Tool of the Month

THE STORY OF THE STANLEY MEASURING TAPE

Some tools are so familiar that we hardly think about them—until we realize just how often we reach for them.

At CS Woods, the Stanley tape measure is one of those tools.

We use them all day, every day. Measuring slabs, checking dimensions, laying out cuts, verifying finished pieces, measuring furniture, and answering the never-ending question: “Exactly how big is that?”

A good tape measure is one of those simple tools that just works. The Stanley has been a trusted part of American workshops and job sites for generations, and we've always relied on them around the warehouse.

So it was a little bittersweet to hear the news this year that Stanley Black & Decker was closing its longtime manufacturing plant in New Britain, Connecticut—the company's last manufacturing facility in the city and the plant that produced its iconic single-sided tape measures. The company cited a structural decline in demand for single-sided tapes and the growing popularity of double-sided versions manufactured overseas. The New Britain closure affected approximately 300 workers and marked the end of nearly two centuries of Stanley tool manufacturing in its hometown.

For those of us who have spent our lives working with our hands, it's a reminder that even the most familiar tools can have a history worth appreciating.

There is something satisfying about a well-made tape measure. The weight in your hand. The solid case. The smooth extension and retraction. The familiar yellow blade. And, most importantly, the confidence that when you pull it out, you can trust it.

It's a simple tool doing an essential job.

And because we love the tools that help us do what we do, we keep a pile of Stanley tape measures here at CS Woods for you to check out when you visit the warehouse.

Come wander the aisles, find your perfect slab, grab a tape measure, and start imagining what that incredible piece of wood could become.

Sometimes the most important tools are the simplest ones.