Our history

1920s

1927: The CRAFTSMAN^® brand makes its debut.

1929: CRAFTSMAN^® electric drills are introduced, described as powerful, of rugged construction, well-balanced, and easily handled.

1930s

1932: The first wrench made of vanadium steel is 50% thinner yet 200% stronger than previous models.

1934: Lawnmowers are launched at a significant cost advantage over competitive models.

1935: Silent film star, Colleen Moore, along with a 100-person construction team, uses CRAFTSMAN^® power tools to build a fairy castle. Completion takes over seven years and costs nearly $500,000.

1940s

1940: CRAFTSMAN^® power tool sales increase 1550% since their introduction.

1941: Several aircraft schools are exclusively using CRAFTSMAN^® hand tools when training technicians.

1942: As noted in the Power Tools Catalog, “CRAFTSMAN^® plays an important part in building up America's defense in airplane plants, in defense industries, and in industrial schools.”

1950s

1950: Salesman, Ed Faulk stocks a truck with merchandise and sets out on a 10,000-mile journey across America. The mobile tool store is so successful that another truck rolls out the following year.

1952: In the second phase of America's largest housing construction project, Levitt & Sons begins building 17,000 homes in Levittown, Pa. Site foreman Leonard Calderwood relies on his CRAFTSMAN^® 6.25-inch circular saw for his lumber-cutting chores.

1953: The suburbs continue their rapid growth, and the lawns are more extensive. CRAFTSMAN^® riding mowers hit the market at $350.

1955: CRAFTSMAN^® rotary mowers sales achieve the 1½ million-unit mark.

1959: The CRAFTSMAN^® Power Workshop, a 5-in-1 tool, designed to save time, money, and space is introduced. The tool is a combination tilting arbor bench saw, jointer-planer, jig saw, saber saw, and disc sander.

1960s

1961: CRAFTSMAN^® rolls out the first mower with a wholly enclosed engine, key-lock self-starter, an automatic blade clutch to prevent stalling, and a hand-controlled blade brake.

1965: CRAFTSMAN^® rolls out a fleet of tool trucks to call on mechanics shops. Each truck is stocked with more than $5,000 worth of tools.

1966: CRAFTSMAN^® quick-release ratchet wrench becomes one of the most popular wrenches in the hand tool industry.

1970s

1974: CRAFTSMAN^® goes green with cordless electric rotary and riding mowers.

1976: The 100 millionth CRAFTSMAN^® screwdriver rolls off the assembly line.

1977: The CRAFTSMAN^® brand celebrates its 50th anniversary.

1978: The 2 millionth CRAFTSMAN^® radial saw and 1 millionth WeedWacker™ are sold.

1980s

1981: President Jimmy Carter’s staff present him with a CRAFTSMAN^® woodworking set as his farewell gift.

1984: The CRAFTSMAN^® brand introduces the first electronic portable and bench power tools.

1986: Using consumer feedback, CRAFTSMAN^® completely redesigns modular power tools.

1989: 400 million screwdrivers, 44 million pliers, and 23 million adjustable wrenches are sold between 1965 and 1989.

1989: U.S. Army infantry officer Kenneth Carrick uses a CRAFTSMAN^® hammer and two CRAFTSMAN^® screwdrivers to chip off portions of the Berlin Wall. Despite the pounding, the tools were still in excellent shape, according to Carrick.

1990s

1991: CRAFTSMAN^® Club debuts, saving members more than $250,000 in the first four months.

1994: More than a million CRAFTSMAN^® lawnmowers are sold in a single season, an industry first.

1995: Mike Skinner wins the first CRAFTSMAN^® sponsored NASCAR SuperTruck Series race.

1997: Debut of a new CRAFTSMAN^® logo.

2000s

2000: CRAFTSMAN^® tools are available at more than 150 Army and Air Force Base Exchanges and Post Exchanges worldwide.

2001: The CRAFTSMAN^® laser miter saw adds a new wrinkle to an old tool. The Laser Trac™ system projects a line on the wood that users can align with their cutting line, permitting accurate cuts. 

2001: Consumers rank CRAFTSMAN^® number one in quality among all American brands, according to a Harris Poll Equitrend^® survey.

2002: CRAFTSMAN^® celebrates 75 years with a catalog featuring more than 4,000 items, including 739 new products. Customers purchasing a CRAFTSMAN^® 212-piece mechanic's tool set receive a 22-karat, gold-plated 3/8-inch quick-release ratchet as a free anniversary keepsake.

2007: A Harris Interactive poll gives CRAFTSMAN^® the highest score for both "Brand Expectations" and "Trust."

2009: The readers of Popular Mechanics name CRAFTSMAN^® their favorite brand of hand tools in their Reader's Choice Awards.

2010s

2010: The CRAFTSMAN^® brand launches its first concept showroom called the CRAFTSMAN^® Experience.

2011: CRAFTSMAN^® products are available through ACE Hardware^® and Costco^®.

2012: CRAFTSMAN^® brand celebrates its 85th anniversary.

2017: CRAFTSMAN^® wins prestigious Edison awards for innovation. The Flex Claw™ Hammer wins Gold in the Tools category and the Sidewinder™ Tape Measure wins Bronze in the Home and Lawn Maintenance group.

2017: Stanley Black & Decker purchases CRAFTSMAN^®.

2018: CRAFTSMAN^® revives long-established pride in superior quality with re-engineered products, bringing back historically reliable, high-performance tools and making them more accessible to purchase.

2020s

2022: CRAFTSMAN^® honored with nine Pro Tool Innovation Awards, representing best-in-class products for the construction, landscaping, and trade categories.

2023: CRAFTSMAN^® announced as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Truck Series and introduced exclusive discounts and programs for Deal of the Race™ fans.