The Vintage New Britain and Associated Thread!

LesserSon · Jun 22, 2016

Picked up this nice late1930s ¼dr Husky set in box, along with another set of later (no knurling) ¼dr Husky sockets last week for $4. The pieces in the lid are not original to the set. The extension and three sockets are later Husky, and the ⅜ adapter is not marked.
Also bought a ½dr ratchet and two ⅜dr ratchets for a buck a piece from same vendor.

jakemac · Jun 22, 2016

Over the weekend, I picked up a None Better B12X 3/8" ratchet adapter.

jakemac · Jun 22, 2016

It needed a good cleaning, so I spent a frustrating hour trying to get the c-clip to release. Since I had it apart, I thought that I'd show you what the guts look like.

jakemac · Jun 22, 2016

Here's a better view of the pawl.

Username already in use · Jun 22, 2016

That ratchet adapter is cool. Does it go on a flex head/breaker bar?
I picked up this New Britain NB-45 last weekend. Gave it a good cleaning, works like a champ.

jakemac · Jun 22, 2016

The adapter is for a Breaker Bar, T-handle, Ell Bar, or Torque Wrench.

chopper1 · Jun 22, 2016

I picked up two of those NB ratcheting adapters some time ago and neither will change direction. They've been laying in my tool box because I couldn't figure out how to get them apart

jakemac · Jun 23, 2016

There should be a notch on the side. Inside you should see the tips of a c-clip. If you can squeeze the ends together, you should be able to pop the two pieces apart.

The trouble I had was getting anything in there to catch the tips. Eventually, I clamped the bottom in a vise to hold it, then I used a very fine screwdriver to move each side of the clip and slipped in a pair of tweezers (one side at a time). Once the tweezers were secure, I squeezed the clip and pulled on the top until it came apart.

chopper1 · Jun 23, 2016

Thanks, Jake. I hope to get to them this weekend.

LesserSon · Jun 29, 2016

Based on its similarity to the 1/4dr set I posted above, I think this box is supposed to have a ⅜dr Husky set in it - maybe a 10- or 12-piece, with a spinner and extension. In the late 1960s these would be part #s 58-9154 or 58-91548, but this is maybe three decades earlier.
Or maybe just some short (upright) and long (laid on sides) sockets.
I realize steel boxes like this were used by many different companies, including Sears, but the lack of any label is just like the 1/4dr set.
This box measures 10 x 3-½ x 1". The outside had no markings, but was so rusty-crusty with no paint left on it, I sanded it. Going to prime and spray (outside only).
Anyone have something like it? What goes inside?

LesserSon · Jun 29, 2016

Also, cleaned up this three-line (no knurling) Blackhawk 7/16dr socket from maybe 1941 or 1951. There is no "scalloping" or even much of a chamfer on the drive end, as described on the AA site, so thinking 1951?

I don't have any others - is the detent pin supposed to have a spring in it? This one just slides a bit in the hole.

notlob · Jun 29, 2016

7/16 drive makes that a Blackhawk "Nugget". No spring for the pin - it pops out when you put the socket on the ratchet (or breaker bar, etc) in the proper orientation. To remove, you have to depress the pin.

Sam'sAutoParts · Jul 9, 2016

Going to give a go at posting some of the NB catalog I picked up.

To be continued....

LesserSon · Jul 23, 2016

jakemac said:
It needed a good cleaning, so I spent a frustrating hour trying to get the c-clip to release. Since I had it apart, I thought that I'd show you what the guts look like.

Thanks! Picking through the flea market today, I spotted a 1/4dr version. Seems to be working pretty well without a teardown, but now I know what to expect if I do want to deep clean it.

gben · Aug 15, 2016

I bought an armload of tools from a 96 year-old man in my neighborhood that all seem to date from the late 40s/early 50s and this was among them, am am pretty sure it is by New Britain:

https://scontent-lga3-1.**.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13923285_1083913248366221_3001810228624435608_o.jpg

https://scontent-lga3-1.**.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13925818_1083913245032888_812493058841598823_o.jpg

https://scontent-lga3-1.**.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13975414_1083913151699564_5200520968909781390_o.jpg

https://scontent-lga3-1.**.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13996218_1083913328366213_2607718385694439140_o.jpg

https://scontent-lga3-1.**.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13920238_1083913365032876_8547298090210582079_o.jpg

Sam'sAutoParts · Aug 15, 2016

Very nice! I've been building a 1/2 drive set of those sockets. Defiantly NB made, after they acquired Husky.

Dean64 · Aug 16, 2016

i only have 1 item to contribute to the new britian thread, i used to have a full set of combination wrenches that have now disappeared. all i have left is thisView attachment 575412

McFarmer · Aug 16, 2016

I have that same 1/2 drive set that is a "None Better".

I have the ratchet and a few of the sockets if anyone wants them.

Dean64 · Aug 18, 2016

I found 3 wrenches

Sam'sAutoParts · Aug 29, 2016

Picked these up today, not sure they are correct for my knurled Husky sockets, but they are closer then the RHFTs.

Alchymist · Aug 30, 2016

McFarmer said:
I have that same 1/2 drive set that is a "None Better".

I have the ratchet and a few of the sockets if anyone wants them.

Won't go into details, but I now have a nice addition to my NB breaker bar...kudos to McFarmer - a None Better GJer for sure. Thanks again!

d42jeep · Aug 31, 2016

Here are a couple of New Britain items I've picked up lately. One is a magnet and the other is a scraper.
-Don

Sam'sAutoParts · Oct 3, 2016

Sorta off topic because I think these predate New Britains acquisition of Husky. Two husky hex extensions with rotating hand grips and the drive from a tee handle.

They appear in the far left in the first picture.

MShaw · Oct 3, 2016

I was just poking around in my toolbox and noticed I have a Husky 1/2" drive 21/32" socket. I looked thru the catalogs on the Collecting Snap on site and did not find a 21/32" socket. There are 19/32", 25/32, and 29/32". Does anyone know if any other companies made 21/32" sockets?

Much to my surprise I just Googled 21/32 socket and several manufacturers still make them!!! I wonder what they are used for??

twertsy · Dec 10, 2016

Snagged these today.

Rileysan · Dec 10, 2016

twertsy said:
Snagged these today.

Nice Score! Out of curiosity, do you know if NB made the Napa brand tools?

Brian

twertsy · Dec 10, 2016

Rileysan said:
Nice Score! Out of curiosity, do you know if NB made the Napa brand tools?

Brian

Not sure actually. NAPA certainly sold them, but I don't think they branded them NAPA.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

Sam'sAutoParts · Dec 10, 2016

twertsy said:
Snagged these today.

I kinda hate you right now

Awesome score :thumbup:

twertsy · Dec 10, 2016

Sam'sAutoParts said:
I kinda hate you right now[emoji38]_hitti

Awesome score[emoji106]

I noticed you've been hoarding Bonney up there.........I'll bring them boards up in their spring if you want to do some horse trading..

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

Sam'sAutoParts · Dec 10, 2016

Rileysan said:
Nice Score! Out of curiosity, do you know if NB made the Napa brand tools?

Brian

IIRC the NAPA branded stuff was Easco & Danaher

Sam'sAutoParts · Dec 10, 2016

twertsy said:
I noticed you've been hoarding Bonney up there.........I'll bring them boards up in their spring if you want to do some horse trading..

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

That sounds like a plan :bounce:

KZ1000J · Dec 12, 2016

Recent find, a hex head, wall hanging, ratchet set.

No maker marks, only Pat. No. 1438900

PowderKeg · Jan 5, 2017

It's been a couple years and a few more brands, so I thought I'd update the New Britain sourced ratchet brand list I've found over the years.

The updated list (as of 1-3-2017) of 32 tool brands with ratchets either produced by or using patents/designs originally by New Britain Machine.
(K-Kilness, F-Fors, C-Costello, and/or VE-Very Early patents/designs):

American Forge - K
Billings - F
Blackhawk - F,K
Bluegrass - F,K
Champion Sparkplug - K
Craftsman - VE,C,F
Crescent - K
Fairmount - F
Filson - F
Giller - K
Husky - C,F,K
JS - K
KR Wilson - K
Litton - K
Mac - K
Master Mechanic - K
Matco - K
Mustang - F,K
NBM - K
New Britain - C,F,K
None Better - C,F
OTC - K
Penncraft - K
Precision-Bilt - F
Proto Challenger - K
SP 45 - K
Sparta - K
Thorsen - K
"unbranded" - K
Vlchek - VE
Wardmaster - F
Wix - F

The two brands I currently don't have one or more of are Billings and KR Wilson. I've seen - and missed out on - at least two Billings in 1/4" drive, and pics and comments on KR Wilson are available over at Papaws and here (but now I can't find the right threads...)

It seems I've been adding a brand or few each year for the past several years to the list.

Two "new" brands that I've fished out of the 'bay since the last pic post several pages earlier:

Wix & Wardmaster

Sam'sAutoParts · Jan 20, 2017

Recent eBay find, 1/2" drive flex, appears to be NOS! Still on the hunt for the long handle version of this, but so far no luck.

elidas · Jan 21, 2017

Recent stuff: Two New Britain boxes. Label is NAPA and New Britain.

elidas · Jan 21, 2017

Opps pictures

jl4c · Mar 3, 2017

None Better band adjuster

http://www.ebay.com/itm/232252862148

sevt_chevelle · Mar 3, 2017

Do any of you guys have pictures of catalogs that show any body tools like body hammers?

Sam'sAutoParts · Mar 4, 2017

I think mine does, I will have to take a look.

Sunset_Z28 · Mar 4, 2017

Picked up a little 3/8" drive metric New Britain set today at an estate sale that's missing a socket. It contains a 19, 17, 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, and 9. There's one socket missing that I believe to be an 8mm, only due to the fact that one of the larger sizes skipped wouldn't fit in the holder. Anyone in here have this set or a catalog where it's contents may be listed? Thanks.

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