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1919 - In a small third floor room over his car dealership in Wausau, Wisconsin, Thomas J. Jacob begins making high-quality precision tools of his own design. His venture becomes known as the Hammer Blow Tool Company. The death of a favorite hunting dog due to an accident involving a poorly-designed trailer
hitch leads Jacob to develop the first drop-forged ball-and-socket trailer hitch, which he names the "Never Lets Go" Bull Dog. More inventions follow, positioning Hammer Blow at the forefront of the trailer industry at its infancy.
1930's - Demonstration models of camper trailers built by Jacob at the Chicago World's Fair set off a period of rapid growth in the industry.
1940's - Jacob dies in 1945. His wife, Lula, takes over Hammer Blow and guides it with great success for more than 20 years.
1960's - In 1967, Lula Jacob sells Hammer Blow to Neway Equipment Company of Muskegon, Michigan, which later sells to Lear Siegler, Inc.
1970's - In 1977, private investors led by Thomas J. Reinhart purchase and rename The HammerBlow Corporation. Expansion of the mechanical jack line and related products continues for more than a decade.
1990's - HammerBlow's core business, jacks, expands as other product lines are pruned. The industry leader in the mechanical jack business is now owned and operated by an Executive Committee.
2000's - In 2001, HammerBlow acquires Hidden Hitch, the 4th largest hitch company in North America. In 2003, TriMas Corporation acquires HammerBlow Towing Systems Corporation and makes it a part of Cequent Trailer Products. In 2008 Cequent Towing Products, Cequent Electrical Products and Cequent Trailer Products were merged into Cequent Performance Products, a strategic business segment of TriMas Corporation headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
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