Timothy S. Leatherman
{{Short description|American businessman}}
Timothy S. Leatherman is the founder and Shareholder of Leatherman Tool Group, Inc..
Biography
Leatherman graduated from Oregon State University in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.{{cite web|url=http://engr.oregonstate.edu/oregonstater/citation.php?id=98|title=Timothy S. Leatherman : Oregon Stater Academy of Distinguished Engineers : College of Engineering - Oregon State University|work=1999 Academy of Distinguished Engineers|accessdate=4 April 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604073220/http://engr.oregonstate.edu/oregonstater/citation.php?id=98|archivedate=4 June 2010}} According to an article in The Oregonian, "Leatherman came up with the idea of a 'Boy Scout knife with pliers' during a 1975 driving tour of Europe with his wife, when he was unable to use his pocket knife to fix his repeatedly malfunctioning car."{{cite web|url=http://www.shopleatherman.com/|title=Leatherman Tools, Leatherman Knives, Leatherman Pocket Pliers, Leatherman Products - ShopLeatherman.com|work=R.N. Product Guide for Leatherman tools and knives|accessdate=4 April 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091117110709/http://www.shopleatherman.com/|archivedate=17 November 2009}} It took him several months afterwards to refine his idea, and he was granted a patent on the first Leatherman tool in 1980.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Leatherman+-+Overview-a01074062739|title=Leatherman - Overview - Free Online Library |work=Leatherman Overview|accessdate=4 April 2010}} Leatherman spent the next few years attempting to market his product to large companies with technical staff, such as AT&T, but this was largely unsuccessful. The tool eventually gained popularity through mail order catalogues.
See also
References
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Category:Place of birth missing (living people)