Sixteen years of Stringer Precision
An independent workshop, a distinctive founder and a chapter brought to an end by the pandemic.
2005 · A new direction
After leaving the RAF in 2005, Redvers Stringer established the business near Canterbury. A small workshop and a practical collection of machinery provided the starting point; Red supplied the ambition.
2007–2012 · Finding its feet
One-off parts developed into short production runs, prototype work and specialist fixtures. Word of mouth and a personal approach shaped the company’s early identity. The kettle remained one of the most consistently utilised pieces of equipment.
2013–2019 · The Stringer approach
A broader range of development work brought new challenges. Red remained involved in the details, from the first conversation about a drawing to the last inspection at the bench. Workshop visits and industry gatherings became a regular feature of the company scrapbook.
2020 · A sudden change
The arrival of Covid-19 interrupted the familiar rhythm of workshop life. Projects were postponed, visiting arrangements changed and planning became a matter of adapting week by week.
2021 · Closing the doors
After an extended period of disruption, Red decided to bring the company’s operations to an orderly close on 30 September 2021. It was a difficult ending to a business that had always felt personal.
This archive preserves its character: the engineering, the adventures and the man whose name was above the door.