Class 2001
The Davis Family
Three generations of the Davis family have developed American Saw and Manufacturing Co. into a thriving company committed to excellence.
American Saw was created in 1915 by two Swedish immigrants (John Swanson and Carl Ericson) and an American entrepreneur, Carl Davis. As the company began to grow, George Davis (no relation to Carl) was hired as the national salesman. George used his creativity, resourcefulness, and leadership to help that growth. One example of his creative marketing tactics included the use of flying billboards during barnstorming demonstrations in the 1920s and 1930s, when airplanes were a rare sight. His high commitment to the company stemmed from his belief that the company had quality people manufacturing a quality product. In 1941, George was elected Vice President of the company. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, under Davis’ guidance, the company produced Lenox products, widely viewed by the market as quality tools. When the original founders died, George became owner and president of American Saw.
American Saw outgrew its Springfield location very quickly. When Davis recognized the growth potential of the company, he moved the factory to East Longmeadow in 1951. In the mid-1960s, Jim Davis (George’s son and company Vice President) convinced the company to purchase an electron beam welder to manufacture bi-metal band saw blades, which could outperform other blades on the market by 5-10 times, revolutionizing the industry and the company.
The company continued its strong growth. In 1987 Jim Davis, then company President, handed the leadership to the next generation of Davises, his sons John and Steve. Under John and Steve’s leadership, American Saw and Manufacturing Co. has received a number of awards, recognition, and certifications, including: ISO-9001, several American Eagle Awards (to emphasize the importance of the free enterprise system), Western Massachusetts Employer of the Year (for excellence in employer-employee relations), and OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program Star Status (OSHA’s highest award for safety).
With John as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and his brother Stephen as President and Chief Operating Officer, American Saw is ensured continued growth, high quality products, and a dedicated workforce. Three generations of the Davis family have used their drive, ingenuity, and stamina to grow their business the right way. Their commitment to the company and the community is well known through the Springfield area and beyond.
We are proud to induct the Davis family into the Western Massachusetts Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.