..currently missing, will they be back..?
DiogenesII | 08/11/2022 18:11:57 |
859 forum posts 268 photos | Just noticed that this section is no longer on their 'header' and most of the items are not currently listed on their website.. Anyone know if they will be back or whether they have they gone forever? |
JasonB | 08/11/2022 18:36:27 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | Likely gone for good much like the College Engineering ones. When you can buy a fully machined far eastern item for less than the cost of a raw casting I can't see there being much call for them now. Having said that I don't recall them doing castings for workshop items and can't see them in my paper catalogue that must be 10yrs old. Edited By JasonB on 08/11/2022 18:39:59 |
DiogenesII | 08/11/2022 18:47:27 |
859 forum posts 268 photos | ..there sure will be a wailing and gnashing of teeth when the only 'stuff' available will have to be ordered sight unseen from the other side of the world.. I feared it might be like that.. |
JasonB | 08/11/2022 19:06:40 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | Nothing to stop anyone treating the "sight unseen" items as a project that can be remachined or scraped to whatever accuracy they feel they need. Still cheaper than castings and most of the donkey work has been done for you. Or buy from a more local supplier who has done the sight seeing for you and supplies items generally upto the job. Edited By JasonB on 08/11/2022 19:09:09 |
Nicholas Farr | 08/11/2022 20:21:10 |
![]() 3988 forum posts 1799 photos | Hi, here's a scan of Reeves & Co's listing from their 23rd edition. Here's a scan of Reeves 2000 listing from their 25th edition. Issue 1. Although tools and workshop equipment is listed in Reeves 2000, there is no workshop equipment castings listed or shown. They still have tools and workshop equipment listed in their shop on their website, but I haven't checked that everything is the same. Regards Nick. Edited By Nicholas Farr on 08/11/2022 20:24:20 |
Bazyle | 08/11/2022 20:37:44 |
![]() 6956 forum posts 229 photos | Yes but what we are all wanting to know now is what were the things that we were never going to make anyway. |
JasonB | 08/11/2022 20:38:37 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | It's the 25th one I have and must be 10years old so not been there for some time. |
Nicholas Farr | 08/11/2022 21:34:58 |
![]() 3988 forum posts 1799 photos | Hi, I've now found my copy of Reeves 24th edition, and that has the workshop equipment castings listed, so I guess they must have stopped doing them by the time the 25th edition first came out. I can't remember exactly, but I think they had some sort of reorganisation of the company when their name changed to Reeves 2000. Regards Nick. |
ega | 08/11/2022 23:04:50 |
2805 forum posts 219 photos | I was impressed to see that there are 16 pages of Workshop Equipment Castings in the 23rd edition, some of which are probably available from Hemingway; others may not be readily available anywhere. |
JasonB | 09/11/2022 06:58:15 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | Name change was around 2000 so fair to say the first print of the 25th edition came out fairly soon after that so possibly not been listing them for 20years |
not done it yet | 09/11/2022 07:37:02 |
7517 forum posts 20 photos | Posted by DiogenesII on 08/11/2022 18:11:57:
Just noticed that this section is no longer on their 'header' and most of the items are not currently listed on their website.. Anyone know if they will be back or whether they have they gone forever? Here is their phone number - 01827 830894. Perhaps a simple enquiry might sort out whether this suggestion is correct or not? Less discussion required that way, as the reply should be fact, not guessing?
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Clive Brown 1 | 09/11/2022 08:45:29 |
1050 forum posts 56 photos | The name change around the year 2000 came about after the business bcame insolvent after change of management following the retirement of the two very active principals, messrs Farmer and Crisp. It was bought out by a firm with, AFAIK, no previous direct link with model engineering. Having visited Reeves in both of its guises, the current operation seems on a rather smaller scale than its predecessor, the premises has more the atmosphere of a retail shop than the previous "hands on" atmosphere. Although still a major supplier, it seems that their range of products has reduced, possibly in line with demand. |
Nicholas Farr | 09/11/2022 10:35:35 |
![]() 3988 forum posts 1799 photos | Hi, in Smoke Rings, ME 6th October 2000, there is an announcement that A. J. Reeves & Company (Birmingham) Ltd. went into voluntary liquidation during September. It goes on about a meeting of creditors and appointment of a Liquidator etc. In Smoke Rings, ME 26th January 2001, there is a statement that the company had been purchased and Reeves 2000 would be continuing largely as before, and would be run by new management, the new owners being Anker Towbars, and a bit of info about them. There is a similar statement on the Editor's Bench in MEW No. 74 May 2001. I bought my copy of the Reeves 2000, 25th edition at the first exhibition I went too when it was available. Regards Nick. Edited By Nicholas Farr on 09/11/2022 10:41:00 |
JA | 09/11/2022 12:08:51 |
![]() 1605 forum posts 83 photos | I have only dealt with the Reeves 2000 company. I used to call in, unannounced, on the way home from the East Midlands before I retired. Now days I deal with them through their website although I did collect some castings from them last Fedruary. The business appeared not to have changed except for a dedicated car park. They have allways been welcoming and efficient (you have to expect delays when ordering popular castings). It is very obvious that most of their business is done through the internet but they will use the phone instead of email. They are not cheap and other firms sell some similar castings for considerably less money (so much so that I question their valuation of stock) I receive promotional emails from Reeves and it appears they are trying to reduce the stock of less popular items. My gut feeling is that the demand for workshop tooling castings is very low. JA |
bernard towers | 09/11/2022 15:20:55 |
1221 forum posts 161 photos | Unfortunately as tooling castings are getting to be a thing of the past which is why people like myself end up fabricating tools which do not look quite so pretty unless you are prepared to machine features into them which is ok but totally non functional and I have more pressing things I would rather be doing. |
JA | 09/11/2022 17:30:00 |
![]() 1605 forum posts 83 photos | I have just received the latest promotional email from Reeves. They are moving to a small industrial estate two and a half miles from their present site. They say for more details just call or email them. JA |
DMB | 09/11/2022 19:31:36 |
1585 forum posts 1 photos | I suggest that Reeves along with all of the other ME suppliers have had it good for quite a number of years with ever increasing retiring baby boomers taking up the hobby or devoting more time and money to it. Firstly, they may have bought say a1" micrometer and an engineers square, a rigid steel rule, scriber and a an engineers bench vise. Then a set of drawings and castings. Secondly, all those tools will outlive their owner, so only bought once. HSS lathe bits last a long time. When that set of castings and all the other pieces of various metals have been turned into a model, neither another set of identical drawings or castings are needed. Tools will last and last, dont buy them every week like food supplies. Now we have a really awful price problem and inflation. Demography is now also taking effect with many baby boomers having finished their last model and if still alive, downsizing, flogging off that lathe, mill, etc. Huge costs of large premises, heat, light, staff wages, employers contribution to Nat. Insurance, all add to the commercial pressures. All the foregoing feeds into suppliers reduced sales and affects their rate of stock turn meaning that their bean counters say dont stock that item anymore. That's if the Proprietor hasn't dealt with that first. Don't want to be negative, but the future doesn't look great and is probably typified by one club in Sussex having many young members who appear to want to be (electric)engine drivers and not get their hands dirty with other members steamers. Now very few (older) members bringing their steam locos to the track. Almost non of the youngsters are building anything, just buying already built electric. Things are changing, dramatically. Edited By DMB on 09/11/2022 19:35:11 |
Marcus Bowman | 09/11/2022 22:43:03 |
196 forum posts 2 photos | I suspect it is the same in many of the 'traditional' hobbies which boomed in the 1960s and 70s, began changing in the 80s and 90s, and have now changed quite radically, in much the same way as in the club you mention. I used to deal quite often with Reeves, prior to their demise. I have never really dealt with Reeves 2000 so can't comment on their offerings. Marcus |
DiogenesII | 10/11/2022 06:46:46 |
859 forum posts 268 photos | The rear toolpost casting I had off them a year ago was nice enough, and IIRC was £12 delivered.. ..which was why I was back browsing the other day..
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Chris Crew | 10/11/2022 08:06:59 |
![]() 418 forum posts 15 photos | It must be over thirty years ago now when I was working and staying in Coventry. Then the 'old' Reeves was based at Marston Green so it was not much trouble to visit the premises to purchase any materials that I needed. At the trade counter I received excellent service and advice from some very affable and helpful staff and my requirements were always immediately available. However, on more than one occasion, when it was no longer convenient to visit the Reeves premises, I used, or tried to use, their mail order service. After a wait of literally weeks for the deliveries I resorted to the local metal merchant and sourced my material over the counter. I never did put any more custom the 'old' Reeves' way and was not surprised when the original firm failed if this was the level of service it was providing to its mail order customers. I have never used the 'new' incarnation of the company so cannot comment on its products or services. |
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