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The Davey's Family History

R&F Precision Tool is a precision machining and tool design company, founded in Brantford, Ontario in 1981. The company founders, Ron Davey, a born and bred Brantford Tool & Die Maker and his father, Fred, began the operation as a hobby while Ron was on summer break from his technical teaching job. Their venture progressed from that humble start to a company employing 14 full time people, no longer a hobby but a vital Brantford Employer.

R&F Precision Tool is proud of the work that they produce. They design and manufacture dies, jigs, fixtures, prototypes, gauges and specialty tooling along with precision and CNC machining. They have done work for the pulp and paper industry, material handling, valve and pump companies, the plumbing industry and the automotive and pharmaceutical industry. Their customer base is mostly in Southern Ontario and area but they also do work for some across the border in the United States, in Ohio, Tennessee and New York.

Fred Davey, an engineer, came to Canada from his home in Britain when he was recruited by the A.V. Roe Company in the 1950’s to work on an innovative new Jet interceptor, the Avro Arrow. The Arrow passed into Canadian history as an enigma but Fred Davey continued on and made Canada, and eventually Brantford, his home. Ron inherited his dad’s love of precision and engineering, which led him to start this business with him. By the end of the summer in 1981, Ron and Fred had already hired two employees and Ron turned down an apprentice teaching position offered to him at a college in favour of continuing the family business.

After Fred’s passing, Ron was to learn even more of his dad’s standing and position in the engineering community. “I was very touched by the condolences that arrived from engineers in Britain, Holland and Germany, almost all describing Dad as a mentor, as someone who had touched their lives in a positive way.” That is another thing that Ron has inherited from his dad, the “old school way” of dealing with and treating his customers and employees. Those 2 employees hired at the start of the company still with Ron, along with 11 others, added in the following years.

Ron sums up his feelings quite succinctly, “I’m proud to be a family business. The people that work with us are what make this such a good company. I have made it my practice to be dedicated to my customers and employees and they have repaid me with the same level of dedication and loyalty. ”Ron’s son's, Lee and Tye , joined the business and have been Machinist/ Tool Makers for the past 10 years. The business will remain in the family. 

By Kevin Lehman