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WAHL Clipper Corporation started with one man’s vision, a single patent, and a small manufacturing plant. Today, more than 100 years later, WAHL has 8 factories on 4 continents, and 22 sales offices around the world serving over 165 countries. With more than 274 patents related to the barbering, salon, and pet grooming industries. After 100 years in business, the core of what makes WAHL what it is has not changed. The company remains family-owned and managed, and its headquarters remain in Sterling.

We Really Like Quality

That’s just our heritage. We believe that our tools should provide the maximum precision and efficiency. To do so, you got to start from great materials. That is what we are striving for, since the very beginning.

We are the Experts

More than 100 years of experience taught us not to compromise, especially on motors and on power. Simply the best quality for the best performance. You just have to turn it on to feel the difference.

Made by Wahl

Wahl products are proudly made by us, with our hands, in our own factories. We put in there all our passion. Because we love to give you only products that we would love to use ourselves in the first place.

As an international leader in the manufacturing of products for the professional barber and salon trade, consumer personal care and styling, massagers and animal grooming, Wahl is dedicated to delivering products that are built to perform and constantly push the boundaries of innovation.

Wahl blades are engineered using high precision grinding technology ensuring the best cutting performance. The consistency and sharpness of each tooth on the precision ground blade creates a better cut that is more even and better quality than any competitor using stamped blades.

As the brand used by professionals, Wahl has created a range of grooming, styling, personal care and kitchen products which offer an unrivalled quality that you can trust.

OUR HISTORY

1911

Founded by Leo Wahl

The road which lead to the creation of the Wahl Clipper Corporation began when Sterling High School junior, Leo J. Wahl, experimented with a vibrating electromagnetic motor. Later as an engineering student at the University of Illinois, Leo Wahl designed a vibrating medical massager for his uncle J. Frank Wahl, who began manufacturing the massagers in a small plant in Sterling, Illinois. Leo spent his spare time selling these massagers to barbershops, where he recognized the need to improve barber tools. When his uncle was called into service during the Mexican Revolution, Leo Wahl took over the manufacturing business and began experimenting on a new electric hair clipper.

1919

Leo applied for patents

On October 14, Leo J. Wahl applied for patents on his newly developed electromagnetic hair clipper, and manufacturing began at the Wahl Manufacturing Company. It was the first practical clipper with the drive motor in the hand, rather than connected to a separate motor through a flexible shaft. By the end of 1920, his factory had manufactured and sold thousands of clippers to barbers all over the United States. In these early years, Mr. Wahl concentrated on working directly with barbers to improve the efficiency and convenience of his hair clipper.

1921

Company officially named Wahl Clipper Corporation

On February 2, Leo J. Wahl, having received a patent on his new hair clipper, purchased 100% of the Wahl Manufacturing Company stock and renamed and incorporated the business as the Wahl Clipper Corporation. Growth was rapid, financed from manufacturing earnings and patent royalties.

1940

Company Expansion

In the early 1940s, the company installed its own plastic molding presses and continued to expand this important manufacturing capability. At one time it produced hundreds of thousands of micro-sized electrical switches. With the addition of various manufacturing technologies, the corporation grew as a vertically integrated manufacturer with almost every product component produced in the Wahl plant. The product line for professional barbers and beauticians was expanded with items such as a professional salon hair dryer, shear sharpeners, shears, curling brushes, combs, and attachments for hair clippers. For customers, a very successful hand-held Silent Dryer was produced, with production approaching 2,000 per day. New products for the electromagnetic motor were investigated – even an electromagnetic milkshake mixer.

1950

Company begins to export

With the realization that Wahl barber clippers would be in worldwide demand, the company began an export effort, building products in the voltages and frequencies required for international use. Over the years, Wahl has developed a prosperous network of sales and service representatives throughout the world, In the early 1950s the company opened its manufacturing facility in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

1957

Leo Wahl passes away

1957 Leo J. Wahl passed away on May 20. During his life he had applied for over 100 patents on his various inventions.

1957

The company moves to its current location

The company completed the move from its 407 E. Third Street location to the spacious new plant on North Locust Street in Sterling.

1960

Electric razor created

In the mid 60’s, the company developed and produced a very unique and innovative flexible-blade electric razor.

1965

Vacuum clipper is created

Typifying its innovative spirit, the company pioneered another advancement in the industry. Trade show crowds were impressed when they watched a man get a full haircut without a hair touching his suit. This was the introduction of the Vac Clipper, a clipper with a vacuum hair pickup.

1966

Rotary motor is created

The Company began manufacturing its first universal-type rotary motor clipper. Within a year, the motor was converted to the permanent-magnet type and incorporated into a powerful new animal clipper.

1967

First battery operated trimmer is created

The Company designed the first cordless/rechargeable battery-operated hair trimmer and marketed it to professionals.

1970

Labor issues

A series of labor problems remaining from an eight-week strike in 1965 erupted into a 26-week strike, culminating with decertification of the union. During that same year, a new variable-speed, rare-earth, permanent-motor clipper was introduced.

1971

World’s first successful rechargeable soldering iron is created

Using its rechargeable battery technology, the company invented and produced the world’s first successful cordless/rechargeable soldering iron, creating a new Electronics Division. Within two weeks, this tool captured 90% of the United States market.

1975

Massager is created

The company began manufacturing a full line of foot and back massagers with controlled vibration and heat, using Wahl’s very efficient electromagnetic motor.

1977

Nose trimmer is created

In 1977, Wahl introduced another totally new product concept: the hygienic, battery-operated nose and brow trimmer.

1984

Groomsman is created

The company capitalized on its wealth of research and experience from professional trimmer sales and developed the Groomsman, the world's first battery-operated facial hair trimmer. This product created a new and exciting consumer category. New products and sales growth created the need for a series of building expansions, starting with the purchase of a 17,500 sq. ft. school building. By 1992 over 150,000 sq. ft. of space had been added. The Professional Beauty and Barber Division continued its lead as the #1 supplier of electric haircutting machines and began the development of other tools for salon use, including a line of wet goods under the name of VISIONS.

1987

Wahl introduces styling products

In August, the Company introduced to the professional market another truly innovative product, the ZeeCurl. This unique, flat-barrel curling iron gave stylists a tool to create new hairstyles with Z-shaped curls, adding texture and body to all types of hair. In 1988, FreenZee, the consumer version, was added.

1989

Stubble device is created

New products included: a rechargeable wand massager, a magnifying extension mirror, the Sterling line of professional hair clippers, electronic drill tools, a specially designed shaver for black men, the “Stubble Device” to keep facial hair cut one to three days long, and a bikini line shaver.

1990

Business is booming

The personal care line of the Groomsman Beard and Mustache Trimmers had been expanded into a full line of battery and rechargeable products. Creative hairstyling trends of the 90s led Wahl’s Professional and Consumer Divisions to develop tools for cutting and maintaining special shapes and designs in the hair. These products were known in the trade as Hair Doodles and Cool Cuts. Wahl made a serious step into the electric. Shaver business with the purchase of tooling and technology for a world-class Austrian shaver, which joined Wahl’s men’s and Lady Wahl shaver lines. In 1991, using its recently invented DynaFlex Cutting System, Wahl began mass production of three new electric shaver models in its Sterling plant.

1993

Custom shave system

This year saw the first marketing of the Custom Shave System, allowing the user a choice of three foil heads for varying degrees of shaving closeness and comfort. Many new and cordless haircutting and trimming products for both the professional and the consumer were brought to market as shorter hairstyles continued worldwide.

1996

Wahl acquires Moser

Later in the year, the Company acquires Moser Electrogerate GmbH, an international manufacturer headquartered in Unterkirnach, Germany. Moser’s Hungarian production plant, Kuno Moser Kft, and the shares of Ermilia GmbH, a distributor of professional hair clippers, were also included in the acquisition. All activities of the two companies were merged into a global personal care organization. The synergistic effect of combined research, development, productions, logistics and marketing resulted in a more extensive global presence for both companies. Founded in 1946, Moser is recognized as a leading international manufacturer of products similar to those of Wahl, including hair clippers, massagers, shavers and pet trimmers. Moser’s product line also included oral hygiene appliances.

1997

Greg Wahl is named president

Gregory S. Wahl was elected president of Wahl Clipper, USA, succeeding his father, John F. (Jack) Wahl, who continues to serve as CEO. Connecting on the future of the company in the 21st century, Greg Wahl reiterated the company’s drive toward globalization and its commitment to serve the consumer and professional customer wherever they are located.

1999

Industry leaders

Wahl Clipper Corporation is an international industry leader in the manufacture of consumer personal care appliances and products for the professional beauty and barber salon trade. The company currently employs over 1,500 people worldwide in Australia, Canada, China, England, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Japan and the United States.

2001

Wahl introduces trim n’ vac

Wahl Clipper introduces the remarkable Trim N’ Vac - the first beard and mustache trimmer that collects the trimmings using a patented vacuum system. “Neat Beard – Clean Sink”

2009

Lithium_Ion technology

Wahl Clipper Corporation introduces the first Lithium Ion Trimmer.

2010

International industry leader

The company continued as the international industry leader in the manufacturing of products for the professional beauty and barber salon trade, personal consumer care and animal grooming. Wahl products were available in 165 countries around the world.

2016

40,000-square-foot corporate headquarters

With a 40,000-square-foot corporate headquarters building, Wahl firmly cemented in Sterling for generations to come.

2017

Wahl commitment

The continued commitment of the Wahl family and the growing number of fourth generation family members working together for the future advancement of the company.

2019

Wahl celebrates 100

Wahl celebrates 100 years of creating innovative products and services. The company continues as the leader in the industry.

2024

Wahl.co.uk starts shipping to the Republic of Ireland

Wahl begins shipping to the Republic of Ireland, becoming a market leader in professional clippers and trimmers.

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