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Vintage Treasures from the American History Vault... from the Worldwide Collectibles Specialists of Saturday'sToys
Item: Milwaukee Electric Tools brochure featuring the new "Sawzall" and "Tri-Speed" right angle drill
Date: 1951
Description: Presentinga vintage promotional advertisement for MilwaukeeElectric Tools featuring their early portable power tools (circa 1951)
Featured Tools
- Milwaukee "Sawzall": Highlighted as a heavy-duty, all-purpose portable electric hacksaw equipped with ball and roller bearings.
- Milwaukee "Tri-Speed" Right Angle Drill: Marketed as a versatile right-angle drill that serves as "3 tools in 1.”
Target Audience
- The flyer is aimed at professionals including plumbers, electricians, and maintenance men.
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation introduced the first Sawzallreciprocating saw in 1951, creating an entirely new category of portablepower tools.
Origins and Invention (1951)
- The Concept: Milwaukee engineers Jerome Schnettler and Edward Ristow designed a compact tool to cut "all" materials—including wood, metal, and composites—earning the iconic moniker Sawzall.
- The Mechanism: It functioned as the first portable electric hacksaw and relied on a heavy-duty reciprocating mechanism featuring only three moving parts for maximum jobsite durability.
The $84.50 price shown in this vintage advertisementrepresents the introductory catalog price for the complete MilwaukeeSawzall kit, which sits just below the $94.50 net retail price often cited inhistorical records.
Where This Price Fits Historically
- The Complete Kit Value: This price was incredibly competitive because it wasn't just for the tool alone. As the ad highlights, $84.50 bought the tool "Complete with Full Assortment of Saw Blades and Handy Steel Carrying Case."
- The "Net" vs. "List" Distinction: In early 1950s power tool marketing, manufacturers frequently offered slight promotional discounts or distributor-level pricing adjustments. The $84.50 figure was likely an introductory or promotional price targeted directly at contractors to drive rapid adoption of their brand-new invention.
- Modern Inflation Equivalent: In today's money, $84.50 in 1951 has the purchasing power of approximately $1,000, reinforcing that this was marketed as a premium, heavy-duty investment for professionals rather than a casual consumer tool.
Key Specifications Featured in This Ad
The flyer also highlights the exact baseline performancethat justified this price tag in 1951:
- Speed: 2,250 strokes per minute with a 3/4" stroke length.
- Form Factor: Weighs only 6¾ lbs. and measures 14¾" in overall length.
- Versatility: Specifically marketed to replace manual labor for plung-cuts and opening crates without a starting hole.
Measurement: 8.5" x 11" (four panels)
Condition: Very Good
