The Vintage New Britain and Associated Thread!

[four.cycle]

^ I see parts for that puller on ebay all the time. It was a model 248 Indestro. Everybody "made" one. (I think they all came out of the same plant, to be honest - they all look identical except for Snap-on and Herbrand.)

 

[Provincial]

What is the hex size?

 

[Mintgrun]

7/8" I've got impact sockets that will fit it; but it needs to be deep, in order to clear the hammered-on part at the end, or it won't engage much of the hex.

 

[four.cycle]

^ and Craigslist. I see the "Hammer" thingie (that Mintgrun is missing) AND the "foot" thingies on ebay and Craigslist now and then. More on ebay, and more leg thingies than hammer thingies. (I think they actually had separate part numbers for each piece in the Indestro catalog on some of those pullers - you could order separate components.)(Which begs the question: would they show up in an OTC or "CTA" catalog?)

 

[3baygarage]

^ I see parts for that puller on ebay all the time. It was a model 248 Indestro. Everybody "made" one. (I think they all came out of the same plant, to be honest - they all look identical except for Snap-on and Herbrand.

Some brands are different. The hex size and the leg to body hook. They do all look about the same.

 

[four.cycle]

^ oh yeah. right. hex on the top of the screw thingie varies, which means the hex opening on the hammer thingie would vary.
sorry. fuzzy memory on some of this stuff. we rented those old dinosaurs out all the time, believe it or not.

 

[misterbill]

Pretty cruddy when I found it, but it cleaned up nicely. This 377 (3/8" shank - 9/16" blade - 6-1/2" OAL) offset screwdriver came into my possession yesterday.



Bill

 

[beatcad]

A friend gave me this little guy today. He saw it at a swap meet recently and remembered I like New Britain. The business cars is there for size reference. It could be 60s or 70s.
It'll go in my 60s tool box

 

[Outlawmws]

That's a cool little drill index Beat!

Good to see you posting a bit!

 

[Ricky Joe]

.

 

[Ricky Joe]

.

 

[d42jeep]

Since I found a set of 1/4” drive sockets and a matching breaker, I pulled out my partial sets to add them in.
Various New Britain 1/4” drive sets.
I have still never found a donor ratchet to be able to complete this NM42 handle.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a 3/8 husky set still covered in BLO, I don't think it's ever been used.

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow OTG! That's an awesome find!

 

[Beerhippie]

A little something that followed me home yesterday:





Both ends of the bar are mushroomed from being used as a drift.

I have no idea what the extension is:



Thorsen (OK, I do have an idea--or a WAG)?

I thought the 1/2" dr 7/16" socket might be NB also, but looking closer, I see the knurling doesn't have the borders like the slider and are inverse:



As found:

 

[Outlawmws]

I think the socket is Duro but I'm not the expert 4 cycle is.

 

[d42jeep]

I think the socket is Duro but I'm not the expert 4 cycle is.

I’m voting S-K on that socket.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ yeah. Don's nailed it:
two dots, one on each side of size stamp: Sherman Klove (S-K)
two stars, one on each side of size stamp: Indestro (not sure if Duro-Chrome did that?)

 

[3baygarage]

I would consult Mr. X about the extension. You may have something there. It's definitely interesting, but I only know of the early TT logo.

 

[four.cycle]

I do not think that is Thorsen.

 

[Beerhippie]

I do not think that is Thorsen.

Well, it was a WAG. Just couldn't think of anything else T.

For the socket, spot on! Thanks!

 

[Beerhippie]

The only diamond-T logo I can find is that of the Diamond T Motor Co.



But it has those distinctive serifs.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

This 1/4 (missing plug, no #) turned up, and it matched the mysterious 3/8 I previously posted. Same exact body size.

I simply don’t know where these fit into New Britain history. Definitely on the old end of the spectrum. Guessing 30’s over 40’s. Haven’t seen any documentation yet.

Not matching anything in the ’38 NB or ‘39 Craftsman cats online, as the images show long head female models at that time.

Very interesting. Very similar to the one I found

 

[Oldtuleguy]

An old 1/4" set

 

[Lesserstore]

I cleaned up this None Better socket set box last week. Got it for $5 at a garage sale. The set number, 1075, doesn't appear in any available online catalog, nor does the exact box style. The same boxes did show up in Craftsman 1939 and 1942 catalogs.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice save. Looks authentically terrific.

 

[outofbounds]

Here's a 3/8 husky set still covered in BLO, I don't think it's ever been used.

What does BLO mean or stand for? I thought the brown protective coating was called "Cosmolene" (sp)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Boiled linseed oil

 

[Outlawmws]

The military generally used Cosmolene for long term storage, BLO was often used on tools as it kept rust at bay and they ere usable without cleaning.

 

[Beerhippie]

I use a light coat of BLO thinned 1:1 with mineral spirits on anything bare metal (or wood). You can hardly tell it's there, except for the not rusting part.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup good stuff!

 

[RTM]

I use a light coat of BLO thinned 1:1 with mineral spirits on anything bare metal (or wood). You can hardly tell it's there, except for the not rusting part.

Try a 1/3 mix by weight of BLO/ beeswax/turpentine on wood handles. Infinitely repairable, easy to apply w a Scotch-Brite pad. Really great hand feel afterwards.

Oops, forgot, melt together in a double boiler, and probably outside

 

[Beerhippie]

Try a 1/3 mix by weight of BLO/ beeswax/turpentine on wood handles. Infinitely repairable, easy to apply w a Scotch-Brite pad. Really great hand feel afterwards.

That was our go-to deck finish back when!

Price bee's wax lately?

 

[RTM]

Price bee's wax lately?

Befriend an apiarist, mine is free.

 

[Outlawmws]

Oops, forgot, melt together in a double boiler, and probably outside

I'm guessing an electric "burner" might also be a good Idea. Open flame and BLO/Turpinetine fumes might be dicey?

Maybe a crock pot is enough heat for the beeswax?

 

[Beerhippie]

I'm guessing an electric "burner" might also be a good Idea. Open flame and BLO/Turpinetine fumes might be dicey?

Maybe a crock pot is enough heat for the beeswax?

If you whittle the wax down to small chips, it will dissolve--slooowly--at room temp. We used mineral spirits instead of turpentine, so not sure how much difference it would make.

 

[Outlawmws]

So maybe just melt the beeswax and stir in the rest (maybe leave that out in the sun to warm...)

 

[RTM]

If you whittle the wax down to small chips, it will dissolve--slooowly--at room temp. We used mineral spirits instead of turpentine, so not sure how much difference it would make.

Turpentine smells better. Room temperature here only makes a slurry, even with grating the wax prior.

I do have a single burner hotplate dedicated to garage stuff, but the propane has been called out in the prior times

 

[MisterEd]

M-105 Bendix Brake Tool

 

[garilla]

I'm a long time user of BLO and it is great for a lot of things, but one thing I can not recommend it for is on outside wood tables/chairs, it looks great at first but over time it will turn a deep black color, I researched why my table set did that and apparently something is living on the BLO and that thing (bacteria? fungus? ) is what makes it black. great for wood handles and metal though, just wouldn't keep it outdoors for long periods.