We have several links to assorted antique tool catalogs which you can download for free, all
are in adobe pdf form so you will need the latest version of the adobe reader which you can download free at www.adobe.com
This website does cost money to run, the information here is free for all but if you could
make a small donation it would help us out a lot to maintain the costs and to keep this site running!
The Stanley family had been making
hardware in New Britain from 1831 on; they used a series of other names before they became
the Stanley Works in 1852. In 1854 brothers August and Timothy
Stanley and Thomas Conklin an earlier rule maker in Bristol, CT. formed this separate company called Stanley & Co. Henry
Stanley of the Stanley Works brought about the consolidation ofA. Stanley &
Co. and Hall & Knapp to form this company in 1857 and was its first president. Although this company and the Stanley Works,
a maker of hardware, maintained separate corporate identities until 1920 when this company was merged into Stanley Works,
they had officers in common and obviously were closely interrelated. Before their merger A. Stanley & Co.had acquired Hill & Crum out of Unionville, CT. The Stanley Rule & Level CO. continued to expand its product line by acquiring other
companies making tools they wanted to add and to expand their market volume by acquiring competitive companies. The end result
was America’s preeminent tool making
company. Their major pre-1900 acquisitions were Charles L Mead successor to E.A. Stearns & Co., 1863; Bailey, Cheney &
Co., 1869; Leonard bailey & Co. 1878; Bailey Wringing Machine Co., 1880; R.H. Mitchell & Co. 1871; and Upston Nut
Co., 1893. Many of the approximately 44 patents issued to Leonard Bailey from 1855 to 1903 wound up with the Stanley Rule
& Level Co. through their acquisitions of bailey companies. Other pre-1900 patent rights obtained by Stanley include patents issued to Nathan S. Clement for a 19 March 1867 tool handle, A. Williams
for a combination gauge, W.T. Nicholson for levels, C.G. Miller for planes, G.A. Warren for planes, Dorn for planes and Justus
Traut for multiple plane patents. Many more companies and patents were acquired after 1900. The tool types cited for the company
are only those for which they are primarily known their complete line was too comprehensive to itemize. A Frank M. Bailey
was a Stanley plane room foreman and had three patents assigned to Stanley there may have been some confusions between Frank and Leonard in some writings about
the company. Information obtained from The Directory of American Toolmakers book by EAIA which you can visit thier website at
this link
http://www.eaiainfo.org/
As a young man in 1843,
Frederick T. Stanley founded The Stanley Works -- a small company that manufactured hinges, bolts and other door hardware in a one-story
wooden building in New Britain, Connecticut.
His vision was to create a hardware company with unsurpassed customer service, product innovation and integrity -- and to
offer products that would become the first choice among professionals around the world. With the early success of this mission
and an increasing demand for his high-quality goods, Mr. Stanley began exporting his products in the 1870s. Shortly after
the turn of the century, his rapidly growing business established its first production facilities outside the U.S., helping Frederick Stanley begin to realize his worldwide
mission. Soon after, The Stanley Works expanded its international operations by acquiring Stanley Rule and Level, the largest U.S.
manufacturers of hand tools, founded in 1857 by a relative of Mr. Stanley. By 1920, Stanley® brand tools and hardware were
preferred, and could be found, on every continent. Today, over 150 years after Frederick T. Stanley first opened his doors
for business, Stanley® is one of the worlds most recognized and trusted brand names for tools, hardware, doors and home decor
products. Staying true to Mr. Stanley’s principles, The Stanley
Works continues with expansion and diversification, offering over 50,000 different products for professionals, industry and
consumers. Stanley’s 1998 sales exceeded $2.72 billion
and its global presence is firmly established with 114 manufacturing and distribution facilities covering every major region
of the world. Stanley products are sold globally through distributors and retailers, including thousands of retailers in the
U.S. alone. The Stanley Works is a global manufacturer and marketer of tools, hardware, doors and home decor
products for professional, industrial, consumer and home improvement use. With a solid 156 year history, Stanley® is one of
the worlds most trusted names, synonymous with quality and value -- and is consistently the first choice among professionals.
Stanley's commitment
to professionals goes well beyond providing a comprehensive line of world-class, professional-grade, industry-specific products
Stanley encourages and enables every professional to maximize performance to do his or her best on every job through continuous
product innovation and strong product support. This information obtained from Stanley tools
visit them at the official Stanley Works website below
http://www.stanleyworks.com/
Stanley Official Website Link
I would like to thank the Stanley company for providing History and granting me permission to
show you the old catalogs. I would also like to thank EAIA for the history they also provided.
