| | E C Tool & Supply was founded in 1962 by E L "Slim" Coker and Virgil "VJ" Edwards as a rental tool and supply store specializing in servicing drilling contractors. As most service companies, Slim and VJ struggled though the sixties and early seventies, but with prudent management and the old oilfield spirit they succeeded and grew as a company.
In 1974 they sold the company to the ownership group of DB Drilling, Inc. consisting of A D Bowen, Robert Schumacher and Bill Rector. The company was moved from it's original location to it's current location at 242 S 11th Street. Slim & VJ continued to manage the company and it flourished throughout the late seventies and early eighties. In 1979 Billy Brewington was bought in as an owner and CEO. Bill's expertise in inventory management allowed for tremendous growth during 1980 & 1981. With Slim & VJ's expertise, EC became a premier supplier of rig equipment and built at least 8 complete rig packages during the boom. In November 1979 E C opened its 18000 S. F. repair facility in Abilene and rebuilt an untold amount of equipment during that period. In November 1981 E C opened its 24000 S. F. facility located in Bryan, Texas. This move proved to be devastating to the company due to the extreme slow down experienced from early 1982 through mid 1987. The repair facility was closed in 1982 and the store was finally closed in 1986.
In September 1988, E C Tool & Supply was purchased by the current owners and management. After struggling through the late eighties and early nineties, E C has again evolved as a middle range equipment dealer and supply store. It has developed a special market in the servicing if duplex pumps and small to mid-sized drilling rigs. E C maintains one of the largest inventories of supplies and spare parts for drilling rigs in the U. S. Today it is again operating its Repair Facility and continues to service contractors with supplies, equipment, and repairs. Today, E C has one of the largest inventories of duplex pumps in the country, exceeding 40 units, as well as most other components for small to mid-range drilling rigs. Today E C services contractors throughout the US and in several foreign countries, keeping an inventory of duplex pump expendables unmatched by any independent store. | |
