Our Tool of the Week is looking really sharp this week! See it here

An interesting cultivator. Well made and effective. See it here.

Only people can build a better world for themselves. To do it they need tools, they need training and they need to be able to live while the training is delivered. We try very hard to send the right tools and to deliver the right training. We work closely with MSTC who are a part of an organisation [...]

We get all sorts of things donated to us. We'll gladly accept almost anything as we can usually find a way to benefit from whatever comes through the door. Sometimes we find a rare gem, a vintage marvel that collectors will scrabble and fight to own. Sometimes we get tools made of exotic hardwoods, sparkling polished brass, individually [...]

There is only one word to describe these GORGEOUS little hand shears from CK.  In great condition, they make that beautiful "Snip, Snip" sound when you operate them. They're small but surprisingly solid at the same time. Blades are 6 inches long, overall length is 14 1/2 inches. See our special offer here.

We don’t get many of these. This is a fairly small spud, used for debarking timber, when you want to use the bark for making chair seats, or more traditionally on oak for making tannin. It has obviously been used a lot as it has worn very smooth with use. The tool is 7 inches long and [...]

On April 12, 2021, in accordance with advice  from the Welsh government, we will be opening our 'Eclectic Tools Emporium' for the sale of garden and vintage or rare tools. We've used our 'down time' to create increased space and reorganised displays to allow for social distancing and a safer experience. There will be limits to the number [...]

This is a fairly personal post. Just a few photos of some people I met during my eye opening visit to Tanzania. Lots of smiles. Lots of laughs. Everyone was so positive and accommodating. It was an excellent time but also quite humbling. The people I met worked incredibly hard with very few resources but always had [...]

This week we have a 'one of a kind' drawknife made by a blacksmith from what appears to have been a file. See it here. 

There's a small forge at this beautiful farm outside Shinyanga. They make these little bells. The sound is just so happy. They'd make excellent shop door bells, don't you think?

Here are some words from our new sewing machine mechanic. From the reports we're getting he's been very busy: My name is Lucas Frederick, a resident of Bohongwa, Mwanza (on the outskirts of Mwanza, not too far from our workshop). I am 24 years of age. I have a small business in town and my recent training has [...]

Everyone needs one of these and this is a really good one. See it here.

Well, thank goodness we had our crew in Mwanza. Here's some photos of our workshop there. It's always nice to know that we have backup and that, even when we can't scrape off the rust and cement or put handles on the fair trade tools, we can still keep operating. Soon we hope to be able to show [...]

Tanzania has struggled in its history to find a balance between the problems of urbanisation and the rural reality of poverty and illiteracy. After independence the government tried to focus on developing rural areas to the detriment of huge cities like Dar es Salaam and sadly, with bureaucracies that fostered corruption, little success was to be found. New [...]

This week's featured tool is a lovely strap handled spade. Absolutely lovely, you can see it here...

We recently received two emails from Mwanza with updates regarding the leatherwork training we mentioned in a previous post. One from Florah Magabe and one from Dr. Mmari of the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (Mwanza). After this very successful meeting they were able to arrange for the admission of three women from Ms. Magabe's organisation into [...]

With the sad news that Tanzanian president John Magufuli has died we would like to extend our condolences to the people of Tanzania. We understand that a change in leadership is difficult at the best of times and that the uncertainty of having a new leader in a time as difficult as this will challenge their hearts. We [...]

Undeniably rare scythette. We've never seen another in the 30 plus years of operation. It's a beautiful tool to hold and would be an excellent addition to any gardeners tool shed. See all the photos here  

Our depot has been upgraded. No longer just a cold, dark, unpleasant, damp, dusty, cave full of stuff. It's now transformed.  A pleasant working space, internet access, heaters. It's actually pleasant to be there. So much light. We've got the 'temporary' eBay studio there. workspace for two or three downstairs, two or three upstairs. The start of a [...]

Michael (centre) is our Project Officer representing the charity in Tanzania. His assistance in Africa has been invaluable since 2017 when he joined the team. We asked him to tell you about himself: I am Michael Kimaryo, residing and working in Mwanza Tanzania. I was born in 1964 North of Tanzania, in a village just along the [...]