British Tool Manufacturers

[Pwardy]

King **** 1/4" metric sockets with accessories and ratchets from various years.




Quite busy tools seeing frequent use.

 

[Pwardy]

King **** 3/4" drive metric socket set:




This is probably new King **** at its best. There is a further range of tools in 3/4" drive that they call Contractor that are slightly more chunky.

 

[Ton ton]

King **** 3/4" drive metric socket set:




This is probably new King **** at its best. There is a further range of tools in 3/4" drive that they call Contractor that are slightly more chunky.

I wish these were available @ a brick and mortar store in Virginia. How many teeth does the ratchet have?

 

[Dave455]

King **** 3/4" drive metric socket set:




This is probably new King **** at its best. There is a further range of tools in 3/4" drive that they call Contractor that are slightly more chunky.

I agree! King **** are really on their home ground making the 3/4” drive tools and they do them very well.

I’ve been on the lookout for some used, but they hold their value surprisingly well for 3/4” drive!

 

[Pwardy]

I wish these were available @ a brick and mortar store in Virginia. How many teeth does the ratchet have?

I counted 60:




King **** 3/4" repair kit.

 

[Pwardy]

I agree! King **** are really on their home ground making the 3/4” drive tools and they do them very well.

I’ve been on the lookout for some used, but they hold their value surprisingly well for 3/4” drive!

Set an eBay search and check email notifications daily. That is how I picked up the majority of my King **** tools. I think during the pandemic people must have been tidying out their garages; I got loads that way for beer money.
There have definitely been two 3/4" sets on eBay in the last 12 months, I think both Imperial A/F. I was tempted for the money but I didn't have a use for them and I consider myself a tool user not a collector.

 

[Pwardy]

King **** old and new miniature spanners:




New metric, old BA.

 

[Ton ton]

I counted 60:




King **** 3/4" repair kit.

Thank you for the answer, sir.

 

[Pwardy]

Norbar, I hope these aren't written off as nostalgic British tools. I've not looked too hard but I think these are as good as they come?

 

[MechManiac]

I was planning to write something about Gordon next! Trouble is I need to take more photo's and all this stuff is scatterred about!

Yes, it's interesting how good manufacturers seem to end up producing very similar tools! I'd noticed it with regard to old Britool / new Snap on, but not the Hazet. Well spotted! (I've recently acquired a couple larger Hazet wrenches and really like 'em!)

I'm afraid I've never researched any of this stuff. it's all based on what I was told by family etc, the tools I've got, and whatever I can glean from old catalogues!

The exact type of combination spanner you like (don't blame you by the way - fantastic tools) are shown in the Britool catalogue of 1973! I bought a couple in the mid 80's and they are the later pattern so that gives you a start! Maybe somebody here knows more!

It's worth bearing in mind that in this era Britool offered two styles of, for example, open end wrench. The 'slim pattern' are the ones most commonly found, whereas the 'engineers pattern' are much heavier and are to be preferred! If you didn't know two types were available you could easily get confused!

I still consider that my Britool ring spanners of the 1980's set the standard by which I judge all others!

I have 2 old (not sure how old) stubby ring spanners from Britool. I have no idea if they were my father's or grandfather's. They are excellent tools! I will post photos and would love to know the date of manufacture. I also have a Britool torque wrench (made by some Italian company) that is also very good.

 

[Dave455]

I have 2 old (not sure how old) stubby ring spanners from Britool. I have no idea if they were my father's or grandfather's. They are excellent tools! I will post photos and would love to know the date of manufacture. I also have a Britool torque wrench (made by some Italian company) that is also very good.

Yes, those short ring spanners are excellent tools. It’s a pattern that relatively few manufacturers offer, but my Father used to use his extensively, and I find myself using them more and more on modern engines where space is often so limited.

If you post some pictures we can try and give you an idea of the date, but unfortunately the pattern of the ring spanners didn’t really change much till the very end, when they were cheapened (and I’m not even convinced were domestically produced). Same for the script on the lettering, so they can be hard to date.

 

[silkman]

Norbar, I hope these aren't written off as nostalgic British tools. I've not looked too hard but I think these are as good as they come?

Norbar torque tools are good and competitively priced.

Highly recommended.

 

[f121]

Norbar torque tools are good and competitively priced.

Highly recommended.

I hadn't realised that norbar were British, owned by snap on now.


And yes, they are excellent.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Couple of leytool sets

 

[Dave455]

Ahh, products of the old Leytonstone Jig and Tool Company!

Originally a London firm, they primarily made jigs and dies for the aircraft industry, but also some machinery, such as slotting machines. They did work for Handley Page, who were only just up the road, and De Havilland, for the same reason.

Hand tools were another venture, and they were well known for their compact Leytool hand drill, as well as their ratcheting wrenches. Those ratchet and socket sets, with their relatively unique (for the time) hex bits, are relatively rare though.

The company moved to Brighton after the war, but the factory was closed and demolished in the mid 80’s. I can remember it going.

Much like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, however, the tools continued to be available. I saw new, British made, Leytool ratcheting wrenches not five years ago, on a dealers rack. Made where, and by who, we may never know…!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a link to some history

The Demolition of Leytool January 1985

Leytonstone Jig & Tool Company (Leytool) The Leytool factory on the Hollingbury Industrial Estate was constructed in 1949. The company’s origins were ...

www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk

 

[Dave455]

Here is a link to some history

The Demolition of Leytool January 1985

Leytonstone Jig & Tool Company (Leytool) The Leytool factory on the Hollingbury Industrial Estate was constructed in 1949. The company’s origins were ...

www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk

Ahh yes, that’s the place.

I can’t help but agree with the author when he says that demolishing a building after just 36 years doesn’t seem like a very good use of resources!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a little macrome ignition/magneto set

 

[humber2]

Lion Chrome Spanners. Got to see an old set and it’s provenance today.

Not sure what order the images will appear, here goes.....

John Bedford and Sons operated from Lion Works in Sheffield, I believe this is the maker and location.

 

[Ton ton]

Lion Chrome Spanners. Got to see an old set and it’s provenance today.

Not sure what order the images will appear, here goes.....

John Bedford and Sons operated from Lion Works in Sheffield, I believe this is the maker and location.

I appreciate seeing double open end wrenches.

 

[oldpliers1]

Footprint Retractable knifes,Beautifully made quality item found in the outback.

 

[oldpliers1]

Here are some chisels I picked up in Perth in 2017 3 types of Footprint chisels .
Iam not up on my chisels but I purchased a identical red one 40 plus years ago ( my first wood chisel)

 

[Dave455]

Here are some chisels I picked up in Perth in 2017 3 types of Footprint chisels .
Iam not up on my chisels but I purchased a identical red one 40 plus years ago ( my first wood chisel)

Those red handled chisels were made, pretty much unchanged, for decades. I still occasionally see them new.

The chisels with the wooden handle in the same shape are relatively common too, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the type in the middle of your picture. I wonder if they were made primarily for the export market?

The quality of the Footprint chisels was definitely “acceptable”. Compared to some of the dross available now, they were pretty decent.

Unfortunately, there was traditionally a huge amount of domestic competition in the wood chisel market. As well as Footprint, you had Stanley, Marples, Henry Taylor, Robert Sorby, Crown (and probably some others) all making chisels in the U.K. Despite having a decent product, Footprint were never considered to be quite “up there” with Marples, and their marketing wasn’t great either.

If they’d managed to hold it together, they could have cleaned up when Marples were taken over and nosedived the quality, but there you go!

 

[Dave455]

Footprint Retractable knifes,Beautifully made quality item found in the outback.

I have a Footprint knife somewhere, but it’s a different design.

The main issue I have with most modern ones is the (generally dreadful) quality of the supplied blades.

Not sure if Footprint still offer the knives (they should) but the blades are still available, and still decent!

 

[oldpliers1]

Those red handled chisels were made, pretty much unchanged, for decades. I still occasionally see them new.

The chisels with the wooden handle in the same shape are relatively common too, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the type in the middle of your picture. I wonder if they were made primarily for the export market?

The quality of the Footprint chisels was definitely “acceptable”. Compared to some of the dross available now, they were pretty decent.

Unfortunately, there was traditionally a huge amount of domestic competition in the wood chisel market. As well as Footprint, you had Stanley, Marples, Henry Taylor, Robert Sorby, Crown (and probably some others) all making chisels in the U.K. Despite having a decent product, Footprint were never considered to be quite “up there” with Marples, and their marketing wasn’t great either.

If they’d managed to hold it together, they could have cleaned up when Marples were taken over and nosedived the quality, but there you go!

I will take a few more photos of the middle chisel and it’s markings,I have not seen footprint stuff since the late 80s over here, I have found some interesting British stuff lately . British brand eclipse made in New Zealand.

 

[Shergar]

I had a rather early frantic phone call as the mother in law had a burst pipe. Rushed round without tools (lucky I was off shift today too!) and had to rifle through her shed for tools. Stumbled on this blinder, a 10” King ****, it did the trick too!

 

[oldpliers1]

I had a rather early frantic phone call as the mother in law had a burst pipe. Rushed round without tools (lucky I was off shift today too!) and had to rifle through her shed for tools. Stumbled on this blinder, a 10” King ****, it did the trick too!

Great to see a win

 

[Graeme]

Recently purchased 1950s king **** set.
I think this is set tks411, or maybe tks414.

BA, whitworth and square sockets. BA tubular spanners, screwdriver bit, spinner, T bar, 5" and 2" extensions.

Has one presumably home made socket extra stamped JASON.
Also has an unusual ratchet. I can find no reference to this as being king ****, but the T bar isn't stamped either.

 

[Dave455]

Recently purchased 1950s king **** set.
I think this is set tks411, or maybe tks414.

BA, whitworth and square sockets. BA tubular spanners, screwdriver bit, spinner, T bar, 5" and 2" extensions.

Has one presumably home made socket extra stamped JASON.
Also has an unusual ratchet. I can find no reference to this as being king ****, but the T bar isn't stamped either.

Nice little set. Similar ones are still available, although not with the box spanners!

The King **** 1/4” drive sockets are not bad.

Although not stamped, the sliding T looks like a King **** to me, and of that era. I’ve seen others similar.

I can’t say the same for the ratchet. I can’t recall seeing one exactly like that before.

I do continually find tools from King **** (and others, such as Britool) that I’ve never encountered before, including many ratchets with female square drives. I suspect that the majority were made for some specific purpose, now largely forgotten!

 

[Graeme]

Nice little set. Similar ones are still available, although not with the box spanners!

The King **** 1/4” drive sockets are not bad.

Although not stamped, the sliding T looks like a King **** to me, and of that era. I’ve seen others similar.

I can’t say the same for the ratchet. I can’t recall seeing one exactly like that before.

I do continually find tools from King **** (and others, such as Britool) that I’ve never encountered before, including many ratchets with female square drives. I suspect that the majority were made for some specific purpose, now largely forgotten!

I havs found pics of other T bars that are exactly the same as mine, so im sure its genuine, just not stamped. The spinner isn't either.

The ratchet though, I'm just not sure. It's either an odd style they made briefly (I keep finding slightly different ones from this era), or it's home made.

 

[Dave455]

I havs found pics of other T bars that are exactly the same as mine, so im sure its genuine, just not stamped. The spinner isn't either.

The ratchet though, I'm just not sure. It's either an odd style they made briefly (I keep finding slightly different ones from this era), or it's home made.

I’ve seen a lot of odd little King **** ratchet’s with female square drives. I’ve seen them turn up with what are obviously refrigeration tools, and also with plumbers tools, which suggests the purpose.

Some years back, a surplus tool supplier that I frequented had some very comprehensive sets of plumbers tools. They were obviously ex military as all the tools were marked and dated.

Among all the adjustables and pipe wrenches were sets of King **** open enders in BS sizes (for BSP pipe threads) and sets of these little King **** female square ratchets. I think there were maybe four sizes, but they were very different to the ratchet you have.

I’m leaning towards home made, or at least shop made. Not sure why as “off the shelf” tools were so readily available. A student piece perhaps?

 

[Graeme]

I’ve seen a lot of odd little King **** ratchet’s with female square drives. I’ve seen them turn up with what are obviously refrigeration tools, and also with plumbers tools, which suggests the purpose.

Some years back, a surplus tool supplier that I frequented had some very comprehensive sets of plumbers tools. They were obviously ex military as all the tools were marked and dated.

Among all the adjustables and pipe wrenches were sets of King **** open enders in BS sizes (for BSP pipe threads) and sets of these little King **** female square ratchets. I think there were maybe four sizes, but they were very different to the ratchet you have.

I’m leaning towards home made, or at least shop made. Not sure why as “off the shelf” tools were so readily available. A student piece perhaps?

Maybe.
There is one socket which looks home made too. A 2ba. Just stamped Jason. Well made though, all the metal curls are still inside from when it was broached.
Maybe he made the ratchet too.
The other thing I've noticed with the ratchet is the male square drive has 3 balls, but the ratchet female square is smooth. I assume it would have indents for the balls to slip into?

 

[Dave455]

The other thing I've noticed with the ratchet is the male square drive has 3 balls, but the ratchet female square is smooth. I assume it would have indents for the balls to slip into?

If you were making the ratchet, the detents within the square drive would have been one of the more difficult things to make.

Far easier to put 3 balls on the male connector, so they locate either side of the tool.

That, together with the slightly amateur staking of the balls, were factors that suggested to me that the tool was home / shop made!

 

[Graeme]

If you were making the ratchet, the detents within the square drive would have been one of the more difficult things to make.

Far easier to put 3 balls on the male connector, so they locate either side of the tool.

That, together with the slightly amateur staking of the balls, were factors that suggested to me that the tool was home / shop made!

I'm not sure I've ever seen a ratchet where the head and handle aren't one piece either.
It feels very nice to use though, and precise. I'm glad to own it.
I'll take some more pics, you may enjoy them.

 

[Graeme]

Some more pics.
What i don't understand is why though.
Especially with the socket.
Would ha e been easy and cheap to just buy more, especially to someone with skill and available machinery. They would have been able to easily source new.
I can only assume he did it for the same reason I do things, for fun, because he could. It may have just been quicker!

 

[Pwardy]

@Graeme I'm fairly certain I watched this set on eBay very recently. I thought it was a TKS411 with a home made ratchet, the only push through King **** 1/4 drive ratchets I've seen were supplied in refrigeration sets. An interesting early set you have.

The King **** ratchet to make this set a TSK414 would have been aluminium as shown in the catalogue. I've never seen one switched with the switch on the steel plate side in 1/4 drive as illustrated.

 

[Graeme]

@Graeme I'm fairly certain I watched this set on eBay very recently. I thought it was a TKS411 with a home made ratchet, the only push through King **** 1/4 drive ratchets I've seen were supplied in refrigeration sets. An interesting early set you have.

The King **** ratchet to make this set a TSK414 would have been aluminium as shown in the catalogue. I've never seen one switched with the switch on the steel plate side in 1/4 drive as illustrated.

I know the type of ratchet you mean, but the same set in the 1947 catalogue shows another type. I can find no info on this other type though, so it may not actually exist.
I don't know how long they made this set, in this style, but Its also in the 1953 buck hickman fatigue with the usual aluminium ratchet.




As for eBay, it may be, but I suspect it wasn't.
What did the eBay one make?
I bought this yesterday from a local antique center and paid £15 for it.
It would have had to been very cheap for a dealer to have bought it on eBay and then put it in a retail setting for £15!

 

[Pwardy]

@Graeme had a good look in my recently viewed and watch list and can't find it. I'm sure it made more than £15 so it can't be the same set. £15 is a good price,

I too have never seen a ratchet like the one illustrated above. The oldest King **** ratchet I have, I estimate to be late 1940s, is 1/2 drive and made of riveted steel plate with an external ratchet' I think I have also seen this style in 1/4 drive but it was a mess and the push through bar was missing so I didn't bid on it.

 

[Graeme]

@Graeme had a good look in my recently viewed and watch list and can't find it. I'm sure it made more than £15 so it can't be the same set. £15 is a good price,

I too have never seen a ratchet like the one illustrated above. The oldest King **** ratchet I have, I estimate to be late 1940s, is 1/2 drive and made of riveted steel plate with an external ratchet' I think I have also seen this style in 1/4 drive but it was a mess and the push through bar was missing so I didn't bid on it.

Yes, I've seen that style too.
Is there any way to date my set?
The box and socket styles seem to change regularly.
Also, the T bar, I have seen pics of one's with balls in the ends to retain the center piece, and ones pinched at the ends, ad well as ones with rounded ends like mine. They seem to have been constantly changing how they made things.

 

[Pwardy]

@Graeme it is difficult to date them unless you can find a picture of your set in a dated catalougue. I suspect your set is a similar age to this 1/2" BSW set:



In common with your set:

Box paint finish and King **** branding.
Tapered sockets with straight knurling
No branding on T bar
Press fit ball dents

I guess my set to be late 40s as the sockets are short of steel (post war shortages?) and I know aluminium ratchets were around from the 1950s. If I'm wrong I'd like to be put right.