Red Devil

About Red Devil

FIRST WE BUILT OUR REPUTATION: Founded as Smith & Hemenway Company, Inc. in 1872 in Hill, New Hampshire, our place in hardware history was established over 140 years ago with the production of several types of glass cutters, one of which, the "Woodward Wizard", was patented. This unique tool, with its tiny wheel for scoring glass, was among the first in the industry and could be used as a glass breaker, can opener, corkscrew, knife/scissor sharpener, and tack hammer. Because of the "Woodward Wizard" and other unique and dependable tools, our reputation for quality and reliability grew. During a buying trip to Sweden, the company's founder, Landon P. Smith, heard a blacksmith remark "those little red devils" after sparks from a forge singed his arm. The name stuck in Smith's mind and upon his return to the States he began to label many of the tools he sold with the RED DEVIL® trade name. By the late 19th century, do-it-yourselfers as well as professionals were depending on our top-performing products.