Beginning about 1950, Startrite Engineering Co. Ltd. manufactured woodworking and metalworking machinery: horizontal and vertical bandsaws, radial arm saws, tablesaws, and drill presses. Their factory was known as the Waterside Works. We have also seen the name Startrite Machine Tool Co. of London, which seems to have been a related sales organization and perhaps a machine importer. In addition there was Startrite Engineering (Sales) Limited and Startrite Designs, which seems to have been a sister firm to Startrite Engineering.

In March 1995 the company was acquired by British machine-tool conglomerate 600 Group which seems to have reorganized Startrite as 600 Engineering Company Limited. That firm was dissolved in 2015 but apparently that business had already been inactive for some time.

It is not clear how events transpired with these inter-related companies, but by late 2006 Startrite Design was in financial difficulty and ceased operating. In February of 2007 it was announced that a new firm, Aerospace Tooling Ltd. had been established by John Seaton, a former director of Startrite Design. This would appear to be a different part of the old Startrite business, and the bandsaw and cold saw business was already defunct.

Information Sources

• The Grace's Guide page on Startrite Engineering Co. provides 1951 and 1958 data points on this firm. Their Startrite Machine Tool Co. provides 1958 and 1973 data points.
• A corporate registration database says that the name Startrite Engineering (Sales) Limited was registered on 1953-04-10 and at some point was renamed to Startrite Engineering (North) Limited. The company's current status is "dissolved".
• A USPTO Trademark database report shows that Startrite Engineering (sales) Limited received trademark S/N 72323380 (registration number 0887477) on 1969-03-10 for the mark "STARTRITE" in relation to machine tools. First use was "in or about 1950". Trademark registration number 0857872 is substantially the same except restricted to "bandsawing machines".
• 2007-02-16 KentOnline has the following article.

  60 jobs saved as ex-boss takes over firm

  A former director of a well-established firm has stepped in to rescue the business saving more than 60 jobs.

  Administrators for Startrite Designs Ltd, Menzies Corporate Restructuring, has just announced the company, based in Gillingham, has been saved.

  It has been sold to a new company set up by the former director of Startrite, John Seaton. The new company is called Aerospace Tooling Ltd (ATL).

  When Startrite Engineering Ltd, based in the Towns for more than 60 years, went into administration just before Christmas last year 30 people were made redundant.

  The sale of the business which makes specialist machinery and tooling for the automotive, defence, aerospace and electronics industries, will secure the jobs of 64 employees.

  The firm, based in Courtney Road, also has sites in Birmingham and Lincoln.

  Menzies Corporate Restructuring partner Jason Godefroy said: "We're pleased the sale of the business represents the preservation of a number of jobs.

  "It's also good to note of all the offers we received for the business from interested parties, ATL had the best funding package, not only to acquire the business but also to fund its future requirements.

  "I believe this gives the business a chance to succeed, and go forward. We are hopeful existing contracts with customers will continue, putting the business on a strong financial footing."

  The business has been sold for an undisclosed sum.

• A corporate database entry on 600 Engineering Company Limited says that their previous name was Startrite Engineering Company Limited, which was active 1945-06-07 to 1995-03-14. The firm 600 Engineering Company Limited was dissolved on 2015-11-10.