Why Smartphones Seem To Have Such a Short Lifespan

Smartphones are no longer luxuries, they’re necessary tools for functioning in today’s society. But they’re also frustrating and expensive. As soon as I pay one off, it feels like its performance starts to drop. And because of that, I have often wondered if smartphones are built to fail.

“In a word, yes,” says tech developer and engineer Michael Frohlich. “Planned obsolescence is an actual tactic that some cellphone manufacturers employ to drive sales. This is true of many products today; everything from small electronics to cars, all the way through today’s homes, just isn’t built to last.”

On the other end of the spectrum, reduced performance isn’t relegated to nefarious corporate plots. Often, it’s just a worn-out battery that’s causing poor performance. In that case, a $50 or $100 fix can get a phone feeling like new again.

To find out more about whether smartphones are designed to fail, and how to make them last longer, we talked to a range of tech experts. Here is what they said.

Are Smartphones Actually Designed to Fail?

Sometimes. A while back, Apple was accused of intentionally slowing down older models right before releasing their new ones. While they explained it away as a side-effect of aging batteries, the company still settled a $500 million class-action lawsuit over the claims.

More commonly, cell phones become obsolete when companies stop supporting older versions of the software. For example, Apple will support iPhones for about six years, while most Android manufacturers only maintain support for three to four years, says software engineer Adam Yong.

There are other factors woven into the smartphone market that encourage frequent replacements, too, like sealed designs, which make repairs more difficult, and upgraded technologies, which consumers feel compelled to keep up with.

Which Smartphone Parts Wear Out First?

Batteries are usually the first to go. That’s because lithium-ion battery chemistry starts to decline after 500 full charge cycles.

“After a few years you’ll notice shorter runtime, unexpected shutdowns or reduced performance,” says phone refurbisher Steven Athwal. “Don’t mistake a declining battery for the entire phone reaching the end of its life. It can potentially last much longer with a battery replacement.”

Other common smartphone failures include broken screens and clogged or worn charging ports. Both of those are also relatively cheap to have repaired.

Why Are Modern Smartphones So Hard to Repair?

Water resistance and slimmer profiles are the two main reasons it’s hard to self-repair smartphones. While these features “have genuinely made phones better, they’ve also brought more adhesives, tightly packed components and fewer easily replaceable parts,” says Athwal.

Battery Myths and Urban Legends

There’s a lot of bad advice out there when it comes to smartphone battery maintenance. Here’s what actually gives batteries a longer lifespan.

• Batteries will last 10% to 15% longer when they’re not regularly drained below 20% or charged above 80%.
• Leaving batteries to charge overnight isn’t dangerous, but charging them to 100% will decrease their lifespan.
• Frequent fast charging also decreases battery life.
• It’s best to replace batteries with OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts.

How Long Should a Smartphone Actually Last?

At least four years, but potentially 10, if you take care of it, plus get a battery replacement. “I know lots of people who have phones that are five-plus years old,” says Frohlich. “They still work fine, and their owners aren’t a slave to trends like other consumers tend to be.”

Environmental Impact of Smartphone Churn

Manufacturing smartphones is greenhouse gas intensive, plus the lithium and rare earth elements used in smartphones create significant environmental impacts, both from mining, and then again if they aren’t recycled.

“A replacement means more mining, manufacturing, shipping and packaging,” says Athwal. “It’s a lot of waste and it’s not just environmentally unsustainable. The manpower it takes to mine and manufacture phones is often very socially unsustainable, too.”

Can You Make Your Smartphone Last Longer?

Yes, there’s a lot you can do to lengthen the lifespan of your smartphone.

• Check to see if your smartphone has a function to keep the battery charged between 20% to 80%, which will increase the battery’s lifespan.
• Replace the battery when it starts to wain.
• Make other repairs promptly.
• Use a case for protection.
• Update software regularly.
• Avoid excess heat.

FAQ

Do phone companies intentionally slow down old phones?

Sometimes. Apple settled a class-action lawsuit after being accused of throttling older phones, just before new models were released. “While this could be a purely technical issue, it is another way of nudging customers towards changing their phones just to be on the safe side,” says Yong.

However, there are other reasons why older phones might start to slow down, such as software updates that bog them down, or degraded batteries, which cause phones to reduce their performance in order to protect their components.

How many years should a smartphone last?

The standard answer is three to four years, though they often last much longer, especially when they are properly maintained and the battery is replaced.

Is it worth replacing a smartphone battery?

Yes, as long as the rest of the phone is still working properly. “We refurbish electronics, so we see this constantly: a tired battery can make a perfectly good phone feel finished,” says Athwal. “Replacing the battery can potentially buy you years, rather than months.”

About the Experts

• Steven Athwal is Managing Director and Founder of The Big Phone Store, a UK refurbished tech retailer.
• Adam Yong is a software engineer with a passion for smartphone longevity, and Founder and Chief Architect at LocusPilot.
• Chongwei Chen is a data recovery expert, software developer and President and CEO of DataNumen Inc.
• Michael Frohlich is Developer/Full Stack Engineer at KnowRoaming.
• Zaheer Dodhia is CEO of Hummingbird International, an e-waste recycling company, and has more than 20 years of experience in computer hardware.

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The Climate Factors That Could Make This Year’s Fall Leaves Less Spectacular

September is here and fall leaves should be right around the corner. Well, maybe…

Fall leaves don’t look the same every year. In 2026, some parts of the United States could see less color than usual, along with leaves turning brown or falling earlier.

Learn what affects fall color, which parts of the country may have a weaker season, and where the best color is still expected.

Why Weather Affects Fall Color

How colorful a tree gets in the fall starts with how it does during the spring and summer. Leaves are green because of chlorophyll, which trees use to make food from sunlight. As the days get shorter in fall, the chlorophyll starts to disappear and other colors begin to show.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says fall color can vary based on the weather, sunlight, and how much sugar is left in the leaves. Some of the pigments that create fall color are already present in the leaves, while weather and the amount of sugar in the leaves can affect the final color.

A hot, dry summer can make for a less colorful fall. When trees don’t get enough water, their leaves may turn brown, change earlier than usual, or fall off before they have a chance to reach their best color.

Sunny days and cool, nonfreezing nights generally create favorable conditions for stronger fall color.

“Cool September nights stimulate the cells at the base of each leaf stem to dry out and develop a corky layer between itself and the tree proper,” according to the National Park Service. “This eventually stops the import of water into the leaf.”

Healthy trees that enter this process with adequate moisture have a better chance of holding their leaves long enough to develop stronger color.

Where Fall Color May Be Stronger or More Spotty in 2026

The 2026 forecast doesn’t call for poor fall color everywhere. Some parts of the country may still have a good season, while places hit harder by heat and drought could see weaker color.

The Farmers’ Almanac says parts of the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest may have a more spotty season. Parts of Texas and the western Gulf region could also see less color. The interior West, Northern Plains, Great Lakes, and northern New England may be more mixed, with conditions varying from place to place.

FOX Weather also notes that even areas with a weaker forecast could still have some good pockets of color.

The central Appalachians have one of the better outlooks this fall. That includes parts of West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, eastern Tennessee, and western Virginia.

“If you are planning a leaf-peeping getaway in 2026, keep watching local conditions as the season draws closer,” according to the Farmers’ Almanac. “But for now, the map points to an especially promising year in the Appalachians and much of the eastern half of the country.”

Sources

• Farmers’ Almanac, “2026 Fall Foliage Outlook: Where Autumn Color Should Shine — And Where It May Struggle”
• FOX Weather, “Fall foliage forecast: Why some areas might experience a spotty season”
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “The science behind fall foliage”
• U.S. National Park Service, “Rise and Fall of Foliage”
• North Carolina State University, “Drought Stress in Trees: What to Expect and What to Do”

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Upgrade Your Patio with These Oversized Smart Sphere Lights

Lighting can make or break a space, even an outdoor one. So, when I opened the box of Enbrighten sphere lights and saw those 6-inch color-changing globes, I was instantly obsessed.

I’d never seen outdoor lights quite like these. They can twinkle, flicker, dim, strobe and change to virtually any color. Plus, they come loaded with presets for just about every holiday. Think red, green and white for Christmas, warm orange hues for fall and plenty of options in between.

The moment I plugged them in and started cycling through the presets using the power-cord control box, I knew I had to share. If outdoor lighting is on your wish list, I’m officially putting these on your radar. Here’s how the unboxing and setup went, and why I’m already plotting a more permanent installation so I can keep these glowing year-round.

MARY HENN FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN

I'm Obsessed

Enbrighten Sphere Outdoor String Lights

These smart sphere lights add a festive glow to your outdoor space all year long

Shop on Amazon

$179.50 at Target

Shop at Costco

What’s so special about these giant sphere lights?

If you love the look of old-fashioned globe lights as I do (and, apparently, everyone who’s designed the interior of a hip bar, restaurant or cafe in the last decade), these oversized sphere lights bring that same effortlessly cool vibe to your patio or outdoor space. And yes, you can use them indoors, too, if that’s your thing.

These charming globes add a little something extra to the usual outdoor string-light lineup, creating instant ambiance without looking like every other patio on the block.

Each box comes with 12 oversized spheres, spaced a generous five feet apart along 72-1/2 feet of cord, plus a 12-foot lead for a discreet setup and a 2-foot tail. You also get 12 individual cord clips for easy, secure mounting.

Each sphere has a glossy white finish that gives it a glass-like look, while the smart lights are app-compatible for even more control. More on that below.

Smart Features and App Compatibility

First things first: You don’t need the app to enjoy these outdoor globe lights. And honestly, that’s one of my favorite things about them.

The cord has a simple, single-button power box that lets you turn the lights on and off and cycle through a surprisingly wide range of yellow, white, multicolor and holiday presets. So, if apps aren’t your thing, or you’d rather not connect yet another device to Wi-Fi, you can skip the whole process and still get all the color-changing fun.

That said, downloading and pairing the app unlocks a lot more features. And thankfully, it’s easy to set up. I was a little wary when I opened the box and found zero instructions, not even a tiny pamphlet with a QR code. But the Enbrighten app was easy to find, and once I powered on the lights, they connected automatically.

From there, the customization options are easy to access. You can choose from endless colors and a huge range of lighting effects, create custom multicolor scenes, pick from six white-light tones, browse presets and even program different schedules and modes.

The lights are also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can simply say something like, “Alexa, turn on the outdoor lights,” and let the backyard do its thing.

And the holiday presets? I’m already counting down to getting these fully installed and glowing in the backyard for Christmas.

Hanging and Durability

In all honesty, I underestimated both the size of these spheres and the length of the cord. I’d previously had small smart string lights hanging on our deck, but after leaving the cord on the ground for one single night, rabbits decided it was a snack and chewed right through it. So, my original plan was to swap those lights for these, but the spheres are simply too large to tuck underneath our deck railing.

So now I’m pivoting to yard stakes, which will let me suspend the lights up and over the entire deck. It’s become a bit of an undertaking, and, admittedly, I haven’t finished that project yet. I also wanted to get this review out in time for your Halloween parties.

The good news? After using them outdoors in a temporary setup when we’ve had guests over, I’ve been impressed by their durability. The plastic spheres are weatherproof and have survived a few accidental tumbles onto the deck, as well as some less-than-gentle handling from my toddler. They have an IP44 waterproof rating and are designed for year-round outdoor use, including wet conditions.

One thing I’m keeping an eye on is UV exposure. I didn’t see any mention of UV protection on the packaging, so I’d be a little cautious about placing them somewhere that gets constant, direct sun, where fading could potentially become an issue. I’m planning to install mine in an area with at least partial shade.

All that said, I cannot wait to get these up permanently. The twinkling orange setting for fall looks like a string of tiny, glowing pumpkins floating through the air. It’s a vibe.

And if outdoor installation isn’t your thing, I could absolutely see these making a statement indoors, too, especially over a basement bar, game room or anywhere else you tend to host.

Where to Buy

MARY HENN FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN

I'm Obsessed

Enbrighten Sphere Outdoor String Lights

Bring the ambiance to your next holiday party with these oversized outdoor globe lights

Shop on Amazon

$179.50 at Target

Shop at Costco

You can shop the Enbrighten Sphere Outdoor String Lights for $180 on Amazon, or find them at Target and Costco. And yes, you’re going to want them before your next get-together.

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The Humble Cabin That Made Dolly Parton the Woman She Was

The late Dolly Parton grew up in a small cabin in East Tennessee with her parents and 11 siblings. Their Locust Ridge home was simple, with no electricity or running water.

Those early years later became closely tied to the places and stories Parton wrote about throughout her career. Following Parton’s death on Aug. 25, renewed attention has turned to the Tennessee landmarks connected to her life, including the home where she grew up.

Learn what Dolly Parton’s childhood cabin was like and where visitors can see a replica today.

Inside Dolly Parton’s Childhood Cabin

Parton spent her childhood in Locust Ridge, near the Great Smoky Mountains. Her family’s log cabin was small, with a kitchen and sleeping space for the whole family. There was no electricity or running water. Newspaper covered some of the walls, and the family used basic furniture, cookware, quilts, and a wood-burning stove.

According to the Dollywood website. though the cabin “lacked electricity and running water, love was abundant in this tiny little mountain house that Dolly and her family called home.”

The home and the surrounding mountains later became a regular part of Parton’s music. The cabin appeared on the cover of her My Tennessee Mountain Home album, and her upbringing in Appalachia gave her plenty of material to write about. “Parton’s childhood figured strongly in her ambition to escape her circumstances and in the many frank, unromantic songs she wrote about her experience and life in Appalachia,” Parton’s Country Music Hall of Fame profile reads.

The stories Parton heard growing up in East Tennessee later influenced the way she wrote songs. “Her lyrics are often in the vein of the Appalachian ballads that surrounded her as a child. She tells stories with succinctly developed narratives and a sense of humor, translating country tragedies into song,” Parton’s biography on the Library of Congress reads.

How Fans Can See the Cabin at Dollywood Today

There’s another way to see what Parton’s childhood home was like. Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has a version of the cabin that visitors can see.

Known as Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home, the attraction was created to look like the cabin Parton knew growing up in Locust Ridge. It sits in Dollywood’s Rivertown Junction area, where the park describes it as a two-room replica of her Locust Ridge childhood home.

The replica also has close ties to the Parton family. Parton’s brother Bobby helped build it, while their mother, Avie Lee Parton, helped recreate the interior. Some of the items inside came from the family.

Visitors can see the kitchen and sleeping areas along with the simple furniture and household items that show how the family lived. The small rooms also give a better sense of how much space Parton shared with her parents and siblings.

The Dollywood version gives visitors a closer look at the kind of home Parton grew up in and the surroundings that influenced her early life.

Sources

Dollywood: “Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home”
Library of Congress: “Locust Ridge, Tennessee”
Library of Congress: “Dolly Parton”
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: “Dolly Parton”

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The Science Behind Why We Love To Drive

Anyone who enjoys driving knows the feeling. A certain road, a favorite car, or even the right set of turns can make a drive feel a lot more fun than the usual trip to work or the grocery store. But what actually causes that feeling?

A new Castrol EDGE “Thrill of Driving” study set out to find out. Researchers tracked what was happening in drivers’ brains and bodies during different driving experiences and found that speed wasn’t necessarily the biggest factor.

Learn what researchers found about why driving can feel thrilling and what separates excitement from stress behind the wheel.

Driving Thrill Is About More Than Speed

Researchers put participants through several driving experiences at a closed test facility in the United Kingdom, including karting, track driving, off-road driving, and a passenger ride. They looked at three things: how physically stimulated drivers felt, how focused they were, and whether the experience felt exciting or started to become stressful.

Castrol found that driving felt most thrilling when all three came together without becoming overwhelming. Castrol describes the finding as “controlled immersion,” with focus and control mattering more than speed alone.

Going faster didn’t necessarily make driving feel more thrilling. Karting produced a strong response even at lower speeds because drivers had to stay focused and actively control the vehicle. The passenger ride was different. The study suggests the thrill comes more from feeling focused and in control than from speed alone.

Feeling in Control Can Separate Thrill From Stress

Excitement and fear can cause some of the same physical reactions, so the study suggests that feeling in control made a big difference. When drivers felt focused and comfortable handling the vehicle, the experience stayed exciting. When they started to feel overwhelmed, it was more likely to turn stressful.

That may be why a familiar road or responsive car can still feel fun without driving aggressively.

For U.S. drivers, that doesn’t mean seeking out faster roads or pushing a vehicle harder. Public roads introduce traffic, pedestrians, intersections, weather, and other factors that drivers can’t control. The NHTSA says speeding increases stopping distance and makes drivers more likely to lose control of the vehicle.

“Speeding endangers not only the life of the speeder, but all of the people on the road around them, including law enforcement officers,” NHTSA says. “It is a problem we all need to help solve.”

Comfort levels vary from driver to driver, and Castrol notes that the testing took place on closed courses with professional supervision. The study suggests that what makes driving thrilling has more to do with feeling focused and in control than simply going fast.

Sources

Castrol EDGE, “The Science Behind the ‘Thrill of Driving’”
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Speeding and Aggressive Driving Prevention”

RELATED:

• Do You Know What That Little Button on Your Seat Belt Is For?
• What Those Lines on Your Backup Camera Really Tell You
• Here’s What The Small Panel On Your Car’s Front Bumper Is For

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The Size of Your Kitchen Island Might Be Ruining Your Kitchen — Here’s How to Tell

Kitchen islands are a statement feature of a home. Unfortunately, sometimes that statement is simply, “Look how enormous my kitchen island is.”

One trend I’ve noticed of late, particularly in new builds, is over-the-top islands that are sometimes almost the size of a literal body of land in the ocean. I recently stayed in a vacation rental that had an island so large I think it might have actually been bigger than the studio I lived in during college.

There’s no reason for an island to be that big, especially if it has empty or unneeded cabinets, blind cabinets you can’t even access because of the configuration or size, takes away valuable space for something else in the kitchen, makes it harder to move around, or puts the center of the countertop out of reach.

So, if you’re planning a kitchen remodel, are looking at buying a new build, or just wondering whether your current island is doing your kitchen any favors, here are some things to keep in mind about your next island.

Is Your Kitchen Best Suited for an Island, Peninsula, or Neither?

I love kitchen islands. In fact, one of my favorite projects my wife and I have completed was a DIY kitchen island with custom end storage. However, not all kitchens are suited for one. That can be because of space constraints, layout, traffic flow, appliance placement, or something else. Sometimes a peninsula or no island at all is actually the best use of your space.

So, how do you know if your kitchen is best suited for an island, peninsula, or neither?

Start with how you actually use the kitchen. An island works best when there is enough room to comfortably move around all sides without interfering with cabinets, appliances, doorways, or the main path through the room. If adding one means squeezing through narrow walkways or constantly walking around an obstacle, it probably isn’t helping.

A peninsula can offer many of the same benefits, including extra counter space, seating, and storage, without requiring clearance on four sides. In smaller or narrower kitchens, that can make much better use of the available square footage.

And sometimes the answer is neither. Leaving the center of the kitchen open can give you more room to move, make cabinets and appliances easier to access, and keep a smaller kitchen from feeling crowded.

How to Figure Out What Sized Island Works In Your Kitchen

If you do opt for an island, there are a few things to keep in mind when designing your kitchen layout.

According to Emily LaMarque, founder and principal of Emily LaMarque Design Studio, homeowners should plan for at least 42 inches between an island and the surrounding cabinets, though 48 inches provides more comfortable circulation.

The island’s dimensions can also affect the countertop budget. Larger islands may require more than one slab, which can introduce seams and substantially increase material costs.

LaMarque also recommends planning utilities early. Any water, gas, or electrical lines serving the island need to be accounted for before the floor is finished. Cabinet access deserves the same attention. Back-to-back cabinets can add storage, but depending on the layout, some areas along the sides of the island may become difficult to reach.

Also, don’t forget to consider what is happening above the island.

“Pendant or recessed lighting can be great, but placing a range on the island can mean a ventilation hood floating above the island and blocking sightlines,” LaMarque says.

When a Bigger Kitchen Island Starts Working Against You

So, what are the red flags that your kitchen island is too big?

“A kitchen island is too big for the space when it’s too cumbersome to move and navigate around, when appliances and cabinets encroach on it when they are open, when it cuts off circulation and creates pinch points in the flow, and when you can’t easily reach across it,” LaMarque says. “If the oven, dishwasher, or refrigerator doors are open, another person should be able to pass easily around them.”

An oversized island doesn’t just create a layout issue. It can also be hard to clean or, if you’re still in the building stage, difficult and expensive to design around.

“Oversized islands are notoriously hard to clean in the center,” LaMarque says. “Finding slabs large enough to fit across oversized islands is another problem – be prepared to have at least one seam. Oversized islands with multiple slabs carry massive weight which needs to be structurally considered.”

Yes, islands are great. And if you’re a fan of them like me, I strongly encourage you to consider adding one to your home.

Islands can be a great transition for an open concept floorplan, add extra prep space and storage, or create a casual place for people to sit. Just make sure it works for your space.

But like any project, do what you want and what works for your home and family. Don’t design a house for resale value or what the next homeowner may or may not want, but what you’ll enjoy using every day.

Sources

Emily LaMarque, founder and principal of Emily LaMarque Design Studio

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Think You Know DIY Brands? Try Guessing These Blurry Logos

  

Mystery Logo #1

This familiar logo launched all the way back in 1905, along with the brand’s iconic slogan. Replacing the original “chameleon” logo, which was designed by one of the company’s two founders, the new logo was one of the first to establish a brand identity and seek to tell a story, not just sell a product. It was designed by George Ford, an ad man from Cleveland, Ohio, which is also the home of this 160-year-old company. At the time, the iconic sideways globe, red paint and Cover the Earth slogan symbolized the reach the company hoped to achieve, and with more than 5,000 stores worldwide, it’s clear they succeeded.

Answer: Sherwin-Williams

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/in-this-photo-illustration-the-sherwin-williams-company-news-photo/1233624132

Mystery Logo #2

Here’s another Ohio company popular with DIYers, though this one started much more recently, in 1994. The idea for the product came during a trip to Indonesia, when the company’s founder noticed locals making teak furniture with a particularly strong adhesive. The brand and its iconic logo immediately conjures strength, as does its slogan: For the Toughest Jobs on Earth. The Cincinnati-based company now sells tape and other adhesives alongside its familiar and famous glue, and its muscular simian mascot is immediately recognizable.

Answer: Gorilla Glue

https://gorillatough.com/pro-tips

Mystery Logo #3

This might be one of the most recognizable logos in history, though we’ve been debating what this smiling character actually is since 1958. The company behind the logo wanted to convey to the public that their product cleaned “like magic,” according to a New York Times obituary of the person who created it. And what conveys magic in a bottle more than a genie? Yep, you heard it here: Procter & Gamble’s famous cleaning pal is a genie, not a sailor or whatever other strapping, earring-wearing persona you may have guessed over the years. Fun fact: He almost had a nose ring!

Answer: Mr. Clean

https://www.mrclean.com/en-us/about-mr-clean

Mystery Logo #4

Where would we be without this DIY and home improvement juggernaut? No cute characters here; this famous logo has a utilitarian vibe in keeping with the company’s no-nonsense, do-it-yourself ethos. In the late 1970s, when this company was founded in Georgia, several designs were discussed and discarded before the marketing team landed on a plain square stamped with the company name on an upward slant. The idea was to evoke freight shipping crates, and the logo’s bright background color, which can also be seen on the warehouse giant’s friendly employees, was chosen to simulate activity. One step inside these stores and you can see the choice was the correct one.

Answer: Home Depot

https://corporate.homedepot.com/media/home-depot-logojpg

Mystery Logo #5

This logo depicts a real person, 9-year-old Michael E. Brady, who was a neighbor of the man commissioned to design the logo. The company dates back to 1907 and started as a subsidiary of the National Lead Company, now called NL Industries. As you can probably guess, the product contained lead—at least until 1978, when it was banned. But the company is still going strong (and was bought in 1980 by another company on this list), and the same child adorns every can to this day. Oh, one final hint: The boy was Irish, not another European nationality that, if I said it, would give away the entire answer.

Answer: Dutch Boy

https://www.dutchboy.com/en/about-us

Mystery Logo #6

Logos don’t have to be particularly flashy to be memorable. The solid, dependable design of this popular home improvement brand’s masthead has gone through many changes since North Wilkesboro Hardware started in 1921—but every single one is instantly recognizable. The founder, whose name preceded the store name, partnered with his brother-in-law Carl Buchan in the 1940s, and that’s about the time the logo started to take shape. At first, it was simply the founder’s name in solid block letters with Thousands Do … You Should Too underneath. Buchan bought out his brother-in-law in 1952 but kept the original owner’s name, which can still be seen on the bright blue house logo that we know today.

Answer: Lowe’s

https://corporate.lowes.com/

Mystery Logo #7

Henry Ford had a hand in this company’s founding. In 1918, he asked tool and die maker A.H. Petersen to manufacture a light, portable power drill so that workers on the assembly lines of the Ford Motor Company could use it with one hand. In the 1920s, the company was bought and rebranded as the name we know today, and the logo was set soon after—and has barely changed since. Featuring the name of the company in white against a bright red background, the trademark lightning bolt that underlines the company name—which also happens to be the name of a good-sized Midwestern city—is a nod to the company’s dominance in the electric power tool industry.

Answer: Milwaukee Tool

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/

Mystery Logo #8

This brand’s logo is synonymous with strength, and it hasn’t changed for nearly 160 years. The company it represents is even older than that though: It started in 1846 in the kitchen of the company’s co-founder, John Dwight, when he and Dr. Austin Church started packaging a powerful yet gentle cleaner and all-around useful household product. When Church retired, his son James came on board and brought the logo with him from his other company, the Vulcan Spice Company. If you’re not up on your Roman mythology, Vulcan was the god of fire who, with his mighty hammer and anvil, forged the weapons of the ancients. Did you guess it yet? Just look in your fridge or cupboard for a hint.

Answer: Arm & Hammer

https://www.armandhammer.com/en/about-us

Mystery Logo #9

Electricians will get this one right away because this tool brand is synonymous with quality and has been since 1857. The familiar logo came a little bit later, in the early 1900s, when the electrification of the U.S. was in its infancy. Featuring a lineman atop an electrical pole, this brand logo can be found on everything from pliers and screwdrivers to tape measures, fish tapes and circuit tracers. The company also has an entire line of occupational protective gear, toolboxes and just about everything else a tradesperson could need.

Answer: Klein Tools

https://www.kleintools.com/content/logos

Mystery Logo #10

Here’s a tough one! This logo is known as an “armature in a circle,” and if you can get this without looking it up, you officially win the quiz and the day. It was designed in 1918 by the company’s chief engineer, Gottlob Honold, who modeled it after the armature in a magneto ignition device. If that doesn’t help (totally understandable), a magneto is a type of electrical generator and the armature is what moves through the magnetic field to induce voltage. It also kind of looks like a double-sided mushroom. However you picture it, this logo was trademarked in 1919 and has been stamped on power tools, measuring devices, spark plugs and (spoiler alert) dishwashers ever since.

Answer: Bosch

https://www.bosch.com/stories/creation-of-the-bosch-logo/

Sources:

Sherwin-Williams: “History”

Gorilla Glue: “Our Story”

New York Times: “Richard Black, 92, Artist Who Conjured ‘Mr. Clean,’ Dies”

Home Depot: “Before the Orange Sign: Building the Home Depot Brand”

Brittanica: “Home Depot”

Dutch Boy: “About Us”

Lowe’s: “Our History”

Milwaukee Tool: “History of Milwaukee Tool”

Arm & Hammer: “About Us”

Klein Tools: “History”

Alloy Artifacts: “Klein Tools”

Bosch: “Armature in a circle”

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