The Vintage New Britain and Associated Thread!

Private Lugnutz · Oct 28, 2018

drivesitfar said:
Lug: I know it's hard to keep and use all the cool stuff you find, but that drill bit holder could maybe even go inside the house to show off some of your smaller gems with that cool patina and the metal framed glass it certainly has COOL POINTS.

or trade for something you like better to someone that has room on their bench to use it as it was designed.

nice find!!

Thanks. The Lugzsonian is in the house, down the basement, Drives. All the collectibles are down there. Only user stuff in the garage. This cabinet will fit on my second bench. It was designed to be a hardware store display (as I said, not really conducive for use), and that's really not a bad idea for little mechanics' knickknacks. I'll have to think on it some more.

COL911 · Oct 30, 2018

Rescued a near complete 1/2" drive set and partial 1/4" box set. Let me know if there's any interest in these, I need to make room!

COL911 · Oct 30, 2018

Double box ends

COL911 · Oct 30, 2018

Deep sockets

COL911 · Oct 30, 2018

Shallow

COL911 · Nov 2, 2018

Moving these 1/2" NB pieces to the classifieds. Where else are you going to find a near complete set in good condition (except for rust on the shallow sockets) for under a hundred plus freight?

COL911 · Nov 23, 2018

These NB bits are now listed in the classified for sale thread, and price has been reduced, but offers will be considered.

350XinNY · Nov 23, 2018

Hey, picked up this NB-56 Flex head ratchet with quick release a couple years ago on ebay. Never saw another one like it or any other New Britain with quick release. What year was this made? Anyone see another like it?

Thanks
Bruce

Oldtuleguy · Nov 23, 2018

That's a cool looking ratchet. Never seen one but am on the lookout now!

four.cycle · Nov 24, 2018

I have never seen that model listed on Ebay in any brand - several other NB made flex-heads, but no button-triggered quick-release models like that one.

350XinNY · Nov 24, 2018

Do you think it is from late 60's right before Craftsman cornered the QR patent?

four.cycle · Nov 24, 2018

you'd have to refer to Mr. Lauver or Dr. Doom on that one... I am certainly no expert on Craftsman or New Britain. :lol:

Mgdoug3 · Nov 24, 2018

There's one listed on Ebay now. It not as good as shape as Bruce's though. After shipping it'll be over $40.

Sam'sAutoParts · Nov 25, 2018

350XinNY said:
Hey, picked up this NB-56 Flex head ratchet with quick release a couple years ago on ebay. Never saw another one like it or any other New Britain with quick release. What year was this made? Anyone see another like it?

Thanks

Bruce

I have, but they don’t come up to often. I have bid on a few on eBay but so far have come up short.

Sam'sAutoParts · Nov 25, 2018

Mgdoug3 said:
There's one listed on Ebay now. It not as good as shape as Bruce's though. After shipping it'll be over $40.

Speaking of eBay there is a NS-45 listed as well. That’s the long handle 1/2” drive, I already have one or I’d be tempted.

four.cycle · Nov 26, 2018

^ pretty spendy for that kind of condition.

nice NS65 listed today for just under $20 bucks. no flex action, though:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dr-Ratchet...pany-NS65-Hand-Tools-USA-Vintage/173660418935

twertsy · Nov 26, 2018

I think I saw a spot for that rat on one of the tool boards in Dave's sale thread.

Sam'sAutoParts · Nov 26, 2018

four.cycle said:
^ pretty spendy for that kind of condition.

nice NS65 listed today for just under $20 bucks. no flex action, though:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dr-Ratchet...pany-NS65-Hand-Tools-USA-Vintage/173660418935

Wow, it looked a lot better on my phone :lol_hitti

I think I paid about that for mine but it came with a short handle as well.

Username already in use · Nov 26, 2018

That long handle MAC ratchet is nice! :drool:

Speaking of MAC and New Britain... I picked up this 3/8" indexing ratchet at the flea this past weekend. I think it's a MAC, but it's not marked. It's marked XR11R - USA - C3. The midget Mustang ratchet followed me home as well.

four.cycle · Nov 27, 2018

^ the Mustang is quite a find.... had a heck of a time finding one of those here.

Username already in use · Nov 27, 2018

four.cycle said:
^ the Mustang is quite a find.... had a heck of a time finding one of those here.

Thanks. It looks really good, but it was seized up when I found it. So, got it for peanuts. All it took was one squirt of PB Blaster and its working like new. :bounce:

Private Lugnutz · Nov 27, 2018

The extra 1/2-inch hex drive set that was inside the Mossberg No. 82 Socket Wrench Set attache case (thread linked here), turned out to be an early 7-pc NB "Handle Lock" Socket Set, with the "PATENTED DEC. 12, 1922" (1,438,900) marking on the offset handle. The remains of a Husky label on the end of the holder dates it to late 1930's. While most of the paint is missing, the holder appears to have been some kind of muted industrial green. The tools themselves were cadmium-plated.

four.cycle · Nov 27, 2018

^ same as the NB 1001 set with a different label:

New Britain 1001 7-pc socket set - 1937 Janney Semple Hill & Co. catalog pp 3051.jpg

DD T/A · Dec 1, 2018

I see a reasonable amount of New Britain and an occasional NONE BETTER at the swap, and have never had much interest for it, but have always noticed both to be quality tools.

Found one that was unique enough and in very good condition the other day to bring home for $1. And felt that was worth it.
Feels strong, chrome is flawless, I think it'll come in handy.

d42jeep · Dec 6, 2018

Since I had an almost complete set of 3/8” Sparta sockets that I had picked up somewhere, I decided that it would be fun to try and complete the set. I picked up a nice box with two extensions, a 13/16” socket and a ratchet, all off of eBay. I have a spark plug socket on the way but it’s coming along.
-Don

CRTDI · Dec 8, 2018

That's coming together rather nicely... :thumbup:

d42jeep · Dec 14, 2018

CRTDI said:
That's coming together rather nicely...

Thanks. The effect that all of your beautiful sets has had on me is costing me money on eBay. :bowdown:

The spark plug socket came and included an extra short extension. I’m calling it done.
-Don

Private Lugnutz · Dec 14, 2018

That is a gorgeous set, Don! Nearly immaculate.

d42jeep · Dec 14, 2018

Thanks, Lugz. I was surprised at the availability of the additional pieces since I don’t see much Sparta.
-Don

crankshaftdan II · Dec 15, 2018

Recent locate on my part-don't usually pick up NB, but this was complete and in VGC--probably resting in someones TB for lots of years!

four.cycle · Dec 20, 2018

this one was a recent find. doesn't look like much until you start getting into the differences on the older New Britain / None Better / "Handle Lock" sets:

1935 Shapleigh Hardware Co. catalog Britain ad pp 150.jpg

1946-1951 ads showing ratchets:

1946 Motor Magazine New Britain ad pp 83.jpg

1947 Automotive Digest New Britain ad pp 18.jpg

1951 Automotive Digest None Better ad pp 51.jpg

1951 Hardware Age None Better ad pp 61.jpg

1951 Motor Age New Britain ad pp 91 crop.jpg

four.cycle · Dec 20, 2018

1951

1951 Richards & Conover Hardware Co. catalog None Better Bridgeport ad pp 342.jpg

snips from unknown 1951 catalog:

1951 catalog New Britain None Better ad pp 56 01.jpg

1951 catalog New Britain None Better ad pp 56 02.jpg

* I have 1940 (11.2MB), 1948 (22.8MB), 1953 (22.7MB), and 1959 (9.6MB) catalogs in *.pdf format. Not sure where they came from. The 1948 catalog is "None Better". *

d42jeep · Dec 20, 2018

BK,
If you have a PDF of a 1953 New Britain catalog would you mind emailing it to me? Thanks.
-Don

shanny19 · Dec 20, 2018

Thanks for the ads, I’ve long felt that the Fors ratchet as shown in the “clicks” ad, in 3/8, is one of the most ergonomically pleasing ratchets of all time, and sure enough they talk up its ergos in the ad.

I’ve got one in New Britain on which the owner engraved the purchase date on one side, something something 1955, and on the other side engraved what I believe to be the N number of his airplane. I love it, and I usually detest owners markings.

Private Lugnutz · Dec 20, 2018

I agree with that sentiment. And just think, it could've been the first Heritage era =CRAFTSMAN= ratchet! Instead, after nearly 20 unbroken years of having New Britain make their Long C BE and (H) Costello patent ratchets, Sears & Roebuck went with the Moore Drop Forge =V= ratchets instead.

notlob · Dec 23, 2018

I bought this 1/4" set with my employee discount at NAPA in the late 70's. I don't think it's been used for more than 25 yrs. Nearly complete - missing one 6 point and the two 8 point sockets.

It's available for sale or trade.

PowderKeg · Dec 23, 2018

Private Lugnutz said:
I agree with that sentiment. And just think, it could've been the first Heritage era =CRAFTSMAN= ratchet! Instead, after nearly 20 unbroken years of having New Britain make their Long C BE and (H) Costello patent ratchets, Sears & Roebuck went with the Moore Drop Forge =V= ratchets instead.

Hey Lugs, have not seen this Fors patent Craftsman? I'll have to look for the original sometime since these reduced size ones aren't very clear.

Private Lugnutz · Dec 24, 2018

PowderKeg said:
Hey Lugs, have you not seen this Fors patent Craftsman?

No, I haven't! And there is no indication of anything close to what that ratchet implies on Lauver's Craftsman timeline on GG. I have been operating under the impression that there was a clean break and transition from the New Britain 1930's-1947 Long C Craftsman BE and (H) production to the Moore Drop Forge 1947-1967 =CRAFTSMAN= =V= etc production.

My questions, now, are:
- How many years did the production last?
- Did the sockets and other handles look like late 40's NB production?
- And did they bear BE and (H) codes like their predecessors? (There appears to be something after the branding on the handle but I can't make it out.)

Username already in use · Dec 24, 2018

Private Lugnutz said:
I have been operating under the impression that there was a clean break and transition from the New Britain 1930's-1947 Long C Craftsman BE and (H) production to the Moore Drop Forge 1947-1967 =CRAFTSMAN= =V= etc production.

Aren’t you forgetting Plomb’s Craftsman (U) production from ~ ‘45 until Moore picked up the contract?

3baygarage · Dec 24, 2018

Been looking for one of those for years. Haven't seen one for sale in a long long time, and when I last did, it was up there. PK, your example is one of the only ones, if not the only one I've seen around the forums. We need more pics,lol.

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