Black+Decker
| File:Black+Decker logo.svg Logo since 2014 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Power tools, hardware, home improvement equipment, appliances, fastening solutions |
| Founded | January 1, 1910 in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Founder | S. Duncan Black, Alonzo G. Decker |
| Headquarters | Towson, Maryland , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Nolan D. Archibald (former CEO) |
| Products | Power tools, hardware, home improvement equipment, appliances |
| Parent | Stanley Black & Decker |
Black+Decker is a U.S.-based producer specializing in power tools, hardware, home improvement equipment, appliances, and fastening solutions. Its headquarters are located in Towson, Maryland, close to where the company was originally established in Baltimore in 1910. In March 2010, Black & Decker combined with Stanley Works to create Stanley Black & Decker, continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary.
1910–1974
- 1910 – The company was established as "The Black & Decker Manufacturing Company" by S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker in Baltimore. Starting with a capital of $1,200, their initial projects included manufacturing machinery for milk bottle caps and candy coating.
- 1912 – Launched the "Hexagon" emblem, symbolizing a hexagonal bolt head, which remained in use until 2014.
- 1917 – Developed and patented the first pistol-grip hand-held electric drill featuring a trigger switch, a significant breakthrough in power tool design.
- 1917 – Opened its inaugural manufacturing plant in Towson, Maryland.
- 1919 – Reached $1 million in sales revenue.
- 1928 – Grew through acquisition of Van Dorn Electric Tool Company based in Cleveland, Ohio.
- 1936 – Became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, marking a key advancement in corporate development.
- 1943 – Received the Army-Navy "E" Award recognizing exceptional production contributions during World War II.
- 1951 – Alonzo G. Decker Sr. took over as president, maintaining leadership within the founding family.
- 1960 – Purchased DeWalt from American Machine and Foundry, broadening its range of power tools.
During these years, Glenn Calvin Wilhide played a crucial role in driving product innovation through his patents, which helped secure Black & Decker’s market position.
1975–2008
- 1975 – Francis P. Lucier replaced Alonzo G. Decker Jr., becoming the first board chairman outside the founding family.
- 1984 – Acquired General Electric Company’s small-appliance division.
- 1986 – Nolan D. Archibald was named CEO, providing strategic direction for growth.
- 1989 – Took over Emhart Corporation, adding brands such as Kwikset locks, Price Pfister faucets, Molly wall anchors, POP rivets, and True Temper to its portfolio. This acquisition enhanced product diversity across consumer and commercial sectors. Additionally, the company was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame for innovations in cordless power tools utilized by NASA.
- 1990 – Sold True Temper hardware to Huffy; this division later became part of Ames True Temper under Griffon Corporation.
- 1996 – Divested its small-appliance segment to Windmere Durable Holdings (which became Applica Inc.), allowing focus on core business areas.
- 2000 – Alonzo G. Decker Jr., at 92 years old, retired from the board after decades of influential involvement.
2009–present
- 2010 – Merged with Stanley Works to form Stanley Black & Decker, expanding global reach and market presence.
- 2012 – Disposed of the Hardware and Home Improvement group (HHI), including the lock division and Taiwanese manufacturing unit Tong Lung, selling them to Spectrum Brands.
- 2014 – Updated brand identity by changing from Black & Decker to Black+Decker to reflect modernization efforts.
- 2017 – Purchased the Craftsman brand from Sears for $900 million, bolstering its tool offerings and competitive standing.
- 2017 – Entered the Indian market via a licensing deal with Stovekraft to distribute Black+Decker products locally.
- 2025 – Indkal Technologies Pvt. Ltd. commenced production and sales of Black+Decker-branded smart TVs in India, expanding product lines within emerging markets.
Recent
By 2017, the array of brands under Stanley Black & Decker encompassed:[1]
- STANLEY (established in 1843 by founder Frederick Trent Stanley, later combined in 1920 with the Stanley Rule and Level Company, which was founded by Henry Stanley in 1857)
Former
Brands that have been sold off include:
- Baldwin (transferred to Spectrum Brands)
- Delta Machinery (acquired by Chang Type Industrial)
- DeVilbiss Air Power (sold to MAT Holdings)
- Kwikset (sold to Spectrum Brands)
- Price Pfister (sold to Spectrum Brands)
- Weiser Lock (now owned by Spectrum Brands)[2]