1920 - 1940
| Samuel I. Cone, a civilian machinist and draftsman working at the Norfolk Navy Ship Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia, manufactured an improved Hindley worm gear and patented a practical method of generating the elements of this double enveloping worm gearing. Michigan Tool Company became the exclusive licensee under Samuel Cone's Patent to develop the cutting tools, machines and manufacturing processes needed to produce double enveloping worm gearing. Cone Drive Division built a plant in Detroit, Michigan and started production of double enveloping worm gearing. |
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1940 - 1950
| The U.S. Navy saw the space savings as well as accuracy features of Cone Drive double enveloping worm gearing and soon nearly every gun from 5-inch to the monster 16-inch guns were being driven by Cone Drive gearing. Michigan tool built a second and larger plant in Detroit, Michigan. By the end of WWII Cone Drive double enveloping worm gears were used in all branches of the service from aircraft to submarines. On October 1, 1942, the United States first jet propelled jet, the Bell XP-59A "AIRACOMET" designed and built by Bell Aircraft Corp., now part of Textron Inc., made its first flight. The landing gear boxes on the main wheels and nosewheel used Cone Drive double enveloping worm gears. |
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1950 - 1980
| The Cone Drive Division of Michigan Tool, looking to become more competitive, decided to get away from a tool manufacturing environment and moved the manufacturing operation to Traverse City. Ex-Cell-O Corporation acquired Michigan Tool Company of which Cone Drive was a division. |
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1981 - 1990
| The Cone Drive Dynamometer Test Lab was moved from Walled Lake, Michigan to Traverse City, Michigan. The Gear Institute was initiated and classes for customers began. Cone Drive won the CASA/SME LEAD (Leadership and Excellence in the Application and Development of computer-integrated manufacturing) Award. Textron acquired Ex-Cell-O Corporation of which Cone Drive was a part. The Cone Drive Ludington manufacturing facility was opened in Ludington, Michigan. |
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1991 - 1999
| Cone Drive Zero Backlash worm gearing technology awarded "Product of the Year" by Plant Engineering magazine. Cone Drive became ISO 9001 Certified. Cone Drive Ludington Operations moved into a new "state of the art" manufacturing facility in Ludington, Michigan. David Brown Group of the United Kingdom was acquired by Textron Inc. and joined Cone Drive as part of Textron Industrial Gears. |
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2000 - Present Day
| Textron Inc announced it had completed the acquisition of AB Benzlers of Sweden. AB Benzlers was then joined with the Cone Drive and David Brown businesses to form Gear Technologies. Cone Drive celebrated its 50th Anniversary in Traverse City, Michigan. Cone Drive launched a new product: With the invention and development of the new "Conex Helicoidal" gear geometry, the Series B was designed to address an underserved market with truly unique competitive advantages. |
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David Brown and Benzlers are sister companies of Cone Drive, also part of the Textron family. Working together enables us to offer a full range of gear products and provide global services and support.