British DOE and DBE Wrench Sets

[tombell572]

I've written here before about my British motorcycle hobby which began about 15 years ago after a 25 year break from riding.This has now collided with my tool hobby as shown in the pictures. In addition to a modern set of Koken 3/8" Whitworth/BSC sockets I had accumulated a mixed collection of wrenches--a couple of King ****'s, Craftmans, & others, nothing matching but enough to turn what needed to be turned on my first acquisition, a '68 BSA--functional but not appealing to my sense of order

I recently found these on Ebay, both sets from the same vendor and they were just delivered from the UK--a nice set of Bedford DOE's covering 3/16W to 9/16W and a set of Gordon deep offset DBE's from 1/8W-1/2W. I don't know the vintage but they are certainly older, nicely made, and in good condition.

Tom B.

 

[snapmom]

Those are nice. I collect Snap on and Blue Point Whitworth tools

 

[dutchgray]

Nice sets, I picked up a Bedford set of DOE from the boot sale at the weekend, 5 wrenches 1/8 to 7/16 W for a £5, In a plastic pouch, mine are later than yours and almost unused, got a set of Matador DBE some time ago, plus plenty of singles. I have almost no need but if I get something old enough to work on then I need them, theres a lot of Whitworth about here so unless its in very nice condition, a complete set or otherwise collectible its pretty much worthless.

 

[Jim C.]

Great wrench sets Tom. I recently bought this set of eight Craftsman Whitworth DOE and DBE wrenches from a longtime British motorcycle enthusiast. The wrenches are well used but not abused.

Jim C.

 

[tombell572]

Thanks, snap mom--Snapons would have been great but probably untouchable for a whole set.

Thanks dutchgray-you did much better than I on price and of course, shipping from UK to US is a killer. I have four BSA's, all BSF/CEI so the wrenches will see service.

Jim, those are nice--would be a nice match-up to my -V- series Craftsman US wrenches

Tom B.

 

[Jim C.]

Thanks, snap mom--Snapons would have been great but probably untouchable for a whole set.

Thanks dutchgray-you did much better than I on price and of course, shipping from UK to US is a killer. I have four BSA's, all BSF/CEI so the wrenches will see service.

Jim, those are nice--would be a nice match-up to my -V- series Craftsman US wrenches

Tom B.

Tom,

Are you missing any of the Craftsman open end wrenches? I have a few duplicates if you're interested in completing your set.

Jim C.

 

[dutchgray]

Thanks dutchgray-you did much better than I on price and of course, shipping from UK to US is a killer. I have four BSA's, all BSF/CEI so the wrenches will see service.

Tom B.

I buy enough tools from the USA to rack up some pretty big shipping bills, The boot sales are obviously a cheaper source than eBay, I could make a little money selling the Whitworth stuff, but I would rather keep it so I have it if I need it. Last thing I used Whitworth on was one of my vises.

 

[Benryanuk]

I'm U.K. based and have a vintage Triumph motorcycle so I'm always on the lookout for interesting Whitworth tools.. I like the motorcycle manufacturers wrenches but they're less practical as most were designed for small portable toolkits. Here's a couple from my collection.







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[snapmom]

 

[tombell572]

Jim C.--thank you but I have all that I need right now although a complete Craftsman set is tempting. Maybe when my tool budget is replenished.

Benryan--those are interesting. None of my BSA's had their tool kits when I found them. Would be nice to have at least one complete kit.

Snapmom--just beautiful!

Here's what got me started:


Tom B.

 

[jeeper46]

I've been messing around with British motorcycles since about 1980, and I've picked up a few tools for them since then. I've had this small Bedford set the longest-I got it at "Triumph Only/British Only"-a well-known local parts dealer. One of the wrenches has been ground heavily on one end-I must have had to make it fit some critical area once upon a time.
The Snap-On set came from a local used-tool store-he pulled this set out when I mentioned I had British bikes. I paid something like $68 for it, but well worth it.
The Superslims and Spearpoints came from British car and motorcycle toolkits-I often see these at M/C swap meets, and I grab them up. My Norton Atlas has a few "Shelley" wrenches with it-a tool company owned by Norton.

 

[jeeper46]

Speaking of BSA toolkits, here's the array of tools that were issued with a WW2 BSA M20 motorcycle-I don't think my bikes are complete until the toolkits have everything they came with .

 

[tombell572]

Jeeper--a great deal on the Snap-ons, absolutely worth it. The tool kit is outstanding.

Tom B.

 

[bluebolt]

Here's my little pile of Whitworth and motorcycle tools. Most came from a single tool box. I don't have a use for them but haven't gotten around to putting them on Ebay yet.

Pic 1: Three Triumph wrenches on the left and several Super Slim "Made in England" wrenches on the right.

Pic 2: A Tab Loc chain breaker and a bunch of un-marked tool kit tools.

Pic 3: King **** sockets top left, 3 Dunlop tire tools, Snap On sockets with 1966 and 1967 date codes, top right 2 Britools DBE wrenches, 2 BSA wrenches, a Dowidat combo wrench Made In Germany that is probably pre WWII and a Gordon DOE that's made in Sheffield England.

 

[Benryanuk]

Super slims are my 'go to' whitworth wrenches.. I got a set at a boot sale. They seem to be a really common brand and I see a lot of them about. Really well made..


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[Jim C.]

I recently finished collecting this early 1960s Craftsman Whitworth wrench and socket set.

Jim C.

 

[alton1911]

I'm U.K. based and have a vintage Triumph motorcycle so I'm always on the lookout for interesting Whitworth tools.. I like the motorcycle manufacturers wrenches but they're less practical as most were designed for small portable toolkits. Here's a couple from my collection.







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I love this branding. Very cool looking.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a Norton kit with Shelley tools

 

[tombell572]

Jim C--just going back through this thread and noticed your completed Craftsman Whitworth set--beautiful. All of my SAE and metric tools are Craftsman which I began accumulating in the late 1960's. Keep me in mind if the ever no longer fit your collecting goals.

Oldtulguy--great Norton set set, amazingly large--about what era would they represent?

Tom B.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

This stuff looks pretty old, maybe 40s? I am not that up on the English stuff.

 

[snapmom]

Some BS and withworth tools, mostly Blue Point and Snap on

 

[Jim C.]

Tom,

During the same time period, beginning about 1960, Sears/Craftsman offered its first set of metric tools. They’re about as difficult to find as are the Whitworth tools.

Jim C.