Bostitch tool sales rep has roots in Houlton

By Karen Donato-Duff  
Staff Writer
    S.W.Collins/Almon H. Fogg’s in Houlton was a busy beehive last Friday, despite the construction on Bangor Street.  
Eagers
    The hardware store was hosting the Bostitch Company tool display set up outside in the yard and a free lunch for their customers. Local contractors looked over the pneumatic power tools and commented on the quality of the Bostitch label.
    The company began in 1896 when Thomas Briggs organized and incorporated the Boston Wire & Stitch Company, hence Bostitch. In 1914, the desk stapler was invented, then the cemented strip staples and foot-and-motor operated staplers for book-binding applications. In 1942, the company focused on supporting the war effort by manufacturing parts and machinery for military aircraft, navy vessels, artillery and more. In 1956, Bostitch relocated from Pawcatuck, CT to East Greenwich, RI, and then in 1965, they invented the first coil nailer (a monumental breakthrough in collated fastening technology).
    From 1982 through 2006 the following items were invented: the world’s first coil roofing nailer to replace the traditional methods done by hand and the world’s first convertible framing nailer to switch between metal connecting and traditional framing applications. They developed the first disaster-resistant fastener, called the Hurriquake nail and for that received Popular Science magazine’s “Innovation of the Year” Award for this breakthrough design.  During this time they became a division of the Stanley Works after being acquired from Rhode-Island based Tectron industries, and acquired Besco, a leading manufacturer of pneumatic tools in Asia. An added feature is that many of these tools come in their own lightweight carrying case.
    Contractor David Crane had nothing but praise for the quality of the Bostitch tools.
    “They are dependable and practically indestructible,” he said. “The service is second to none.”
     Linwood Smith of East Hodgdon has been in construction for more than 50 years and said, “The tools of today make work a lot easier. The nail guns were a great invention!”
    Interestingly enough, the Maine representative for Bostitch has a Houlton connection.
    Joe Eagers of Lisbon is the son of Charlie and Teresa Eagers, both Houlton natives. His grandparents Milo and Mary Eagers owned the Elm Tree Diner and his mother’s parents, Edmund and Monique Beaulieu owned and operated the North Store. This was a popular grocery store originally located where the Randy Lincoln Insurance Agency is today.
Pioneer Times photo/Karen Donato-Duff
TAKING A LOOK – Longtime builder Lynwood Smith of East Hodgdon, left, and contractor David Crane of Linneus look over the latest Bostitch tools.
    Eagers graduated from Mt. Blue High School and the University of Maine in Orono. He enjoys working for the Bostitch Company, which allows him to have a more flexible schedule away from a desk.  Eagers does both a spring and fall show throughout the state and then calls on individual accounts during the year.  He enjoys meeting the customers and seeing all parts of the state, but especially looks forward to his time in Aroostook.
     Kris Targett from Vasselboro works for Northeast Wholesale Company out of Canton, Mass. and supplies businesses throughout the state with Bostitch tools. He and Eagers had spent three days in the “County” and love it up here.  They enjoyed seeing the vast fields of potatoes and grain and were surprised how inexpensive a bag of potatoes is at the road side stands. They both commented on the friendliness of the people here and appreciated “The County” hospitality.