Top quality professional tools for more than 110 years!
The Imperial brand was founded over 100 years ago on the south side of Chicago with the formation of the Imperial Brass Manufacturing Company. Quickly establishing a reputation as specialists in brass, Imperial designers developed the non-soldering "flared fitting",followed by the first patentsfor flaring tools and tube cutters .Over the years the Imperial name came to stand for excellence and innovation , and th product list grew to include tube fittings, tube working tools , refrigeration and air conditioning service accessories , and associated products in the fluid connector field.
1905 Imperial Brass Manufacturing Company, a pioneer in the manufacturing of brass valves and fittings, is founded in Chicago, Illinois.
1996 Stride Tool acquires the tool and accessory division of Imperial Eastman (formerly Imperial Brass) located in Niles, Illinois. The Imperial brand name, with its legacy of innovation and excellence, expands to additional product lines under Stride Tool.
2012 Thermal Engineering Company of Mentor, Ohio, manufacturer of vacuum gauges, compressor tools, oil pumps, vacuum pumps, and other HVAC/R service accessories for over 40 years, is acquired to join the Imperial line.
2019 DiversiTech Corporation purchases Stride Tool and the Imperial brand, strengthening their expansive tool offering for HVACR technicians.
