From its beginning in 1920, selling ten sockets and five interchangeable handles, Snap-On Tools now offers nearly 14,000 products and is a recognized brand worldwide. The founders, Joseph Johnson and William Seidemann, were committed to bringing new ideas to the marketplace. Their concept of interchangeable parts for tools revolutionized the industry.

In the 1930s they became an international company, and also began offering their customers credit, a concept unheard of in the industry until then. Their marketing strategy, too, was innovative: They took their products to the customers, and by the 1950s were using fully stocked walk-in vans. Today Snap-On is a $2.4 billion business and employs nearly 12,000 people around the world.

The variety of offerings is truly astonishing. Perhaps you're looking for a pocket-sized infrared thermometer that can take a reading between -7 and 248 degrees Fahrenheit in half a second. Snap-On has it. Need a die grinding kit? Theirs has an offset head at 115 degrees, which gives you a more ergonomic grip than the standard 90 or 180 degrees.

Snap-On's products range from the tiniest screwdriver to powerful sandblasters. You can get diagnostic tools, hand tools, power tools of all sorts and shop equipment. Snap-On also has something of a specialty in tool storage, from tote trays to roll cabs. There's a wide variety of Snap-On gear and collectibles as well, from wall clocks to Zippo lighters, watches to vintage calendars, and belt buckles to socks.