L. S. Starrett Company
American manufacturer of precision measurement instruments, industrial gauges, saw blades, and metrology equipment.
Last updated October 28, 2026
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Overview
The L. S. Starrett Company is an American industrial manufacturer best known for precision measuring tools, gauges, saw blades, and related metrology equipment. Founded in Athol, Massachusetts, in 1880 by inventor and businessman Laroy Sunderland Starrett, the company grew from Starrett's patented combination square into a broad supplier for machinists, tool-and-die makers, metalworking businesses, woodworking operations, manufacturers, and construction professionals. Its product range includes steel rules and tapes, squares, calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, gauges, gauge blocks, optical measurement systems, force and material-testing equipment, and cutting products such as bandsaw blades, hole saws, and jigsaw blades. Starrett's early identity was built around practical precision. Laroy Starrett patented an early sliding combination square in 1878 and established the company two years later to manufacture it and other precision tools. The business expanded internationally at an early stage: in 1882, Starrett traveled to London and Paris to appoint sales representatives. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the company added improved micrometers, dividers, saw blades, and gauges. Its tools became associated with durable construction, readable graduations, repeatable measurement, and professional workshop use. The company broadened its capabilities through internal development and acquisitions. It entered gauge production in 1920, acquired Webber Gage Company in 1962, added granite-product manufacturer Herman Stone Company in 1970, acquired Evans Rule Company in 1986, and bought British optical-profile-projector maker Sigma Optical in 1990. In 2006, it purchased Tru-Stone Technologies, a manufacturer of custom-engineered granite machine bases. These additions extended Starrett beyond hand tools into gauge blocks, granite reference surfaces, optical inspection, machine foundations, and industrial measurement systems. Starrett also developed an international manufacturing footprint. It opened a Brazilian factory in São Paulo in 1956 and later moved production to Itu. A Scottish plant opened in 1958 to serve European and Asian markets, while the company established a plant in Suzhou, China, in 1998. Reference material has also identified manufacturing in Germany and the United Kingdom. The company has described a portfolio of approximately 5,000 variations of precision tools, gauges, measuring instruments, and saw blades as of 2025, although product availability and manufacturing locations vary by market. During the Second World War, Starrett substantially increased production between 1941 and 1945, reportedly expanding output by 800 percent. The company received the Army-Navy 'E' Award, while more than 400 employees entered the United States armed forces. In the twenty-first century, Starrett continued to combine traditional workshop instruments with higher-end metrology, including optical comparators, vision systems, laser measurement, and force and material testing. Starrett was formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SCX. In March 2024, the company announced an agreement to be acquired by private-equity firm MiddleGround Capital. The transaction was completed through a merger on June 5, 2024, after trading on the NYSE ended on May 22, 2024. L. S. Starrett Company therefore operates as a privately held company rather than as a publicly traded issuer. Its present brand proposition remains centered on precision, durability, industrial measurement, inspection, and cutting solutions for professional and manufacturing customers.
History
Laroy Sunderland Starrett patented an early sliding combination square in 1878. In 1880, he founded the L. S. Starrett Company in Athol, Massachusetts, to manufacture the square and other precision instruments. The combination square established a foundation for the company's long-term focus on accurate, durable workshop tools. Starrett began developing an international sales presence early in its history; in 1882, Laroy Starrett traveled to London and Paris to appoint representatives. Additional patents followed in 1887, supporting the company's expansion of its precision-tool portfolio. In 1890, Starrett patented an improved micrometer and began producing and refining saw blades. The company subsequently developed a substantial cutting-products business alongside its measuring instruments. A divider with a trammel was patented in 1895. In 1920, Starrett added its first gauge to the product line and expanded into precision calibration and reference measurement. Gauges, rules, calipers, micrometers, indicators, and related instruments became central to the company's identity among machinists, tool-and-die makers, manufacturers, and construction users. The Second World War brought a major production effort. Between 1941 and 1945, Starrett reportedly increased production by 800 percent and received the Army-Navy 'E' Award. More than 400 employees entered the United States armed forces during the period. After the war, the company continued its international development. It opened a factory in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1956; that operation later moved approximately 100 kilometers to Itu in the early 1970s. In 1958, Starrett opened a Scottish plant that served European and Asian markets. The company used acquisitions to extend its industrial capabilities. Webber Gage Company, a gauge-block manufacturer, was acquired in 1962. In 1970, Starrett acquired granite-product maker Herman Stone Company. Production was later moved to a new facility in Mount Airy, North Carolina, which also manufactured saws and measuring equipment from 1985. Starrett purchased Evans Rule Company, described in reference material as the world's largest tape-measure manufacturer, in 1986. In 1990, it acquired Sigma Optical, a British producer of optical profile projectors. These transactions helped connect the Starrett brand with dimensional references, granite surfaces, optical inspection, and measurement systems as well as conventional hand tools. Starrett entered China with a plant in Suzhou in 1998. Reference material has also described production in Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, and China, alongside the company's United States operations. In 2006, L. S. Starrett Company acquired Tru-Stone Technologies of Waite Park, Minnesota, for $19.8 million in cash. Tru-Stone produced custom-engineered granite machine bases, reinforcing Starrett's presence in industrial foundations and precision inspection infrastructure. The company faced allegations of fraud concerning its RapidCheck coordinate measuring machine in 2002. A federal investigation reportedly found no basis for prosecution, and no charges were filed. The episode remains part of the company's documented corporate history but did not result in a criminal case according to the cited reference. In later years, Starrett expanded its high-end metrology offering beyond conventional rules and gauges. Its capabilities came to include optical comparators, vision systems, laser measurement, and force and material measurement testing. The company has stated that its catalog contains approximately 5,000 variations of precision tools, gauges, measuring instruments, and saw blades as of 2025. The business served international industrial markets and had approximately 2,000 employees worldwide in 2008, according to the reference material. Starrett was a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under SCX until 2024. In March 2024, it announced an agreement to be acquired by MiddleGround Capital. Trading ended on May 22, 2024, and the merger was completed on June 5, 2024. The company consequently became privately held. Its current business continues the historic combination of precision measurement, industrial inspection, cutting tools, and engineered granite products.
- 2024
Merger with MiddleGround Capital affiliate
[1]Starrett ended its NYSE trading and completed a merger with an affiliate of MiddleGround Capital, becoming privately held.
- 2006
Tru-Stone Technologies acquired
[1]Starrett acquired Tru-Stone Technologies for $19.8 million in cash, adding custom-engineered granite machine bases.
- 1998
Suzhou plant opened
[1]Starrett expanded into China by opening a plant in Suzhou.
- 1990
Sigma Optical acquisition
[1]Starrett acquired British optical-profile-projector maker Sigma Optical.
- 1986
Evans Rule acquisition
[1]The company acquired Evans Rule Company, a major tape-measure manufacturer.
- 1970
Herman Stone acquisition
[1]Starrett acquired granite-product maker Herman Stone Company.
- 1962
Webber Gage acquisition
[1]Starrett acquired Webber Gage Company, a manufacturer of gauge blocks.
- 1958
Scottish plant opened
[1]The company opened a plant in Scotland to serve European and Asian markets.
- 1956
Brazilian factory opened
[1]Starrett opened a manufacturing facility in São Paulo, Brazil, later moving the operation to Itu.
- 1945
Army-Navy production recognition
[1]After a major wartime production increase, Starrett received the Army-Navy 'E' Award.
Products and positioning
A professional and industrial precision-tools brand combining traditional machinist instruments, cutting products, and advanced metrology systems.
Dimensional measurement
Precision rules and tapes
Starrett produces precision steel rules, graduated scales, and measuring tapes for workshop, manufacturing, inspection, and construction applications. These products represent one of the company's historic product families and emphasize legible graduations, durable materials, and dependable dimensional reference.
Layout and inspection tools · 1878
Squares and combination squares
The combination square is closely associated with the company's origin. Starrett's squares support layout, marking, angle checking, depth measurement, and general shop inspection. Their design combines a graduated rule with an adjustable head, allowing several common measurement and layout tasks to be performed with one instrument.
Precision measuring instruments · 1890
Micrometers and calipers
Starrett's micrometers and calipers are intended for accurate outside, inside, depth, and comparative measurements in machining and industrial inspection. The range extends the company's historical precision-tool specialization into instruments used for close-tolerance manufacturing and routine dimensional verification.
Metrology references · 1920
Gauges and gauge blocks
The company's gauge products include industrial gauges and gauge blocks used as dimensional references, inspection standards, and calibration aids. The acquisition of Webber Gage Company expanded Starrett's capabilities in gauge-block production and strengthened its position in precision reference measurement.
Inspection instruments
Dial indicators
Dial indicators provide visual readings of small movement and dimensional variation. Starrett offers these instruments for alignment, comparative inspection, setup, and measurement tasks in machine shops and manufacturing environments.
Industrial cutting tools · 1890
Saw blades and cutting accessories
Starrett manufactures bandsaw blades, hole saws, jigsaw blades, and other power-tool cutting accessories. The company began making and improving saw blades in the nineteenth century, and cutting products remain a major complement to its measurement-tool business for metalworking, woodworking, and general industrial use.
Advanced metrology
Optical and digital metrology systems
Starrett's higher-end metrology portfolio includes optical comparators, vision systems, and laser measurement equipment. These systems support non-contact inspection, dimensional analysis, production verification, and other tasks that extend beyond hand-held measurement instruments.
Precision infrastructure
Granite machine bases and inspection surfaces
Through its granite-related operations, including Tru-Stone Technologies and the earlier Herman Stone business, Starrett supplies custom-engineered granite machine bases and related precision surfaces. These products provide stable foundations for machine tools, coordinate measurement equipment, and industrial inspection systems.
Controversies
2020
L.S. Starrett fined after workplace injury
L.S. Starrett Company pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £100,000 after an employee was seriously injured while operating a drill. The case concerned a workplace injury at the company and resulted in a criminal plea and a financial penalty. The event was reported in December 2020.
2002
RapidCheck coordinate-measuring-machine allegations
Starrett faced allegations of fraud concerning its RapidCheck coordinate measuring machine. A federal investigation reportedly found no basis for charges, and no criminal charges were filed.
Brand decisions
2024
Agreement to be acquired by MiddleGround CapitalM&ABackground
L. S. Starrett Company was a publicly traded industrial-tool manufacturer listed on the New York Stock Exchange under SCX.
Action taken
In March 2024, the company announced an agreement to be acquired by private-equity firm MiddleGround Capital. Trading on the NYSE ended on May 22, 2024, and the merger was completed on June 5, 2024.
Aftermath
The company became privately held and no longer trades under the SCX ticker.
2006
Acquisition of Tru-Stone TechnologiesM&ABackground
Starrett sought to expand its industrial measurement and machine-foundation capabilities.
Action taken
The company purchased Tru-Stone Technologies, a manufacturer of custom-engineered granite machine bases, for $19.8 million in cash.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened Starrett's offering in granite machine bases and precision industrial infrastructure.
Cash acquisition price. $19.8 million (2006)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
L.S. Starrett fined after workplace injury[3]
Reported:
L.S. Starrett pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £100,000 after an employee was seriously injured while operating a drill.
Sources3 sources
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