About Us | Kirkpatrick Tool & Equipment Rental, Marion, NC

Edward “Eddie” and Robert Kirkpatrick began a father/son adventure together when they opened Kirkpatrick’s Tool and Equipment Rental on April 4, 1990. They started out in a little, three room building, that once was a hardware store, and a block garage for equipment storage. Some of the first items they rented were a generator, pressure washer, air compressor, and log splitter.

The first Kirkpatrick shop in the snow in January 1996: a small building with a Tool Rental sign, a fenced lot of equipment, and a block garage — **Then:** the first shop, January 1996. Photo by Mike Wise.

A row of mini excavators and a skid steer lined up in the yard today, with wooded hills behind them — **Now:** the yard today.

As time moved forward the father and son team were blessed and able to grow the business. They were able to purchase a trencher, backhoe and skid steer to expand the business’s focus. They maintained their overall business focus by listening to their customers, providing equipment that met their customers’ needs, and maintaining their equipment in good working order. In 1999, they moved to a larger location across the street. They then expanded their fleet to include multiple trenchers, skid steers, and mini excavators. In 2003, Eddie decided to step back some and handed the main operations over to Robert and his wife, Tammy. The name was then changed to Kirkpatrick Tool & Equipment Rental, Inc. You could still find Eddie there, most days, until about 3:00.

In 2023, Eddie had to step further away from the business to take care of family. Robert continued running the business with the help of friends and family. The business continues to grow, especially after the closure of Appalachian Tool & Equipment Rental in Marion. The business also continues to purchase new items to meet customer needs as well as purchase multiples that are the most in demand.

In March 2026, Eddie passed away at the age of 89.

Today, Kirkpatrick Tool & Equipment Rental, Inc. is very much a family business with Robert at the helm. Tammy assists with the counter and phone but focuses on the bookkeeping end. Since graduating high school, Matthew, their son, has joined them and is learning all aspects of the trade. The family still has help from friends and family. Most importantly, the family acknowledges that it could not be all possible without their faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.