If you had to pick the best tool company to ever exist, which one would it be, and why?

Stanley?

Millers Falls?

???

  Although it recently died from a slow death of china outsourcing, I will say Craftsman. Starting post war they offered quality tools to the family handyman at reasonable prices and they sold most everything. Back when auto techs were called mechanics, they all started on Craftsman before evolving to the "truck brands".

Now the little snot nosed bass turds all have to have snap on or be shunned.

Depends on what type of tools... Wood working? Mechanic? Blacksmith? plumbing? specialty?, etc...

For Mechanic, I say Craftsman Quality & Cost count.

Any brand that is 100% american made, thats usually the best stuff out there.   

the tool company that made the tool you have in your hand and it is doing the job   
bob w.

I'll go with Craftsman, good quality and value.They used to supply just about any tool you would need , at a fair price,and gaurantee it.
I still have sockets I got for a Christmas present 54 years ago. I used them to make a living
and they have been on the end of an impact wrench many times.
Not real sure todays Craftsman is the same quality, but still a fair value.

Unanswerable question.  "Best" depends on what your selection factors are.  Price?  Durability?  And, as others commented, for what type of tool?

Rolls Royce may be the "best" car manufacturer, but not if you need a small, affordable car for your son/daughter to take to college.

One thing I've noticed about the portable power tool manufacturers is that they traditionally each had a tool or two that whupped the market.  Often, their other tools were competitive, but not necessarily great.  Milwaukee made the best sawzall, Porter-Cable (with its Model 100 and Model 690) made the best router, and so on.  Makita's cordless drills were unstoppable; I have one that's long since obsolete, but still going.  On the other hand, their corded drills, sawzalls, and non-plunge routers were nothing to write home about.  Those are my opinions, by the way; you may differ.

Craftsman from a few years back, would be a choice.  But I think that Klein Tools are right up there with the best.
Mel

I'm fond of Peddinghaus.... But I don't think they really offer much variety as far as typical tools.

Quote from: oldtools on November 21, 2012, 12:32:38 AM
Depends on what type of tools... Wood working? Mechanic? Blacksmith? plumbing? specialty?, etc...

For Mechanic, I say Craftsman Quality & Cost count.

It really does depend on the type of tool, seems to me.  Not to put down Craftsman at all, but  they didn't make all their tools (how many did they actually manufacture?).   Hamilton Baker's Stiletto tools are among the best I have ever used, especially their hammers (they didn't manufacture either).

I think I would have to go with Stanley.  Dependable quality, and a broad range of tool types.  Otherwise, it's a hard choice.  In edged tools, I look for W. Butcher, D.R. Barton, Buck, L& I. J. White, and Egilstuna.