Nowadays almost all men (and an increasing number of women, too) have at least an electric drill in their households. Many do-it-yourselfers also have a jigsaw and usually a cordless screwdriver, too. The reason behind the selection of technical equipment in today's homes is probably to be found in the do-it-yourself boom that began in the 1950s. In those days, the “Bosch-Zünder” philosophized as follows: “Primarily, every individual feels a natural urge to produce something finished by his own hands. The division of labour practised in industrial production deprives the individual of this opportunity; at his workplace in the factory, each worker can only make a tiny contribution to the whole. Another reason: after work and at the weekend, people have time to do home handicrafts. As well as things that can be usefully employed in the home, model gliders, model ships, possibly even a full-size glider are made. Keen modellers can even compete with one another to produce the most beautiful model; the winner here is not the man with the most fertile imagination but the man with the most suitable tool.”

Safety first!

It was in 1952 that Bosch provided do-it-yourselfers with this suitable tool. Called the “Bosch Combi”, this power tool was a development of the "hand motor", a universally employable electric tool developed by Bosch for professional applications. Drive was provided by a small electric motor fitted in the handle, a pioneering idea. From the late 1920s onwards, Bosch had been gathering experience in the field of electric power tool construction. But a tool for not-so-technically-minded laymen had to meet special requirements. The greatest emphasis was placed on absolute operating safety. For this purpose, the new power tool was doubly insulated, i.e. the motor was not only surrounded by an unbreakable protective capsule of insulation material, all voltage-carrying components were, in addition, separated from one another by intermediate layers of insulation in such a way that no leak currents generated by sanding dust or moisture could occur. Even if the motor windings were damaged, this insulation would provide complete protection against any transmission of current. The appliance could even be connected without risk to unearthed sockets. Any layman, even schoolchildren, were now able to use a highly-efficient power tool of the kind previously reserved for professionals only. Over the past fifty years, the range of useful electrical helpers for the do-it-yourselfer has undergone almost infinite expansion. But the accessories with which the Bosch Combi of 1952 could be fitted still turn many a model-maker green with envy even today.