The history of Swanson Tool started in 1925, when a carpenter named Albert J. Swanson invented The Swanson Speed Square to determine the angular pitch of a roof. As his fellow tradesmen began to appreciate the ingenuity of his idea, they wanted their own Speed Squares. Swanson began to hand-make the squares to fill requests for the tool. The Swanson Speed Square is one of the few tools whose name is known by contractors and do-it-yourself enthusiasts worldwide. We believe the exacting quality and accuracy of all our products have kept the Swanson name on the minds of customers for more than 75 years.