What can you tell me about National Hand Tool?

[B_Bimmer]

I've figured out that they owned husky and blackhawk, and were purchased by Stanley. They also apparently made craftsman EE sockets, or were at least involved with Stanley in some twisted way. Other than that info is slim by my usual methods. Were they a short lived holding company similar to American Tool? Affiliated in some way with national hardware? What do you know?

 

[B_Bimmer]

Crickets...

 

[lbgradwell]

New Britain was acquired by Litton in December, 1968 and they produced the numerous brand names and private labels until 1984, when they closed down their hand tool business.

Powderkeg says that, "National Hand Tool (NHT) of Dallas bought many of New Britain's assets at auction, including tool designs, production machinery, and the Blackhawk and Husky names. National Hand Tool moved much of the production equipment to Dallas and began producing and marketing the Blackhawk and Husky lines themselves, sticking to the traditional professional-automotive and do-it-yourself markets respectively for their two new brands."

National Hand Tool had been founded in 1978 by Kirk Koo Chow. Mr. Chow was the owner and Chief Executive Officer of NHT until its sale to Stanley on December 31, 1986 for ~US$80M. Mr. Chow had developed a ''cold forming'' process that speeds up production of forged metal products and reduces waste, so I imagine this was a major reason for the purchase.

Mr. Chow was retained as a "consultant" after the sale and was subsequently elected to Stanley's Board of Directors.

Mr Chow was also the President of Taiwan's Chiro Tool Mfg. Corp. and CEO of the seemingly-related Ruey Yang Tool Mfg. Corp., also of Taiwan. Less than two months after the acquisition of HNT, on February 23, 1987, it was announced that Stanley paid US$100M for all shares of Taiwan's Chiro Tool Mfg. Corp., partial production facilities of Ruey Yang Tool Mfg. Corp., and Ruey Yang's two branch plants in the U.S. At this time Kirk Chow was named Stanley's vice president for Asia and the Pacific region.

All tools produced by Stanley in Taiwan are still made by Stanley Chiro International Ltd. of Taichung.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Thank you, that's all quite interesting. So the deep craftsman US made EE socket I have was more than likely made in Dallas and will be very similar to either blackhawk or husky of that era. It stuck out to me as a craftsman and originally caught my interest because unlike every other craftsman deeps I have it is not broached full depth, and is a much brighter chrome. I like it.

 

[brchien]

This was my grandfather's company. What would you like to know?

 

[lbgradwell]

This was my grandfather's company. What would you like to know?

Seriously? Cool! We've been waiting for you...

Can you elaborate in any way on the information above with respect to the acquisition of Blackhawk and Husky? Were any other of the New Britain brands involved in the sale? Even in a pass-through arrangement?

Can you confirm NHT held the contract for the Craftsman E and EE tools?

 

[etangadventures]

Seriously? Cool! We've been waiting for you...

Can you elaborate in any way on the information above with respect to the acquisition of Blackhawk and Husky? Were any other of the New Britain brands involved in the sale? Even in a pass-through arrangement?

Can you confirm NHT held the contract for the Craftsman E and EE tools?

Hi, another grandkid here Yes, all New Britain brands were acquired in 1983. As for Craftsman, I'm not too sure... May I ask what is the purpose of your inquiry?

 

[Rileysan]

Hi, another grandkid here Yes, all New Britain brands were acquired in 1983. As for Craftsman, I'm not too sure... May I ask what is the purpose of your inquiry?

We're all a bunch of tool history nuts. For the Craftsman tool collectors, learning the source of the tools is a must.

Brian

 

[lbgradwell]

Hi, another grandkid here Yes, all New Britain brands were acquired in 1983. As for Craftsman, I'm not too sure... May I ask what is the purpose of your inquiry?

Yes, as Brian says above, the interest is strictly academic. We like to know the history of the old brands.

So, in addition to the Blackhawk and Husky brands, you're saying that NHT also acquired the rights to the "New Britain" name itself and both "None Better" and "Mustang"? Have I forgotten any? Did NHT ever produce any tools under these other brands?

Can you (or your sibling/cousin) post any photos of tools and/or boxes produced by NHT before the Stanley acquisition?

Did all 5 of those brands pass to Stanley or only Blackhawk and Husky?

 

[etangadventures]

Hi, sorry for the slow reply as I don't check this often Happy new year everyone!

Here is what I know so far and I'm waiting for more info from my dad...

We acquired: Proto, Arrowhead, Litton Industries, Comanche Tools, New Britain, and American Forge
We made: Craftsman for Sears (but didn't acquire it) and Stanley Tool for Stanley
I'm not famliiar with "None Better" and “Mustang"
We sold to Stanley: NHT, Proto, Arrowhead, Comanche Tools, Blackhawk, New Britain, American Forge, and Husky

I have a few pictures of our old Craftsman and Kamasa tools but not sure how to link here since I don't have an ftp or other public forum

 

[Zeeman]

I'm in for info. Thanks for posting pictures when you can.

 

[etangadventures]

notes from my dad:

From 1979 onward, he co-founded a large industrial corporation called National Hand Tools ("NHT”), which he helped to combine and incorporate with the very large Ruey Yang Tool (“RYTOOL” of Taiwan) and Chiro Tool (Taiwan), and thereby to expand and grow the group into a large multinational manufacturing organization in the US, Taiwan and China, with sales offices in Europe. During that time, he led NHT to acquire “Proto Tools”, “New Britain Tools”, “Blackhawk Hand Tools”, “Litton Tools”, “Husky Tools”, “American Forge”, “Comanche”, “Thorsen Tools”, etc. in the USA.

On December 30, 1986 he merged most of NHT’s US operations into The Stanley Works (NYSE: "SWK", which prior to that time of merger was making historic carpentry tools, such as screwdrivers, hammers and tape measures) to form the now famous brand names of "Stanley Hand Tools" and “Stanley Mechanics Tools” (as sold in ubiquitous hardware store chains) and “Husky Tools” (as sold in Home Depot). Subsequent to that corporate event, Stanley Works became a "Fortune 200" company, and later Stanley merged with Black & Decker to form the larger combined “SWK” (known as “Stanley Black & Decker”).

Again in 1997, he merged the remaining unsold US operations, including “Kingsley Tool”, and the Taiwan and China operations, and the overseas sales network in Europe and Asia of the original industrial company of NHT, including SATA Tools of China (the maker of trademarked “GearWrench” currently sold in many hardware stores) into another "Fortune 200" company, called Danaher Corporation (NYSE: "DHR"), which made the famous OEM brand called "Craftsman Hand Tools" for Sears, Roebuck & Company. Thereafter, he went on to start or join other companies.

I don't know if this link will work or not, but it's worth a try: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10102911465092412.1073741878.100124&type=1&l=7e29240923

hope this helps!

 

[elidas]

The link worked fine. Thanks!

 

[etangadventures]

ur welcome

 

[darineugenius]

I worked at the Dallas factory of National Hand Tool in 1984. Funny story about how I got the job (as I was the ONLY white american male in their employ at the time). The owner used to get chauffeured around Dallas in like a Honda or something, and he would hit on women while being driven to and from places. It just so happened my Aunt was a known hotty hair stylist in Dallas, and happened to be the brunt of his attention this day. His car pulled up beside my Aunts, and the little guy in the back seat started making gestures like he was putting things in his mouth and trying to get my Aunts attention. Well, he got it. She thought he was motioning towards his mouth in a ******** explicit manner, so my Aunt, being the sassy one she was, immediately pulled over to the side of the highway to give him a piece of her mind. After a few minutes of mansplaining, and "interpreting ", everybody figured out he had just wanted to take her to dinner and was simply pretending to put food in his mouth. He got that wish. And because he wanted my Aunt pretty bad, he also gave me a job on the factory floor of National Hand Tool in Dallas assembling-you guessed it-Cheap ratchets. It was one of the most terrible, and hot experiences of my life at 19 years of age. I have 2 misconceptions, however. My whole life I thought the guy was Japanese... I did have the wayyy too eager hots for this gorgeous young Asian maiden that worked there. But when I asked her out, I was shot down in flames. Not because she didn't like me... because tradition in her home country disallowed mixed marriages between whites and Taiwsnese? This whole time I thought she was Japanese. Oh well. Second, my memory says the factory was at the back of the road named Restaurant Row. I'm probably in error on that point though. Just thought I'd share.

 

[darineugenius]

All this was around the time my Dad was trying to teach me to always DEEP ETCH my social security number on every lifetime guaranteed Craftsman tool I ever come to own... just like him! Yep, my dad has been dead for many years, but there's probably still a bunch of craftsman open-end, box-end wrenches, sockets, ratchets, jacks, etc with my Pa's S.S. number emblazoned at least twice on each one still out there, somewhere.

 

[four.cycle]

Hello there darineugenius.
What brands of ratchets were you assembling at NHT?
And were they ratchets that looked like THIS:

or this?

or this?

and did you make sockets that looks like this:


do let us know please.
thanks!

welcome to the site!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Deleted. Sorry.

 

[four.cycle]

you too, huh?

 

[darineugenius]

All I did was the ratchets. I remember those retaining rings sticking out like a sore thumb as something that I personally did do, but since it has been almost 40 years, I do not remember the specific brand of ratchet. Husky rings a bell, but honestly, I do not remmeber any big names on the ratchets I assembled.

 

[four.cycle]

Thank you very much.
I believe that confirms the suspicions about the (Kilness-patent) 77JC Thorsen ratchet in that kit I just got from Oklahoma City.

Do you recall the address of the physical location of their operation? That might help to answer a couple other questions.

 

[jfingc]

12827 Valley Branch Lane
The address is in Dallas but the facility is actually in Farmers Branch, Texas

 

[four.cycle]

Thank you very much.

Well... isn't that interesting? Look who's right across the street...

 

[Topkick767]

I worked at the Dallas factory of National Hand Tool in 1984. Funny story about how I got the job (as I was the ONLY white american male in their employ at the time). The owner used to get chauffeured around Dallas in like a Honda or something, and he would hit on women while being driven to and from places. It just so happened my Aunt was a known hotty hair stylist in Dallas, and happened to be the brunt of his attention this day. His car pulled up beside my Aunts, and the little guy in the back seat started making gestures like he was putting things in his mouth and trying to get my Aunts attention. Well, he got it. She thought he was motioning towards his mouth in a ******** explicit manner, so my Aunt, being the sassy one she was, immediately pulled over to the side of the highway to give him a piece of her mind. After a few minutes of mansplaining, and "interpreting ", everybody figured out he had just wanted to take her to dinner and was simply pretending to put food in his mouth. He got that wish. And because he wanted my Aunt pretty bad, he also gave me a job on the factory floor of National Hand Tool in Dallas assembling-you guessed it-Cheap ratchets. It was one of the most terrible, and hot experiences of my life at 19 years of age. I have 2 misconceptions, however. My whole life I thought the guy was Japanese... I did have the wayyy too eager hots for this gorgeous young Asian maiden that worked there. But when I asked her out, I was shot down in flames. Not because she didn't like me... because tradition in her home country disallowed mixed marriages between whites and Taiwsnese? This whole time I thought she was Japanese. Oh well. Second, my memory says the factory was at the back of the road named Restaurant Row. I'm probably in error on that point though. Just thought I'd share.

I was an employee at that time period. There were many white people working there. David Rice was an inventory controller, Curtis ran the east side warehouse, Danny and Rick were Quality Control inspectors.
I had a badge with all color codes except for security. I was friends with Michael Chow, he made me the youngest supervisor at the Farmers Branch facility. My direct supervisor was Jack Chin (Lin Chia Chin).

 

[Topkick767]

I've figured out that they owned husky and blackhawk, and were purchased by Stanley. They also apparently made craftsman EE sockets, or were at least involved with Stanley in some twisted way. Other than that info is slim by my usual methods. Were they a short lived holding company similar to American Tool? Affiliated in some way with national hardware? What do you know?

I can answer most anything about operations. I was an assembler, a material handler, a forklift operator, and finally the inventory controller for the east side building which wasa assembly and packaging. The west side building was plating and manufacturing. I did every process done at National Hand Tool.

 

[Topkick767]

I've figured out that they owned husky and blackhawk, and were purchased by Stanley. They also apparently made craftsman EE sockets, or were at least involved with Stanley in some twisted way. Other than that info is slim by my usual methods. Were they a short lived holding company similar to American Tool? Affiliated in some way with national hardware? What do you know?

I can answer most anything about operations. I was an assembler, a material handler, a forklift operator, and finally the inventory controller for the east side building which wasa assembly and packaging. The west side building was plating and manufacturing. I did every process done at National Hand Tool.

 

[Lesserstore]

I can answer most anything about operations. I was an assembler, a material handler, a forklift operator, and finally the inventory controller for the east side building which wasa assembly and packaging. The west side building was plating and manufacturing. I did every process done at National Hand Tool.

I've been curious about what most of us call "Taiwanese round head" ratchets, sold under Craftsman, Husky, and Blackhawk brands among others. They were made for Craftsman from 1981 to 1992 and they put them in sets marketed as made in USA. So I'm wondering if any processes were done in the the US (i.e. plating, heat treat, even fully manufactured here) or if they were just packaged or assembled here as previously thought.

I don't have one handy so here's a picture I pulled off ebay.

 

[Topkick767]

We made those constantly at Nationala Hand Tool. I made thousands myself. You had a wooden holder at your work station. Put the handle in with open hole flat, plug in drive pawl mechanism, place a spring ring on the face. Aluminum cylinder in one hand on face of ratchet, other hand smacks ring into place by hitting cylinder. Parts from Taipei, Taiwan. We plated handles on manufacturing side, assembled across the street.
The only thing we actually "made" were millions of sockets. Giant machines with 8 foot diameter steel coils of appropriate thickness. Very loud and violent operation. One end of machine would spit a socket out every few seconds into a 55 gallon drum. Then drum goes to engraving machine. The are in a circular wheel feed and come out stamped with whstever brand and size. Then they were put on electrode trees by hand and plated.
Ill never forget the sounds and smells of that factory.

 

[Lesserstore]

Thanks for all the info.

 

[Ricky Joe]

So now I am curious. With Proto, we’re other brands such as Challenger, Fleet, Sparta, etc., also made there? Also, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, torque wrenches, pullers, etc., with the Proto or Blackhawk name?

 

[Topkick767]

NHT bought Blackhawk only. We had 48 ft trailers coming in from Covington, Tennessee all day every day. Each one full of inventory. Everything Blackhawk made. I was working 80 hours a week getting it all checked in and inventoried and racked. We made no Blackhawk when I was there. We just distributed the inventory from Tennesee.
Our bread and butter was Craftsman, Stanley, and Metrinch. I was never happy with our sets. Little paper bags would be handfilled and folded up. Dropped into sets.

 

[four.cycle]

Would you happen to know if they were making the Kilness-type ratchet for Thorsen and Giller? (Or any other products for Thorsen or Giller?)

 

[Topkick767]

I dont recall any ratchets for those brands. At then end, I was the inventory controller for packaging.
I had rolls of every single packaging decal we appllied. Dont remember having either of those brands.

 

[Topkick767]

This was my grandfather's company. What would you like to know?

If you read this, please tell Michael Chow that Patrick said hello.
He used to call me by my translated name, "Chom Po Pay".

 

[four.cycle]

thanks!

 

[3baygarage]

Welcome!

So basically all those sketchy ratchets were assembled in the USA? I think there might have been far more brands than people realize, and even the old lawsuit documents noted.

Were there USA made tools branded National? Pretty sure I ran into an extension a while back, but it was damaged and I didn’t bring it home.

 

[d42jeep]

Would you happen to know if they were making the Kilness-type ratchet for Thorsen and Giller? (Or any other products for Thorsen or Giller?)

They might have looked like these.
-Don
and maybe the sockets would have looked like these.

 

[Big Jimmy]

National Hand Tool has fascinated me ever since I was first made aware of the company, and I am grateful to read the information here primarily about the Texas made / finished tools. However, this post centers on wholly Taiwanese tools both imported under the banner of the "National Hand Tool Corporation" name and Taiwanese contract production for Sears, Thorsen Allied Tools, and others.

First, here are two "National Hand Tool Corporation" Taiwanese tool sets I recently purchased, one 1/4" drive and the other 1/2" drive. Note the Dallas zip code which matches that of the the 12827 Valley Branch address. (The 1/2 drive set is missing the original extension and has a Great Neck extension as well as a Great Neck Universal joint that are unrelated to NHT. The two larger sockets are NHT made but did not come with the set originally)



Upon my acquisition of these two sets, I was able to conclusively determine what I have been suspecting - National Hand Tool's Taiwan manufacturing plants were the origination of sockets marked "TAIWAN-RY" (which I assume stands for Ruey Yang), here is a picture of an individual socket from each set.



Based on this information, it can be shown that NHT did contract production for tools sold under the "SEARS" brand as well as Thorsen's import line "Thorsen Allied Tools" as well as an entity which imported tools marked "HTD" (cannot find information about this company, but another GJ member has posted about having an HTD wrench set). Here are examples of the "TAIWAN RY" marking on said tools.



Here are some more pictures of the 1/4 ratchet:



I am also almost certain National Hand Tool or a related company is responsible for tools marked Taiwan Y as well as the Taiwan RY tools.
The spinner from my 1/4 drive is simply marked "Taiwan Y". Here is the spinner as well as a comparison between a "Taiwan Y" and a "Taiwan RY" socket. Many of the components of "SEARS" socket sets available for online purchase are marked with "Taiwan Y" instead of "Taiwan RY" like my "SEARS" socket, but the ratchet looks identical from photos and the case is the same color as the NHT cases. I hope to soon purchase a "SEARS" socket set for ratchet comparison purposes and obtain definitive proof that the "Taiwan Y" sockets are also NHT made.






I have really enjoyed learning about tools here for the past few months on GJ, and I am happy to finally have some information to contribute.

 

[four.cycle]

Hello there @Big Jimmy and welcome to the site.
Thank you very much.
Fascinating.

If you've not already found it, keep this link handy.

...and this one as well.

"TAIWAN-RY" (which I assume stands for Ruey Yang)

I am guessing to assume "Ruey Yang" is a person? or a company?

(cannot find information about this company, but another GJ member has posted about having an HTD wrench set)

Link to that post?

I have never heard of "HTD" until reading your post. I have a folder full of images of as-yet-unidentified brands, and that one isn't in it.
Any speculation as to what "HTD" might be?

If I am following you correctly, you are thinking that National Hand Tools of Dallas, Texas, was producing (or involved in the production of) product produced in Taiwan exclusively for private-label accounts of Sears, Thorsen (Thorsen Allied Tools = "TAT"), and "HDT" (the identify of which has yet to be determined.) Am I getting that right?
It definitely makes sense, so it's definitely a possibility.

I am wondering if National Hand Tool might have been responsible for the production of the green box and the Taiwan-made "SEARS" branded sockets in this kit I cobbled together months ago:

 

[Big Jimmy]

Link to that post?

I have never heard of "HTD" until reading your post. I have a folder full of images of as-yet-unidentified brands, and that one isn't in it.
Any speculation as to what "HTD" might be?

I have no firm idea what HTD may have been. In this thread

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/metric-wrenches-usa-or-other.546042/

A HTD wrench set from Japan is mentioned by its owner and fellow forum user "cody1325" so I am guessing it was a brand of imported tools but have not been able to determine anything conclusive.

I am guessing to assume "Ruey Yang" is a person? or a company?

Ruey Yang was a Taiwanese tool company that appears to have been owned/founded by Kirk K. Chow, the founder of National Hand Tool. There is a bit of information on AA about NHT and Ruey Yang as the bits of it Stanley did not buy were later merged into Danaher to form the Gearwrench tool line (also mentioned in post #12 of this thread)

Lea Way Hand Tool Corporation

An article on the Lea Way Hand Tool Corporation

alloy-artifacts.org

AA also linked this article mentioning Ruey Yang:

https://taiwantoday.tw/Economics/Top-News/117360/Unlocking-the-secrets-of-Taiwan%E2%80%99s-hand-tool-kingdom-%C2%A0

If I am following you correctly, you are thinking that National Hand Tools of Dallas, Texas, was producing (or involved in the production of) product produced in Taiwan exclusively for private-label accounts of Sears, Thorsen (Thorsen Allied Tools = "TAT"), and "HDT" (the identify of which has yet to be determined.) Am I getting that right?
It definitely makes sense, so it's definitely a possibility.

I am wondering if National Hand Tool might have been responsible for the production of the green box and the Taiwan-made "SEARS" branded sockets

That box definitely looks similar to my National Hand Tool box, and the "SEARS" sockets sure look similar as well.

I do indeed believe that NHT and/or related companies owned by Kirk K. Chow engaged in Taiwan production for Sears/TAT.

Given that they had Taiwanese factories it would be almost certain the Taiwanese tools under their own "National Hand Tool" name would be produced by them/their affiliates instead of others. Then, the similar markings and construction of the products can be used to determine these factories as the origination of the Sears/TAT tools.