What do you get when you combine two great American tool companies into one? You get 327 combined years of tool making experience. That’s right, 327 combined years! On March 9, 2017 Stanley Black & Decker announced that it completed the purchase of the Craftsman Brand from Sears Holdings.
Stanley Black & Decker History
Stanley Black & Decker got its start in the United States back in 1843 when Fredrick Trent Stanley founded Stanley Bolt Manufacturing, which accounts for 174 years experience. In 1920 Stanley Bolt Manufacturing merged with Stanley Rule and Level Company, founded by Fredrick’s cousin Henry Stanley in 1857 (which accounts for another 63 years of knowledge and experience in the tool manufacturing industry). With the addition of Craftsman, Stanley has added another 90 years of experience!
Fredrick Trent Stanley
Fredrick Trent Stanley was born in 1802 in New Britain, Connecticut. He moved in with his brother William After losing his wife, Melvinia, and two youngest sons (Alfred and Fredrick) to Scarlet fever, then in 1843 the Stanley brother’s opened Stanley Bolt Manufacturing in New Britain, Connecticut.
Henry Stanley
Apparently the fruit of the Stanley family tree had a penchant for tools and manufacturing because Fredrick’s cousin Henry (born in 1807 also in New Britain, Connecticut) Founded Stanley Rule and Level Company in 1857.
Craftsman’s Beginnings
Unlike the two Stanley companies, Craftsman began as a line of tools trademarked by Sears in 1927. Sear’s head of hardware at the time, Arthur Burrows, admired the name used by Craftsman-Tool Company so much he bought it for a mere $500! The early brand catered to farmers, however the Craftsman brand has evolved and expanded over the years to become one of the most recognized and trusted names in tools.
According to Stanley, “Craftsman has a rich legacy as an iconic brand within [the] U.S. in power & hand tools and storage products as well as [a] strong presence in lawn & garden products.” The company intends to localize manufacturing and focus on U.S. production, using global materials.
Craftsman Lifetime Warranty
For those of us who rely on the Craftsman lifetime warranty when purchasing our power and hand tools, you will be relieved to know that according to the company they “intend to honor existing warranties, and offer similar warranties going forward,” and yes, Sears will continue sourcing, selling and marketing Craftsman branded products as well. For more information about the Craftsman warranty customers can call 888-331-4569 or visit Craftsman.com. If you bought a Craftstman product at Sears or Kmart and have a question about your warranty you should call 1-888-331-4569 OPTION 1.
thefutureofcraftsman.com
More Solutions for Customers
According to Stanley Black & Decker, the acquisition of Craftsman will add to its breadth of brands and add even more solutions for its consumers to utilize. They cite Craftsman’s “rich history, high consumer awareness, purchase intention and loyalty” as motivating factors behind the purchase. Stanley hopes to build upon Craftsman’s iconic American brand. The company will focus on “cost, quality, and delivery of solutions to customers at the highest standards.”
