The Vintage New Britain and Associated Thread!

[Lesserstore]

Quick question about Kilness ratchets: when the patent expired did they take the patent number off of the ratchets shortly thereafter, or did they retain them well after it expired?

 

[Isaiah6113]

Hello all,

Here's a Husky 1/2-drive set I picked-up last weekend. It was owned by the father of the seller, who kept it on one of his tractors, for 60-odd years. It was covered in this thick black tar-like stuff, likely years of evaporated grease. It was tough to get off, but eventually dissolved with some effort and gasoline. It was a mess with embedded straw, dirt, seeds, and sawdust.

It is all underlined Husky and the sockets and extension are marked with an "H" before the product code rather than "CT" or "CS".

What's the deal with the "H" markings?

The ratchet is CS-45 with only the 2981389 patent number. I disassembled, cleaned, lubed and now it's working well. I have a posting upthread on the question of whether a ball was ever used in these. Given a little research and some input from another GJer, I have concluded no, despite how the patent reads. Any other views?

I figure it's early-mid-60s, due to only the later patent number on the ratchet, as well as the small hint of a label on the inside front cover. That label is a Canadian Tire/Mastercraft logo used in the 50s and early 60s (as far as I can tell). The box is also the exact same colour as my 50s Husky/CT/Mastercraft set.

One last thing, unfortunately the spring below the ball on the extension is broken, so the extension does not retain sockets. Too bad, it is almost perfect.

Has anyone had any luck in repairing these somehow? A skill machinist working magic?

Thanks for looking,

Matt

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

Here's a 10-piece "midget" set that I found at a flea market recently for a couple of bucks. A nice mix of 12 and 8 point sockets. The handle was all encrusted with the waxy white stuff that seeps out of CAB plastics, and it cleaned off pretty easily. I wish it contained a ratchet instead though, it smells exactly like a box of puke.

 

[four.cycle]

just an FYI here for anyone who may be interested:

Vintage NONE BETTER 1/4" Socket Set in metal box excellent condition OLD | eBay

It is in very good working condition. The socket wrench, extension, breaker bars, and all the sockets are signed None Better. The 3 larger sockets are 8 point, the others are 6 point. The screw driver type piece, isn't signed None Better, don't know if it was added later or not, it is signed...

www.ebay.com

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks! I could add those to my barely sorted NB mess and have an even larger NB mess. I do have a similar spinner.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

I was considering it, as none of my New Britain/None Better 1/4" sets contain ratchets, but then I had to do a reality check.
As in "do I REALLY need another NB 1/4" drive socket set?"
I think I've got one of those snazzy wood-handled drivers here somewhere too.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this Sparta 3/8” drive ratchet yesterday that is a match for the one in my Sparta set.
-Don

 

[47jlk]

Ran across a Husky 23pc 1/4" socket set box the other day while cleaning out an old cabinet. Would like to see if I can piece the set back together. So far I can't find an image or catalog page showing the contents. Anyone have one of these sets or a catalog image?

Thanks
John

 

[four.cycle]

Unfortunately there seems to be a shortage of "Husky" catalogs. The closest I can get is from the 1959 New Britain catalog, but the set that came in your box was produced much later, so I question whether the contents of the sets shown here are even close to what originally went into your set, but at least it's a starting point.
Hopefully someone else will have a similar set in New Britain, Husky, or Sparta and will be able to offer more insight.

 

[four.cycle]

btw: here's an NM43 ratchet - the one shown listed in that 1959 catalog, and my guess is that your set contained a later, RHFT (round head fine tooth model) like the NM55 model shown below.

 

[Fred Knox]

I am getting close, but I have stalled out on my efforts to complete my vintage Husky 1/2" drive socket set. I have collected "in the wild":
1) H2712 - 5" extension
2) H2711 - 10" extension
3) H2701 - 1/2" Socket
4) H2702 - 9/16"
5) H2844 - 19/32"
6) H2705 - 11/16"
7) H2706 - 3/4"
8) H2845 - 25/32"
9) H2707 - 13/16"
10) H2709 - 15/16"
11) H2846 - 1"
12) H2847 - 1 1/16"
13) H2848 - 1 1/8"
14) H2929 - 1 1/4"

I have been entirely unsuccessful in locating H2700 (7/16"), H2703 (5/8"), H2704 (21/32") and 2708 (7/8"). I have the Long-C Craftsman Circle-H "PAT. PEND." ratchet (which I think is period correct (?), but with no date code) that looks the same as the equivalent Husky-branded ratchets I have seen in this thread. It has only one of the original phillips-head screws though, so looking for any suggestions on where to locate some period correct replacements, rather than just adapting something that works. Have any of you faced this predicament? Thanks in advance.

 

[four.cycle]

this ebay seller has a good number of vintage items listed some of you may be interested in.

 

[RubiconJK]

I have been entirely unsuccessful in locating H2700 (7/16"), H2703 (5/8"), H2704 (21/32") and 2708 (7/8"). I have the Long-C Craftsman Circle-H "PAT. PEND." ratchet (which I think is period correct (?), but with no date code) that looks the same as the equivalent Husky-branded ratchets I have seen in this thread. It has only one of the original phillips-head screws though, so looking for any suggestions on where to locate some period correct replacements, rather than just adapting something that works. Have any of you faced this predicament? Thanks in advance.

Fred, I have the H2704 21/32" 12 pt and also a H2866 1/2" 8 pt if you can use it. They are both in really good condition. I'm a Plomb collector and there are a couple links in my signature to some items I'm searching for. Feel free to IM me if you are interested. I've traded with several folks here on the Vintage Tool forum with good success.

 

[Isaiah6113]

Hello All,

I picked-up these fellows the other weekend from an ad with a poor picture showing a grubby, rather sad set. A little tidying-up and we have a nice 3/8 set of 12 Metric sockets: 19, 17, 15-6, all happily snuggled in their holder. They are all in good shape, with one or possibly two exceptions.

The sockets are all marked CBM-619 to CBM606. The top of the box is folded over so the set can hang off the top edge of a larger box or something.

Not sure how to date these, other than the colour of the box matches my set from the 70s.

As you can see from the last picture the 8mm is cracked and the 10mm is sad, but functional.

If anyone has an 8mm or a 10mm from this era I would love to speak with you!

I'm always looking for older metric sets, but rather scarce in my neck of the woods.

Thanks!

Matt

 

[d42jeep]

I am getting close, but I have stalled out on my efforts to complete my vintage Husky 1/2" drive socket set. I have collected "in the wild":
1) H2712 - 5" extension
2) H2711 - 10" extension
3) H2701 - 1/2" Socket
4) H2702 - 9/16"
5) H2844 - 19/32"
6) H2705 - 11/16"
7) H2706 - 3/4"
8) H2845 - 25/32"
9) H2707 - 13/16"
10) H2709 - 15/16"
11) H2846 - 1"
12) H2847 - 1 1/16"
13) H2848 - 1 1/8"
14) H2929 - 1 1/4"

I have been entirely unsuccessful in locating H2700 (7/16"), H2703 (5/8"), H2704 (21/32") and 2708 (7/8"). I have the Long-C Craftsman Circle-H "PAT. PEND." ratchet (which I think is period correct (?), but with no date code) that looks the same as the equivalent Husky-branded ratchets I have seen in this thread. It has only one of the original phillips-head screws though, so looking for any suggestions on where to locate some period correct replacements, rather than just adapting something that works. Have any of you faced this predicament? Thanks in advance.

I checked my spares today. You are welcome to any or preferably all of them as I don’t intentionally collect Husky.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

I picked up this little gem today:

I need another L wrench set like I need another hole in my head, but I noticed the decal on the end and I had to have it:

Now, I just need to find a 1/2 cad plated socket from the same period...

 

[four.cycle]

^ That shouldn't be too difficult considering how many of those are floating around in the second-hand market. I believe that was quite a popular early NB set, judging by the number of appearances it makes in early catalogs (and an oft-disparaged online tool source.)

 

[saukit]

Post a better pic of the sockets Beemer, I know I have a number of hex drive cad sockets floating around and I'd be happy to dig through them.

 

[Larr991]

My go to Torque wrench, torqued down many heads with it!

 

[JjKk40]

Hello All,

I picked-up these fellows the other weekend from an ad with a poor picture showing a grubby, rather sad set. A little tidying-up and we have a nice 3/8 set of 12 Metric sockets: 19, 17, 15-6, all happily snuggled in their holder. They are all in good shape, with one or possibly two exceptions.

The sockets are all marked CBM-619 to CBM606. The top of the box is folded over so the set can hang off the top edge of a larger box or something.

Not sure how to date these, other than the colour of the box matches my set from the 70s.

As you can see from the last picture the 8mm is cracked and the 10mm is sad, but functional.

If anyone has an 8mm or a 10mm from this era I would love to speak with you!

I'm always looking for older metric sets, but rather scarce in my neck of the woods.

Thanks!

Matt

Very cool set man! Heres my metric set, sockets from 9mm-19mm and missing some with skips. Yheyre definitely not the easiest to find as I haven't been able to locate any sizes I need. I have extras if you need, they are cbm611, 613, 614, and 617. Maybe we can trade up for sizes I need if you have?

 

[outofbounds]

Interested for confirmation of “None Better” provenance throughout the tools shown as found in this NB 1/2 Drive box. 15 sockets from 5/16 through 1” (9/16” is a Hinsdale) + Valve grinder, + 8pcs Double Squares from 5/16 through 3/4”. Drive Tools 1/2 Female Sliding T-Handle + Ext Drive Stud + 10” Ext (Looks like unmarked SK) All tools simply read Made in USA except Speeder that reads same, but with Circle NB.

 

[four.cycle]

1935 Shapleigh Hardware Co. catalog pp 1991 New Britain None Better ad

1937 Janney Semple Hill & Co. catalog pp 3052 New Britain None Better Hinsdale ad

1937 Janney Semple Hill & Co. catalog pp 3052 New Britain None Better ad

1937 W. Bingham Co. catalog pp 140 New Britain None Better ad

1937 W. Bingham Co. pp 141 New Britain None Better ad

1940 Janney Semple Hill & Co. catalog pp 3375 New Britain None Better

1941 W. Bingham Co. catalog pp 159 New Britain None Better ad

 

[four.cycle]

1941 W. Bingham Co. catalog New Britain None Better ad

that's all I have showing anything resembling your set, RTM.

 

[GalaxyRat]

I found a NAPA drill index made by New Britain at an estate sale today.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Can anyone help me identify whether this is a Kilness ratchet? The selector switch looks like it but I'd never heard of any being produced outside the USA.

VINTAGE TRUECRAFT 3/8” Drive FINE TOOTH FLEX HEAD RATCHET, BREAKER & EXTENSIONS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VINTAGE TRUECRAFT 3/8” Drive FINE TOOTH FLEX HEAD RATCHET, BREAKER & EXTENSIONS at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I have been going down a bit of a rabbit hole with these ratchets after finding out how smooth they are. Would be interesting to know if a company in Japan was producing copies. From what I understand Truecraft was mainly a rebrander rather than a production company but the tools I've used from them have been solid.

(Edit: including pictures in case the ebay link goes dead)

 

[four.cycle]

No, Truecraft was Truecraft.

Truecraft / Truecraft Tool Co., 2425 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL / U.S. made until acquired by Daido, Japan / (see Daido) / http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p3.html#truecraft-tool / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/truecraft-tools-memories-of-first-tools.255703/ / https://ameblo.jp/corgibell/entry-12601727921.html /

The local sales rep here was Don Hall (Hall & Associates.) We only bought a couple promotional deals from them. We never put the full line in, which in retrospect would have been a better move than switching over to Thorsen. But I digress....

I have a Japan-made "Truecraft" 1/2" drive set out in the garage that my late step-father gave to me years ago. It probably dates to the early 1970s. The ratchet still works flawlessly. I've had to replace a few sockets because some got lost, but they've all held up fine ripping apart rusty lawnmowers.

No relation or connection to Kilness or New Britain at all ... the Japanese mastered the art of duplicating American tool designs in the 1970s:



no... it's not a 45170 S-K - it's a Japan-made "Craft" knockoff. (photos ebay)

 

[d42jeep]

I received an unexpected email from GJ member Shiftless this morning with an offer of a 3/4” drive New Britain ratchet that he had no need for. Since my 3/4” drive drawer never had a ratchet, I replied that I would be glad to have it. He stopped by with it and we had a nice chat. I spent some time cleaning and lubing it before adding it to my 3/4” drive tool drawer. My 3/4” drive tools are a mix that I’ve accumulated over time. The drive tools include S-K, Armstrong, Plomb, Proto LA, Snap-on, Thorsen and now New Britain. Thanks, Shiftless!
-Don

 

[Larr991]

Vintage New Britian ad I found in one of my Motor's magazine.

 

[d42jeep]

What is the date on that?
-Don

 

[Larr991]

Looks like 1945.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks!
-Don

 

[Larr991]

A few more, looks like when they merged, or were bought out?

 

[four.cycle]

^ New Britain Machine Co. was acquired by Litton Industries in 1972, and ultimately closed in 1990.
(Meanwhile Litton marketed tools under the "American Forge" brand name.)

If you have catalog pages, you might consider supplying copies of them to International Tool Catalog Library.

 

[Larr991]

^ New Britain Machine Co. was acquired by Litton Industries in 1972, and ultimately closed in 1990.
(Meanwhile Litton marketed tools under the "American Forge" brand name.)

If you have catalog pages, you might consider supplying copies of them to International Tool Catalog Library.

How does one do that?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

scan and email

 

[Larr991]

scan and email

Thanks, will do!

 

[Fred Knox]

Here is my 3/8” drive Sparta (New Britain made) set with great knurling on the handles. It looks like it may be missing a piece or two. It may be an original metal box, but I am not sure (no markings). I could not find any similar Sparta socket set photos or advertisements.

 

[WJD]

My ol' man bought this in the 70's. New Britain E 60 pickle fork

Shows some use, I beat on it while in high school replacing tie rod ends on my rig. No idea how many the old man did.

Here I am 30+ years after that using it still on my rigs considerably newer!!

 

[Dieselclunker]

They are nice tools why did they fall ?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think too much cheap foreign competition