Founded in 1947, Johnson is a leading manufacturer of professional quality tools designed to help our customers get their work done more quickly and accurately. We believe our success is founded in a strong working relationship with our distributor customers and the professional tool user.
Over the years we have built a comprehensive portfolio of leveling, measuring, marking and layout tools which has expanded into construction grade lasers, laser distance measurers and industrial grade machine mountable lasers and levels. Every product we produce is designed to offer our targeted end user a high quality tool that represents the highest value finished product available anywhere. We spend countless hours listening to the voice of the end user where we learn about their work habits, expectations and needs. They ask us to design products that are easy to understand, easy to use, durable, reliable and accurate. They ask for innovation because product innovation creates end user excitement. As a result, we are committed to tenaciously expanding our product offering and driving the highest value for our customers.
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Wood Levels from the 1950's | 1950's Promotion | 1970's
Wood Levels | 1980's Box Beam Levels | 1980 Advertisement | 1987 Advertisement |
As the marketplace continues to change, we strive to provide an exceptional overall customer experience through expanding product lines, exceptional fill rates and service levels, well trained and competent Team Members, and the flexibility to meet your specific needs and expectations.
Every Team Member at Johnson is committed to exceeding every expectation you may have of a supplier-partner. We work hard every day to earn your business and hope you take the time to see what separates Johnson from the rest.
Key Events in Johnson History
1947
| George and Lawrence Johnson open a custom woodworking shop in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point area (the near south side) called Johnson Products Company, Inc. Products included shoeshine kits, wooden toolboxes and other boxes for merchandising products like jewelry and fountain pens.
| 1950
| The first level is made. A representative from Skill Craft asked Johnson to make a miniature working level as part of a child’s toolbox.
| 1955
| George uses an acrylic lens to cover the circular bulls-eye level, the first one ever not to be made solely of metal and glass, adding both lightweight and safety features to this ordinary product.
| 1962
| Lawrence moves the manufacturing of wood levels to a new plant in Tomahawk, Wisconsin.
| 1965
| George incorporates Johnson Products Company, Inc. in the state of Wisconsin on February 7. Later that year, George received his first patent: an adjustable, shockproof plastic vial assembly used to expand the company's extruded aluminum and wood level lines.
| 1970
| George’s two sons, Bill and Bob, join the family business.
| 1972
| Bill and Bob buy Lawrence’s interest in Johnson Products Company.
| 1977 | On October 11, the company is renamed to its current name of Johnson Level & Tool Mfg. Co., Inc. | | 1985 | Johnson moves to its current location in Mequon, Wisconsin, just north of Milwaukee.
| 1995
| The Mequon manufacturing plant was expanded to nearly twice its original size.
| | 2003 | Offices and support areas were expanded in Mequon to nearly twice their original size.
| 2004
| Bob’s son and Bill’s step-son join the business.
| 2005
| Johnson launches a broad line of rotary, line and dot laser levels and becomes the exclusive US distributor for Fuller (hand tools). | 2006
| Johnson introduces GreenBrite® Technology for with an electronic self-leveling, rotary laser level.
| 2007
| Johnson begins its journey into lean manufacturing and continuous improvement (the journey is never done), developing new processes and making processes more efficient, tightening its supply chain and driving waste out of the business.
| 2008
| Johnson introduces Glo-View® levels with its Magnetic Heavy Duty Aluminum Torpedo Level and launches the BIG J series of aluminum levels – the biggest and most heavy duty i-beam level in the marketplace. It’s also the first use of Johnson’s “big” half-inch vial.
| 2009
| Johnson expands into digital and electronic levels, and industrial laser levels. Johnson launches its biggest and most heavy duty box beam level line (the 1707 Series), leapfrogging competition by adding Glo-View®. The 1203 /1204 Series (JobSite™ Heavy Duty Aluminum Levels) levels are launched – the only mid-range professional level in the marketplace with the “big” half-inch vial. Glo-View® is added to the 007 Magnetic Torpedo Level .
| 2010
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Select Catalogs through History
