Reuben Heaton

In the early years, the company was predominantly a manufacturer of fishing reels, but this manufacturing base was quickly extended to cover many other items of angling equipment. By the early 1870’s Heaton’s fishing reels and angling products were sold worldwide in their tens of thousands. Right from his early years in the industry to around the turn of the century, Reuben Heaton was responsible for many of the early innovations that have shaped the angling equipment we know today. The first angling scales appeared in the company catalogue as simple spring balances around the turn of the century. It was much later in the 1920’s before the first dial scales appeared. Because of the company’s engineering capabilities, Heaton’s have been involved in the manufacture of various products over the years such as bicycle wheels and brake testing equipment in addition to the angling products which dominated the company’s catalogues up to the early 1970’s. It was as a result of one particular engineering project that the first dial scales appeared. Initially made of cast iron and then much lighter aluminum Heaton’s match scales were a soon common sight on canal and riverbanks. Later in the 1980’s individual anglers were added to the range, and this aspect of the company has continued to develop to the present day. Reuben Heaton is still an engineering based firm based in Warwickshire, manufacturing high quality weigh scales and weighing equipment as well as angling products. Scale manufacture now dominates production and Heaton’s supply many markets both home and abroad, with an extensive range of products covering both commercial and sporting markets including the angling trade where Heaton’s high profile is underlined by its sponsorship of national teams and international events. Heaton’s continue to manufacture in the UK, an aspect of the company that after 150 years, we are very proud of. Heaton’s now import and export not only their own products but also other brands around the world. With recent investments abroad, Heaton’s are also able to design and build scales to suit most markets.