Our Story

In 1964, Henry Braddock III and his wife Ramona Rosalinda (Rose) founded St. Joe Tool Co. when Henry rebuilt a machine and started running parts in their tiny garage in a 1-bedroom house with 4 kids in Berrien Springs, MI. They started by making push rods for brake master cylinders on cars, and the need for more machines ensued, moving them quickly in 1965 to a small building downtown Bridgman on Lake Street (pictured). In 1968, they outgrew the downtown Bridgman location and moved to the current site located across from Warren Dunes State Park by Lake Michigan. In 1977, Henry Braddock III became the National Hang-gliding Champion, and In 1979, St. Joe Tool Co. became a Michigan Corporation.

Today, St. Joe Tool Co. is comprised of 4 plants, over 150,000 square feet and 50-60 employees. In addition to building their own machines or rebuilding machinery, Henry learned to do the same with construction equipment, rebuilding that equipment to then build all their facilities himself. Today’s 3-generation family owned and operated business is run by Portia Braddock Pullins, Tom Pullins, and Jennifer Braddock, all under the direction of Henry Braddock III, their Management Team and a Board of Directors.