Tool suppliers in Oxford and Banbury ?

Hello,

AM on holiday from Australia and would like to visit some tool and machinery shops.

Are there any tool shops in Oxford or Banbury ie for lathes, Mills tool, steel, micrometers etc ?

Not having much luck with google, currently based between Oxford and Banbury.

Bill

Bill,

Tool shops you can browse around are few and far between these days. Mostly the trade is mail order based with 3 major suppliers who advertise in the modelling press. None of which are near Oxford but  Axminster tools in High Wycombe, just down the M40 would be worth a visit.

I see that Cromwell have a Banbury branch. These are an industrial supplier so you could at least browse the catalogue and then pick up what you want at their branch. Even with Machine Mart, who are not exactly top end suppliers, you are in a bit of a black hole shop wise.

30 years ago I would have directed you to Millhill supplies in Crowmarsh Gifford or Sarjents tools in Reading or Swindon - long gone now .

Others may know better - I hope so.

Rod (If you drift over to the west country, the Tool shop in Colyton, Devon is well worth a detour)

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 21/06/2015 22:22:43

Hello Bill,

My Dad's ancestors all come from the area around Bicester and Brackley. I'm not aware of any suppliers in the area, and you are pretty far from all the obvious candidates (by English standards if not Australian ones). Axminster are in High Wycombe and Basingstoke, and further afield there's Warco in Chiddingfold, Surrey and Arc Euro in Syston near Leicester. If you can haul all the way to Hawarden, Cheshire Chester are having their open week.

Neil

Go out of Oxford on the A40 and take the A418 to Aylesbury then Aston Clinton to Dunstable.

Chronos Ltd. southfields Road, Dunstable.

I would guess about an hour, used to work in Aylesbury and could get their in about 25 minutes, that't about halfway to Dunstable.

Bill

As a native of Oxford I endorse Rod's advice and, especially as I've moved to Devon, see if you can get a day out here ( God's own country you know!) The shop though is the Tool BOX not the Tool shop.

You can have a look HERE

In addition to the larger goodies shown they also have a large selection of tools and measuring instruments. I drop in there from time to time - and I'm nearly always tempted! What's more they are only a stones throw from Axminster and Axminster Power Tools.

Good hunting!

Norman

Bill,

Pennyfarthing Tools are in the Reading area. Used to be in Salisbury bought many tools from them in the past. Also MJ Engineering are inthe same area.

Good luck Hugh

I knew that

Rod

Thanks for all the help.

Bill

Pennyfarthing Tools nowhere near Reading. Reading is J11 M4, they are near J14 M4, (3.5miles B4000)