New Britain herald., 1924-04-03
STANLEY TOOLS ARE
 THE WORLDS TOOLS
Comprehensive Line Made Here
 Sell on Their Merits

DL LIlS past HufAiliEi -NrR Britain Herald man made a trip 10 the Pennsylvania coal fields to study at first hand the coal situation. siie stopped eR route at New York, PhIa- delphia. Reading, Pottsyille and 2 dozen or more less smaller mining cities, towns and villages. In every town or city large enough to boast of q hardware store h. found New Britain-mad commodities.
 One of the most striking evidences Of New Britain's importance 10 the industrial world was the fact that he noticed wherever he vent, from first class hardware jobbers 10 back street hook shops and that was the popu- l;.rity and general demand for Stanley tools.
 The manufacture of Stanley tools began nearly 75 years ago, when Augustus Stanley, T. A. Conklin and Cad Stanley organized 4. Stanley X Company in 1850 for the purpose Of making boxwood and ivory rules. The business, although starting in small place in the North < Stanley shop which later became a part Of the American Hardware corporation. was successful and speedily grew to where it manufactured products Of a much wider scope.
 At the beginning the business Of Seth Savage. who manufactured rules in Middletown and Bristol was ab- sorbcd, and in l s5s the conccrn con- sohdated with the Hall & Knapp Co. under the name of the Stanley Rule and Level Co. No one Of the original organizers is living today. The new firm did business on a portion of it's present site. and the consolidation at that time included the square and herel. making business and the manu- fscture Of plumbs and levels, owned by Hill & Crum of Unionyille.
 4 short time later the tool handle business on Arch street owned by Augustus and John stanlcy was ab- | sorbed. The handle business alone. even at that time assumed enormous proportions and all the hickory with. fin q raJious of 50 miles was pur- chased.
 Many of the logs were hauled to the plant by cattle teams. Tn l sf2 the rule manufacturing business own ed hy C. l.. Mead and known as tho "E. <. Stearns Co. of Braftleboro. Vt, was purchased and Mir. Mead be. came treasurer of the Stanley Rule and Level To.
 What was said to he the first roller skatln- rink in ths world vas opened ir Strickland hall on the present site of the old Ellhu Burritt school. and skates were made h .the Stanley Rule and Level Gn. \ greet tariety of steel, ivory and wooden products, both of useful nature and for toys. check CTS. chess, toy pistols, firing wooden proiestiles. match hoses, furniture knobs, eastern etc, rere added 10 the line in the years immediately follow ing the Civil War.
 One of the most important moves vas made In 1889 when the Baile, plane business owned hy Leonard Bailey of Bofton. was purchased and Bailey planes today are carried as a separate line.
 In i907 the company opened a fac tory in Canada. in 1909 fl acquired tho John <. f'rTv ro.. of Bridgeport and added to ts line of bfi braces and tool haudies. Prior io this. in 1909 the | $. Tool Co of plantstille was purchaytd and the manufacture Of screw drivers was included among the eompany's products.
 The making of carpenters steel squarrs was started in July, 1916. when the Eagle Square Mfg. O., Of shaftsbury was purchased.
 In 1918 the Atha Tool Co.. of New ark. \. l.. vas taken over and a line Of hammers, anvil tools. railroad track tools, sltdge1 etc. was added. To tho list Of other articles have becn sdJed all kinds Of carpenters toois. bit braces. breast drills, planes of an almost incopcni,ablc variety, chiscis. bits. screw drivers, mitre boxes. etc. One Of it's nof, outstanding products being tho No. 5j combination plane, which is adapted to become si short notice piow. dsdo ratbet. filetster and match plane beading and center beading. rash, slittlns and moulding work. being 3 ferltable "pianniug mill in itself" and containe ss standard cutters.
 The plant Is growing continuously, . five story warehouse having been built in 1928, an additional building being erected and three new stories being added to the office
 In March. 1920. inc Stanley Rule snd Level Co. officially papsed out Of