Bedford Bronze spanner

[matt555]

Hi Everyone, I've picked this spanner up today.
Am I correct in assuming this is a bronzed non sparking spanner ?
a magnetic does stick to it.

Matt

 

[Dave455]

Err.. no!

Firstly, non sparking spanners are generally made from copper beryllium, so they are non spark and non magnetic. If a magnet sticks to it, it’s not copper beryllium.

Secondly, the part number is for a standard Bedford open ender. If it was a non sparking tool it would have a different part number.

What you have is a regular open ender that’s either been coated with something (for reasons unknown) or from which the chrome plating has been stripped (leaving the copper underneath) or even one that never received it’s final layer of chrome.

I have seen other spanners with a similar finish, also Bedford, so whether these were produced by Bedford for some reason, or whether they have been altered subsequently, I couldn’t say. I’ve only seen these turning up in the last few years.

 

[matt555]

Thanks Dave for the info
I picked it up because it was something different and was in a 50p box.
From what you have said It looks like it's missing the final finish rather than redone

 

[KnurledNut]

Firstly, non sparking spanners are generally made from copper beryllium, so they are non spark and non magnetic. If a magnet sticks to it, it’s not copper beryllium.

Commonly made with aluminum-bronze (AL-BR) too.

 

[Steve_P]

third: it's marked vanadium in the second pic.

 

[neophyte]

third: it's marked vanadium in the second pic.

Some manufacturers used the same tooling gor fabricating Beryllium Copper tools, as were used for regular alloy steel tool series, which can mean inaccurate markings like the “Vanadium” might be present.
If the wrench sticks to a magnet, then the wrench is not Beryllium Copper though, or Aluminum Bronze (Aluminum bronze also usually looks different).
Maybe this was made as a cheaper “non-sparking” option, for companies that couldn’t afford full sets of Beryllium copper tools, since a copper plating would provide a certain amount of spark resistance.
Or maybe someone just had some fun with a plating set up.

 

[3baygarage]

Exactly. It must be spark resistant, not spark proof. Very cool find.

 

[Stubby1743]

See my thread linked below re copper plated Sperry spanners.

Sperry Spanners/Wrenches

Here are two stamped steel spanners marked "Sperry". They are unusual in that they are copper plated. These spanners were my fathers and part of his tool kit for working on torpedoes. Dad was in the Royal Navy throughout the 1930's and 1940's and just into the 1950's. In the 1930's when...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[KnurledNut]

I bet NO ONE knows.
No seriously, his name is on the wrench.

 

[humber2]

Maybe members of Herman’s Hermits can verify?

YMMV