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
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