| Product type | Hand tools |
|---|---|
| Owner | Stanley Black & Decker |
| Country | USA |
| Introduced | May 31, 1919; 101 years ago |
| Previous owners | National Hand Tool, Litton Industries, New Britain Machine Company, Applied Power Corporation, American Grinder |
| Website | www.stanleyproto.com |
Blackhawk is an American brand of hand tools. It is currently a sub-brand of the Proto division of the Stanley Black & Decker.
MAC Tools 40 (1978) years Limited Edition Pocket Knife with Brass Handle and 3 Blades, Size: 4' Handle, 9' with Extended Blades, Only 12,000 in the Collection, Made in USA, Item #A317 Product information. According to the complaint, the Zero Degree ratchets, made under Stanley's MAC Tools trademark, were marketed as Made in the USA, when the foreign content was actually a substantial part of the product. For a product to be labeled Made in the USA, it has to be all or virtually all made domestically.
History[edit]
Blackhawk Manufacturing was founded in 1919 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a subsidiary of the American Grinder Company (later named Applied Power Corporation). It made automotive tools, such as wrenches and sockets,[1] and a number of specialty tools.[2]
Blackhawk introduced a number of innovations to conventional drive tools, such as the 'Lock-On' system of locking sockets,[3] gearless ratchets,[4][5] telescoping ratchet handles,[6] and 7/16' drive tools.[7] Many of these designs were developed by engineers Edward Pfauser and Sigmund Mandl (the latter notable for having founded the Husky Wrench Company prior to working for Blackhawk). Tools from the mid-20th century had distinctive art deco styling and remain highly collectible.[8]
Blackhawk also partnered with the Armstrong Bros. Tool Company in the late 1920s through the late 1940s to produce a range of open-ended wrenches under the 'Blackhawk–Armstrong' label.[9]
Blackhawk also produced Blackhawk Jack brand floor jacks under the Blackhawk Mfg. Co. name including a handy 1-1/2 Ton heavy steel wheeled model.[10]
In the early 1950s, the Blackhawk hand tool line was acquired by the New Britain Machine Company. In the 1970s, Litton Industries purchased New Britain. In the 1980s, National Hand Tool acquired parts of Litton's erstwhile hand tools division, including the Blackhawk and Husky brands. And in 1986, the Stanley Works acquired National Hand Tool, and with it, the Blackhawk brand.[11]
Gallery[edit]
A Stanley-era Blackhawk round-head ratchet.
A modern Blackhawk pear-head ratchet.
A mechanic's tool set.
A set of combination wrenches.
References[edit]
- ^'Blackhawk Manufacturing: The Spirit of Innovation'. Alloy Artifacts. 2009-10-30. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^'Blackhawk Manufacturing: The Spirit of Innovation'. Alloy Artifacts. 2009-10-30. p. 5. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^'Blackhawk Manufacturing: The Spirit of Innovation'. Alloy Artifacts. 2009-10-30. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^US 1936640
- ^US 2003155
- ^US 2282148
- ^'Blackhawk Manufacturing: The Spirit of Innovation'. Alloy Artifacts. 2009-10-30. p. 5. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^Raynes, Travis (2014-05-23). 'Blackhawk Tools – A Well Kept Secret'. Tools in Action. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
- ^'Blackhawk Manufacturing: The Spirit of Innovation'. Alloy Artifacts. 2009-10-30. p. 3. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^'Best Mechanical Tool Sets'. Monday, 4 November 2019
- ^'Company Briefs'. The New York Times. 1987-01-01. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
External links[edit]
Since 1857, Klein Tools has been manufacturing tools in America, and it's as important for the Klein family to keep that tradition now, as it was more than 150 years ago. You see, Klein isn't just the name of our company; it's also our family name, so we have to be proud of everything we make.
These days, it can be hard to find companies that make products you can count on. But that's exactly what you'll get from Klein Tools.
We don't just make great products; we make great products that stand up to the demands of the professionals who use them every day. Because our standards are as high as yours, we demand that every one of our hand tools delivers all the performance, durability and precision that you need to get the job done right.
And by using only the highest quality materials, superior workmanship, and keeping our manufacturing as close to home as possible, we're able to uphold those rigorous standards.
Klein Tools continues to invest in U.S. manufacturing and is committed to maintaining its place as the favorite among electricians. Klein is the only major tool manufacturer worldwide focused on electrical and utility applications. No other manufacturer of hand tools and related products used in electrical applications makes more items in America than Klein Tools. We appreciate your business and interest in Klein Tools and hope the information on this page will answer questions you have about our commitment to US manufacturing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What commitment has Klein Tools made to American manufacturing?
A: Klein Tools was founded in the USA in 1857. We are continually investing in our manufacturing capabilities in the US as we grow our product lines. Over the last 10 years, the vast majority of our investments have been to increase our U.S. manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, while we have recently built several new facilities, we also continue to invest in our existing factories to support improvement initiatives in product quality and productivity. Future planned investments in excess of $100 million will allow us to manufacture in the USA some of the products we currently source as well as make new USA-made products that would otherwise be imported without this investment.
Q: What does ‘Made in the USA' mean?
A: When our products say ‘Made in the USA,' they are, in fact, made in the USA. It is illegal to mislabel a product's 'Country of Origin'. According to the FTC, 'for a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be ‘all or virtually all' made in the U.S. The term 'United States', as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories and possessions.' You can learn more here.
Q: How many of your tools are made in the USA?
A: The vast majority of the products we sell are made in the USA. The exact percentage changes frequently as we insource some products to our USA plants and add new products to our lineup. Klein has introduced many new US-manufactured products in recent years (hole-making, screwdrivers, fish tapes, utility wrenches, buckets, bags, etc.). We have invested in four new US manufacturing facilities in the past decade, and have invested heavily in new equipment and tooling in our plants to expand our capacity and quality.
Are Mac Tools American
Q: Why are some of your tools made overseas?
A: Like most global companies, we do source some products abroad, but Klein Tools makes 14 times more products here in the United States than we do in any other country. For any of our outsourced products, we invest our time and money into the design and quality of those products so that when you buy a Klein tool you'll know what all the professionals know… when you pick up a Klein, it'll never let you down.
Amazon app for mac computer. We live in an international business environment and Klein is expanding throughout the world selling products that are made in the USA. While we would like to manufacture every product we sell in the USA, it is just not possible. However, Klein Tools manufactures more SKUs of tools used in electrical applications here in the United States than any of our competitors.
With few, if any, exceptions, the products we source are new additions to our lineup or tools which we may not have the capabilities to manufacture ourselves immediately. Our job is to supply American tradespeople with the best tools available anywhere in the world, and we manufacture these tools ourselves, in the USA, when at all possible.
Q: Is Klein Tools shipping jobs overseas?
Mac Tools Used
A: Klein Tools has never closed a manufacturing facility in the United States and sent jobs overseas, and we have no intention of doing so in the future.
Where Are Mac Tools Made
You can read more about Klein Tools and its commitment to US Manufacturing online at ProTools Review or clicking the icon on the right.
Klein Tools operates the following plants in the U.S.:
Lincolnshire, IL • USACorporate Headquarters
Mansfield, TX • USAManufactures pliers, cable cutters and wire strippers
Mansfield, TX • USAManufactures screwdrivers, nut drivers and fishtapes
Elk Grove Village, IL • USAManufactures tool forgings of high quality, proprietary tool steel
Fort Smith, AR • USAManufactures leather and canvas goods
Cedar Rapids, IA • USAWorldwide Distribution Center
Bolivar, NY • USAManufactures high quality scissors and other cutlery products
Klein Tools de Mexico has operated a plant in Mexico City since 1970. This plant produces products for the Mexican and Central American markets. A few tools that are made here are sold in the U.S., like our knockout punches, but for the most part Mexican made products are consumed in Mexico.
