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:
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| 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.
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| Graces Guide to British Industry |
11 comments:
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.
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.
my uncle worked there for 40 yrs phil barlow
Hi Milly, I'm sorry I don't remember your uncle, when did he leave and what did he do there?
my grandad worked there,he used to teach the apprentices,his name was frank Rotherham,sadly no longer with us..
My dad worked there Thomas cox
I worked there from 1969 until 1989 i remeber Tommy Cox what a character if i had my time i would do all again without question. Robert Rutter
I worked there from 1987-1993 and unfortunately it was poorly run and closed in 1993 as a previous post stated to Record Marple in Sheffield which most of the machines and a couple of staff transferred there. Lots of great characters sadly a few will be gone now. Joe Farrington
My mum Joan Margaret Knowles later called Joan
Sinnett, worked at Wilkinson Tools. She had a friend called Dot Horn who she chatted to during her tea breaks . She said there were no windows and during the winter, u would go into work in the dark and then go home in the dark. She still had nice times in this place and I recall she told me she was union rep. I have tried to find the spot where the place was located, near McDonalds, but struggled to find the spot. My mum has sadly passed away. My mum told me about the car accident. A tragic event. My mum was thinking of going to Sheffield and they were going to give her a lift. I sometimes wonder if the accident would have occurred if this had happened. X
My sister Susan Horn married to Ken Horn also worked at Wilkinson Tools. They both married but later sadly divorced. Sadly my sister passed away. Never knew what happened to Dot , Ken’s mum or Ken
Any information greatly received since I love social history, particularly the history of Warrington, being my home town. Caroline Knowles. I now live in Liverpool.
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