How do the New Britain tools compare to the truck brands? I picked up a nice set today at an estate sale. 1/2" and 3/8" drive with a wrench set, three ratchets, speed wrench, breaker bars, deep and short sockets all in a red carry box that has a New Britain / NAPA emblem on the inside. These things are brand new and have never been used. I thought I could resell them easily because they're a complete set and in such great shape.
New Britain NAPA Socket Set
- Thread starter Rickster
- Start date
:tard:
Coach James
Well-known member
I've got two New Britain ratchets, several sockets, some wrenches. Not sure how they compare to truck brands but they are A+ to use. If they were brand new, they would have a permanent home in my garage instead of selling. Anytime I find tools with the NB name on them, I grab 'em.
Coach
Coach
chevy302dz
Well-known member
Definatily would like to see some pics
Deafautotech
Well-known member
me too but if i see snap on then i would look on it and make the idea what would i use for as if yes then buy but if no then put it back and walk away really quick because otherwise i still buy.... ( i went to pawn store and tested the MG31 and it had lot of red paint peeling off but i did test with powerful air compressor, it is work really good but can't make a deal because said only 10 percent off that it! so i bought it for 90 dollars plus taxes...) now i had TWO Mg31 and IM31!!
i need get help on my tools buy because i need to stop and make that to be saving my money for future!!Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
New Britain tools were durable mid range priced tools. It probably wouldn't be fair to compare them to the tool truck brands. They were probably more like SK or the US made older Blackhawk and probably better in some respects (fit and finish wise) than Craftsman. It all depends on what you like. I'm sure someone would buy them but, I don't think they would command nearly the money of a similiar truck brand set. Good luck with your sale
I inherited some odds and ends of Blackhawk, Proto, and New Britain (50's/60's era I would guess) from my grandfather after he passed away. He was an old-school mechanic who worked on cars, big trucks, forklifts, hydraulic equipment, etc his whole life. Anyway, his old tools seem to have held up equally well accros these different brands. He didn't baby his tools by any means, but he didn't abuse them either, and they all are still in great shape!! I just love the look and feel of that old steel. I wouldn't sell these off at any price.
I would probably agree with Fedwrench and say that they are maybe a step below the truck brands, but not by much.
I would probably agree with Fedwrench and say that they are maybe a step below the truck brands, but not by much.
old salvage
Well-known member
Nice looking set in good shape.
I cant see the label too well but I bet it was made in the 70's
I cant see the label too well but I bet it was made in the 70's
RenegadeEngr
Well-known member
Very nice! Tool's made for real people!
Man, those look really nice. They must have been stuffed in a closet for 30 years or something. I'm a pawn shop and flea market junky but I've never been to an estate sale before. I might have to start buying the newspaper. I completely understand if you don't want to tell us (you said you were going to sell them), but how much did you get them for? Good deal or great deal?
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I went to the estate sale of a former Union Pacific purchasing agent that had a dozen new hand boxes with sets of New Britain and Napa tool sets in them. They brought the same prices as the comparable Craftsman sets. Napa still services the warranty on all of the New Britain tools also.
That's classic man, glad it worked out for you