Is it possible to still “buy British” ?

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

I am interested to find out what tools and equipment for model engineers are still made in Britain. I am sure there must be some makers still in business.

I am very heartened to read about A&R Precision Ltd. making tool holders to fit Dickson type tool posts. It is unusual to find a British manufacturer setting out to make items to compete with cheaper Far-Eastern products.

I have been in model engineering for 50 years and throughout my life I have bought British made tools and equipment wherever possible. This was of course very easy to do 40 or 50 years ago as there were few importers of foreign equipment. As we all know it has become increasingly difficult to find genuine British made tools and equipment during the last few years. I have always found that my British made items have served me well and have given pleasure in their use. To be fair I do also have some excellent foreign made kit mostly made in Northern Europe. I have only had problems with some Far-Eastern imports.

The reason for starting this thread is NOT to knock imported tools and equipment, or their suppliers, but to try to identify what, if any, tools and workshop equipment are still manufactured in Britain.

It would be nice to be able to compile a list of all British manufacturers (not importers putting old British maker’s names on their products) to guide persons like myself who prefer to buy British.

I do fully understand that we all live in a “global economy “and that economies of scale are important in determining prices. I also appreciate that many model engineers have limited funds available for their hobby and buy cheaper imported tools rather than have nothing. It is true that the standard of Far-Eastern products have improved greatly over the last few years however it would be very nice to know if there are still British made alternative available albeit perhaps at a higher price. The really important thing is to have some choice in what you buy.

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Lambton,

An excellent idea for a thread.

I was hoping to include Tenga Engineering Company Ltd. as manufacturer of the lovely little BCA MkIII, but sadly it appears that these machines are now only available used.

They have an advertisement on page 64 of MEW issue 199.

The website is here

Not be confused with tenga<dot>co<dot>uk [where Google might lead the unwary]

MichaelG.

[David LittlewoodParticipant @davidlittlewood51847]

It is my understanding that the 600 Group still makes machines in the UK, including Harrison lathes. They did move production to China a couple of decades ago but there were quality control problems and they brought production back here. Mind you, if you need to ask the price you probably can't afford it!

David

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

Myford's and Butler. Since then every thing else that was British has either been sold or gone out of business.

Boxford (now in Elland, West Yorks) & Denford (Brighouse, West Yorks) both still in business.

Asquith Butler (Brighouse, West Yorks) are still in business, but they have always been manufacturers of machines rather larger than required by model engineers ! Likewise Landis grinders in Keighley & BSA MachineTools (Birmingham)

600 Lathes (Heckmondwyke, West Yorks) still manufacture Harrison & Colchester CNC machines in the UK, though the manual machines are imported.

Nigel B.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Rishton milling machines which are model engineered sized to get back on track and Cowells who make lathes

[joegibParticipant @joegib]

Arrand Engineering is still going. They do hide their light under a bushel, though — I can't find a website for the firm. Most of their products are available from Mill Hill Tools:

Arrand

Sadly, web references suggest that Rishton Milling Machines ceased trading around 2004.

Joe

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Someone keeps advertising division plates on ebay that I expect are UK made.
Something leads me to suspect that these **LINK** do not come from far away.

I'd like to see them do ones for 3C as there must be a market with the Boxford users in this country if not abroad. There is another thread asking about a filing rest – not yet on the importers catalogue. Yes I know you can make one but if importers can sell loads of easy to make tailstock dieholders it shows many people don't. DIY. Now add to the list 5MT to 5C nose adaptors which are only available from Grizzly yet hundreds of lathes just waiting for one.

I wonder whether the importers ever consider trying to source some parts locally. eg the UK does still have sheet metal bashers so although it may not be ecenomical to make a mill or lathe the stand is bulky to transport so could be viable.

[mike mcdermidParticipant @mikemcdermid41977]

Its not difficult to make something here for a similar price to an import, we have proved that in another industry i work in

the problem is, is it worth it? and secondly do you have the time to spend seeking out the skills required to do it ,we researched building UK lathes and found those skills and experience were on the decline

I now know from experience we seem to have forgotten how to make things

The general number of people that would buy such a hobby or light duty machine is too small to consider it commercially

as above we still have sheet metal bashers but boy it aint cheap

 

Edited By mike mcdermid on 20/01/2013 21:58:20

Edited By mike mcdermid on 20/01/2013 22:00:56

[Martin Walsh 1Participant @martinwalsh1]

Its nice to see a few british tool manufacturers still going

King Dick and Britool and eclipse are still going strong

Moore and Wright seem to be made in china now

bought a couple of digital M and W mics a few months ago and they still seem

good

 

Best Wishes Martin

Edited By Martin Walsh 1 on 20/01/2013 22:41:03

Edited By Martin Walsh 1 on 20/01/2013 22:41:47

[Martin Walsh 1Participant @martinwalsh1]

Are Presto still going I heard they closed down

but their website is still online

Best Wishes Martin

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I was in the UK in 1984, and stayed a week or so in Sheffield, I was looking around a shop selling engineering gear, and the sales assistant came over to ask if he could help, I told him no, alathe was a bit big for cabin bagage back home to NZ. He then said how "you won't find much from Sheffield here", then he told me how he used to work for Record tools until they sent their work off shore, and made him redundant, he was not too happy with life. Ian S C

[AndyfParticipant @andyf]

Posted by Martin Walsh 1 on 20/01/2013 22:45:13:

Are Presto still going I heard they closed down

but their website is still online

Best Wishes Martin

I think that the original Presto got into difficuties and went into administration (probably followed by liquidation) around 2007, Martin. The current Presto is called Presto International Limited, operating from a different address in Sheffield. It may be that the name was bought up by someone else, and the new company might just be a distributor rather than a manufacturer.

Andy

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

King Dick and Britool and eclipse are still going strong

Eclipse are now part of Spear and Jackson and from their website:

"Over the years, Spear & Jackson’s products have become widely recognised for their heritage and high quality. The Group has expanded through acquisitions and we have also reduced costs by relocating selected manufacturing operations to Asia."

Another"British" manufacturer selling imported goods.

Britool are now part of Stanley Black and Decker – an American group.  They don't say where their products come from.

Russell.

Edited By Russell Eberhardt on 21/01/2013 14:53:14

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

When I was a boy i always looke dout for the giant 'Mole' over the factory in Newport. It hasn't been there for may years, alas!

Neil

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

I proudly work for a family owned company that is celebrating 75 years in business this year.

We export specialised custom made machines all over the world, and quite a large percentage of it goes out to China.

We also own sister companies in France, Malaysia and the USA.

Its not all doom and gloom.

Phil

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

I suspect that it is difficult to differentiate between truly made in Britain and outsourced components with final assembly in Britain. As with the car industry, how much of the component parts are made in Britain for a British made car.

[Author]

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