Menushopping cart
Tools for Working Wood
Invest in your craft. Invest in yourself.
CHECKOUT shopping cart Cart (-)

JOEL Joel's Blog

Footprint Tools - The End of an Era

05/26/2009

Footprint Tools - The End of an Era 5I was very sorry to find out that Footprint Tools is closing its doors. They went into voluntary liquidation and all their suppliers will be paid. Apparently the family owned business was in the middle of a move from Sheffield and the recession and the credit crunch hit. There were no funds or credit to pay for the rest of move and upgrade their equipment. Rather that wait until they owed everyone money and were totally stuck the firm decided to liquidate in a dignified manner.

Footprint Tools, was founded in 1875 and was a long-time successful Sheffield company, maybe the biggest of the traditional tool makers left. They were known to the woodworking consumer as a maker of mid-priced good tools. Their biggest competitor in my view was the old Marples Record stuff. My first set of chisels, which I bought from Garrett Wade in the early 1980's was a set of 4 Footprint chisels that I still have (although I don't use them).

Behind the scenes they were one of the few companies left in England with big drop forging equipment and they made and sold forging that were finished by other companies and also they made tools that were sold under many major names.

I am really sad to see them go.

N.B. At this writing the Footprint website is still humming and reports say that the factory is really busy as customers try to get in last orders. I don't know when the last day of scheduled operation is, and I hope there is still time for the assets to be sold to some other company to continue the brand and product line.
Add a Comment
Comments are closed.
The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the blog's author and guests and in no way reflect the views of Tools for Working Wood.
Subscribe
JOEL Joel's Blog
BEN Built-It Blog
BREN Video Roundup
EVT Classes & Events
WORK Work Magazine
Newer Entries...
JOELWorking Towards the Clamp-down - 07/10/2009
JOELWhat is a Dovetail Saw? - 07/07/2009
JOELBook Covers Pt. 2 - 06/30/2009
JOELBook Covers - 06/24/2009
JOELAlways a Bridesmaid - Never A Bride - 06/21/2009
JOELFull Spectrum Fluorescent Lighting - 06/16/2009
JOELWe are hosting a FESTOOL Demo Day on Wednesday June 24 - 06/12/2009
JOELI'll Be Teaching Sharpening at Third Ward on June 25th - 06/09/2009
JOELThe Earliest Subscriber to an English Woodworking Magazine - 06/02/2009
JOELFootprint Tools - The End of an Era - 05/26/2009
JOELMallet Soft - Handle Hard - 05/19/2009
JOELWhat a 14th Century Treasure Trove! - 05/12/2009
JOELFamily History - 05/05/2009
JOELOn The Early History of Shoulder Planes - 04/27/2009
JOELThe Finest Waterfountain in New York City - Katz's - 04/22/2009
JOELWhat is a Nagura Stone For? - 04/16/2009
JOELMore Stuff about Rasps - 04/09/2009
JOELSaw Spectra - 04/03/2009
JOELOur 10th Anniversary is here - 04/01/2009
JOELMaster Piano Casemaker to Work in Window of Steinway Hall, NY - 03/27/2009
Older Entries...
Hours: M-F 9:00-5:00, closed Sat,Sun
Our Guarantee & Return Policy
Shipping and Sales Tax Info
Privacy Policy
Holiday Calendar 		Instagram Contact Us: Email: support@toolsforworkingwood.com
Phone: 800-426-4613 or 718-499-5877
Visit Us in Brooklyn: Directions to Our Showroom
© 1999-2019 toolsforworkingwood.com
Powered by 01 Inc. Coded entirely in NYC