Columbia Metals Ltd

Columbia Metals was incorporated on 10 August 1961. The company's founder, Chris Stephenson, started the business by storing copper tubes in his own home in London. Over a period of time, and without drawing a salary for the first nine months of the company's existence, he developed a local customer base and raised enough money for the first big capital investment - an ex-army lorry for deliveries, costing the princely sum of £60.