The History of the Craftsman Tool Company

Craftsman is a line of tools that includes handoffices of the U.S. Forestry Service. After this,
tools, power tools, tool boxes, lawn and gardenthe Chief Forestry Engineer declared Craftsman
equipment and many other items that you wouldtools as a permanent part of the Service's shop
find in a garage or work building. These tools haveequipment.
been sold by Sears since 1927.Craftsman lawnmowers were first introduced in
A man by the name of Arthur Barrows was hired1934. The Sears fall catalog introduced the
by Sears in 1927 to be the head of theirCraftsman lawn and garden equipment that
hardware department. Arthur came up with theincludes the new rotary power mower in 1948. In
idea of creating a brand name for Sears that1953, Sears introduced the first Craftsman riding
would set it apart from other manufactures. Thelawn mower.
name "Craftsman" was being used byA trademark associated with Sears Craftsman
Marion-Craftsman Tool Company. Arthur liked thishand tools is that they come with a Lifetime
name and offered to pay Marion-Craftsman ToolGuarantee. The warranty states "If this
Company for rights to use the name. In order forCraftsman hand tool ever fails to give complete
a tool to be marked with the Craftsman brand,satisfaction, return it to any Sears store or other
the tool would have to pass a very rigorous setCraftsman outlet in the United States for free
of standards. The Craftsman brand was first usedrepair or replacement. This warranty gives you
on a line of saws.specific legal rights and you may have other
The Craftsman tools were first designed torights, which vary, from state to state". This
accommodate farmers and were made out ofwarranty program does not require a receipt or a
cast iron and not hardened. They were ugly anddated proof of purchase. In other words,
would lose their shape fairly easy, but the designCraftsman tools are guaranteed forever.
was perfect to fit a farmer's budget. ArthurBecause of the incredibly high reliability of these
Barrows moved to be the West Coast Mangertools, Craftsman is the official tool used by
for Sears and hired Tim Dunlap to fulfill hisNASCAR. Also, consumers have ranked the
position. At that time, America was starting toCraftsman brand as second in quality with the
move into the automobile age and Dunlap saw thefirst being the Waterford brand of crystal. Since
need to create tools designed to accommodateits beginnings in 1927, Craftsman has sold more
auto mechanics. He upgraded the quality of thehammers and other striking tools than any other
Craftsman tools and added chrome plating to helpbrand.
improve the appearance of the tools as well asNow, Craftsman tools are also sold by K-Mart and
make it easier for mechanics to clean them.Orchard Supply Company who are also owned by
The first Craftsman power tools were featured inSears Holdings Corporation. Fastenal and US
the 1929 Sears catalog. These power tools weremilitary Army and Air Force Exchange Service
recognized in 1938 for helping to build the largeststores also sale Craftsman tools.
adobe building which was the Rocky Mountain