The Story Behind Ames Portable Hardness Testers

The Ames Portable Hardness Tester has been made in the USA since 1946.  This handheld hardness tester is designed to be used with no electricity needed, handheld for ease of use in the field.  Ames Hardness Testers provide quick accurate results reading directly in the Rockwell scales.

Ames Precision Machine Works was purchased by Electro Arc in 1975.  Ames portable hardness testers are still built individually with close attention to detail to meet the high-quality standards our customers have come to respect.

In 1997 Ames received a huge blow when Chinese manufacturers obtained one of each tester and reproduced them.  These copy testers look quite similar to the Ames portable hardness tester, however the dial of a genuine Ames tester bears the Ames logo.  Each Ames tester receives a model number on the front and these numbers are easily traceable just like our accuracy.

In 2019, Stillion Industries purchased Electro Arc and its Ames product line.  The company continues to operate under the Stillion Industries umbrella.  Manufacturing both the Electro Arc and Ames product lines as well as offering repair and calibration services for the testers.