Our history

We’re Making History. One Tool to the Next.

CRAFTSMAN® history video.

1920s

1927: The CRAFTSMAN® brand makes it's debut.

1929: CRAFTSMAN® electric drills are introduced, described as powerful, of rugged construction, well-balance 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, use 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. 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.