Another D-Handled Spade, this time from 1951

[Rhyolith]

Finished cleaning up another spade from my pile of 'needs tlc' tools. This one is by a company I have never heard of "Stockton Heath"... is that even a company? or where it was used? Its rather helpfully marked with a year (1951) along with a broad arrow, so I assume its government/military issue? I still do not know for sure whether broad arrows always definitively mean that.

I would say its quite heavy, at least relative to the Spear & Jackson ones I usually work with. Bugbear will be pleased to note the foot plates Thought the handle is in less good condition than the S&J's, with a split that required some rivet tightening to pull together.

Stockton Heath 1951 Spade by Rhyolith, on Flickr

Stockton Heath 1951 Spade by Rhyolith, on Flickr

 

[NazNomad]

Hadn't heard of them either, but apparently... ''Stockton Heath Tools have been around since 1770. Their high quality forged garden hand tools are among the world's very best''.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Stockton Heath Forge, also known as Caldwells, was located in the village of Stockton Heath, which is just south of Warrington. They were a long established firm who supplied government departments, railways and the like with shovels, picks, crow-bars, hammers and similar. At some point in the late 20th century, they moved to Dallam Lane in Warrington, and continued to trade until 2009, though latterly I think they had their tools made abroad. They had a small retail counter in their Dallam warehouse; I bought a crowbar, a mattock and a couple of very large files from them in the 1990s, for prices much lower than I could find anywhere else. Shame they've gone - but that's the way of the world!

Edit to add - it seems that a phoenix of sorts arose from the ashes - http://gbtoolsltd.com/ - and the Caldwells name lives on, though now located in Flint on the North Wales coast.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

On the subject of spades and shovels, here's a 'how it's made' showing the forging of solid spades, and the making and fitting of YD handles. This is by Bulldog Tools of Wigan - sadly, I think they've now moved production to India. Ho hum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN6cFnpzQKo