Editing Craftsman (tools) (section)

==Sourcing==
{{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 wrench]]es) that make up the core of the brand have been made by a variety of manufacturers over the years, including [[New Britain Machine Company|New Britain]],<ref>{{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 }}</ref> [[Easco Hand Tools#History|Moore Drop Forging]],<ref name="timeline">{{Cite web|url=http://alloy-artifacts.org/cgi-bin/timeline.cgi|title=A Tool Industry Timeline|work=Alloy Artifacts|access-date=September 25, 2016}}</ref> [[Stanley Black & Decker|Stanley]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[Easco Hand Tools]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[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 spanner|adjustable wrenches]]. {{As of|2019|post=,}} Western Forge no longer supplies Craftsman tools.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=Joanna |date=June 25, 1992 |work=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name="OldWoodWorkingTools" /> 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,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waterloo lndustries |url=https://www.waterlooindustries.com/index.html |access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref> 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 opener]]s 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.