Laroy S. Starrett was born on April 25, 1836, to Daniel D. and Anna Elizabeth Starrett.
He developed interest in mechanics and bought machines for his farm. He obtained a patent for a meat chopper(May 23, 1865). After arranging for its manufacture, he sold it personally throughout the state of Maine. The venture proved so successful that he made a contract with the Athol (Mass.) Machine Co. to manufacture his meat chopper and other inventions of his own, among which were shoe studs and hooks, patented Jan. 28, 1868, and now used with slight modification the world over. Subsequently, he established a business of his own and began the manufacture of a combination square, consisting of a try-square with a movable head that may be clamped in any desired position along the blade, in Athol, Massachusetts, in 1880. First patented Feb. 26, 1879, his combination square has become a most useful tool in the building trade. Gradually he added steel rules, surface gauges, screw pitch gauges and other small tools to his list. The success and growth of the business have been continuous and the plant at Athol, Massachusetts became the largest in the world devoted exclusively to the manufacture of small tools and hacksaw blades, containing over five acres of floor space and employing over 1,000 hands. The factories are equipped throughout with machinery of the highest class and with every up-to-date appliance for the accurate production of fine mechanical tools. In 1912 the company was incorporated as the L. S. Starrett Co. with capital stock of $3,500,000 and of which Mr. Laroy S. Starrett was president until his death.
It manufactured a large line of carefully adjusted rules, measures, gauges, squares, protractors, slide rules, calipers, dividers, pliers, hacksaws, wrenches, screw drivers and levels, all of which were originated or perfected by Mr. Starrett himself. He received over 100 patents for his inventions, the most important of which, besides those mentioned, were a center try-square designed to find the exact center of a circle, patented June 29, 1880; a surface gauge, patented Mar. 21, 1882; a beveling instrument, Aug. 7, and Dec 4, 1883; screw thread gage, May 19, 1885; calipers and dividers, Dec. 27, 1887; micrometer caliper square, Mar. 5, 1889; micrometer gauge, July 29, 1890; bevel protractor, May 10, 1892.
THE L.S. STARRETT COMPANY - Today
The L.S. Starrett Company was founded 1880 in Athol, MA, which is still the Company’s World Headquarters. Our founder, Laroy S. Starrett invented the combination square in 1877. He started the company to manufacture this product. The company grew rapidly with a broadening product line, additional employees and penetration into an increasing number of markets.
Today, the company employs about 1,800 people worldwide. Most precision tools continue to be manufactured in the Athol plant.
Precision Tools, Gages and Instruments
The broad Starrett product line includes precision measuring tools (micrometers, calipers, rules, etc.), levels, electronic gages, dial indicators, gage blocks and granite surface plates and custom engineered products. The company offers metrology equipment including optical measuring projectors, vision systems and multi-sensor measuring systems, many of which are custom engineered. The precision group also includes M1 lubricant, precision ground flat stock and drill rod. Starrett hand measuring tools and other precision products are used by manufacturing companies of many types and sizes to ensure the quality of their products.
Saws & Hand Tools
Starrett is also a major, worldwide manufacturer of saw blade products. The saw blade product group includes three categories. Band saw blades are used primarily in manufacturing facilities. The Power Tool Accessories and Hand Saws group include hole saws, jig and reciprocating blades and hacksaw products. The jobsite and workshop group includes tape measures, levels, protractors and other tools used primarily on construction jobsites and workshops.
Starrett products are sold throughout the United States and worldwide through distributors, dealers, and retailers and online. In recent years, the Company has broadened its product offering through acquisitions and innovative product line expansion.
Today, Starrett has eight manufacturing locations worldwide: Brazil, The U.K. and China and five in the United States. See Manufacturing Facilities Worldwide for more detailed information. Annual sales of the company are in the vicinity of $250 million and the company is traded publicly on the NYSE.
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