The story of how Salisbury transformed itself from a simple downtown Chicago hardware store in the 1920s to the industrial giant it is now is a good example of how one good idea can change everything. Salisbury, approached by workers for ideas on how to make electrical power lines safer to handle, cut a simple rubber harden hose lengthwise, popped it onto the power line, and sealed it with tape. One patent later, an industry was born.

Today, Salisbury offers a full range of electrical safety products, including rubber gloves and other insulators. Generally, the company's products are not available to the public except through authorized distributors.