History & Milestones Since 1843 STANLEY® tools have been on the belt and in the hands of professional contractors and accomplished homeowners. Synonymous with quality, reliability, innovation, and value, STANLEY is the first name in tape measures and trusted worldwide for accuracy and dependability.We’re proud of our reputation for excellence and dedicated to continually testing, designing and improving our products to ensure quality and maximum function. Maintaining our standing as the world's best at what we do is vital to us and what you expect from a name like STANLEY.For more than 175 years our innovative products have helped build, repair and protect our world. Today that legacy continues. Explore our history by using the interactive timeline below.