Try square : boat building

Maker Stanley Rule and Level Company (American, founded 1857)

Date1920-1940

Object number00006383

NameSquare

MediumSteel, wood

DimensionsOverall: 13 x 149 x 98 mm, 0.1 kg

ClassificationsTools and equipment

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

United States

HistoryThe S.W. in the heart design appeared in various configurations below the notched rectangle STANLEY logo, from c.1920 to c. 1934. It was preceded by the "V logo" and followed by the simple notched rectangle. Before 1920 the Stanley Rule and Level Co. and Stanley Works existed as two separate companies. Some time before the merger of the two firms in 1920, Stanley Works had been using the heart logo with SW inside, in recognition of company stalwart William H. Hart, who served the firm for 61 years and was Chairman of the Board from 1915-18. After the merger, tradition has it that employees were invited to suggest a new logo for the now united operation, and what we now call the Sweetheart logo on Stanley tools was born. Although the use of the SW in the heart was formally dropped in favor of the simple notched rectangle in 1934, the older combination logo still came out of the plant on various product lines until the old stock was used up over the next several years.