Stanley Black & Decker shut down its tape measure factory in New Britain, Connecticut back in May of this year. The factory had made Stanley tape measures there for 95 years. They will now be made in Thailand.

The reason given for the closure is the market demand for double-sided tape measures which, for some unexplained reason, can’t be made in Connecticut. It’s a lame excuse.

STANLEY's Powerlock line of tape measures was first introduced in 1963. The Powerlock 25ft tape has been my  measure of choice from the beginning of my career in the trades (nearly 50 years ago). It has always worked just fine for me without measurements on both sides.

There is a loyalty and sentimentality that comes with a familiar and dependable tool that you’ve used for decades. And that’s the case with the 25ft Powerlock and me. The fact that it is (was) made in the U.S.A. was also powerfully endearing.

When I read the shutdown news (300 people lost their job) back in the spring I went to the internet, looking to buy a bunch of the last USA-made tapes.

I found an Ebay seller that had the tapes. Their listing photograph showed the tapes sporting the American flag logo, and the words, MADE IN AMERICA.

Just to be sure, I emailed the seller and asked them to verify that the tapes they were selling looked just like the listing picture—with the American Flag.

I received a reply confirming that the tape measures they sell are just like in the picture. So I ordered four of them. This is what they sent me…

The flag logo was conspicuously missing, and the tapes were not made in the USA. That was disappointing. Yes, I returned them.

It could be that the quality of Powerlock tape measures made in Thailand is just as good, or even better than the USA-made ones. But I don’t like ‘em. Not one bit. 

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The following screenshot from Amazon (taken yesterday) shows the 25ft Powerlock they’re selling. Order one and see if it has the American flag logo. I'll bet it doesn't.