- Joined
- Nov 4, 2015
- Messages
- 70
Not sure if the information I found today answers any questions or just adds to the "M" mystery, but I found it interesting. Again this is not my research, but copied from a public forum.
"My Info on Mann and related Axe Topics
JUNE 28, 2016 · PUBLIC
So a post recently had a nice looking Stanley hatchet, with imprint of Stanley, an M on both sides, and a Jobmaster paper label on it.
There has been many conversations over the issue whether the M stood for Mann, or for Mexico. As it stands right now, I cannot for 100% certainty tell you it is for Mexico, but I can tell you what I know. Take this info and do as you please, but it is legit.
So, I had the opportunity to meet with the one time family owners(Waddell) of the Mann Edge Tool Co in State College a few years back. When I say meet, this means in a parking lot to buy an axe off of them. This said axe is the NOS Kelly Black Raven double bit with original gold paint that I have posted. This came from the presidents office of Mann. More on that in a different write up, as that deserves its own story for discussion, along with the other axes that came out of the office.
So I get the axe and of course I am asking a million questions about everything I can think of. At the time, there was some discussion around the Collins Axe axes with blue paint, and paper labels, and then also imprinted M and usually 3 1/2. I asked what was going on with these - and this is what I was told.
These axes had a mixed background. When Mann bought Collins in 1965-66 Collins sold everything to Mann and also to Stanley(more on that in a sec). All manufacturing came to Lewistown from any other parts of the USA, the majority of it up from in the NE at Collins HQ. Time went on, Mann made Collins a line of axes in order to keep the name recognition alive. It became their primary axe line. Quality was sketchy at best, as the age of the axe was in its low point(late 60s to early 2000s) and there was little demand, and METCo was just trying to survive. Biggest competition was from overseas of course, as they could produce the same items at a tremendously lower cost. This led to moves being made that werent always correct. So, it is reported that some Collins Axes were made in Mexico, and were imprinted with the M to represent this. I asked if the M just meant Mann, and was told yes, in the beginning. Then were made in Mexico. I then asked about the paper label that says Made in USA. I was told that the label indeed was made in USA, as they had a huge s**t eating grin on their face. I was then informed that they got in trouble for this and had to discontinue that practice. That was the start of the Mann relationship in Mexico, which eventually led to Mann being purchased by Truper Herramientas in the early 2000s. I assume this is true as it came from the one time owners. Can I prove it? No.
For the Stanley issue, we go back to 1966 when Collins was sold off. Up and coming Stanley bought the SA operations of Collins. Stanley was one of the first major tool brands to out source its tools in order to own the price point. This would then make sense for the Stanley hatchets to be made in Mexico, yet still have the made in USA label on them, as was a practice by many operations trying to compete and stay alive. I know Mann made some of the Stanley hatchets, but the M and M I firmly believe were made in Mexico, as it just all comes together with what I was told, can see, read about, and eventually put together. The Stanley M M hatchets usually seem to be of lower quality, poor handles, etc, which leads to a Mexico origin. This however I cannot 100% prove, so the door is still open.
Thought I would share"
"My Info on Mann and related Axe Topics
JUNE 28, 2016 · PUBLIC
So a post recently had a nice looking Stanley hatchet, with imprint of Stanley, an M on both sides, and a Jobmaster paper label on it.
There has been many conversations over the issue whether the M stood for Mann, or for Mexico. As it stands right now, I cannot for 100% certainty tell you it is for Mexico, but I can tell you what I know. Take this info and do as you please, but it is legit.
So, I had the opportunity to meet with the one time family owners(Waddell) of the Mann Edge Tool Co in State College a few years back. When I say meet, this means in a parking lot to buy an axe off of them. This said axe is the NOS Kelly Black Raven double bit with original gold paint that I have posted. This came from the presidents office of Mann. More on that in a different write up, as that deserves its own story for discussion, along with the other axes that came out of the office.
So I get the axe and of course I am asking a million questions about everything I can think of. At the time, there was some discussion around the Collins Axe axes with blue paint, and paper labels, and then also imprinted M and usually 3 1/2. I asked what was going on with these - and this is what I was told.
These axes had a mixed background. When Mann bought Collins in 1965-66 Collins sold everything to Mann and also to Stanley(more on that in a sec). All manufacturing came to Lewistown from any other parts of the USA, the majority of it up from in the NE at Collins HQ. Time went on, Mann made Collins a line of axes in order to keep the name recognition alive. It became their primary axe line. Quality was sketchy at best, as the age of the axe was in its low point(late 60s to early 2000s) and there was little demand, and METCo was just trying to survive. Biggest competition was from overseas of course, as they could produce the same items at a tremendously lower cost. This led to moves being made that werent always correct. So, it is reported that some Collins Axes were made in Mexico, and were imprinted with the M to represent this. I asked if the M just meant Mann, and was told yes, in the beginning. Then were made in Mexico. I then asked about the paper label that says Made in USA. I was told that the label indeed was made in USA, as they had a huge s**t eating grin on their face. I was then informed that they got in trouble for this and had to discontinue that practice. That was the start of the Mann relationship in Mexico, which eventually led to Mann being purchased by Truper Herramientas in the early 2000s. I assume this is true as it came from the one time owners. Can I prove it? No.
For the Stanley issue, we go back to 1966 when Collins was sold off. Up and coming Stanley bought the SA operations of Collins. Stanley was one of the first major tool brands to out source its tools in order to own the price point. This would then make sense for the Stanley hatchets to be made in Mexico, yet still have the made in USA label on them, as was a practice by many operations trying to compete and stay alive. I know Mann made some of the Stanley hatchets, but the M and M I firmly believe were made in Mexico, as it just all comes together with what I was told, can see, read about, and eventually put together. The Stanley M M hatchets usually seem to be of lower quality, poor handles, etc, which leads to a Mexico origin. This however I cannot 100% prove, so the door is still open.
Thought I would share"
