Exhibit 3(a)(2)
                             ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

                                       OF

                         THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION

         The  Black  &  Decker   Corporation,   a  Maryland   corporation   (the
"Corporation"), certifies as follows:

         FIRST:  Pursuant to the authority  granted to the Board of Directors of
the  Corporation  by Article IV of the Charter of the  Corporation,  on July 17,
1997, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, reclassified 1,500,000 unissued
shares of the Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock of the Corporation
as 1,500,000 shares of undesignated Series Preferred Stock.

         SECOND: Pursuant to the authority granted  to the Board of Directors of
the  Corporation  by Article IV of the Charter of the  Corporation,  on July 17,
1997, the Board of Directors of the Corporation,  reclassified  150,000 unissued
shares of the Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Corporation
as 150,000 shares of undesignated Series Preferred Stock.

         THIRD:  In accordance  with the provisions of Article IV of the Charter
of the  Corporation,  the shares of Series  Preferred Stock may be issued,  from
time to time,  in one or more series as authorized by the Board of Directors and
on the terms and  conditions  designated  by the Board of  Directors,  including
terms,  rights,  restrictions and  qualifications,  and any preferences,  voting
powers, dividend rights and redemption, sinking fund and conversion rights.

         IN  WITNESS   WHEREOF,   the  Corporation  has  caused  these  Articles
Supplementary  to be  signed  in its name and on its  behalf on this 17th day of
July 1997, by its President who acknowledges  that these Articles  Supplementary
are  the  act  of  the  Corporation  and  that  to the  best  of his  knowledge,
information  and belief and under  penalties for perjury,  all matters and facts
contained in these Articles Supplementary are true in all material respects.


ATTEST:                                  THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION


/s/Barbara B. Lucas_____                 By:/s/Nolan D. Archibald______(SEAL)
Barbara B. Lucas                              Nolan D. Archibald
Secretary                                     Chairman, President and
                                              Chief Executive Officer