Sunday, May 4, 2014

Gripping Tales: Wilkinsons Tools, Warrington, Lancashire, England


Below, my small collection of Wilkinsons Tools pliers:











Wilkinsons Tools were manufactured out of Kerfoot Street, Warrington, Lancashire, England.  The company made pliers, pincers, nippers, wrenches and tools for telegraph linesmen.  Their brand name was "Albec."  




Apparently, their pliers were standard issue in Rolls-Royce and Bentley tool kits from 1956 to 1965.  Not a bad endorsement!  The company seems to have had a relationship with George Plumpton Ltd., also of Warrington,  which made wire cutters during World War I, and winged dividers:
The London Gazette, September 3, 1979

This suggests that Wilkinsons soldiered on until the late 1970's or early 1980's.  I would have expected that they would have been rolled up into the James Neill Tool group, but this does not appear to have occurred.


Graces Guide to British Industry

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was an apprentice toolmaker at Wilkinson's Tools from 1969 to 1973. Possibly one of the reasons for its early demise was all the toolmakers were sacked for going on strike and leaving just us 3 apprentices who each left within a couple of years after.

Unknown said...

Shut about 1993. Record moved it to Sheffield. Sadly the two works managers tony and mike were killed in a accident on the way to Sheffield.

Unknown said...

Shut about 1993. Record moved it to Sheffield. Sadly the two works managers tony and mike were killed in a accident on the way to Sheffield.

milly said...

my uncle worked there for 40 yrs phil barlow

Anonymous said...

Hi Milly, I'm sorry I don't remember your uncle, when did he leave and what did he do there?

mrsgeeti said...

my grandad worked there,he used to teach the apprentices,his name was frank Rotherham,sadly no longer with us..

Anonymous said...

My dad worked there Thomas cox