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Bulldog
Few companies can claim to have such firmly embedded roots as Bulldog Tools, for over two hundred years it has made its tools at Clarington Forge.
But the Bulldog tradition can be traced back even further than that. Clarington Forge, situated in Wigan can actually be traced back eight hundred years. It was founded by Cistercian monks and is the location where the traditional spade and fork were invented. With a pedigree like that it is no wonder Bulldog take such pride in their products, and that those products have such a good reputation for quality.
The Bulldog company itself was founded by William & Henry Parkes in 1780. In Wigan there is even a road near the Bulldog site called Henry Parkes Street, reflecting the important part Bulldog has always played in the town. The Factory has played a significant part in Wigan since it was founded, providing jobs for many people in the local community.
In 2004 the company became part of the Rollins Group, which can trace it’s own history back well into the 19th century.
Rollins
In 1866 John Rollins founded Rollins and Sons London Ltd, the company imported timber from America to the UK. This involvement in timber was the origins of the company’s range of wooden handles. Today the company includes a large range of replacement handles amongst its portfolio of products.
Rollins was incorporated in 1922. It was originally located in the centre of London with offices and warehousing in Fleet Street and by the Tower of London.
Once it was established Rollins range of products expanded, at one stage including items as diverse as household products, fishing tackle and even Daisy air rifles. But gradually the company came to focus on the top quality tools and tool brands that we associate with Rollins today. An important milestone in the company’s development was its association with Marshalltown, which began over 85 years ago, and has carried on growing ever since.
Over the last decade Rollins have added other prominent American ranges such as Esting hammers, Eklind Hex keys and Channellock pliers.
Rollins purchase of Bulldog was brought about by a series of events three years ago. As Rollins was already associated with some of the best quality handles available it is perhaps unsurprising they should end up owning a tool manufacturer so closely associated with quality forged steel tools. Rollins’ handle turning factory at Helsby had lost its main UK customer, who had decided to take the route of buying Chinese products. At the same time as this was happening Irwin, the previous owners of Bulldog, decided to sell the company. Rollins was already seriously considering buying Bulldog when a fire at its own handle factory helped make the decision a clearer one. In February of 2004 Bulldog tools was bought by Rollins.
Rollins describe the time since the purchase as ‘an exciting couple of years’. The company is now focusing on continuing the re-establishment of the Bulldog brand, building on the fact that it is now the only manufacturer of solid forged spades and forks in the UK.
A Solid Product
The Rollins Group has brought a substantial investment to the Bulldog, both financially and in terms of commitment and business clout. The result has been improved efficiency and delivery times.
Two thousand tools are manufactured at the Wigan factory per day, solid forged on English machinery. Bulldog use the same process today that it has used since 1780, to produce Spades and Forks. Although the company uses modern machinery to press and shape their spades and forks now, entering the forge and seeing the metal heated till it is white hot then cut and stamped by machine presses until it takes the shape of a finished tool it is easy to see how many similarities remain in the way the product is created. The company’s employees also provide the skill and experience needed to make a true quality product, each stage of the manufacturing process requires the careful control of a skilled worker. Bulldog has over 50 employees, most of whom are multi-skilled with over 20 years experience.
The solid forged products really are solid forged, so they are made from one piece of steel. Solid forging from one piece of steel is much stronger than fabricating or welding a tool as you are left with no weak spots. A welded product’s weak spot would be the weld.They are put through a tempering process known as austempering, which retains its flexibility unlike inferior products, which are simply plunged into oil.
Bulldog use a unique specification steel which results in exceptionally strong tool heads with the flexibility to absorb all the shock and pressure of hard work, without distorting or breaking.
Bulldog shovels are the product that are, perhaps, most representative of the company and its approach. These sturdy tools take a loading of well over 200lbs without permanent damage. They are regularly sample tested as part of the company’s production procedure. It will come as no surprise that Bulldog products beat the British standard. Their inherent stiffness is the result of superior forging plus the extra material in and around the frog, (where the blade joins the socket). In every day terms Bulldog shovels are far less prone to stress fatigue.
Even Better To Come
With Bulldog’s long history and the reputation many manufacturers can only dream of. Anyone buying a Bulldog tool knows they can expect the best possible product, which is both tough enough to last and comfortable and easy to use.
With all this to recommend it and the support of the Rollins Group there can be no doubt that Bulldog Tools will continue providing excellent tools to an increasing number of satisfied customers for many years to come.
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Airstream Communications