Apollo tube wrench set

[kwigly]

Found this neat nesting tube wrench set; three double ended Whitworth tube wrenches and a screwdriver bit, all packaged in a 3-1/2" long leather pouch marked "Apollo (reg), A & P LD" ("Apollo" being the registered trademark of A&P Ltd). The leather pouch is a bit rough, but the wrenches are good

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find with the case!!

 

[Dave455]

You probably realise, but “A and P” are “Accles and Pollock”. They were, and still are, specialists in making tube. They were also one of the first manufacturers of interchangeable socket wrenches. I’ve seen socket spanner sets, complete with ratchet, dating back to the victorian era!

What you have is a cheaper set of tools, probably a degree newer, but still with some age!

 

[Farmer J.]

Nice little set and in good condition.
I have some of their larger Apollo socket sets, all with tube sockets and wood boxes apart from a small leather pouch set but not as small as the OP's one.
Here's a bit of history on their website:

History - Accles & Pollock

acclesandpollock.co.uk

 

[kwigly]

Thanks for the heads up on Accles & Pollock. Found my set listed for 2/6 in a 1912 advert on "Graces Guide". Advertised to suit "all principal makes of motorcycles" and for the set to fit in a "waistcoat pocket"
(looking further down in the advert, I'm impressed with the "weasel" wrenches, which are "invaluable for dealing with motorcycle engine base nuts. Saves the use of superfluous language" !! )

 

[bmwrd0]

By the way, Accles and Pollock became part of the Tube Investments group, which later purchased Raleigh bicycles and then all the other British bicycle manufacturers of size.

 

[humber2]

By the way, Accles and Pollock became part of the Tube Investments group, which later purchased Raleigh bicycles and then all the other British bicycle manufacturers of size.

BSA was of size but independent of Raleigh.

Here is the company plate.

 

[bmwrd0]

BSA is listed as being purchased by Raleigh in 1957, and Raleigh, in turn, was purchased by TI in 1960. As TI had owned Hercules since 1946, that brand was folded under the Raleigh umbrella.