Goodbye to Stanley Tools

by Mark Lankshear

Sheffield has been known for metal and particularly cutlery since at least the 13th century. Benjamin Huntsman's invention of high quality 'crucible steel' in 1742 led to Sheffield becoming the worlds leading tool making centre. This month, after 65yrs in it’s first English base, one of the worlds most well known tool manufacturers is leaving Woodside.

By 1862 there were over 250 tool manufacturers in Sheffield, including John Sorby and Sons who moved to Spital Hill in 1823, and Spear and Jackson's Aetena Works on Saville Street.

Sheffield steel and tool manufacturers sold many of their goods in America. Some een had permanent representatives there until they were hit by high American import tariffs in the late 19th Century. Stanley Tools was founded in 1843 by Frederick T Stanley and his younger brother William, in New Britain, Connecticut. The company began by manufacturing door bolts, hinges and other hardware in a modest one-story wooden building. 

The business grew steadily, joining with other companies and became Stanley Works, adding a broad range of rules, levels and planes as well as hammers, carpenters squares and other hand tools to their range. In 1937, with the purchase of Sheffield-based steel and fine tools maker, J A Chapman at Woodside, Stanley started manufacturing in the UK. In 1965 Stanley introduced the world's first retractable blade knife - The Stanley 99, still the world's best selling knife.


The company acquired an international reputation and opened other plants around the UK. Earlier this year the closure of the Woodside base with the loss of 200 local jobs was announced. New works will open at the more modern Hellaby factory in Rotherham, with 110 new jobs. The companies main financial base will move from America to Bermuda in April this year for tax reasons.