Craftsman (tools)

File:Companion tools logo.png

File:Craftsman Evolv logo.png

The Craftsman trademark was registered by Sears on May 20, 1927. Arthur Barrows, head of the company's hardware department, liked the name Craftsman and reportedly bought the rights to use it from the Marion-Craftsman Tool Company for $500 ({{Inflation|index=US|value=500|start_year=1927|fmt=eq}}).{{Cite web |author=Sears Archives |title=Craftsman: The Standard of Quality |url=http://www.searsarchives.com/brands/craftsman.htm |access-date=March 3, 2010 }} The brand's early customers were mostly farmers. Barrows' successor, Tom Dunlap, upgraded the quality of the tools and added chrome plating to them as America moved into the automobile age.{{Cite web |last=Joslin |first=Jeff |work=Old Wood-Working Machines |title=Craftsman - History |url=http://www.owwm.com/MfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=222 |date=December 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220142147/http://owwm.com/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=222 |archive-date=December 20, 2010 }}

Sears's tool line, like many of its other product lines, used a "good, better, best" pricing structure,{{Cite web|last=Duff|first=Mike|work=BNET|title=Sears, J.C. Penney Launch Post-Martha Home Collections|url=http://industry.bnet.com/retail/10001302/sears-jc-penney-launch-post-martha-home-collections/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411170045/http://industry.bnet.com/retail/10001302/sears-jc-penney-launch-post-martha-home-collections/ |archive-date=April 11, 2009 |date=April 8, 2009 }}{{Cite web |last=Manfer |first=Sam |work=Biz-Blog@SalesVantage |title=Good, Better, Best |url=http://www.salesvantage.com/blogs/index.php/salesdog/sales-strategy/good-better-best |date=April 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426061343/http://www.salesvantage.com/blogs/index.php/salesdog/sales-strategy/good-better-best|archive-date=April 26, 2010 }} with the Craftsman brand as the middle tier and Craftsman Professional or Craftsman Industrial as the highest tier. Craftsman Professional and Craftsman Industrial are marketed as being comparable to brands like Cornwell Quality Tools, SK, Snap-on, Proto, Mac, and Matco. The standard Craftsman line is marketed as being comparable in quality to other mid-price brands including UltraPro (NAPA), Westward, Husky, and Kobalt.

The lowest tier was originally branded "Sears". The company also used the "Dunlap" name for its lesser quality tools from the late 1930s until the late 1950s.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} The Sears tool line was discontinued in the late 1980s and replaced by the "Companion" tool line. The Companion tool line was itself discontinued and replaced by the "Evolv" tool line in 2008 designed by Ellen Tave Glassman, VP Hardines Design Craftsman,{{Cite web|publisher=Boliven|title=Evolv trademark details|url=http://www.boliven.com/trademark/77464696|access-date=March 27, 2010}} with a focus on homeowners and DIYers. Evolv tools also have a lifetime warranty but require that the customer have the original dated receipt to make a claim.{{Cite web|publisher=Sears Holdings Corporation|title=Evolv hand tool warranty|url=http://www.evolvtools.com/popin/warranty/|access-date=March 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218154738/http://www.evolvtools.com/popin/warranty/|archive-date=February 18, 2009|url-status=dead}}

From 1991 until the store's demise, Sears ran the Craftsman Club loyalty program, one of the oldest such programs by a retailer.{{Cite press release |publisher=Sears Holdings Corporation |title=Sears and Craftsman Introduce Craftsman Club Rewards |url=http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-06-2009/0005073055 |date=August 6, 2009 |access-date=February 22, 2010 }}

Craftsman tools were sold in Sears and sister store Kmart,{{Cite web |work=The Associated Press |title=Sears to Sell Craftsman Tools at All Kmart Stores |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-09-14-craftsman-kmart_x.htm |date=September 14, 2006 |access-date=February 22, 2010 }} as well as US military Army & Air Force Exchange Service stores,{{Cite web |work=Regulatory Intelligence Data |title=Craftsman Tools Now Available at AAFES |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-35955907.html |date=September 20, 2000 |access-date=February 22, 2010 }} {{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |title=ToolInspector |url=https://toolinspector.com/ |date=February 2019 |bot=medic }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Navy Exchange stores, Summit Racing Equipment, Blain's Farm & Fleet, W. W. Grainger, Ace Hardware,{{cite news|title=Sears Agrees to Sell Craftsman Tools at Ace Hardware|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sears-agrees-to-sell-craftsman-tools-at-ace-hardware-2010-02-20|first=Mary|last=Ellen|work=MarketWatch|publisher=Dow Jones & Company|date=February 20, 2010|access-date=February 20, 2020}} Montgomery Ward,{{Cite web|work=Montgomery Ward|title=Circular Saw by Craftsman|url=http://www.wards.com/circular-saw-by-craftsman.pro?omSource=SLI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230160714/http://www.wards.com/circular-saw-by-craftsman.pro?omSource=SLI|archive-date=December 30, 2016 }} Lowe's,{{Cite web|url=https://www.lowes.com/b/craftsman.html|title=Craftsman at Lowe's: Now Available |website=Lowes.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414011710/https://www.lowes.com/b/craftsman.html |archive-date=April 14, 2018 }} and Amazon.{{cite news |last=Rocco |first=Matthew |date=September 19, 2018 |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/after-sears-sale-craftsman-to-launch-new-tools-through-amazon-lowes |title=After Sears sale, Craftsman to launch new tools through Amazon, Lowe's |work=Fox Business }}

On January 5, 2017, Stanley Black & Decker announced its intent to acquire the Craftsman brand in a deal with a total value of $900 million (with an up-front payment of $525 million, and a payment of $250 million after three years). Sears will hold a royalty-free license to the Craftsman brand for a 15-year period after the completion of the sale, and will receive a royalty on all new Craftsman sales over this period. Afterwards, Sears will pay Stanley Black & Decker a 3% licensing fee.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/business/dealbook/sears-craftsman-retailing.html|title=Sears Agrees to Sell Craftsman to Stanley Black & Decker to Raise Cash|first=Michael J.|last=De La Merced|work=The New York Times |date=January 5, 2017|via=NYTimes.com}} The deal was closed on March 9, 2017.{{Cite press release |title=Stanley Black & Decker Completes Purchase Of Craftsman Brand From Sears Holdings |url=http://ir.stanleyblackanddecker.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=114416&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2252727 |publisher=Stanley Black & Decker |date=March 9, 2017 |access-date=March 14, 2017 }} Sears maintains the right to manufacture and sell tools using existing supply channels under the Craftsman name for 15 years.{{cite web |url=https://consumerist.com/2017/06/07/sears-settles-with-one-craftsman-supplier-files-new-lawsuit-against-usa-made-hand-tool-company/ |first=Laura |last=Northrup |publisher=Consumerist |title=Sears Settles With One Craftsman Supplier, Files New Lawsuit Against USA-Made Hand Tool Company |date=June 7, 2017 |access-date=June 10, 2017 }}

Lowe's announced in October 2017 that it would start carrying Craftsman tools beginning in the late half of 2018.

{{More citations needed section|date=February 2020}}

Sears has never manufactured Craftsman products itself, instead relying on other manufacturers to make the products for them following Sears designs and specifications, and then applying the Craftsman brand name. Sometimes, the Craftsman branded items include exclusive features or functions that separate them from the manufacturer's own brand or other brands that the manufacturer produces. At other times, Craftsman products are identical to models of other brands with a different name on them.

The hardline mechanic's tools (such as socket wrenches) that make up the core of the brand have been made by a variety of manufacturers over the years, including New Britain,{{Cite web |work=Alloy Artifacts |title=Craftsman 'BE' and H-Circle Series Tools |url=http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/craftsman-be-hcircle.html |access-date=February 22, 2010 }} Moore Drop Forging,{{Cite web|url=http://alloy-artifacts.org/cgi-bin/timeline.cgi|title=A Tool Industry Timeline|work=Alloy Artifacts|access-date=September 25, 2016}} Stanley,{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=W. Joseph |work=The Hartford Courant |title=Stanley Earnings Grow 11% Despite Weak Construction Industry |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/80162400.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604165805/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/80162400.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |date=October 15, 1988 |access-date=February 22, 2010}} Easco Hand Tools,{{Cite web |last=Sweeney |first=Paul |work=The New York Times |title=Brothers Come of Age With New Bid|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/15/business/brothers-come-of-age-with-new-bid.html?pagewanted=2|date=October 15, 1988|access-date=February 22, 2010}} Danaher Corporation, and most recently, Apex Tool Group. Screwdrivers have been manufactured by Pratt-Read and Western Forge, but until around 2017–2018 were supplied mostly by the latter company, which also had supplied pliers and adjustable wrenches. {{As of|2019|post=,}} Western Forge no longer supplies Craftsman tools.{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=Joanna |date=June 25, 1992 |work=Gazette Telegraph |title=Western Forge Employees Celebrate Honors from Sears/Company Named Best of 10,000 Suppliers |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/gazette/access/246822741.html?dids=246822741:246822741&FMT=ABS |access-date=March 27, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Beginning in 2010, hand tools manufactured for Craftsman by Apex Tool Group (formerly known as Danaher) such as ratchets, sockets, and wrenches began to be sourced overseas (mainly in China, although some are produced in Taiwan), while tools produced for Craftsman by Western Forge such as adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and larger mechanic tool sets were still made in the United States, although {{As of|2018|lc=y|post=,}} most, if not, all of the production for these products has moved to Asia. Sears still has an "Industrial" line which is sold through various authorized distributors. These tools are made in the US, appearing identical to their previous non-industrial US made counterparts, save for the "Industrial" name stamped on them. They are manufactured by Apex on the US production lines that previously produced the US-made standard Craftsman product before production switched overseas to Asia.

Shortly after Stanley acquired the Craftsman brand, Stanley announced the construction of a factory in northern Fort Worth, Texas to bring Craftsman tool manufacturing back to the US. This arrangement was short-lived, however, as the plant produced some ratchets and sockets, but due to equipment problems, could not produce the needed volume that was originally expected. The plant closed shortly thereafter.{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Steve |date=May 15, 2019 |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2019/05/15/toolmaker-stanley-black-decker-brings-new-plant-and-hundreds-of-jobs-to-north-fort-worth/ |title=Toolmaker Stanley Black & Decker Brings New Plant and Hundreds of Jobs to North Fort Worth |access-date=November 9, 2024 }}

Many Craftsman portable power tools have been manufactured by Techtronic Industries who acquired the prior supplier—Diehl Motor Company (a one time division of Singer) and Ryobi. Sears hand power tools have also been produced by DeWalt under the "900" model prefix. Some, such as the corded and cordless drills, were indistinguishable, other than the color and decal labels. Many Craftsman bench and stationary power tools were manufactured by Emerson Electric under the "113" model prefix (previously under the "103" model prefix which was King-Seeley, but Emerson bought them out in the 1960s) and DeWalt. Air compressors were manufactured by DeVilbiss Air Power (formerly part of Dewalt. DeVilbiss is now owned by MAT Holdings who made compressors for Sears under the "921" model prefix), and formerly by Campbell Hausfeld under the "106" model prefix.

Tool storage has typically been manufactured by Waterloo Industries ("706" model prefix), however, as of 2017, they were acquired by Stanley, Black and Decker,{{Cite web |title=Waterloo lndustries |url=https://www.waterlooindustries.com/index.html |access-date=August 12, 2023}} and {{as of|2020|lc=y}}, Waterloo no longer manufactures tool storage for the Sears line of Craftsman. It is now supplied under the "714" model prefix by Montezuma Tool Storage, but the Craftsman tool storage sold in Lowes is still Waterloo made. The Craftsman-branded garage door openers are manufactured by the Chamberlain Group ("139" model prefix). Hammers have been produced by Vaughan-Bushnell (coded "M" on the tool). Many of the automotive specialty tools such as feeler gauges and gap gauges have been made by A&E Tool Company of Racine, Wisconsin (these tools will have an "S" logo in a circle). Ullman Devices of Ridgefield, Connecticut makes many of the magnetic pick up tools, picks, and inspection mirrors for Sears.

In 2007, a Harris Interactive poll gave Craftsman the highest score for both "Brand Expectations" and "Trust".{{Cite press release |publisher=Harris Interactive |title=Hershey's Kisses Chocolate Candy Ranks No. 1 in Overall Brand Equity |url=https://consumergoods.com/hersheys-kisses-rank-no-1-overall-brand-equity |date=June 26, 2007 |access-date=February 22, 2010 }} In 2009, the readers of Popular Mechanics named Craftsman their favorite brand of hand tools in their Reader's Choice Awards.{{Cite web |publisher=Sears Holdings Corporation |title=Craftsman(R) Named Favorite Hand Tools in Popular Mechanics Reader's Choice Awards |url=http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-02-2009/0005054092 |date=July 2, 2009 |access-date=February 22, 2010 }}

Most Craftsman hand tools are advertised as having an unlimited lifetime warranty.{{Cite web|last=Lamb|first=Robert|work=USA Today|title=In search of the lifetime guarantee|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/lamb/0004.htm|date=January 18, 2001|access-date=March 3, 2010}} This lifetime warranty program was instituted by Sears when they began selling the Craftsman line in 1927.{{Cite web|publisher=Sears, Roebuck & Co.|title=Why Craftsman?|url=http://www.sears.com/sr/craftsman/whyCraftsman/cr_wc_qualityproducts.jsp |access-date=June 28, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020628120323/http://www.sears.com/sr/craftsman/whyCraftsman/cr_wc_qualityproducts.jsp |archive-date=June 28, 2002 }} This warranty program requires no receipt or dated proof of purchase. If the owner takes the item into a local retail store, it may be replaced or repaired free of charge.{{Cite web|last=Cage|first=Chuck|work=Toolmonger|title=A Quick Comment on the Craftsman Lifetime Warranty|url=http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/08/a-quick-comment-on-the-craftsman-lifetime-warranty/|date=August 8, 2006|access-date=March 9, 2010}}

The full text of the warranty is as follows:

{{quote box|align=center|If, for any reason, your Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it to any Sears store or other Craftsman outlet in the United States for free repair or replacement. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.{{Cite web |last=Walters |first=Chris |work=The Consumerist |title=Sears Clarifies Craftsman Tools Warranty |url=http://consumerist.com/2009/03/sears-clarifies-craftsman-tools-warranty.html |date=March 25, 2009 |access-date=February 19, 2010 }}}}

Sears has reduced the warranty in effect on many Craftsman non-powered lawn and garden products including rakes, shovels, clippers, brooms, trowels, pruners, hoses, sprinklers, hose nozzles, and other small gardening hand tools. Previously, it was a lifetime warranty—which on August 2, 2012, was reduced to 25 years with receipt required.{{Cite web|work=Craftsman.com|title=Warranty Information|url= https://www.craftsman.com/customer-care/warranty-information/|access-date=August 24, 2017}} The lifetime warranty does not include precision hand tools, such as calipers and torque wrenches.{{Cite web|last=Popken|first=Ben|work=The Consumerist|title=Clarification: Craftsman Lifetime Warranty Doesn't Apply To Rusty Tools|url=http://consumerist.com/2007/03/clarification-craftsman-lifetime-warranty-doesnt-apply-to-rusty-tools.html|date=March 19, 2007|access-date=March 9, 2010}}

Many consumers have also been reporting problems when attempting to obtain warranty repair or replacement on tools that are covered by the full lifetime warranty. Sears' official position is that the warranty should be honored, and much of the problem may lie with individual sales associates. In some cases, Sears no longer sells particular Craftsman tools (tape measures, and wood clamps are two examples), making it impossible to replace a tool sold with a lifetime warranty with a similar Craftsman tool that will continue the warranty.

Some Sears stores limit the number of hand tools that can be exchanged per day, in an effort to reduce the abuse of the lifetime warranty. Stanley Black & Decker has stated that all previous warranties on Craftsman products will be honored after the purchase of Craftsman in 2017. Some of the newer packaging ({{as of|2018|lc=y}} onward) on some Craftsman products does indicate that there may be a limit on returning warranty tools. {{As of|2019|02|post=,}} the "non-Sears" Craftsman does not have "open stock" in the stores as Sears does to replace individual items from a set that may require warranty. Stanley Black and Decker has indicated that they are working on introducing more individual tools to stores.

Power tools have a one-year warranty.

Customers are able to exchange any version of the Sears Craftsman product at the stores that sell Sears Craftsman products such as Sears, Kmart, Ace, etc. Stores such as Lowes that sell Stanley Black & Decker Craftsman products will exchange replacement items at Stanley Craftsman supplied stores if they have the item. Lowes Corp stated, "We will honor all lifetime warranties no matter where the Craftsman hand tool was purchased.{{Cite web|url=https://richsautobodyshop.com/blog/where-are-craftsman-tools-made/|title= Where Are Craftsman Tools Made? |publisher=Richs Auto |date=February 20, 2023 }}".{{cite web |last=Matarese |first=John |date=May 30, 2019 |title=Will Lowe's stores honor Craftsman "lifetime" warranties? |url=https://www.thedenverchannel.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/will-lowes-stores-honor-craftsman-lifetime-warranties1 |website=Denver 7 ABC |publisher=ABC |access-date=May 30, 2019 }}

In 1963, Sears employee Peter M. Roberts developed a quick release feature for socket wrenches. The feature allowed a person using such a ratchet to remove the socket from the wrench with one hand, freeing the second hand from grabbing the socket while the other hand held the ratchet.{{Cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/697/796/11115/|title=Peter M. Roberts, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Sears, Roebuck and Company, Defendant-appellant, 697 F.2d 796 (7th Cir. 1983)|website=Justia Law}}

Roberts developed a prototype and applied for a patent in 1964.{{cite patent |country=US |number=3208318A |title=Quick Release for Socket Wrenches }} While the patent was pending, he approached Sears and introduced the idea to them. Sears, which sold millions of sockets every year, saw the potential in the invention and asked for the prototype so it could be tested. After testing revealed the quick release would not weaken the ratchet, Sears began market testing the new ratchet and received favorable feedback. Sears then incorporated the quick release into a new line of ratchets, projecting sales of up to 750,000 units in the first year alone.

In January 1965, Roberts received a phone call from a Sears attorney asking for the name of Roberts' patent lawyer. Without Roberts's knowledge, Sears hired the patent lawyer, Charles Fay, and Fay ended up representing both Roberts and Sears regarding the patent. Around this time, Roberts's patent was approved, but Fay did not reveal this to Roberts. Negotiations for use of the quick release commenced, with Roberts being told that the quick release wasn't new and that any patent issued would be limited. Sears's lawyers also said that because of the cost (44 cents per wrench) of adding the quick release to the wrenches, a license was worth only $10,000.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-14-fi-19337-story.html |title='The Wrench Case': Inventor vs. Sears: 17-Year-Old Saga Continues |website=Los Angeles Times |date=July 14, 1986 }} What Sears didn't tell Roberts was that it planned to make 50,000 of the new wrenches per week.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/03/business/sears-loses-patent-suit-clerk-wins-5-million-in-sears-case.html |title=Sears Loses Patent Suit; Clerk Wins $5 Million In Sears Case |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 3, 1982 }} Roberts sued Sears in 1969 after seeing his quick release on a wrench prominently displayed in a Sears catalog, but it wasn't until 1989 that the case was finally settled. Neither side revealed the amount of the settlement.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/aed4a37bc719aba52db82cb96029fded |title=Retailer, Inventor Reach Settlement in 20-Year-Old Lawsuit |website=Associated Press }}

In August 2002, Sears sued Emerson for using Sears-owned manufacturing equipment to create power tools for Home Depot. Upon the expiration of Emerson's 30-year contract to make Craftsman tools, Emerson was required to return the Sears-owned equipment. Instead, Emerson kept the equipment, claiming it to be obsolete and of little value. Emerson denied the allegations when the suit was filed, but paid Sears $10.8 million and returned all the equipment, while admitting no wrongdoing.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-01-07-0401070338-story.html |title=Sears to Receive $10.8 Million from Emerson in Tools Suit |website=Chicago Tribune |date=January 7, 2004 }}

In 2004, a class action by customers accused Sears of false advertising and consumer fraud for questionable use of the slogan "Made in the USA" for Craftsman tools.{{Cite web |work=ConsumerAffairs.com |title=Suit Hits Sears Made in USA Claim |url=http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/sears_craftsman.html |date=December 8, 2004 |access-date=October 22, 2008 }}

In 2012, Sears was sued by LoggerHead Tools, makers of the Bionic Wrench, after Sears released a competing product, the MaxAccess. Sears had sold the Bionic Wrench in its stores, but decided to not talk to LoggerHead about licensing the patent. Instead, Sears had its tool manufacturer, Apex Tools, create the MaxAccess wrench under the Craftsman name, claiming that the MaxAccess was designed not to infringe the Bionic Wrench patent. Other than coloring, the only substantial difference between the two wrenches was that the Bionic Wrench had the head at a 45-degree angle while the MaxAccess head was straight. LoggerHead was subsequently awarded $6 million in damages, but the verdict to be set aside because the judge misinterpreted the LoggerHead patent.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170516/NEWS07/170519901/sears-loses-patent-lawsuit-to-loggerhead-over-a-u-s-made-wrench |title=Sears Loses Patent Lawsuit to LoggerHead over a U.S.-Made Wrench |website=Crain's Chicago Business |date=May 15, 2017 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sears-bionic-wrench-patent-lawsuit-20180724-story.html |title=Maker of the Bionic Wrench Thought It Was Getting $6 Million in Patent Lawsuit against Sears. Not So Fast, Judge Says |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=July 24, 2018 }}

In April 2017, Sears sued Western Forge, its former supplier of hand tools, for abruptly ending the contract to supply the tools. Western Forge violated the contract by demanding more money because of Sears's financial problems.{{cite web |url=https://consumerist.com/2017/06/07/sears-settles-with-one-craftsman-supplier-files-new-lawsuit-against-usa-made-hand-tool-company/ |title=Sears Settles with One Craftsman Supplier, Files New Lawsuit against USA-Made Hand Tool Company |website=Consumerist |date=June 7, 2017 }}

On March 6, 2019, Sears was sued by Stanley Black & Decker, which accused it of breach of contract and trademark infringement over its new line of professional-grade mechanics tools under the Craftsman Ultimate Collection brand. According to the complaint, Sears breached the license agreement by launching its new tool line and touting its stores as "the real home of the broadest assortment of Craftsman".{{Cite web |work=cnbc.com |title=Sears Is Sued over 'Craftsman' Brand |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/07/sears-is-sued-over-craftsman-brand.html |date=March 7, 2019 |access-date=May 20, 2019 }}

From 1995 to 2008, Craftsman sponsored the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, a deal which began with the inception of the Truck Series. After the 2008 season, Craftsman withdrew from sponsoring the series and was replaced by Camping World.{{cite web|last=Schwarb|first=John|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/truck/news/story?id=3659441|title=Camping World to replace Craftsman as Truck Series sponsor|publisher=ESPN|date=October 23, 2008|access-date=April 5, 2016}} In 2016, Craftsman returned to motorsports sponsorship, serving as the title name for the World of Outlaws, renaming the Sprint Car Series and Late Model Series to the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series, respectively.{{cite web |url=http://www.woosprint.com/news/3619-craftsman-brand-to-title-world-of-outlaws |title=Craftsman Brand to Title World of Outlaws |work=World of Outlaws |date=February 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727085106/http://www.woosprint.com/news/3619-craftsman-brand-to-title-world-of-outlaws |archive-date=July 27, 2018 }}

In 2023, Stanley Black & Decker acquired the title sponsorship rights to NASCAR's Truck Series, for which it would reinstate the Craftsman branding.{{Cite web |title=Craftsman returns as title sponsor of NASCAR Truck Series starting in 2023 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nascar/news/craftsman-returns-as-title-sponsor-of-nascar-truck-series-starting-in-2023/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=February 12, 2023 }}

The main licensees for Craftsman in the UK were Focus DIY (beginning in 2001) and B&Q (beginning in 1993). The main licensees for Craftsman in the rest of Europe were Bosch, and selling product at retailers and Amazon.

File:Western Forge Craftsman screwdrivers 2015.jpg|Two screwdrivers

File:Craftsman full polish ratchet.jpg|A full polish ratchet

File:Craftsman roundhead ratchet.jpg|A roundhead ratchet

File:Craftsman thin profile ratchet.jpg|A thin profile ratchet

File:Craftsman premium ratchet.jpg|A fine-tooth "premium" ratchet

File:Companion wrenches.jpg|Companion combination wrenches

File:Craftsman raised panel wrenches.jpg|Raised panel combination wrenches

File:Craftsman pawless ratcheting wrenches.jpg|Double box-end ratcheting wrenches

File:Craftsman Professional long pattern combination wrenches.jpg|Craftsman Professional long pattern combination wrenches

File:Craftsman Professional reversible ratcheting wrenches.jpg|Craftsman Professional reversible ratcheting wrenches

File:Craftsman Industrial deep offset wrenches.jpg|Craftsman Industrial deep offset wrenches

File:Western Forge Craftsman adjustable wrenches.jpg|Two adjustable wrenches

File:Craftsman tool chest.jpg|Craftsman tool chest

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Craftsman (tools)}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://alloy-artifacts.org/craftsman-early-tools.html Alloy Artifacts: "Early Craftsman Tools and Their Makers"]
• [http://alloy-artifacts.org/craftsman-maker-v.html Alloy Artifacts: "Craftsman Tools: Maker 'V' and the Modern Era"]
• [http://www.owwm.com/craftsman/manufacturers.aspx?sort=1 Old Work-Working Machines: "Craftsman OEM List"]
• [http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id116.html Rose Antique Tools: Craftsman tool catalogs]

{{Stanley Black & Decker}}

{{Sears Holdings Corporation}}

{{Tool manufacturers}}

{{Power tool manufacturers}}

Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions

Category:American brands

Category:Products introduced in 1927

Category:Sears Holdings brands

Category:Stanley Black & Decker brands

Category:Tool brands