Founded in 1843, by an enterprising businessman named Frederick Trent Stanley. Stanley established a little shop in New Britain, Connecticut to manufacture door bolts and other hardware from wrought iron.
In 1852 Frederick Stanley and five neighbours established the Stanley Works with 25 staff. In 1857 another Stanly relative started the forerunner of the "Stanley Rule & Level Co". Both companies grew by acquisitions, and in 1920 merged into the "Stanley Tool Division".
Stanley® started operations in Australia as Stanley-Titan in 1963 when it bought a 50% share of Titan, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP. Stanley-Titan operated out of its factory in Tasmania.
In 1970 Stanley-Titan acquired the Turner Industries Ltd Company, and in 1971 formed the "Stanley Works Company" and moved its head office from Tasmania to the Turner plant in Nunawading, Victoria.
Stanley immediately converted Turner-branded tools to the Stanley brand, or ceased manufacture within two years. In 1976, Stanley acquired the BHP shares, becoming the full owners of the firm. Stanley continued the pattern of acquisitions, notable examples were Rota Tool Boxes in 1990 and Sidchrome / Dawn in 1991. By 2001, Stanley had ceased all manufacture in Australia.
The Stanley handplane and spokeshave product range made in Australia was as follows:
Stanley Planes | No 110 | No 220 | No 3 | No 4 | No 4½ | No 5 | No 5½ | No 6 | No 7 | |
Spokeshaves | No 151 | No 151R |
Click on an images to see the full size image.
Stanley Australia
Stanley Bailey No. 110
Made in Australia. Typical Stanley #110 - no adjustment for the cutter.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/stanley-110a-sm.jpg
Stanley Bailey No. 220
Made in Australia. Typical Stanley #220 - cutter has slotted underside for advancement by knurled adjuster.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/stanley-220a-sm.jpg
Stanley Bailey No. 3 Planes
The early production had wooden handles. Later production used black plastic handles.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/st-3-2x-sm.jpg
Two Australian Stanley No. 4s
Left one has wooden handles, a sign of early production. The one on the right has black plastic handles, later production. Note the different colour highlighting Stanley on the cap. The one on the right is marked No4 on body, but the box has the model as "12-004". See pics of both boxes.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/2xno4-caps-web.jpg
Box for Australian Stanley No. 4 with wooden handles
Casting of base has 'Made in Australia'.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/no4-boxend-web.jpg
Box for Australian Stanley No. 4 (12-004) with black plastic handles
Casting of base has 'Made in Australia'.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/no12-004-boxend-web.jpg
Stanley Bailey No. 4 Plane
Early production with wooden handles.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/st-4-wooden-handles-sm.jpg
Stanley Bailey No. 4 Plane
Early production with wooden handles.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/st-4-wooden-handles-side-sm.jpg
Stanley Bailey No. 4 Plane
Later production with plastic handles.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/st-4-plastic-handles-b-sm.jpg
Stanley Bailey No. 4½ Planes
The early production had wooden handles. Later production used black plastic handles.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/2x4.5-fr-b-web.jpg
Stanley Bailey No 4½ Plane
Early production with wooden handle.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/4.5-side-wood-web.jpg
Stanley Bailey No. 4½ Plane
Later production with plastic handles.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/4.5-side-plastic-web.jpg
Australian Stanley No 5½ (black wooden handles)
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/stanley-oz-5-5-wb.jpg
Australian Stanley No 5½ (black wooden handles)
Side view.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/stanley-oz-5-5-b-wb.jpg
Australian Stanley No. 6 with wooden handles
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/stanley-oz-6-wb.jpg
Australian Stanley No. 7 with wooden handles
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/stanley/Stanley-oz-7-wb.jpg
Thanks to Graeme Plaw & Rod Thomas for information and images on this page.
The HTPAA welcomes any additional information, pictures and ephemera relating to these tools or any other Australian Makers.
Contact the Australian Collection Curator.