Stanlo: Making the World, Piece by Piece

The new toy debuted at the American Toy Fair at the Stevens Hotel⁶ in Chicago on May 1, 1933⁷ – two years before LEGO^® released its first construction toy.⁸ Instantly captivating crowds,⁹, Stanlo consisted of a set of metal plates of different shapes and sizes that could be assembled by pushing a steel rod through loops on the edges of each piece.¹⁰ Stanlo sets initially cost $1 to $10.¹¹ Each set came with a booklet filled with dozens of pictures of completed projects – trolley cars, bridges and ships. More importantly, the pieces could be assembled to create whatever the builder could dream.¹²

Following the American Toy Fair,¹³, orders began flowing in.¹⁴ By November, Stanley had produced over 3 million individual toy pieces, providing a living for members of more than 100 New Britain families.¹⁵

^{[1] “Stanley Works is Using Electricity in New Stanlo Toy.” The Hartford Courant, April 26, 1934.}

^{[2] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 83-84; “United States History.” Unemployed Statistics during the Great Depression. Accessed February 07, 2018. HTTP://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1528.html.}

^{[3] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 84}

^{[4] Bennett, Clarence F. “Management Reports-Their Use and Interpretation.” National Association of Cost Accountants. NACA Bulletein17, no 17 (May 1, 1936): 1028. Accessed February 7, 2018. ABI/INFORM Global.}

^{[5] Magnell, A.E. “New Stanlo Product Is Going Big.” The Hartford Courant, November 15, 1933.}

^{[6] “Finds Children Giving Up Simple Toys to Parents: Thinking Games for Youngsters.” Chicago Daily Tribune, May 2, 1933.}

^{[7] Lane, Charles. “Heartbreak Hotel.” Chicago Magazine. June 19, 2007. Accessed February 07, 2018. HTTP://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-2006/Heartbreak-Hotel/}

^{[8] Mortensen, Tine Froberg. “Timeline 1932-1939.” 1930’s. January 09, 2012. Accessed February 07, 2018. https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/lego-group/the_lego_history/1930; “Toy Makers Plan Exhibit” The Taylor Daily Press April 11, 1933}

^{[9] Magnell, A.E. “New Stanlo Product Is Going Big.” The Hartford Courant, November 15, 1933.}

^{[10] “A New Building Boom Starts with “Stanlo” Metal Toy Construction Sets.” The Philadelphia Inquirer November 17, 1933}

^{[11] “Stanley Works Planning Manufacture of Toys” The Hartford Courant April 26 1933.}

^{[12] Stanlo. “Make it with Stanlo: The New Metal Construction Toy in Brilliant Colors.” Advertisement.}

^{[13] “Toy Makers Plan Exhibit” The Taylor Daily Press April 11, 1933}

^{[14] Magnell, A.E. “New Stanlo Product Is Going Big.” The Hartford Courant, November 15, 1933.}

^{[15] Magnell, A.E. “New Stanlo Product Is Going Big.” The Hartford Courant, November 15, 1933.}

^{[16] Hartford Courant February 8, 1935.}

^{[17] “Stanley Works is Using Electricity in New Stanlo Toy.” The Hartford Courant, April 26, 1934.}

^{[18] “Construction Toys Hold Strong Appeal for Young American.” Altoona Tribune, November 25, 1933}

^{[19] “Stanley Works is Using Electricity in New Stanlo Toy.” The Hartford Courant, April 26, 1934.}

^{[20] “Stanley Works is Using Electricity in New Stanlo Toy.” The Hartford Courant, April 26, 1934.}

^{[21] South Carolina Department of Commerce. “Stanley Black & Decker Opening Manufacturing Center in York County." News release, December 14, 2017. Accessed February 14, 2018. https://www.sccommerce.com/news/stanley-black-decker-opening-manufacturing-center-york-county.; "Stanley Black & Decker To Open New 300,000 Sq. Ft. Manufacturing Facility in Mission, TX.” News release, October 31, 2017. PRNewswire. Accessed February 14, 2018. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stanley-black--decker-to-open-new-300000-sq-ft-manufacturing-facility-in-mission-tx-300546358.html.}