Established in 1928, the John Tillman Company, with the support of North America’s largest distributor network, has grown to be the largest and most trusted brand of hand and body protection for welders and industrial workers. To think it all started 90 years ago, a humble welder from the oil fields of Southern California developed a new welding glove out of frustration with the gloves he was using.

“We are so excited to be celebrating 90 years of John Tillman,” said Beth Dahlke, General Manager for John Tillman. “Like John, we are driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, which drives us to push new boundaries, develop new products and ways to better support our customers.”  

Celebrating those who use Tillman’s products

To celebrate this 90-year milestone, Tillman looked to the men and women that trust Tillman daily and developed a social media campaign, the 90 Faces of Tillman. “Every day we are humbled by the many men and women who use Tillman products as part of their protective equipment”, said Mark Williams Vice President of Marketing for John Tillman. “We see Tillman protective products welding our nation’s infrastructure, manufacturing products, repairing our military’s equipment and making some remarkable metal art and sculpture; as a company, we want to recognize these great individuals.”  

Beginning in March 22 and throughout the remainder of 2018 Tillman will post 90 images of users wearing Tillman gear with a short description of the user on Tillman’s Instagram and Facebook. “As a company, we are amazed at what is built and created with Tillman products, we want to take time to recognize these talented men and women and thank them for choosing Tillman safety products,” said Williams.

Key innovations

As the leader in welding gloves, garments and protective solutions, Tillman has brought new leathers, materials and design innovations to the market. Each product innovation is designed to deliver the safest, most reliable protection for our users. Tillman leads the way in offering superior leathers, materials and craftsmanship that delivers consistent quality and experience for the users. “Tillman’s goal is to provide products designed to maximize a user’s efficiency at the best value to our customers,” said Williams.

Here’s to another 90 years

90 years is a long time from the humble beginnings of a single store front in Long Beach, California with one pair of gloves, the Tillman 750, the number one pipeliner’s glove that Tillman still produces today. “As we celebrate this milestone, we are proud of the achievements we’ve made, and we look forward to the future” said Dahlke. “We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years, but one thing remains the same, our commitment to our users to provide the best safety equipment… Here’s to another 90 years!” 

About John Tillman Co.

In 1928, the John Tillman Co. was formed to provide personal protection solutions for welders and other industrial workers. Founded in the Southern California "oil district" of Signal Hill, Tillman quickly rose to be known as the top manufacturer of quality welding gloves and leather protective garments. Tillman’s product line has grown from a handful of welder’s gloves in 1928 to over 1,000 items. Tillman’s core product lines include welding gloves (Stick, MIG, TIG), Drivers, Work, TrueFit (mechanics style), Specialty and High Heat gloves, Clothing (leather, lightweight flame retardant, high heat), Welding Blankets, Curtains/Screens, and Accessories. John Tillman Co. is headquartered in Compton CA. with distribution facilities in CA, GA, and IN. and has manufacturing operations in the United States, Mexico and China.