Cape Town - One look at the tall, slender, casually-dressed Tim Leatherman would not suggest he is the founder of a company making billions of rand ever year.
Leatherman developed the self-named Leatherman multi-purpose tool after a budget trip across Europe.
In 1975, he and his wife embarked on the nine-month journey in a Fiat. Struggling to repair the car and faulty hotel plumbing using only his pocket knife, he birthed the idea of the Leatherman known around the world today.
After returning to their home in Oregon, US, Leatherman asked his wife to give him one month to develop the tool.
It ended up taking three years to make the tool, and another five to get it on the market.
“I picked up a file and hacksaw, and she went to work to support us,” Leatherman said. “She never begrudged me for those years. She always said she knew I was working diligently to achieve this goal.”
The first Leatherman tool was 10 centimetres of stainless steel with more than 20 functions, including pliers, a screwdriver, ruler, wire cutter, openers, and knives. Knife companies did not want it, as it was more of a tool. But tool companies said it was a gadget. Even the US Army turned it down.
Though he thought it would be an easy sale, it took eight years to get in a mail-order catalogue. “My advice for inventors and innovators: there’s a fine line between perseverance and failure. If anything, be overly perseverant, but also accept reality,” he said.
The company is now making about $100 million (R1.57 billion) annually, and has developed 20 different models of the original tool, all with a 25-year warranty.
“The warranty has kind of come back to bite us,” Leatherman said.
“There are people who bought the very first products, and still have them because they’re in perfect condition. That, and recommendations from users, are what keep us coming up with new ideas. If we don’t, we’ll hit a point where we’ll stop selling because nobody needs a new one.”
Newer models include scissors, a saw, locking blades, larger pliers and more comfortable grips. The newest invention, which went on sale last year, is a 25-tool bracelet. Leatherman’s “genius designer” created the bracelet after security at Disneyland would not let him through with his regular tool.
“Now, you can have the tools you need anywhere, even at the airport,” Leatherman said, pulling up his sleeve to reveal the bracelet after landing in the city.
With distribution across 70 countries, the adventurer likes to travel to Leatherman users across the world.
He signed tools and chatted to customers at the Cape Union Mart Canal Walk Adventure Centre on Saturday.
CAPE ARGUS