Henry Ziemann, a master carpenter, founded the Empire Level Manufacturing Corporation in 1919. As the inventor of the modern level, he started a revolution in the industry that became the cornerstone of Empire.

In its first three years, Empire created the adjustable level with interchangeable and replaceable vials. They followed this first success with a series of innovations: the torpedo level, the Mono vial, the magnetic level and the first extruded aluminum rafter square. The company also introduced top read levels, Monster vials, interlocking T-Squares and invented the snap-in vial. They currently hold more than thirty active patents.

Today Empire Level is the leading designer and producer of levels, squares, layout tools and caution tape in the United States with dominant market share in the retail, contractor supply, and ''Do-It-Yourself'' markets.