OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

264421 Tony Blanks <dynnyrne@i...> 2017‑12‑24 Re: Clico Tools - was auger forging
On 25/12/2017 7:27 AM, John Leyden wrote in part:

> On a related note, another galoot asked me off-list whether the company that
had the auger factory in the video I mentioned the other day was still in
business. Apparently it is not. The company was Clico, of Sheffield, and it
looks like it went out of business almost exactly three years ago.   :-(
>
> John

Probably 25 so years ago, back in the days of airmailed letters rather 
than today's corporate websites and email I had reason to contact Clico 
(Sheffield) Tooling Ltd, chasing a heavy  replacement iron for a Preston 
bench plane. They were helpful and prompt, supplying the blade I was 
looking for with a catalogue of the company's products - mostly machine 
tools, and pleasant letter and invoice showing me what the price of the 
iron was and asking me to pay within 30 days!  Nice folk.  Along with 
the Sterling bank draft (remember those) I sent off a thank you letter 
containing a few questions, since the line of Clifton bench and rebate 
planes seemed rather removed from their main game which was the 
manufacture of precision rotary tools for the aerospace industry.  The 
response was that Clico was a family firm and one of the Directors was a 
passionate wood-worker, and had convinced the other directors that a 
line of premium quality tools would be saleable and profitable. Seeing 
the prices for the planes even then, I suspected that "marginally 
profitable at best" would have been  a more accurate summation of the 
prospects.

Clico (Sheffield) Tooling Limited was established as a private limited 
company with share capital on 1 June 1983, for the purpose of 
"Manufacture Of Tools"  with its registered office in Sheffield. The 
company  had one director at the time it was dissolved on 11 August 
2017, did not have any subsidiaries and had ceased to trade well before 
that date.  August 2017 was just the formal burying of the last 
vestiges. The Company's accounts were described as "Total Exemption 
Small", whatever that means, but the description doesn't make the 
company sound either large or prosperous.

The fate of Clico is a sad one, being broken up and sold to 2 other 
Sheffield companies: Lidster Paragon Tool Co. Ltd  and Thomas Flynn and Co.

 From the web at: http://lidsters.com/about/clico

'In 2014 Lidsters purchased the aerospace and double glazing division of 
Clico. All the staff and manufacturing equipment were transferred to the 
Lidsters site in Killamarsh, Sheffield.'

'Clico can trace its origins back to the 19th Century as part of William 
Ridgway, a supplier of woodworking tools to furniture and cabinet 
makers. As the early aircraft were also made of wood its involvement in 
aircraft manufacture was a natural progression. It soon became a name on 
its own as the machine tool division of William Ridgeway in the 1950s. 
In 1983 there was a management buyout of the company when it became 
Clico (Sheffield) Tooling Ltd.  The Clico brand had 3 main product 
groups, of which it was particularly well known and trusted throughout 
the aerospace and double glazing industries. It was for this part of the 
business that Lidsters have taken on Clico.'

"Lidsters vision is to dominate the UK Aerospace industry, becoming the 
specialist drill manufacturer offering exceptional technical support and 
service.'

Lidster's core business is the manufacture of HSS, HSCO and Carbide 
round cutting tools such as drills and reamers, so not much future for a 
line of archaic hand tools with that firm.

Fortunately the Clifton plane and shave line was bought up by Thomas 
Flynn and Co, another Sheffield family firm.  I recall Richard Wilson 
pointing us in their direction not long ago.  This firm's history is at:

http://www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk/acatalog/History.html

and their Clifton planes, shaves and spare irons are at:

https://www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk/acatalog/CLIFTON.html

This is a great site to rummage through, as the firm makes or factors a 
wonderful range of unusual  and hard to find tools including turning 
saws and blades, pad saw handles and spare blades, musical saws, 
stone-cutting saws and saw screws and caps.

No connection with either Clico or Thos. Flinn and Co. other than as a 
long past very satisfied customer of both.

For what its worth the UK firm "Woodsmith' of 7-9 Claremont Road, 
Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 3TN 
http://woodsmithexperience.co.uk/shop/category/clico/ still offers Clico 
brand barrel eyed augers, solid centre augers and Jennings pattern 
augers along with chairmakers parallel spoon bits (though spoon bits are 
listed as out of stock, so no need to rush.).

Compliments of the Season to you all,

Tony B
Hobart, Tasmania

Recent Bios FAQ