Our Story

We don’t just sell tools, we also use them!

JC Tillman

It all started with our founder JC Tillman. In the early 60’s JC was a great mechanic with a fast growing shop - yet he had constant frustration, often unable to source the right tools for the growing needs of customer’s cars and trucks. Speaking with fellow mechanics he recognized they had similar challenges…a need for a larger selection of quality tools, delivered in a timely manner.

Seeing an opportunity to solve this problem JC took a leap of faith, had his younger brother Ray take over the repair shop, while he traveled around the U.S. seeking quality tool manufacturers. In addition to purchasing tools for his own needs, JC would pack his 1952 Ford Pickup and sell tools to local shops. Within six months he had dozens of mechanics chasing him down requesting tools. Within a year Tillman Tools was born and the rest as they say is history.

Tillman Tools team has proudly been serving the auto, truck, motorcycle, boat and airplane mechanic community for over 50 years – as well as the United States government, military, first responders and specialty technical schools and students.

1952 Ford Pickup

Today Tillman Tools is staffed with dozens of 2nd and 3rd generation tool experts and is now one of the largest and most respected online tool retailers in America.

Our Principles:

  • Retain good old fashioned values
  • Obsessively ensure great customer service
  • Maintain a tremendous selection of products
  • Constantly innovate in all areas of the business

It seems we are doing something right, as we have thousands of extremely loyal customers.

Need a tool but not exactly sure of the brand?

Have a tool in mind but need to find it?

Call our Customer Care team at 909-334-4400. We are here to help!

Happy Tooling,

The Tillman Team