The Aldermaston Tool Company was founded in 1980, under the original name of Surplus Sales Company, by Charles Hastie. With humble beginnings, the company sold Reconditioned DIY power tools and accessories at stalls in village halls, fetes, canteens and social clubs within large companies, such as the Jaguar and Ford factories.

Within a year, Norman Hastie joined the business, furthering its development. Warehouse facilities were sought out in 1985, and Surplus Sales Company moved to Burghfield, near Reading, Berkshire. However, as the business took off, with the addition of Kevin Steele as employee, it transpired that the storage capacity in the new warehouse was somewhat limited and it was necessary to move again. Charles took the company to Theale in Berkshire, where the business occupied a 2000 sq. ft. warehouse.

With the consistent expansion of the business, it was in 1987 that premises were leased at Young’s Industrial Estate in Aldermaston, Berkshire, where the company has remained since. A small showroom was installed to reflect that the business had changed radically – with the extra space of the largest warehouse unit in the estate, Surplus Sales Company was able to expand and become a retailer, professional tools and accessories being the mainstay of the business.

In 2000, after twenty years and some essential changes to the core of the business, a company name change was due, the current name being potentially misleading to prospective new customers. The simple, yet authoritative, Aldermaston Tool Company, or A.T.C. was decided upon.

Wishing to develop the company even further, Charles had a workshop installed for power tool repairs and servicing, and subsequently Ian James, a technician of twenty years’ experience, was employed. Warranty agencies were awarded to the company now trading as the Aldermaston Tool Company. Georgina Vinton, the other member of the team, is responsible for managing all of the warranty claims and spare parts.

Within the last few years, the workshop has been improved so that it is now visible to the public. Whenever feasible, tools are repaired while the customer waits at their own convenience. In fact, the company is able to boast being nominated for “Workshop of the Year for 2009” by DEWALT, so customers’ tools are certainly in safe hands!

For a number of years, Charles has represented Makita and DEWALT at the Newbury County Show in September, and Makita at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show. He also holds a bi-annual (April and October) trade show at his premises in Aldermaston, where representatives from DEWALT, Makita, Hitachi, Milwaukee, Bosch, Metabo, Jet, Trend and Alpha Pneumatics are on hand to demonstrate their tools and answer any questions you may have. Please contact us if you would like to know more about any of these events.

Recently, showroom space was expanded to approximately 4,500 sq. ft. when mezzanine floors were built, adding a second floor to the warehouse. Now that A.T.C. has one of the largest selections of DeWalt and Makita on show in Europe, Charles is proud that what once started out as a stall at a village hall has now been described as “one of the top five showrooms in the world”.