History

About

Smith Tools are a short line of specialized tools with a long, successful history of service in diverse markets like agriculture, manufacturing, and motorcycle repair. These professional, heavy-duty tools have an excellent reputation for making special equipment repairs quickly and easily. Smith Tool castings are made of durable, ductile steel and the replacement parts are heat treated for further strength. Smith Tool is a proprietary product line owned and operated by Center Industries Corporation, a nonprofit manufacturing facility located in Wichita, Kansas.

History

The "riveting tool for sickles" was patented in 1966 by inventor Lloyd T. Smith and in 1968, Gilbert Rains invented the "tool for rivets". By 1969, Lloyd T. Smith and Dr. Harold Vogt bought Rains Manufacturing Co. in Hutchinson, KS, moved the company to Newton, KS and renamed it S/V Tool Co. Rains Manufacturing was the original producer and seller of these specialized hand tools. In 1977, Center began to manufacture various types of agricultural and industrial tools for S/V Tool Company. The manufacturing process involved drilling holes in the iron castings, cleaning in an acid solution, painting, then assembling and packaging.

Riveting Tools for Sickles

3,230,751
Patented Jan. 25, 1966

Inventor

Lloyd T. Smith

Tool for Rivets

3.412,597
Patented Nov. 26, 1968

Inventor

Gilbert Rains