End of an era

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End of an era

This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 15 February 2017 at 09:37 by Nick Hulme.

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12 January 2017 at 17:17 #277345
Tractor man
Participant
@tractorman
Hi all, for 30 plus years I have been buying my machinery and tooling from Rileys of attercliffe in sheffield. I popped in today to find that Keith Riley has sold up and retired. A new company has taken over with a view to updating the showroom. New computers being installed and online ordering the way forward. Alas the days of picking up an oddment or bargain or even just having a nice chat about tooling are over. I could ask Tadge for an obscure item and he’d produce it from somewhere and explain how to use it. I asked for a set of straight edges today and was shown parallels. I explained what I wanted and was told he didn’t know what I was on about. I took him to the right section of his shop and picked up the required item which he had no knowledge of. I will miss this old style tool emporium.
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12 January 2017 at 17:17 #12861
Tractor man
Participant
@tractorman
Rileys machine tools of Sheffield sold off
27 January 2017 at 21:21 #280681
Kevin McCartney
Participant
@kevinmccartney
A shame – I got my first lathe tools there. Keith was really helpful the morning I went and spent time explaining a couple of things to me. I'll also miss seeing the Border Terrier crashed out sleeping in his basket at the front window!
27 January 2017 at 21:27 #280687
Howard Lewis
Participant
@howardlewis46836
Sadly, another loss of skill and experience! Whilst extremely useful, the digital age can have its drawbacks, like this.

Some time ago, when I bought a set of parallels, the comment was, "Don't know what they are used for"

Cheer up, there are still some suppliers around who know and care about their business.

We just need to find them and support them

Howard
28 January 2017 at 12:14 #280794
Tractor man
Participant
@tractorman
Bruce the dog is enjoying his retirement as far as I know.
Mick
28 January 2017 at 14:15 #280819
alan ord 2
Participant
@alanord2
Agree with all of the comments. I bought a number of tooling items from Tadge and Richard and will miss them. The only problem I had with them was once you got into the shop you could not get out!! Great experience, very knowledgeable and great conversations.
28 January 2017 at 15:00 #280828
Tractor man
Participant
@tractorman
My Raglan lathe came from Rileys with its matching vertical milling machine.
I once asked keith for a price on a dividing head and he wouldn’t sell it me because a. I didn’t know how to use it and b. I could spend my money better on other bits and bobs. Good advice from a nice guy. Mick
28 January 2017 at 15:25 #280835
Allan B
Participant
@allanb
I have never been there, but it’s such a shame to see places like this disappear, there just isn’t the knowledge coming through to replace it 🙁
28 January 2017 at 16:26 #280849
MW
Participant
@mw27036
Maybe it's more a case of the people with potential being there, but not able to match the people up with the jobs?

Michael W
28 January 2017 at 16:39 #280853
Tractor man
Participant
@tractorman
Sheffield has lost so much of its engineering capacity. It’s all retail parks now where once we’re great workshops etc. Some of the tools in Rileys window defy my understanding of engineering due to the sheer size of them. A live centre on a morse taper that I could not lift from the floor let alone insert into its tailstock.
28 January 2017 at 17:17 #280867
RJW
Participant
@rjw
Sad to hear about Rileys, used to buy odd bits of tooling and while away many an hour or so there when we lived in Sheffield.

John.
15 February 2017 at 09:37 #284365
Nick Hulme
Participant
@nickhulme30114
Good news!

TR Tooling and Machinery Ltd is the new business owned and run by Tadge and Richard, I'm off over to see them this morning for some inserts & drill bits
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