When did festool first come to the USA?

[duburban]

What was the first festool product that came to the USA, and when? Did any of you guys own one of them?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Festo, the original name of Festool, was sold as early as the 1950s in the US. Here's a photo of a stationary machine being delivered in the Niagara Falls area as I recall. I don't know exactly when, but I'd say some time in the 80s, the products began being sold by an independent importer. In the late 90s, Festool USA was formed as a subsidiary of Tooltechnic Systems. At that time, there was a single independent importer in Canada but in the mid-2000's Festool USA began distribution and growth of the dealer network in Canada.

I'm sure Christian will let me know what I got wrong since he's been with the company much longer than I have and knows a lot of the history first hand.

[attachimg=#]

 

[Vindingo]

Frank Sinatra sold Festools in his spare time? 

 

[jacko9]

Frank Sinatra sold Festools in his spare time? 

Only that one, he sold it to the Lone Ranger's partner Tonto [big grin]

 

[duburban]

that picture leaves much to be explained. is it a juicer?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

that picture leaves much to be explained. is it a juicer?

I don't know the details. Pretty sure it's not a juicer, that's not a DeLorean, and that's not Marty and Doc Brown.  [wink]

 

[duburban]

its the festo arrow maker

what about the track saws, when did they come into the world?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

what about the track saws, when did they come into the world?

1964.

 

[fritter63]

Frank Sinatra sold Festools in his spare time? 

that was exactly my first thought!

Maybe Frank was asking if Festo made slot machines....

 

[Theshipstore]

Looks to me as a surface planer, with a power feed attachement on the top. But I could be wrong  [huh]

Sal

 

[peter halle]

One of the really popular Festo machines was for making louvered shutters.  Maybe that is where the idea for the domino came from?  I remember Sedge talking about seeing some still in operation  in Southern Florida prior to when he signed on to be a Festool Trainer.  I guess that quality equals long gevity.

Peter

 

[Jamie_MA]

Nice timeline on Festool Australia's site.

http://www.festool.com.au/artikel/artikel_weiterleiten.cfm?id=246

[big grin]