise maneuvering. Coupled with the spade’s improved pitch, professionals can work more efficiently and comfortably throughout the workday. The RAZOR-BACK Professional Roofer’s Spade is available in two convenient versions: a long-handled model featuring a 7-inch head width and the ergonomic D-handle, and a short-handled version with a 5-inch head. Prices for these professional-grade tools start at $29.99 and $19.99 respectively.

RAZOR-BACK SuperSocket^® Shovels with Power-Step^®: Designed for Extreme Digging

For the most challenging digging tasks, RAZOR-BACK introduces the round point SuperSocket^® shovel, equipped with the innovative Power-Step^® feature. The SuperSocket shovel is the ultimate durable option, engineered to penetrate the hardest, rockiest soil and tackle the toughest jobs with unmatched resilience and performance. This tool is truly built for extreme conditions, providing the leverage and strength needed for demanding environments.

Perfect for demanding jobsite digging tasks such as breaking through sedimentary rock or solid clay, this new offering features a socket that is five inches longer than standard industrial-grade sockets. This extended length provides significantly more steel reinforcement, ensuring an incredibly strong and reliable socket connection. The industrial-gauge steel blade further reinforces the shovel’s strength, providing added durability for continuous heavy use. These features combine with the new Power-Step feature—an oversized and cleated step designed for secure foot placement and greatly improved leverage while digging, allowing users to apply maximum force with less effort.

The SuperSocket shovel boasts a comprehensive set of features that make it the ideal tool for your most challenging jobs:

• Heavy-duty, industrial gauge, open-back steel blade for superior strength.
• Cleated Power-Step^® feature for maximum digging power and stability.
• Available with a premium 48-inch white ash handle or durable fiberglass handles, both featuring a steel-reinforced socket for enhanced longevity.
• Wood handles are equipped with a comfortable 10-inch cushioned end grip to reduce hand fatigue.
• Fiberglass handles come with a 9-inch cushion end grip featuring a rubber liner and an additional 12-inch mid-handle grip for versatile handling.

The RAZOR-BACK SuperSocket shovels with the Power-Step feature retail for a competitive price range of $24.99 to $29.99, representing an investment in long-lasting performance and reliability.

Discover More: A Visual Journey Through AMES Tool School

Explore additional moments and innovations from the insightful AMES Tool School event. These images provide a deeper look into the quality, craftsmanship, and dedication that goes into every AMES product.

Key Insights: AMES Manufacturing Facts

The commitment to quality and American craftsmanship at The AMES Companies is evident in their impressive manufacturing operations:

• Local Sourcing: All North American hardwoods used for handles are responsibly sourced from wood mills situated along the Appalachian Trail, supporting local economies and sustainable forestry.
• 100% USA Steel: Every single shovel head produced in the USA is crafted from 100 percent USA-sourced steel, ensuring superior material quality and supporting domestic industries.
• Vertical Integration: The manufacturing process is fully vertically integrated within the U.S., encompassing every stage from woodturning, steel forming, steel forging, and metal stamping to tempering, welding, injection molding, and final assembly. This comprehensive control guarantees exceptional quality from start to finish.
• World’s Largest Wheelbarrow Factory: The Harrisburg, PA facility is home to the largest wheelbarrow factory globally, capable of producing one wheelbarrow every six seconds, demonstrating incredible scale and efficiency.
• Camp Hill Production Powerhouse: The Camp Hill, PA facility specializes in long-handle tools, striking tools, and hose reel manufacturing, boasting an annual production of 16 million units.
• Carlisle: Assembly and Distribution Hub: The Carlisle, PA facility stands as the company’s largest assembly and distribution center, responsible for producing and dispatching over 19 million units annually, showcasing its vital role in the supply chain.