BADLY DESIGNED SPECIALTY HAND TOOLS ARE TRYING
TO KILL YOU AND RUIN YOUR REPUTATION.
As seen in September/October 2001 Traditional Building Magazine.

You don’t need to live with them. Meet a toolmaker who listens to the specialized historic trades, modifying tool design in response to feedback from the consumer. John C. Stortz of fourth generation toolmaker John Stortz and Son has been manufacturing hand tools and getting an earful at the same Philadelphia location since 1853.

RTE: There has been a revolution in power tool design and applications, but I still spend a lot of time furnishing power for my hand tools. In some trades, a lot of the most widely distributed hand tools are useless crap, part of a conspiracy to injure or wear out the artisan and to wreck his or her reputation. That is why your mission to furnish the specialized trades with quality specialty hand tools is so important. Maybe you remember me calling you up three winters ago to order some roofing tongs and telling you about my plan to found this online Exchange just so that every artisan would know about John Stortz and Son. I still remember what you said.

John Stortz: If I recall, it was something like, "That's nice. And how many pairs of roofing tongs is it that you want?"

RTE: Yes, you were very supportive. Tell us about the first John Stortz.

John Stortz: The company was founded in 1853 by the original John Stortz, who was a tool maker from the Black Forest area of Germany. He docked in Philadelphia in 1849 and within 4 years had started his own tool business at our present location. Interestingly enough, the 1st ship that John booked passage on to New Orleans, was lost at sea and never heard from again. Lucky break for me.

RTE: It would appear. So you are still in the same building? Amazing.

John Stortz: We have 6 buildings totaling 20,000 feet in the heart of historic Philadelphia, a mile from the Liberty bell. Some of the bricks came over from England as ballast in the 1700's. The buildings require a lot of maintenance.

RTE: That sounds like an opportunity for some tool testing and development.

John Stortz: It is, actually. Feedback from the trades is how we adapt and refine our traditional designs. Many of the tools in our current product line are designs which have withstood the test of time with a little "tweaking" on occasion. Direct contact with the trades is the best way for us to accomplish this. Our ongoing commitment to a new online catalog is part of this effort to encourage direct sales.

RTE: So you would consider modifications based on such feedback?

John Stortz: We do it all the time. That is one big reason that we stay competitive through all the changes in the market. Every tool to some degree has a maturation cycle and sometimes will become extinct as building operations evolve. Our line of concrete tools has changed as concrete finishing methods have been mechanized, for an example.

RTE: How about suggestions for new tools?

John Stortz: Just send me an email. If there is a demand for a new quality product, we will look at it.

RTE: Sticking just to the architectural lines, what can you tell us about tool demand that might reveal something about trends in the field?

John Stortz: Our masonry cutting and pointing tools are doing very well. Sheet metal roofing seems to be coming on very strong. It would seem that our lines of slate tools and of European roofing tools will become broader in the coming years. There is growing interest in our contoured molding paint scrapers. Shipbuilding and cooperage are on a downward trend. Hand tools, as I already said, have become less important in concrete finishing.

RTE: So you offer imports. Is this because they are better?

John Stortz: Not at all. It is because we want to offer the trades a full range of high quality products to chose from. Although we may feel that our brand of slate cutters, for example, are very, very good, this does not mean that a German cutter may not have design features which appeal to certain customers. Regardless of where it is made, if we offer it, it is the highest quality.

RTE: The worst possible investment is a crummy hand tool. Do people ever knock off your designs?

John Stortz: We have had people copy our designs and manufacture them wherever, which allows them sell for considerably less than our tools, but in the end you get what you pay for.

RTE: Amen to that. Would you agree that maintaining your own tool making traditions gives you control over quality?

John Stortz: It does, absolutely. We are a small shop with 6 people and 3 open die forging hammers. It takes up to 2 years for someone to go through an apprenticeship with me and to learn the forging, welding, grinding and polishing techniques required.

RTE: You know your customers, you are in a growing market and you are committed to the highest quality. What can go wrong?

John Stortz: Just a million things, of course. One concern is the neighborhood. The Olde City area has changed and our manufacturing operations are receiving more scrutiny as the area has become a popular spot for art galleries and theater. I've gotten unsolicited offers from developers to buy our facility and without saying how much they were, I will say that the numbers make you think.

RTE: I'll bet. Scary. So what is the payoff?

John Stortz: I personally take a lot of pride in owning a four generation business and hope that someday one of my three sons will carry the tradition on to a fifth generation, if they so desire. My job is to keep the business strong until they are ready. My oldest is starting college this fall.

RTE: I don't want to put any pressure on the kids, but I think I speak for a lot of your customers when I say that I hope that there will be at least another generation of family ownership at Stortz. Thanks for visiting with us at the Exchange and talking about your historic company.

John Stortz: It was my pleasure. Anytime.