Recent content by RRA531Man

Hi Dave455, It is a 1/2 " drive. And yes it is quite a coarse ratchet, but a lovely positive click. I suspected it was an outsourced handle as the branding is stamped before chroming rather than cast into the handle end recess. And here are a few of my Smiths that came readily to hand. My W10...

Hi Dave455, arrived today, V. Old ratchet handle. Difficult to read clearly, but I think (hope) it is an early Bedford, stamped BEDFORDS (slightly smaller S), SHEFFIELD, ENGD (slightly smaller D) Does this fit any marking pattern of their's you know of? I have found some adverts and listing...

Hi Ola, MBfreak, I too fiddle with watches. Some Swiss, Japanese, but now have a fondness for Smiths (Cheltenham made). These latter I have mostly sorted by a professional watch repairer, whose father was a toolmaker for Smiths. I've met him too. I also 'do' bicycles, classic cars and British...

His Bedford/S+J dual designated socket set. Did I say my Dad was a welding engineer/instructor in the dockyard? Hence the modified deep access socket, which is Britool. His outside love though was woodwork, so there is wood dust and shavings in the tool case.

Hi Dave455, Good spot from the employers, I didn't want to be blatant and wondered if anyone would make the connections. I could have added that my Grandfather moved East with his young family from Hampshire to work as a toolmaker for Short's on seaplanes, Pobjoys and then also into the...

Hi richfinn, you're probably correct there about the industrial plain finish. An unnecessary expense, chrome plating. Fortunately my Dad's set was 'domestic' market so is beautifully smooth with rich shiny chrome. It's also one of the few parts of his tool kit that he must have purchased, as it...

Hi there Cryan, re. "Now known as Bedford Steels the tools division was bought by Spear and Jackson in 1972." That's so clarifying, I have just dug out from deep in my Dad's garage his prized Bedford 1/2" socket set, in an orange steel case labelled Spear and Jackson. It must have been from...