Blackhawk is an American brand of

hand tools A hand tool is any tool that is powered by hand rather than a motor. Categories of hand tools include wrenches, pliers, cutters, files, striking tools, struck or hammered tools, screwdrivers, vises, clamps, snips, hacksaws, drills, and kni ...

. It is currently a sub-brand of the

Proto Proto or PROTO may refer to: Language * Proto-, an English prefix meaning "first" Media * ''Proto'' (magazine), an American science magazine * Radio Proto in Cyprus Music * ''Proto'' (Holly Herndon album), 2019 * ''Proto'' (Leo O'Kelly ...

division of the

Stanley Black & Decker Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., formerly known as The Stanley Works, is a Fortune 500 American manufacturer of industrial tools and household hardware and provider of security products. Headquartered in the greater Hartford city of New Britain, ...

History

Blackhawk Manufacturing was founded in 1919 in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

as a subsidiary of the American Grinder Company (later named Applied Power Corporation). It made automotive tools, such as

wrenches A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning. In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zeala ...

and sockets, and a number of specialty tools. Blackhawk introduced a number of innovations to conventional drive tools, such as the "Lock-On" system of locking sockets, gearless ratchets, telescoping ratchet handles, and 7/16" drive tools. Many of these designs were developed by engineers Edward Pfauser and Sigmund Mandl (the latter notable for having founded the Husky Wrench Company prior to working for Blackhawk). Tools from the mid-20th century had distinctive

art deco Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the Unite ...

styling and remain highly collectible. Blackhawk also partnered with the Armstrong Bros. Tool Company in the late 1920s through the late 1940s to produce a range of open-ended wrenches under the "Blackhawk–Armstrong" label. Blackhawk also produced Blackhawk Jack brand floor jacks under the Blackhawk Mfg. Co. name including a handy 1-1/2 Ton heavy steel wheeled model. In the early 1950s, the Blackhawk hand tool line was acquired by the

New Britain Machine Company New Britain Machine Company was a tool company that was headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut. The company started to sell sockets and drive tools. New Britain was the main supplier for NAPA tools until its closure in 1990. New Britain Machi ...

. In the 1970s,

Litton Industries Litton Industries was a large defense contractor in the United States named after inventor Charles Litton Sr. During the 1960s, the company began acquiring many unrelated firms and became one of the largest conglomerates in the United States. ...

purchased New Britain. In the 1980s, National Hand Tool acquired parts of Litton's erstwhile hand tools division, including the Blackhawk and Husky brands. And in 1986, the

Stanley Works Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., formerly known as The Stanley Works, is a Fortune 500 American manufacturer of industrial tools and household hardware and provider of security products. Headquartered in the greater Hartford city of New Britain, ...

acquired National Hand Tool, and with it, the Blackhawk brand.

Gallery

Image:Blackhawk ratchet.jpg, A Stanley-era Blackhawk round-head

ratchet Ratchet may refer to: Devices * Ratchet (device), a mechanical device that allows movement in only one direction * Ratchet, metonomic name for a socket wrench incorporating a ratcheting device * Ratchet (instrument), a music instrument and a ...

. Image:Blackhawk quick-release pear-head ratchet.jpg, A modern Blackhawk pear-head

. Image:Blackhawk mechanic's tool set.jpg, A mechanic's tool set. Image:Blackhawk satin-finish wrench set.jpg, A set of

combination wrench A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning. In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealan ...

es.

References

External links

Stanley Proto web site

{{Tool manufacturers Tool brands Tool manufacturing companies of the United States Automotive tool manufacturers Manufacturing companies established in 1919 Stanley Black & Decker brands American brands 1986 mergers and acquisitions