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Wicken Workshop - Vintage Woodworking & Engineering Hand Tool Makers
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Shop > Vintage Hand Tools > Makers This page will feature the names of and information about selected hand tool manufacturers / vendors from days gone by. Some of these companies consolidated over the course of the twentieth century, some names disappeared completely and a few brands can be found on the racks of hardware stores to this day. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list, many more tool makers of high renown existed throughout the world including here in Britain, in Ireland, the USA, Sweden and Germany to name just a few countries. This list does not include modern makers of traditional hand tools, smaller specialist firms producing excellent tools for the traditional craftsperson. (eg: the Ray Iles range of green woodworking edged tools). This omission in no way implies any lack in quality; firms like these exist because many quality mass manufacturers from times past have long since disappeared and finding the desired tool could be near impossible without such modern makers. Makers listed on this page should not be regarded as 'the best' but instead being of 'generally good quality', a purely abritrary grading based on personal experience, observation or maker's reputation. That said, a buyer won't go far wrong keeping their eyes peeled for tools by these makers when visiting car-boot sales, swap meets, jumbles, summer fairs, junk shops, house clearances etc. Generally tools will end up in places like these because they have been neglected and are consequently inexpensive as many people will think they are only fit for the skip. Often, this is far from the truth and tools can be cleaned, renovated and sharpened to give another hundred years of use. So, look out for names including... Addis |