The Vintage New Britain and Associated Thread!

[four.cycle]

New Britain model P128 Steering Wheel Puller - New Britain Machine Co., New Britain, CT

all there. works perfect. in original box. Grandpa marked it so he wouldn't forget what was inside.

 

[four.cycle]

New Britain Machine Co. 1/4" drive SAE "Chrome" sockets

These are similar to an early model 600 set that I posted previously. They have a different knurling pattern than the two sets I posted about a week ago (which probably dated from the early 1950s)

These will soon be finding a new home in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

 

[four.cycle]

@Etchase -
It just occurred to me that these 9 sockets, unlike those I had posted previously and listed on Ebay, do not have part numbers stamped on them - only the size, "made in USA", and "CHROME".
I cannot tell from the photos that Don posted last night if his have part numbers on them or not, but it appears they do not.
Don can you please confirm that?

You're going to receive a "New Britain" branded set in a "None Better" box - just like the one in Don's photos.

I am wondering now: were the sockets stamped with the "C" part number the "New Britain" brand, and the sockets with no part number and only stamped "CHROME" the "None Better" brand?

Since we don't have any catalogs that would confirm that, we need some other NB owners to check sockets and brands stamped on the accompanying drive tools and boxes.

 

[d42jeep]

These are only marked with the NB in a circle and the sizes. They are None Better. They are chrome and tapered 8 and 12 point.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is another None Better set that is in another probably incorrect None Better box. These are 6 and 8 point sockets with straight sides on the larger sockets and all marked with part numbers.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is I think the 3rd t handle set I have picked up

 

[Larr991]

Some New Britain screwdrivers. I know I have more, just need to find them. Don’t use them anymore, but nice to look at once in a while!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here is a partial NONE BETTER set I found at the flea market this morning. 1930's. Carbon steel. Cadmium finish. Female rat. Female sliding tee. Male-Male extensions, long and short. No Circle-NB markings, just 'MADE IN U.S.A.', but that's not at all unusual for the way they were doing business, and it's without a shred of doubt NB. The knurling on the sliding tee and the four pins in the ratchet are a dead giveaway.



No sockets.

But....

I just happen to have a whole WWI meat can filled with NONE BETTER sockets. I don't remember who it was - and if you're reading, please remind me - but I found a near-complete NONE BETTER set, no box, at a flea market a few years ago. Somebody here needed a few things out of it to complete their set, in a box. I don't remember what, exactly, but all I was left with was the sockets. And they've been sitting in that meat can ever since, just waiting for... a partial set of NONE BETTER ratchet, sliding tee, speeder, and extension to appear!



If you hold onto things long enough, voi-friggin'-la, sometimes the Gods of Vintage Hand Tools are smiling down on you.

 

[Farmer J.]

Here is a partial NONE BETTER set I found at the flea market this morning. 1930's. Carbon steel. Cadmium finish. Female rat. Female sliding tee. Male-Male extensions, long and short. No Circle-NB markings, just 'MADE IN U.S.A.', but that's not at all unusual for the way they were doing business, and it's without a shred of doubt NB. The knurling on the sliding tee and the four pins in the ratchet are a dead giveaway.



No sockets.

But....

I just happen to have a whole WWI meat can filled with NONE BETTER sockets. I don't remember who it was - and if you're reading, please remind me - but I found a near-complete NONE BETTER set, no box, at a flea market a few years ago. Somebody here needed a few things out of it to complete their set, in a box. I don't remember what, exactly, but all I was left with was the sockets. And they've been sitting in that meat can ever since, just waiting for... a partial set of NONE BETTER ratchet, sliding tee, speeder, and extension to appear!



If you hold onto things long enough, voi-friggin'-la, sometimes the Gods of Vintage Hand Tools are smiling down on you.

That's worked out nicely, what a stroke of (well earned) luck. Put together all the pieces have a very similar patina, and appear as though somebody got them all in the 1930's to make up their personal 'set'. Not necessarily a 'set' which would appear in a catalogue, more like a collection based on personal choice, need, budget, and what was available.. One could imagine.. They were kept together in some wood carry box or maybe a canvas bag with other general hand tools, and the sockets were all kept in that old tin so as they didn't get lost. Maybe they will be heading for such a display in the Lugzonian?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, J.!

They were kept together in some wood carry box or maybe a canvas bag with other general hand tools, and the sockets were all kept in that old tin so as they didn't get lost. Maybe they will be heading for such a display in the Lugzonian?

Funny you should mention that.

Waaaay back in 2018, I found a partial C-series 'CHROME ALLOY' set in a beat-up original box, no decal, inside or out.



NB 'CHROME ALLOY' tools are uncommon, so I was happy with all the sockets, but the only other pieces in the box were a spinner and - supremely ironic, a tommy bar. No hinge handle, just the tommy bar for it. (As you know, it's typically the other way around!) No rat. No extensions. No nothing else. You can see the set upthread on page 13, Post #511, linked here, and then scroll down to posts # 516 - 519 for more.

Yesterday evening, I toyed around with the idea of putting the earlier NONE BETTER 'MADE IN U.S.A.' set in the box, instead.



I have to say, it looks right at home. And I am sure these sets probably came in these boxes, not only because the speeder fits perfectly, but because NB used that same basic attache style box for years, even the sets they were making later for Craftsman BE and Circle-H came in a similar attache style box.

But then the CHROME ALLOY set is homeless, and, something about the Meat Can O' Sockets really appeals to me - for all the reasons you mentioned. Also, it's not just a matter of imagination. I have a very early Herbrand socket set, with male drive tangs, that was actually found in a garage in the same exact WWI Model 1916 meat can. That is precisely what men of that generation would do with a WWI meat can - put it to good use!

The nice thing about a box, though, is the pieces of the set aren't at risk of being separated.

So, I dunno. Undecided.

 

[Beerhippie]

My 1/4" New Britain set:



It's actually my user 1/4" set--I took a few minutes to pick out all the non-NB tools.

I'm sure it's a hodge-podge of vintages.

 

[Outlawmws]

I took a few minutes to pick out all the non-NB tools.

Thus begins so many searches to complete the set!

Some better closeups and this crowd will tel you which era.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'll try to get some tomorrow. Still re-learning my close camera work with shiny things!

Any part of the tools I should concentrate on?

 

[Beerhippie]

Here's a better picture of the larger parts:



On the other sides, the ratchet and swivel say PAT'D U.S.A. while the extension says MADE IN USA.

For the sockets, it would probably be easier to ink and roll them to get impressions of the stampings.

I think I have a simple strategy for filling out this little box: Record what I have in my pocket notebook and just buy anything 1/4" and NB when I find old tool stashes, until the box won't close anymore!

 

[four.cycle]

^ unless I'm mistaken, the NM45 ratchet was one of the later iterations of their Kilness-patent RHFT. It does not appear in the 1957, 1959, or 1969 NB catalogs.

 

[Beerhippie]

If those tools actually came in that box, they can't be older than '63, when the first zip codes came into use. IIRC, it was early '70s before they were widely adopted.

Not sure if the NAPA label and logo are any help.

I'm not really expecting to find any great gems here--that's my daily user box of 1/4" sockets, not a collection. I'm just curious as to how old they are.

 

[d42jeep]

If those tools actually came in that box, they can't be older than '63, when the first zip codes came into use. IIRC, it was early '70s before they were widely adopted.

Not sure if the NAPA label and logo are any help.

I'm not really expecting to find any great gems here--that's my daily user box of 1/4" sockets, not a collection. I'm just curious as to how old they are.

I went through my New Britain spares that might be appropriate for that box if any of them might be of use to you. The sockets are 7/16”, 5/16” and a couple of 3/16”
-Don

 

[Beerhippie]

Thanks, Don!

That nut driver handle would fit right in. The one that came with this set is some cheap "S-K Tools" thing So would the flex link, if it's still tight. The 5/16 would fill a hole if it's 6 pt.

I guess I need to figure out how to use the private message system here....

 

[four.cycle]

I guess I need to figure out how to use the private message system here....

click on the little envelope icon thingie up above - just to the left of "search"

 

[Outlawmws]

I guess I need to figure out how to use the private message system here....

Or you can hover over the person's avatar and an option popup will appear

 

[Ricky Joe]

That style of ratchet handle is the same as the Blackhawk when they were made by New Britain. I’d place it close to 1970s, but that’s a guess. I’ve got a Blackhawk set. Sparta ratchets were the same, just not chromed. The Sparta brand was sold by NAPA stores, and with their fine tooth count, are some of my favorites.

 

[Mintgrun]

That style of ratchet handle is the same as the Blackhawk when they were made by New Britain.

Yes, indeed. Although, this 3/8" example has a thumb wheel on the back.
(you did say "handle")

 

[d42jeep]

While I was going through the New Britain storage box I found some sets that need to be completed. Here is a double knurl partial 1/4” drive set missing some of the smaller sockets plus some 8 pointers. Other sets needing pieces.
I found that I had two pairs of pliers. I had forgotten the earlier pair. The later pair has the Crescent handle pattern.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found that I had two pairs of pliers. I had forgotten the earlier pair. The later pair has the Crescent handle pattern.

I'd bet that earlier pair that has a dark natural steel finish (or possibly blued) was supplied by Utica. I can't find the other example I have seen. Not mine. I don't know if they ever used that pattern grip on their own pliers, but the series of three connected diamonds smacks of Utica's three diamond logo, and we've seen them do something like that before on contract production (for Mephisto), which has only three connected diamonds, each with the Utica knurling inside it.

 

[piehammer]

Haven't been able to find this in any of the catalogs, but New Britain D-100 reversible screwdriver made by Vaco.

 

[Mintgrun]

we've seen them do something like that before on contract production (for Mephisto), which has only three connected diamonds, each with the Utica knurling inside it.

as seen here


(both Mephisto)

 

[four.cycle]

This popped up this morning, but before I was able to send Mark a heads up on it it was already gone.
Crappy out of focus screen shots might be better than nothing, though.....

1968 Husky Hand Tool catalog

 

[four.cycle]

1968 Husky Tool catalog

 

[four.cycle]

1968 Husky Tool catalog

 

[Beerhippie]

Well, now--I'm not sure if this goes here with the New Britain or on the Stanley thread:





I found this in a freebie box at an antique store today. I was hoping it would fit my old Bedrock 605, but it's 1/2" too wide. Still cool, and the price was right.

Whoah! I just looked up the Stanley New Britain Triangle logo--1912-1918! Maybe I'll clean this up for trade goods. Iron is in really good shape so should be fairly easy.

 

[Etchase]

Well, now--I'm not sure if this goes here with the New Britain or on the Stanley thread:





I found this in a freebie box at an antique store today. I was hoping it would fit my old Bedrock 605, but it's 1/2" too wide. Still cool, and the price was right.

Whoah! I just looked up the Stanley New Britain Triangle logo--1912-1918! Maybe I'll clean this up for trade goods. Iron is in really good shape so should be fairly easy.

The Stanley thread. Lots of interesting companies from New Britain , Connecticut

 

[Beerhippie]

I can't delete it now, so here it stays.

Good news is that this the proper iron and chip breaker for my Bedrock 605 type 6!

 

[Outlawmws]

Well, now--I'm not sure if this goes here with the New Britain or on the Stanley thread:

BOTH!

 

[ararat]

New Britain metric crowfoot wrench set 10-22mm with a couple of skips on a GJ style homemade holder made of 3/8 keystock. The print on the smaller sizes is microscopic.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I just acquired this New Britain tool cabinet on wheels. I ended up putting my Craftsman 10 drawer box on it. I found a date stamp on it of 07-68. I find it odd that I can't really find any info about it online. Is it a common tool cabinet??

 

[d42jeep]

I found what I think may be a New Britain valve rotating tool at a sale today. It’s unmarked but the knurling looks early NB to me. Opinions?
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

knurling looks more NB to me than Duro, but I'm certainly no expert on that early early stuff.

 

[d42jeep]

I compared with my early Indestro set and the knurling didn’t match. I don’t have a really early NB 1/2” drive set, unfortunately.
-Don

 

[Levaughn]

I have close to 100 Ratchets (various names) This is the one I use 98% of the time NB54.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is the one that lives in my toolbox.
-Don