Tim, please tell us, how has it all
started?
An idea a tool was born in 1975 when I came to vis-
it Europe together with my wife. In Amsterdam we
bought a car for $300 and we set off for a further
route. I have on me, of course, the Swiss Army knife,
but somewhere during the trip we had had a prob-
lem with the car and we had to stay overnight in the
cheap hotel where I had to do some plumbing repairi
in the room. It turned out that I would not manage to
do it with the pocket knife itself and I drew a conclu-
sion that I would be good have a tool on me which
combines somehow a Swiss knife and pliers.
How much time has it taken
to develop a tool?
I am not "quick inventor", I do not belong to the
persons who come up with an idea and in no
time realize it. A development of the first model
has taken eight years of work in the garage.
Have You been satisfied with Your
invention?
Certainly, I have enjoyed terribly that it has
worked. However, I can say that now we make
much more better products.
Do You have in Your offer a perfect
tool?
No... Such a tool does not exist. There is always
somebody who want to have something bigger, with
a greater number of tools, more solid. And the other
wants a smaller and lighter tool. It would be hard to
develop something like this.
What tool do You personally use?
I have a Leatherman Charge on me, but our the
most popular product has been a Wave for many
years.
How many tools do you have
at home, in your collection?
All of them!
Only Leatherman ones or also the
others?
All, literally. I purchase the Chinese rip-offs, and
also competitive products - Gerber, Victorinox.
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