SCscoutguy
Well-known member
Have you guys ever heard of Garrington tools? I have some adjustable wrenches made in England by Garrington and they say "Jaguar" on them.
British Tool Manufacturers
- Thread starter Dave455
- Start date
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Nope; truth!
If you look closely at the photos in the eBay listing, you can read the box...
...where you can read Bren Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (and even see a little drawing of a Bren gun!), and the wrench itself...
...showing the British "Broad Arrow" denoting MoD property.
Bren guns were also made here in Toronto, and likely in other Allied countries too...
lbgradwell
Well-known member
cryan
Well-known member
Nope; truth!
If you look closely at the photos in the eBay listing, you can read the box...
...where you can read Bren Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (and even see a little drawing of a Bren gun!), and the wrench itself...
...showing the British "Broad Arrow" denoting MoD property.
Bren guns were also made here in Toronto, and likely in other Allied countries too...
Ah! Your right, I never noticed that.
A little research and it turns out they made pistons for the Bren gun for a short time. When I think about it the Brenco spanners I worked with were on the Tugboat I was Chief Engineer on. I knew her as Motor Tug Deerhound but she was built as, Her Majesty's Tug Deerhound so it is very probable that they were ex MoD stock tools. Most of my tools were King **** and Britool though. The boat was built in '66 but I had tools onboard from the war so I have no idea how old the Brenco stuff was? The Broad arrow was used by quite a few Commonwealth countries I think?
When I started in the Royal Dockyard at Rosyth they were disposing of thousands of MoD stock as Babcock had the disposal contract. They ran a little shop and warehouse. I bought some stuff for the boat but I wish I had bought more stuff for myself. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but at that time I didn't really need them at home. Some of the stuff was like desks or parts for Landrovers but they sold A LOT of tools mostly British made from the 1960's and 1970's.
cryan
Well-known member
This is the new disposals company but the prices are much more than Babcock used to ask. Babcock were reasonable where as this new lot are market price or higher. They do have good prices on some stuff though, especially stuff that they don't know how to price (ie, tools).
http://www.ramco.co.uk/sales/index.php
This is the site if you want a tank or truck
http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicles/,105,/April__Sale_2013.htm
http://www.ramco.co.uk/sales/index.php
This is the site if you want a tank or truck
http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicles/,105,/April__Sale_2013.htm
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When I started in the Royal Dockyard at Rosyth they were disposing of thousands of MoD stock as Babcock had the disposal contract. They ran a little shop and warehouse. I bought some stuff for the boat but I wish I had bought more stuff for myself. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but at that time I didn't really need them at home. Some of the stuff was like desks or parts for Landrovers but they sold A LOT of tools mostly British made from the 1960's and 1970's.[/QUOTE]
You've obviously had some serious experience then!
Some of the prices that surplus stuff could be had for are obscene in retrospect!
Even as late as the 1990's I was buying mint condition, but imperial graduated, inspection equipment for next to no money, big spanners for a coupla quid and £40 got me so many Cap Screws and machine screws I had to hire a truck to shift 'em!
The MOD, and for that matter the old Ministry of Supply, used to buy some quality kit.
Pretty much all gone now, but at least it's ended up with folks who appreciate It
You've obviously had some serious experience then!
Some of the prices that surplus stuff could be had for are obscene in retrospect!
Even as late as the 1990's I was buying mint condition, but imperial graduated, inspection equipment for next to no money, big spanners for a coupla quid and £40 got me so many Cap Screws and machine screws I had to hire a truck to shift 'em!
The MOD, and for that matter the old Ministry of Supply, used to buy some quality kit.
Pretty much all gone now, but at least it's ended up with folks who appreciate It
lbgradwell
Well-known member
cryan
Well-known member
I'm only talking about 2006/2007. Babcock lost the disposals contract after that. When I started on the Dockyard Tugs I was short on tools so I approached the Disposals department and filled my tool boxes. As I said I should have bought more for myself but at that time I did not know that five years later I would be paid off and starting my own business.
minimowog
Well-known member
delayed post
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I wish I'd known, I'd have been round there quicker than greased weasel ****!
In the 80's and 90's there was a lot of stuff available down south. Not all MOD, lots of liquidated stock too, but good stuff. Loads of Britool, King ****, Gordon and suchlike. Good machines too - Fobco drills, Harrison Mills, Colchester lathes. Most of my stock of milling cutters, big drills etc was built up in this period!
Used to go to the big sales too, got a few good items, but then supplies seemed to dry up. Seem to be few bargains now - dealers want stupid prices for small stuff and all the machines go straight into containers for China!
Funny how they're so quick to talk up their shite, but when it comes to paying out they'll only pay top dollar for top British made stuff!!
Good luck with your own business. Not my area but I'll bear it in mind!
minimowog
Well-known member
Pictures of my British tools
Britool Hex Drive socket set
others, have another 2 sets as well
Superslim, Snail
King ****, Gedore
Bedford, Garrinngton Kestrel, and another one
Superslim, Tipco, King ****, another one
King ****, George
Garrington Kestrel
thats enough for now
Britool Hex Drive socket set
others, have another 2 sets as well
Superslim, Snail
King ****, Gedore
Bedford, Garrinngton Kestrel, and another one
Superslim, Tipco, King ****, another one
King ****, George
Garrington Kestrel
thats enough for now
cryan
Well-known member
The MoD skips a lot of stuff these days. If a frigate comes in for refit they put skips on the quayside next to it and just start throwing stuff in before they move to the dry dock. From carpets to books and dvd players and everything in between. Things like tools are now put in storage but up until a few years ago they were skipped as well.
Likewise the chrome on the Gordon DBEs.
I was very lucky to find that Gordon set nearby for $50.
As you might imagine, these old British sets are not very common here in the "colonies"...
Very nice collection you have there!
Wow! I'm impressed with these wrenches, I want some!
Too bad the ebay seller only has one size. You have a nice assortment there. The box end is a little thick but the open end is nice, not the lobster claws you see on a lot of the older stuff.
Garrington made the named 4" adjustable for the Jaguar car toolkit.
Their normal range of adjustables were the Jackdaw series.
Here's two 6" examples I have, top one is dated 9/49 and the other 12/48 both from forging die AA6
Second image shows 3 versions to help date the doe Merlin range.
2nd from bottom shows an early version named Garrington which may date to WWII, no date no code, MERLIN on reverse
Bottom dated 7/56 OAW2420 Garringtons Made in England on reverse
2nd from top dated 1/58 OFW0806/S reverse as shown on the topmost wrench.
Attachments
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The ebay sellers tools are unplated dated MOS (Ministry of Supply) stock whereas my few are Nickel plated undated.
I'm waiting for others to reveal the extent of tooling Brenco made.
Did they make double open end wrenches, did they produce inch A/F sizes?
minimowog
Well-known member
Britool hex drive socket set
got photo's of other British tool makers, but i posted them twice and there still not here, Snail, Superslim, George, Garrington Kestrel, Bedford
got photo's of other British tool makers, but i posted them twice and there still not here, Snail, Superslim, George, Garrington Kestrel, Bedford
Looks unused, great example of a pre 1960 set.
minimowog
Well-known member
the Tipco feels like a nicely made spanner, i think its the only Tipco i have though
lbgradwell
Well-known member
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
I have a ratchet at home that is about 7" long and has 1/2 and 3/8 drive squares coming out each side, with a directional selector similar to ones found on TrueKraft ratcheting wrenches. It is made by "Picadore" and says made in england. This is the only tool I have from the UK other than a set of whitworth wrenches. Has anyone heard of this company?
minimowog
Well-known member
i went back out and demanded a recount, the Gedore in the picture, doesn't say where its made, although most of the other ones i have are German made.
couldn't find what i thought was George, but it could have been Gordon, i did find some other Gordons spanners.
Yes, I know Picador! They made all sorts of tools, and I remember those ratchet's, my Dad had one! Think they date from late 70's. Seem to recall Picador specialised in pulleys, bearings and suchlike, but over the years the range of stuff they made got ever smaller.
I can still recall seeing new stuff in the shops with their name, maybe 10 years ago, but I think they closed their doors not long after that!
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I picked up this beautiful Brades chisel last weekend. It's built like a slick with a tapered blade. The thickness of the blade at the bolster is twice as thick as it is at the end where the beveled edge starts on the tip. I also have a Brades brick hammer posted on the "Hammer Time" thread.
I don't know if Gedore ever manufactured in the UK but I found out on the "OLD WORLD TOOLS" thread that my Gedore torque wrench is actually a re-branded Norbar. Norbar seems to really be on top of the torque wrench realm.
I bought this set of Dormer easy outs just because of the cool little wood box with the pivot opening lid.
I don't know if Gedore ever manufactured in the UK but I found out on the "OLD WORLD TOOLS" thread that my Gedore torque wrench is actually a re-branded Norbar. Norbar seems to really be on top of the torque wrench realm.
I bought this set of Dormer easy outs just because of the cool little wood box with the pivot opening lid.
Harrison2
Well-known member
no mention of sykes pickavant here 
That Chisel is a great find!
I've got a few Brades tools, but don't know much about them, other than they are obviously top quality!
Gedore have had stuff made for 'em all over the place, hence the quality can be a bit variable ( and why I always disagree when people put Gedore in the same league as Stahlwille and Snap On - they are not)! Having said that, some of the outsourced stuff can be quite good, Norbar torque wrenches being an example! I always preferred the Britool torque wrenches though!
KegaToolsUk
New member
Hi, quick first post.
Just wanted to share a demo set of King **** stuff we've had made up. They'll paint/powder coat a chest in whatever colour you want and CNC machine the foam inserts for you.
Of everything they make/sell, their sockets, spanners and impact spanners are the best. Much of their other stuff is made on the continent and re-branded.
Just wanted to share a demo set of King **** stuff we've had made up. They'll paint/powder coat a chest in whatever colour you want and CNC machine the foam inserts for you.
Of everything they make/sell, their sockets, spanners and impact spanners are the best. Much of their other stuff is made on the continent and re-branded.
N.I.
Well-known member
Hi and welcome to the forum.
I have not come across Kega Tools before so assume you are fairly new.
Had a wee look on your website and don't see a whole lot on it yet.
So why not introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you?
And out of interest, what would a set like that put you back?
Also, do King **** make their own impact sockets?
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That looks really great!
I even like the colour of the box!
I agree that the best things to buy fom King **** are the spanners, sockets and accessories, but to be fair, I know they supply a lot of stuff to the industrial sector and will often be asked for complete kits!
Sad thing is, with only a little effort , and a little extra cost, they could supply the lot from U.K. manufacturers!
Good to see 'em trying though, and supplying the chest in custom colours is a great idea!
I have a spattering of British tools so here's some more photos from the colonies.
1st. up is my Superslim wrench set which I believe are made by Williams (not J.H. Williams of USA). I also have some of their chrome sockets which I've posted photos of before in other threads and they seem 1st rate. I have one of these in a vinegar bath at the moment and possibly one or two others are absent.
I've gotten a number of Spearpoint wrenches with motorcycle tool kits over the years which almost seem to be the same as the Superslim but in this comparison you can see the subtle differences. The Superslim has a definite bathtub concave area with hard edges in the centre while the Spearpoint has the concave centre area that gradually blends to the open ends and side edges or the wrench. The wrenches I have of each are different lengths also with Spearpoint being the shorter ones.
Next up are a few King Dicks, everybody has to have one of these.
To compliment IBGRADEWELLS awesome Gordon socket set here's a comparison of bright chrome sockets with I presume an older version. Note the decal, something Hazet was doing for a period as well.
Here is a variety of Garringtons wrenches, a couple of raised panels and otherwise in open ends or box ends. The open end wrenches have a nice thin profile so I keep them in my main box. Although the script imprinted on the open ends does appear to be english I've never made total sense of it except for the size at the end on one side. Could this be what the ozzies and kiwis are saying when they ask for a particular wrench?
A few Britool wrenches:
…and last but not least a run of Bedford open ends. These ones all have MC stamped into one end. They are a nice thin profile and I was wondering if they were thinner than normal for motorcycles or if that is someone's initials.
1st. up is my Superslim wrench set which I believe are made by Williams (not J.H. Williams of USA). I also have some of their chrome sockets which I've posted photos of before in other threads and they seem 1st rate. I have one of these in a vinegar bath at the moment and possibly one or two others are absent.
I've gotten a number of Spearpoint wrenches with motorcycle tool kits over the years which almost seem to be the same as the Superslim but in this comparison you can see the subtle differences. The Superslim has a definite bathtub concave area with hard edges in the centre while the Spearpoint has the concave centre area that gradually blends to the open ends and side edges or the wrench. The wrenches I have of each are different lengths also with Spearpoint being the shorter ones.
Next up are a few King Dicks, everybody has to have one of these.
To compliment IBGRADEWELLS awesome Gordon socket set here's a comparison of bright chrome sockets with I presume an older version. Note the decal, something Hazet was doing for a period as well.
Here is a variety of Garringtons wrenches, a couple of raised panels and otherwise in open ends or box ends. The open end wrenches have a nice thin profile so I keep them in my main box. Although the script imprinted on the open ends does appear to be english I've never made total sense of it except for the size at the end on one side. Could this be what the ozzies and kiwis are saying when they ask for a particular wrench?
A few Britool wrenches:
…and last but not least a run of Bedford open ends. These ones all have MC stamped into one end. They are a nice thin profile and I was wondering if they were thinner than normal for motorcycles or if that is someone's initials.
The Superslim wrenches are carbon steel, would be reasonable users if they were chrome-vanadium. Have a look at the 5/8W end that surely busted a few knuckles. In a day or two I'll show more of the range.
MC is an owners markings on the Gordon wrenches.
Interesting looking at the Garrington range, note the dual W and BS markings on a 1949 made DBE, that's early for that, while a later 1952 one for the MOS just has W sizes.
Thanks for showing.
MC is an owners markings on the Gordon wrenches.
Interesting looking at the Garrington range, note the dual W and BS markings on a 1949 made DBE, that's early for that, while a later 1952 one for the MOS just has W sizes.
Thanks for showing.
magnusk750
Well-known member
I have a british bike, 1955 Matchless in the pipeline. What brand to look for and perhaps some sources for puchase of W and BA tools? I'm not out for vintage or NOS tools, to much bother browsing ebay and such, and I pretty much don't care were the tools are made either. Just want good quality sockets and combination wrenches.
KegaToolsUk
New member
Hi, sorry to jump in without an introduction. Yes you're right we are pretty new and pretty small at the moment. We're taking our time finding the right brands/products and slowly adding things to our site (we're doing a lot of our own photos to show the products off... it's proving to be very time consuming), we're also starting to trade locally, approaching workshops/garages etc.
One thing we're looking into is building custom tool-kits with products from complimentary brands, spanners from King ****, pliers from Channellock, screwdrivers from WITTE etc. We're talking to a few more brands at the moment just to make sure we have all bases covered.
That particular set would set you back about £1,575. It's all King **** and everything is metric. There are 3 full socket sets (1/4", 3/8" & 1/2") with a fair amount of overlap with accessories for each (UJs, Extensions, Drivers etc). There are also two sets of spanners including a few hundred quids worth of ratchet spanners. There are also a full set of pliers, a full set of ball end t-handled hex keys and a load of hammers. That includes a custom colour and the liners.
King ****'s impact sockets are made somewhere in the E.U. (not the UK) and are finished/branded by King ****. Their pliers are made in Germany.
With regard to impact sockets, one British company we did come across during our research is Deltec, we may look into stocking them in the future.
Glad you like it, they make a really good job of the painting, we also have the option to get them powder coated. We're very interested in British made products, longer term we will be exploring this avenue further.
Cheers
Greg
Totally understand!
For Sockets, the best I've found are by Ko Ken! Superb quality, BA sizes in 1/4 inch drive, Whit/BS in 3/8 and 1/2. They offer hex or Bi-Hex sockets, and even deep! I get mine from Consolidated Tools in Manchester (easy to deal with) but there are other places.
For wrenches, it's got to be King **** for the Whit/BS and probably Elora for the BA (their Whit are nice too). If you can afford it get Snap On, but they are money and I've never seen the BS ones on special.
Gedore get the job done, but I prefer the above!
N.I.
Well-known member
The problem with Channellock in the UK is that they are priced too close to Knipex. Although I do like the long nosed pliers I have, Knipex still wins hands down.
I had forgotten about Deltec. I always assumed they only made specials and rebranded the common sockets?
It is nice to see that Starrett still manufacture in Scotland-
neophyte
Well-known member
I'm wondering how Starrett is placed in the market over in the UK. Their line of products seem to be similar to what Moore & Wright/Eclipse produce. I presume the Scots produced Starrett tools are for the UK/European market.
Moore and Wright have always dominated the U.K. market, but Starrett has always been available as well, for those who prefer it!
Moore and Wright don't produce the range they used to, but Starrett don't really seem to put themselves out for the U.K. market either, so much of the slack gets taken up by the likes of Mitutoyo!
I've got both Moore & Wright and Starrett micrometers, and both makes are excellent! For small tools such as Tap Wrenches, Pin Punches and suchlike I've always preferred the Starrett!
Most of the Starrett I have was made in the U.S.A, so I've always assumed that the U.K. factory makes specific lines, such as the hole saws, rather than for a specific market!