stanley looking to buy craftsman tools division from sears

Grumpy

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
https://www.craftsman.com/history

http://alloy-artifacts.org/craftsman-early-tools.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wire...sman-tool-brand-stanley-black-decker-44570365

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craftsman_(tools)

http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2014/08/who-makes-what-tools/

http://www.woodsmall.com/tools.htm

http://www.bricklin.org/techcentral/tcarticlewhotools.htm

READING THE LINKS WILL BE HELPFUL

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/05/stan...uy-sears-craftsman-brand-for-900-million.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-sears-sells-craftsman-stanley-20170105-story.html


most of us have a few craftsman/sears tools, and I'd bet most people know that the QUALITY has changed over the last few decades , sears never made craftsmen tools they had other manufacturers produce them,it looks like sears is selling off craftsman tools so hopefully both the quality will improve and the grantee will be honored on existing tools
currently many of the craftsman tools are imports, that may and hopefully will change or at least I hope the quality improves,
lately I've been buying COBALT, STANLEY AND HUSKY
simply because there are damn few sears stores still open in my area
while home depot, lowes, and ace hardware and napa are local
Most of the guys in my generation had a good many craftsman tools, but the quality seems to have dropped over the last 20 years so that even harbor freight , has some similar quality tools now.
the quality of the mechanic hand tools being produced, by any company is mostly the result of the engineering parameters,the people designing and ordering the parts production, set up, that are being demanded, and the price or cost to meet those strength, stress, wear, corrosion and fatigue levels
are always a trade off, it just costs more to have a light weight, high strength and highly accurately made, exactly to spec,matching too the blue print manufactured tool, and while modern manufacturing techniques can greatly reduce the per tool cost IF the parts made in MASS quantities , low volume production runs on individual parts can increase the per part cost a great deal.

it might cost $200K-$800K to set up a single production line, and 50 cents to a few dollars worth of materials might be used in the production of each hand tool.
make a million at a run, and amortized costs per tool go way lower than if your knocking out 1500-5000 at a run then setting up the machinery for the next batch
and no company can afford to produce a million at a batch too lower individual costs unless the product sells in huge batches at a profit constantly.
something like a ratchet wrench probably cost less than 10%-20% of what it sells for too produce, but its cost to build,ship, inventory ,advertise,and market adds up rapidly, especially if you can,t sell them in batches of 50K-100K every few days.
County's like America, England and Germany used to be known for generally producing better quality tools than places like China and India , but now that many corporations are global where a manufacturer is located does not necessarily indicate the QUALITY of the parts being manufactured, but generally in my experience ,the old values hold true, Asian import stuff does NOT hold to the same level of quality, that AMERICAN AND GERMANY AND ENGLAND's company's do.

related threads

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/precision-measuring-tools.1390/#post-68194

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...rom-complete-but-it-will-get-you-started.834/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/battery-charger-for-the-shop.928/#post-55689

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/tap-and-die-sets.1264/#post-6141

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bare-minimum-tools.11026/#post-51843

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...hine-tools-like-a-mill-lathe.8340/#post-28998

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-years-and-find-others-never.6098/#post-25893

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...op-needs-a-decent-drill-press.970/#post-25476

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/starter-tool-set.6032/#post-18696

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/what-hand-tools-to-buy.4069/#post-10827


LINKS WITH SUGGESTIONS, or memory joggers
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/precision-measuring-tools.1390/#post-52469

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...oker-clearancing-and-porting-polishing.11281/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/tool-boxes-and-chests.10357/page-2#post-47838

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/which-torque-wrench.342/#post-59396

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rod-bolt-mics-stretch-gauges.989/#post-51199

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bare-minimum-tools.11026/#post-48766

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...u-still-buy-multi-packs-of-plasti-gauge.4946/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-loads-and-installed-height.10709/#post-46658

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/most-versital-shop-welder.1594/#post-50625

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-customers-at-local-gunshop.13061/#post-68011

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ling-rings-in-piston-grooves.9490/#post-34908

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/valve-train-clearances-and-problems.528/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/under-car-safety.26/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/mechanics-creepers.3178/#post-38649

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...te-but-it-will-get-you-started.834/#post-1258
 
Last edited:
NEW OWNER OF CRAFTSMAN BRINGING JOBS BACK TO U.S.
Stanley Black & Decker buys Sears brand for $900M, will build U.S. plant
Nathan Bomey
@NathanBomey USA TODAY
One of the nation’s bestknown toolmakers, Stanley Black & Decker, said Thursday that it will move more manufacturing back to the U.S. from overseas, including construction of a new $35 million factory after acquiring the Craftsman brand from ailing retailer Sears Holdings.
Expanding American manufacturing makes “ business sense” amid “pervasive” uncertainty regarding the future of U.S. trade with China and Mexico, Stanley Black & Decker CEO James Loree told investors Thursday in a conference call.
Although he did not mention Donald Trump by name in his remarks to investors, Loree hinted that the move has the side benefit of inoculating his company from the possible effects of the president-elect’s threatened “ border tax,” a tariff on imports.
“It’s going to be advisable to have more manufacturing in the U.S.,” Loree said.
The sale of Craftsman marks another big move by Sears Holdings to stem losses. It also announced the closing of another 150 stores, including 108 Kmart locations.
Stanley Black & Decker is buying Craftsman for about $900 million, including future royalty payments. The move came several months after Sears put the Craftsman, Kenmore and DieHard brands up for sale as it seeks an elusive turnaround. Including the closing of 108 Kmart and 42 Sears stores, the company said the moves are “a difficult but necessary step as we take actions to strengthen the company’s operations and fund its transformation.”
Stanley Black & Decker has about 3,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs today, up 800 from three years ago, according to the toolmaker. It was not immediately clear how many jobs the company plans to add.
Loree said the location of the new manufacturing plant to produce Craftsman products has not yet been determined. The company currently operates 29 total U.S. plants.
About a half-century ago, the Craftsman brand was primarily made in America. Today it’s largely made overseas, Loree said.
“ We believe this is an excellent opportunity to re-Americanize and revitalize this legendary brand,” he told investors.
In addition to the threat of trade policies that could damage imports, manufacturing products in the U.S. to sell to American consumers reduces logistics and distribution costs and lowers the company’s environmental footprint, Loree said.
We believe this is an excellent opportunity to re-Americanize and revitalize this legendary brand.”
James Loree, CEO, Stanley Black & Decker
 
Trump has not taken over yet, but we are already heading in the right direction.

Unless you are one of those forever blind Democrats. What color is the sky in their world?

Isn't it strange that it was determined that Russia hacked "classified" DNC emails.
But aren't those the same emails from Hillary's home-brew server and cell phone
that "did not contain classified info"?
 
It coming, Sears will be a store of the past and close within a few more years. Sears had so many great money makers under one roof it was crazy! Coldwell Banker for Real Estate; Dean (something I forget) for investments; Kenmore is gone now, Die hard is nearly gone to International Battery. Go into any Sears store today, they cut back on the departments, looks dated and second rate. Their electronics dept use to be huge, not any more. You can tell when the end is near, the board will hire a new CEO with a great big salary (because the stock is worthless) and he'll fail almost totally in the first quarter of his first tenure.
 
I knew sears was DOOMED when they stopped sending out mail order catalogs,
and their service department , was basically sunbed out to other vendors and expensive.
and instead of replacing THE CATALOGS with an extensive on line web sight ,
they thought that people would still flock to brick & mortar stores
think about it , if your going to be in that commercial market the customers need a good reason to go to your store vs the competition, like,BEST BUY, and walmart, that are doing fairly well, and have, in many ways a similar line of goods,
but both advertise extensively and have a large selection and low prices, they deal in volume!
if your competing commercially you need a reason to have consumers visit your locations and a reputation of standing behind your products
 
Last edited:
Every thing that made sears great has faded there products that made them a household name became crap. My parents have riding mower from there broke and suffers from poor design. Engine is fine but the rest of the little stuff is crap. I grew up looking through that catalog especially around Christmas time. But the whole shift from catalog to bulk email is not doing justice. I can scan and delete emails if I get a catalog in the mail I will look through it. Websites and emails supply links. A catalog has you flipping through pages. Like a supermarket has you going to the far corner for milk you have more of a chance to see some thing you might want. Just like Montgomery Wards which was Sears biggest competitor it will fade away.
 
http://www.bricklin.org/techcentral/tcarticlewhotools.htm

Craftsman tools available at Lowes
(I'M QUOTING THIS)

I was in my local Lowe's the other night and they also have a huge Craftsman display right at the front entrance.

Here's some info for those who may want to know.

Lowes sells a line of Mechanics Tools called Kobalt which is made by Snap-On.

Home Depot's Husky brand is made by Stanley Mechanics Tools, a division of the Stanley Works. Husky are also good tools and have a good lifetime warranty (they'll even replace your broken Craftsman with an equivalent Husky). Until 1994 or so, Stanley also made Sears Craftsman tools.

Sears Craftsman is now made by Danaher Tools. Danaher also manufactures MatCo Tools, the third largest player in the Mobile Automotive industry (behind MAC and Snap-On). Odds are, if you own any Craftsman tools that are older than about five years ago, they were made by Stanley in plants in Dallas, Texas, Witchita Falls, Texas, and Sabina, Ohio.

Stanley also owns MAC Tools and manufactures MAC tools in the same plants. Now here's the kicker: MAC Tools, Proto Tools (a very expensive industrial brand), Husky Tools, and, (prior to five or so years ago) Craftsman Tools are all made from the same forgings in the same plants. Proto is unique because it goes through addtional testing and certification because it is used by NASA, the military, and industrial customers (including General Motors).

There are three MAJOR players in the USA mechanics tool business: Stanley, Danaher, and Snap-On. Stanley and Danaher (almost identical in sales revenue at about $28 billion each) are the biggest followed by Snap-On. Each of these three manufacture and sell tools under a variety of brands (there are many other brands that Stanley makes that I haven't even named). The quality between these three manufacturers is roughly the same. I know its a bit of a let-down to hear that, but its a simple fact.

There are a hand full of other minor players (Vermont American, etc) and an endless list of Taiwanese import tool companies (some of which Stanley own as well as Danaher to serve the lower end consumer import brands at WalMart, etc). How do I know all of this? I work for Stanley Mechanics Tools, specifically with the Proto Industrial brand. I personally do not think that MAC, MatCo, or Snap-On branded tools are worth the extra markup since they use the same forgings and manufacturing processes that make Husky and Kobalt and pre-1994 Craftsman. Where you need to pay attention are things like ratchets and torque wrenches. There are different specifications of ratchets and you do pay for the difference. Some mechanics require a finer, more precise ratcheting mechanism than guys like me who just bang around in the garage on the weekends.[/quote]


From wikipedia -

--------------

Easco Hand Tools was an American manufacturer of hand tools. It is best known for being the main supplier of mechanic's tools for the Craftsman brand. Its tools were also sold under the Allen and KD Tools brands after its acquisition by Danaher Corporation. The brand name was gradually phased out by Danaher.
History

The company began as Moore Drop Forging Company in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1900[1] or 1901.[2] In 1938 Moore became a vendor for Sears Roebuck.[1] In 1967, Moore Drop Froging was acquired by Eastern Stainless Steel Corporation, a manufacturer of stainless and specialty steel. Easco continued the Craftsman contract with Sears. By 1969, the parent company was known as Easco Corporation.[1]
In 1985, Easco Corporation was acquired via a hostile takeover by Equity Group Holdings, controlled by the investment brothers Steven Rales and Mitchell Rales and taken private. The hand tools division of the company was taken public, and the other divisions were sold to an investment group including Citicorp Venture Capital.[3] In 1990, the hand tool company was acquired by the brothers' Danaher Corporation.[4] This acquisition made the tools division the largest part of Danaher.[5] In 1991, Sears selected Danaher to be the exclusive supplier of Craftsman mechanic's tools.[6]
In 2010, Danaher merged its tools division with Cooper Tools to form Apex Tool Group. The same year, Apex closed the Gastonia, North Carolina plant where Easco manufactured sockets since 1978.[7]


----------


I made torque wrench testing machines for the KD Tools Lancaster PA plant when they were making all the CDI micrometer type torque wrenches there for everyone who sold them with their own brand specific ratchet heads, including Snap-On. This got me a look into some of the tool manufacturing in the US. Easco bought KD Tools in the late '70s and moved the CDI production to the Lancaster plant. Easco later closed the plant and moved the Lancaster production to NC to get rid of the union in Lancaster. Easco is who made all those Craftsman lifetime guaranteed wrenches everyone inherited from their fathers in the last 100 years.


Snap-on sockets may be now made in the same plant as kobalt, but I know first hand that they were at least at one time tougher than any other. I bought a full set of Snap On tools from a retiring mechanic. 2 of the standard 1/2 drive sockets were worn out from being used on an impact wrench - 9/16 and 5/8. I asked my dealer to replace them, he handed them back and said "They need to be broken before I can replace them". I took the hint and set about to break them. Vise didn't work. Hammer didn't work. Sledge didn't work. Made a tapered punch and hit it with a sledge - that didn't work. Finally I had to make a punch with a rather gradual taper and use a 50 ton press to break those sockets. And all I did was crack it, at that point I was kind of afraid to try to break a piece out of the socket by going farther because of the tonnage involved. The crack was enough to get it replaced. (I probably worked for 2 hours to get a socket replaced, smart kid, eh?)

I have an engine that has cylinder barrels held on with 12 point head capscrews with the shoulders turned down for clearance - this needs a box wrench with the wall ground thin to fit on the heads. After I broke the second Snap On wrench torquing them, I bought a few other brands because they were significantly cheaper. I couldn't find a brand that would tighten a head bolt without breaking the first time, much less last for a few months like the Snap On wrenches did. That tells me the alloy used is different - this is how snap On can make their wrenches thinner to begin with.
user_offline.gif
 
Grumpy said:
Craftsman tools available at Lowes
(I'M QUOTING THIS)

I was in my local Lowe's the other night and they also have a huge Craftsman display right at the front entrance.

Here's some info for those who may want to know.

Lowes sells a line of Mechanics Tools called Kobalt which is made by Snap-On.

Home Depot's Husky brand is made by Stanley Mechanics Tools, a division of the Stanley Works. Husky are also good tools and have a good lifetime warranty (they'll even replace your broken Craftsman with an equivalent Husky). Until 1994 or so, Stanley also made Sears Craftsman tools.

Sears Craftsman is now made by Danaher Tools. Danaher also manufactures MatCo Tools, the third largest player in the Mobile Automotive industry (behind MAC and Snap-On). Odds are, if you own any Craftsman tools that are older than about five years ago, they were made by Stanley in plants in Dallas, Texas, Witchita Falls, Texas, and Sabina, Ohio.

Stanley also owns MAC Tools and manufactures MAC tools in the same plants. Now here's the kicker: MAC Tools, Proto Tools (a very expensive industrial brand), Husky Tools, and, (prior to five or so years ago) Craftsman Tools are all made from the same forgings in the same plants. Proto is unique because it goes through addtional testing and certification because it is used by NASA, the military, and industrial customers (including General Motors).

There are three MAJOR players in the USA mechanics tool business: Stanley, Danaher, and Snap-On. Stanley and Danaher (almost identical in sales revenue at about $28 billion each) are the biggest followed by Snap-On. Each of these three manufacture and sell tools under a variety of brands (there are many other brands that Stanley makes that I haven't even named). The quality between these three manufacturers is roughly the same. I know its a bit of a let-down to hear that, but its a simple fact.

There are a hand full of other minor players (Vermont American, etc) and an endless list of Taiwanese import tool companies (some of which Stanley own as well as Danaher to serve the lower end consumer import brands at WalMart, etc). How do I know all of this? I work for Stanley Mechanics Tools, specifically with the Proto Industrial brand. I personally do not think that MAC, MatCo, or Snap-On branded tools are worth the extra markup since they use the same forgings and manufacturing processes that make Husky and Kobalt and pre-1994 Craftsman. Where you need to pay attention are things like ratchets and torque wrenches. There are different specifications of ratchets and you do pay for the difference. Some mechanics require a finer, more precise ratcheting mechanism than guys like me who just bang around in the garage on the weekends.
Click to expand...
[/QUOTE]
Sure is Confusing Grumpy.
I think we can both agree Snap On Makes the Best Torque Wrenches.
Lol.
 
More of the same old ....... buy up the competitor, put them out of business,
fill the void created with cheaper quality, & maximize profits.
 
I was looking over a franchise agreement from a Sears holding corporation. They are selling just as they used to, Sears stores that sell Tools, hardware and Paint with lawn and Garden equipment and supplies all simply called Sears Hardware LLC.
These 11,000 sq ft stores are for sale starting at $175,000.
Sears Appliences LLC start at $162,500 and average stores are just slightly less overall compared to Sears Hardware stores.
I was interested in taking over a Sears Appliance store about 15 yrs ago. Income is projected to be about nearly $150k net income per store, hardware stores net considerably higher income but is offset by higher wage costs. Don’t be fooled guys. Sears won’t go away like you think. Yes, it’s going to loose weight and size like a fat lady with a new gastric bypass, but name recognition, market placement and knowing how to use the Internet like the old Sears Catalogs will hold their head above water.
I won’t let the cat out of the bag yet, (because of internet search engines) there’s a good secrete playing out right now with two privately held floor and walls Sales companies that Sears Holdings PLC and a new food and convenience stores like Fresh Foods (hint, hint) and Farmers Sq. Markets have been playing as venture capitalists. This will shake things up for (blank blank), but I’m related to someone who knows what’s coming and there’s no investing going on with any such knowledge.
In the coming months, I’ll refer back to this thread with published news in hand.


I wish that I got in on food distribution as that is the new money channel for Amazon right now and growing faster every day AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINING!
 
Uh, yes they can.
Amazon competes for prepaid fuel contracts and consumers shop for filling stations nearby and purchase cards or passcodes to use at the pump. Remember Priceline.com had a bidding system?

We have a fully automated Farm & Home fueling stop off of Rt. 309 in Telford, PA. They take deliveries from the lowest priced fuel suppliers including 1 ultra high octane racing fuel pump and you purchase a filling card (available on Amazon.com) to pump your own choice of fuel 24/7
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top