About the Tool Box
A treasure-trove for users and collectors alike!
The Toolbox
We are always delighted to buy tools in good condition, whether individual items or complete collections. Woodworking hand tools (especially by Stanley, Preston, Norris, or Record), engineering tools, precision measuring equipment, light workshop machinery (wood and metalworking) and garden tools are all of interest. Collections of tools for the rarer skills are of particular value. Please contact us if you have items for disposal.
The business was established back in the 1980's. In early 1992 it was acquired by the present proprietor David Fouracre, who had been involved in retail management with a major company for 20 years before taking the helm in Colyton. He has steadily upgraded the standards of stock and presentation, and added a first floor dedicated entirely to back-issues of model engineering magazines (see Books Magazines).
Our aim is to offer a wide range of good quality used tools and light machines at realistic prices. Because certain used items in high demand cannot be sourced in sufficient quantities, we augment our stock with carefully selected and competitively-priced new tools in order that our customers may have an alternative which they can buy with confidence. All the used equipment is carefully renovated in our own workshop, and electrical equipment in particular is subject to stringent safety checks before release for sale.
We are very keen to supply you with tools and machinery that, whilst pre-owned, will give you years of reliable and enjoyable service. We don't give fixed guarantees, but rather prefer to take a pragmatic approach to solving any problems you might have with equipment purchased from us. Above all else, we would like to see you back! We are happy to see you at any time during normal opening hours, but please contact David beforehand if you are bringing items in for us to purchase
Due to the diverse and unpredictable nature of our stock we don't publish catalogues; however we do keep a register of customer requirements and will endeavour to fulfil these - just let us know what you are searching for. All our prices include VAT where applicable. We are happy to accept sterling cheques and Visa/Mastercard/ Switch/Delta for items purchased by mail order, although no cheques please for transactions under £10.
Greg Rowland with Coach Wheels
Mike Rowland and his son Greg (right) run a renowned wheelwright business on the edge of Colyton. They've recently been awarded Royal Appointment status, and Greg is pictured here with a set of wheels - ½ ton each and made entirely in Colyton - destined for some ancient cannons in Londonderry. Mike and Greg do the majority of the wheelwrighting work for the Royal Mews and have many other high-profile clients, and they are frequent visitors to the shop. More of their work can be seen on their web page at www.wheelwright.org.uk
Tony Gosling lives not a million miles from Colyton and when I took on the shop he was building Koppel, a 7¼ gauge rack locomotive. 14 years later he's passed it on to his very capable son Stephen (a professional engineer). In between times the two of them turn out splendidly-restored elderly heavy goods vehicles such as this First World War Autocar (left) and the FWD (right) of similar vintage.
Then we have the customers who we have to put up with, like Nigel Irving with his 1930 Vauxhall Hurlingham. He visits Lyme Regis with the long-suffering Sarah, and then comes into the shop to get bits to repair the motor. This is possibly the best view of him you could expect ...
Bob Thomas is one of thos fellows who's like dung: you get it on your boots and then it seems to stick around for ever. As you can see, he's one of those sad biking freaks in a go-fast Lycra outfit that would cost a bomb in an Ann Summers shop. Often to be seen careering down the local hills measuring his heartrate, blood pressure and all other sorts of statistics. The sad thing is that he (followed by his long-suffering wife Steph) never seems to know where he's going. Usually appears at the shop when his on-board radar picks up the kettle boiling ...