The Stanley Works, originally a bolt and door hardware manufacturing company located in New Britain, Connecticut; was founded in 1843 by Frederick T. Stanley. A few years later, in 1857, Frederick’s cousin, Henry Stanley, founded The Stanley Rule and Level Company. In 1920, The Rule and Level Company merged with The Stanley Works and would go on to become its famous Hand Tools Division.
Over the years, The Stanley Works has produced some of the most innovative and useful tools ever made. Among these tools are the Bailey® Plane, the Surform® shaper, the PowerLock® tape rule and most recently the FatMax™ line of products. Today, more than ever, Stanley continues to be an industry leader in hand tool innovation.
For us, it all starts with you. Before we even begin designing a tool, we ask the people who use them everyday what they need from it. What do you use it for? How do you use it? What do you use it on? Lots of questions, but it gives us lots of information to work on new products. And then we test them. All testing is designed to mimic day-to-day use, and then some. We twist them, bend them, squash them, drop weights on them, grind them down, pull them apart and look at them under the microscope. We do this in blistering heat, freezing cold and soaking wet conditions. In short, to make them stronger, we first have to destroy them.
The results of all the research, testing and development our new products go through can be seen across our product. From FuBars and AntiVibe hammers to saws that stay sharp, staplers that don't misfire and levels that are twice as strong as before.
Stanley BLACK & DECKER
In 2010, the two companies of The Stanley Works and Black & Decker combined to form Stanley Black & Decker; to deliver the tools and solutions that industrial companies, professionals, and consumers count on to be successful when it really matters.
Since 1843, we’ve set the standard for excellence in everything we do. No company on earth has a stronger or more compelling history of delivering the hardworking, innovative, powerful tools that help professionals around the world build, repair, and protect the world’s most valuable things.
Stanley Black & Decker is the world’s largest tool manufacturer and security company. We employ almost 40,000 associates globally and operate in more than 175 countries.
We are the leader in tools and security. We are Stanley Tools. We are DeWalt. We are Mac Tools. We are Porter-Cable. And we are much more. We are the doors that protect you at airports. We are the lock and deadbolt on your front door. We are the hydraulic breakers that rescue trapped earthquake survivors. We are the people on the phone in an emergency.
No matter where you live, what car you drive, what stores you shop at, or what building you work in, you can bet that we had a hand in making it work. And you can guarantee that we’ll keep making it work.
Our History
When you trace it all the way back, it comes down to three individuals: Frederick Stanley, Duncan Black, and Alonzo Decker. Three passionate individuals who built powerful companies that they were so proud they put their names on them.
Hundreds of years later, we’re proud to continue their legacies and we’re proud to carry their names forward.
In 1843, Frederick Stanley started a small shop in New Britain, Connecticut, to manufacture bolts, hinges, and other hardware from wrought iron. With superior quality, consistent innovation, and rigorous operational improvement, Stanley’s company defined excellence, and so did his products.
In 1910, S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker started their shop, similar in size at first, in Baltimore, Maryland. Their shop has grown beyond anything they could have imagined.
Both companies grew in parallel over the ensuing decades, delivering world firsts and amassing an unparalleled family of brands and products and an even more impressive wealth of industry expertise.
1914 – FIRST DESK STAPLER
1930 – FIRST AUTOMATIC DOOR
1931 – FIRST STANLEY RECOILING TAPE MEASURE
1961 – FIRST CORDLESS DRILL
Just as it was in 1843, our passion for excellence is seen around the world in our disciplined operations, purposeful business growth, and loyal customer relationships.