The odd one out usually forgotten is Positec. They have a rather interesting history, and today make the Worx stuff...which honestly aren't bad tools.
I have since switched to all Milwaukee however. The battery tech smokes everyone else and the high prices are easily justified by quality and productivity.
The productivity, and subsequent quality of work, from the Fuel line are worth upgrading from down market stuff. If you do your own work (remodelling etc) there is no comparing to the bbq dad tools (or harbor freight).
The weed eater is stellar. The blower can be operated with two fingers (you can hold it with one finger). Damn thing tries to leave your hand though...lol
Smallest hammer drill, short work of any masonry (with decent bits). Done. Move on.
Circular saw lasts all day under heavy use (6 xc battery).
Impact driver...it is always out and ready. Used constantly. Driving tapcons, building decks, working on the truck, drywall. All effortless. Every screw and bolt driven perfectly without issue.
Literally an investment.
I'm honestly kind of glad, it means there's more better tools getting into people's hands now, but the color is an assault upon the eyes. I could've bought an R4560 probably two months before my 36-725T2, but I do woodworking because I like it, and I don't like "ORANGE!" being shouted at me every time I open the garage door.
Some have used Plastidip to blackout loud logos.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-10-in-Contractor-Table-Sa...
Stanley Black & Decker bought Craftsman several years back. Before the sale, Sears had contracted Stanley Black & Decker to make at least some of their Craftsman tools.
Craftsman = "V20"
Sears Craftsman = "20V"
Different incompatible brands, it's a bit deceptive.
https://toolguyd.com/craftsman-v20-sears-craftsman-20v-compa...
Note that article is four years old and there's a possibility related lawsuit since then.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/07/sears-is-sued-over-craftsman...
If you build something good, make it under your name and only your name.
Branding/rebranding/renaming smell like marketing gimmick and mean you are focused more on marketing trick than engineering.
They could have a Pro/home line of product for different segments and still keep honoring the brand.
SBD didn't invent DeWalt, they bought a company called DeWalt and expanded them to more tools.
I see so much effort spend on that kind of marketing (lying) and so little spend on improving the product, reducing the cost, increasing longevity, etc.
It’s everywhere, oven, fridge, tools, cars, etc.
At some point the confidence in the brand crumble and we just buy the cheapest chinese thing with a funny name.
IE: brand used to mean something
Milwaukee is TTI, which owns Home Depot's exclusive Ryobi and Ridgid brands, along with Empire (measuring devices), Hart (Ryobi but for Wal-Mart), and AEG (Ridgid but for Europe).
The other "big" one worth mentioning is Chervon, who own Flex, Skil (aside: their 12V stuff is surprisingly good!), and make Lowe's Kobalt tools.