Black & Decker Workmate Complete Model History
A bit of Workmate trivia for you: In 1983 Black & Decker offered a rebate program for purchases of new Workmates. The list of then-current models that were eligible for the rebate shows there were twelve different Workmate benches available on the market in 1983, not counting the various Workmate accessories!
As I've said elsewhere, this site began as a research and documentation project on the very first Black & Decker Workmates, primarily the ten Types of the 79-001 produced from 1974 to 1982. This page is a modest expansion of that mission, providing an overview of all the other models.
Assembled below is a variety of documents and images that illustrate what I believe is all of the Workmates that Black & Decker made for North America. It includes catalog excerpts, photographs, newspaper ads, and part diagrams, presented in order by model number and indicating the approximate period when each one was sold. It does not attempt to match the in-depth research that I have done on the earlier models. If you have any relevant documents that you want to contribute, or information on a North American model that you don't find here, please let me know via the Contact page.
As I've said elsewhere, this site began as a research and documentation project on the very first Black & Decker Workmates, primarily the ten Types of the 79-001 produced from 1974 to 1982. This page is a modest expansion of that mission, providing an overview of all the other models.
Assembled below is a variety of documents and images that illustrate what I believe is all of the Workmates that Black & Decker made for North America. It includes catalog excerpts, photographs, newspaper ads, and part diagrams, presented in order by model number and indicating the approximate period when each one was sold. It does not attempt to match the in-depth research that I have done on the earlier models. If you have any relevant documents that you want to contribute, or information on a North American model that you don't find here, please let me know via the Contact page.
Catalogs
First, a few vintage catalogs from 1983 onward that I have collected. These give a sense of which models Black & Decker was promoting the most in certain years. In most cases they had additional Workmates on the market at the time that did not get featured in the catalog. (You can find many more catalogs and other documents from 1974 to 1982 showing the Workmate 79-001 and its close relatives on my Documents page.)
- 1983 Black & Decker catalog excerpt Form 323, Rev. 5/83. Shows seven Workmates and five Workmate accessories immediately after the 79-001 was discontinued.
- 1984 Black & Decker Power Tools Accessories catalog excerpt Form 369. Shows the four floor-standing Workmates of the time.
- 1989-90 Sears catalog excerpt Shows an amusing goof by someone at Sears—a Workmate 400 unlike any other. It has been assembled with the vise crank handles on the back side of the Workmate, opposite where the footrest and the top-release latches are.
- 1991 Black & Decker Industrial/Construction Distributor Reference Guide 1991 excerpt Form 12647. This catalog is for the professional market, not DIYers, so it shows only the two top-of-the-line models.
- 1993-94 Black & Decker Power Tools Catalog Form LCPQC93. Shows the four floor-standing Workmates of the time.
- 1994-1995 Craftsman Power and Hand Tools catalog excerpt The Workmate appears to be the 79-041.
- 1997 Black & Decker catalog excerpt Form No. LCPC97. Includes four Workmates and two accessories.
79-001 Deluxe Dual Height Workmate (1974-1982)
Of course, the 79-001 is covered in great detail throughout the rest of this site.
79-002 Standard Single Height Workmate (1977-1981)
79-003 Single Height Workmate Type 1 (1977-1978)
79-003 Single Height Workmate Type 2 (1978-1984)
79-004 Deluxe Dual Height Workmate (1979-1980)
Closely related to the 79-001, the Workmate 79-004 is covered in detail here: Workmate 79-004
79-005 Deluxe Dual Height Workmate (Canada) (1977-1985)
Closely related to the 79-001, the Workmate 79-005 is covered in detail here: Workmate 79-005
79-006 Standard Single Height Workmate (Canada) (1977-1983)
The Canadian model 79-006 appears to be identical to the U.S. model 79-002.
79-008 Table Top Workmate (Canada) (1978-1981)
79-009 Dual 27" Workmate (1980-1984)
79-020 Tilting Bench Top Workmate (1978-1985)
79-021 Drop Leaf Workmate (1981-1985)
79-023 Standard Bench Top Workmate (1981-1985)
79-025 Hobby Crafter Bench Top Workmate (1980-1985)
79-028 Workmate 100 (1991-1995)
79-029 Workmate 85 (1984-1993)
79-030 Workmate 400 (Canada) (1991-1993)
79-031 Workmate 100 Work Center (1982-1984)
79-032 Workmate 200 Work Center (1982-1997)
79-033 Workmate 300 Work Center (1982-1995)
79-034 Workmate 400 Work Center (1982-1996)
79-035 Workmate Clampdown 35" (1979-1983)
79-038 Workmate 350 (1990-1997)
79-039 Workmate 2000 (1991-1992)
79-041 Workmate Work Center (1993-1997)
79-042 Workmate Plus (1992-1995)
79-228 Workmate 150 (1995-1997)
BDST11000 Workmate 1000 (2010's)
Jobmate 3980 (1978-1980)
Closely related to the 79-001, the Jobmate 3980 is covered in detail here: Jobmate 3980
SB200 Workmate Shopbox (1994-1997)
SB225 Workmate Shopbox (1996-1998)
WM125 Workmate 125 (2001-current)
WM225 Project Center (1996-current)
WM375 (2003-2006)
WM425 Types 1-2 Workmate 425 Project Center (1996-2003)
WM425 Types 3-6 Workmate 550 (1998-2003)
WM525 Workmate Hand Truck (2004-2006)