ME suppliers

[sonic_m1etnParticipant @sonic_m1etn]

Hi,

A sort of generic question. I’m looking for suppliers near me (Friskney, lincs) where they have a shop you can go in to and have a browse.

30 years ago when I lived in Enfield London, there was GLR in hoddesdon i used, think chronos was local ish and a few other tools shops etc. Now i have the space, more time and some steam mad children i can get in to it more than when I was at college back then.

I have used recently Reeves, EKP and chronos online, but want to find somewhere local to take my son so he can see physical items for sale. I like online purchasing but its not the same as physically looking at something.

even online searching is not really finding me anything local

Many thanks

Dan

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

I think that your search could well be in vain, especially in a rural county like Lincolnshire. Suppliers that I’ve visited in the past, Reeves and others, usually have just a counter with only a very limited display, all the stock being “at the back”. The same applies to general engineering suppliers. Best of luck though.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I think those sorts of establishments are in the dim and distant past the most you can see now seems to be a machine mart god help us but it can give you ideas

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Wind the clock back over 50 years and go to Kellers in Norwich city. As Bernard has said ( and I’m sure others will ) those days have gone. Buy a copy of Stuart models or other suppliers catalogue and study in detail. Plan B, join a local club this will give some insight as to what is about. Good luck and best wishes. Noel.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Suppliers of articles for model engineering are few and far between, but there are a few about, but unlikely to be in rural Lincolnshire.

In Peterborough, you might find a few Taps or Dies, certainly Allen Screws,  at Sterling Nut and Bolt, but for such items as cutting tools or machine accessories, you will need to order by mail or on line, from folk like Tracy Tools, Arc Euro Trade, RDG, Warco, or Axminster.

Have a look at their On Line catalogues, to see what is available.

I can certainly recommend Arc Euro at Syston. Their catalogue is comprehensive, and so is their service.

For materials there are several who can supply, but again, mail order, not a local place to browse.

Howard

[noel shelley]

On noel shelley Said:

Wind the clock back over 50 years and go to Kellers in Norwich city. As Bernard has said ( and I’m sure others will ) those days have gone. Buy a copy of Stuart models or other suppliers catalogue and study in detail. Plan B, join a local club this will give some insight as to what is about. Good luck and best wishes. Noel.

I started an engineering business from scratch in the Norwich area in 1989.

Kellers were a reasonable source of workshop equipment in the early days, pre – internet. vices, pillar drills tooling etc,

The guvnor was as I recall Vic Keller, he was ok.

The premises:-

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/23522182.norwich-cattle-market-streets-crystal-house-plans-revealed/

 

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

I think your best bet would be to visit the Midlands exhibition when it comes up in October as there will be several dealer’s stands to browse. Carrington traction engine rally is near you in May so there might be a couple of stands there with used engineering tools and equipment. There always used to be at the now defunct Lincoln rally and other rallies I have visited.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Ah yes, those were the days !

As the song say,s  “Ah yes, I remember it well ” !

If you live in the Sticks, as I do, I wish you luck.

[Trevor Drabble 1Participant @trevordrabble1]

Dan , Suggest you try contacting Station Road Steam in Lincoln. They are just off the A15.

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Supplier of bolts screws etc near lincoln is Spalding fasteners      https://www.spaldingfasteners.co.uk

Have a look on there for Metric and Imperial parts.

David

[sonic_m1etnParticipant @sonic_m1etn]

Thanks all

I thought as much unfortunately, but Im definitely going to Carrington show (its only 20/30mins drive,) so will see what sort of trade stands are there.

I’ll search those suggestions above and get some paper catalogues. in the absence of a trade / shop counter a paper catalogue i still find better than the search function on a website.

Dan

[sonic_m1etn]

On 28 March 2025 at 16:46 sonic_m1etn Said:

Hi,

A sort of generic question. I’m looking for suppliers near me (Friskney, lincs) where they have a shop you can go in to and have a browse.

30 years ago when I lived in Enfield London, there was GLR in hoddesdon i used, think chronos was local ish and a few other tools shops etc. Now i have the space, more time and some steam mad children i can get in to it more than when I was at college back then.

I have used recently Reeves, EKP and chronos online, but want to find somewhere local to take my son so he can see physical items for sale. I like online purchasing but its not the same as physically looking at something.

even online searching is not really finding me anything local

Many thanks

Dan

Dan, your mention of taking your son to see engineering products close up brought to mind two things. Firstly, that when I was about 15 my father went to see an elderly local chemist friend of his who ran a very old retail pharmacy. He took me in tow. I was in awe of the rows of drug jars with latin names on them and fascinating contents (Tinnevelly Senna and Rheum to name two). I decided there and then that I wanted to be a pharmacist and I became one. 35 years later I retired and became a property developer and landlord.

But, in this day and age, youngsters, whether 5 or 50 are glued to their mobiles and probably only ever enter a Greggs and would be mostly unaware of the concept of shopping in retail premises.

Hugh                                                                                                                              Amadeal Ltd

 

[Hugh Stewart-Smith 1]

On Hugh Stewart-Smith 1 Said:

On 28 March 2025 at 16:46 sonic_m1etn Said:

Hi,

A sort of generic question. I’m looking for suppliers near me (Friskney, lincs) where they have a shop you can go in to and have a browse.

30 years ago when I lived in Enfield London, there was GLR in hoddesdon i used, think chronos was local ish and a few other tools shops etc. Now i have the space, more time and some steam mad children i can get in to it more than when I was at college back then.

I have used recently Reeves, EKP and chronos online, but want to find somewhere local to take my son so he can see physical items for sale. I like online purchasing but its not the same as physically looking at something.

even online searching is not really finding me anything local

Many thanks

Dan

Dan, your mention of taking your son to see engineering products close up brought to mind two things. Firstly, that when I was about 15 my father went to see an elderly local chemist friend of his who ran a very old retail pharmacy. He took me in tow. I was in awe of the rows of drug jars with latin names on them and fascinating contents (Tinnevelly Senna and Rheum to name two). I decided there and then that I wanted to be a pharmacist and I became one. 35 years later I retired and became a property developer and landlord.

But, in this day and age, youngsters, whether 5 or 50 are glued to their mobiles and probably only ever enter a Greggs and would be mostly unaware of the concept of shopping in retail premises.

Hugh                                                                                                                              Amadeal Ltd

 

I know where your coming from, how ever we drag our kiddies up to be not reliant on a mobile device, they are banned from facebook until they are 16 for example, and all thier tablets are monitored using family link and have limits set etc.

My son 13 is more interested in building things out of wood, built a trailer for the back of an old ride on mower, loves tractors, trains and steam stuff.

He actually keeps asking to go to B&Q to buy wood, screws and what not. He has saved up pocket money to go to the model railway show at the NEC in April, and even said he is saving some to buy diesel for the landy to get there and back!!!

The twins are 9 and love helping out as well, love making things etc. Yes they do have tablets, and my son a phone but they maybe spend an hr or two a day on them if that!!

Dan

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Not sure what to say about that but do think they may be in the minority and to be fair our hobby is a minority interest.

[sonic_m1etn]

On sonic_m1etn Said:

I’ll search those suggestions above and get some paper catalogues. in the absence of a trade / shop counter a paper catalogue i still find better than the search function on a website.

Dan

You could see if MSC will send you a copy of their latest catalogue – there is an online request form. One arrived on my doorstep recently ( I have bought bits from them occasionally). 1400+ pages ranging from sugar for the tea room to 3 three phase milling machines and everything you didn’t even know existed in between.

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

There was a verey good tool store near the Stonebow in Lincoln if it is still there,might be worth a look

Frank

 

 

 

 

 

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

David George –

Thankyou for that link – after a quick browse of its web-site I have added it to my list.

 

Sonic_m1letn –

B&Q may be convenient but I learnt long ago, tipped off by my Dad, that they might not be the only nor cheapest retailer in your area. Their primary line is household DIY but for a slightly more engineering bias, you can try Toolfix or Screwfix; and indeed look around for other, including independant, retailers. (I buy some of my household DIY materials from a local independent.)

 

Hugh –

Is it really so that today’s youngsters are only interested in portable ‘phones and fast-food joints? (As are many adults…) Or is that many of them do not see anyone or anything among their elders inspiring them to make or do anything physically creative and constructive?

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Well I would say that human beings especially small human beings are as they always have been. Curious , creative and inventive. Given that modern life can blank some of that out with fast fixes of digital enjoyment but do realise that nothing really has changed and that youngsters are fascinated with everything. So feed their curiosity.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Stretching this topic more than a little [ who, Moi ? ]

This place was, and with any luck remains, a Gem

https://hackaday.com/2022/05/20/rip-john-birkett-parts-vendor-extraordinaire/

Could some kind Lincolnshire chap/chapess please check and advise ?

MichaelG.

[ZanParticipant @zan]

As an ex Wainfleet lad (now 74) and living now near Sheffield feel your pain  there’s very little about

carrington is a great rally with a good group of traders

John Birkett was a close friend of my dad who got a lot of stuff from John. Dad  ran a grocers shop, and was a bit of an Ariel expert in the field of amateur radio.( G2FHM ) He during the war constructed mobile units (highly banned due to communication war restrictions) which was used to great effect by his home guard unit to defeat the regular armi in training games!

His love of scratch building radio equipment fired me up into making things which developed into steam engineering and me work

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

I am 73 later this year and can remember gazing through Birkett’s shop window as a teenager in the 1960’s. Before Covid, IIRC, I was in Lincoln and was amazed to see the shop was still in existence and trading. I noticed something of interest in the window and went in to buy it and there was an extremely elderly gentleman in a wheelchair, who I assumed was the original proprietor, accompanied by a lady who I took to be his daughter, although it may have been his carer. Late last year I saw that the shop was still in existence but not open. I wasn’t aware that the shop ever sold engineering tools, it was always displaying ex-RAF aviation equipment, radio ham type stuff and electronic components. Not being an aviation enthusiast or radio ham I never had much reason to visit the shop. I really must check if it is still in existence the next time I am in Lincoln, I would be amazed if it is.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Ah yes, the dream of the inventive, a government surplus shop ! At 16 I built a large valve communications set and used a mil surplus Aerial, erected on the flat roof of the house it stood 65′ tall. On sultry days or stormy nights if the set started to tick the aerial plug was pushed behind the radiator where sparks of static could be seen ! Happy days, when I was young and silly ! Noel.

[Author]

Posts