Britool BS Combo wrenches

[RossinSD]

I am new to the forum and thought I would share a couple of photos of my Britool combination wrenches in British Standard Whitworth (BSW). I have had these since about 1968 and they have served me well for working on a number of British Bikes. I assume these are fairly unusual but you guys can tell me if they are. I read that Facom purchased Britool a few years ago so the brand itself no longer exists.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice! Post those on britool thread

 

[Dave455]

Those wrenches are fairly common in the U.K.

The exact style varied slightly over the years, but the quality was decent.

The part number (E.G. RJ600) means that the hex size is .600”. Thus both Whitworth snd SAE wrenches have part numbers starting with “RJ” and only the number changes. Metric wrenches are “RJM”.

I quite like these wrenches to use (especially this exact pattern), and have complete sets from 3/8” to 1 1/4” A/F and a comparable range in Whitworth.

The metric sizes are hard to find as Britool didn’t sell a lot of metric in the U.K. back then. Nearest modern wrench in style and quality (and almost dimensionally identical) are the Hazet 600.

Britool were bought by Facom in ‘92, and they used the name on tools of standard Facom pattern, but with a poorer finish, and possibly inferior steel.

The name lived on when SBD bought Facom, and they marketed their “Expert” tools as “Britool Expert” in the U.K. but given that the British factory was long gone, and the tools were shite, that was a bit of an insult really!

 

[RossinSD]

Dave,

Thanks for such a helpful and detailed reply to my post. I knew only a little bit about these wrenches and you have added a great deal. Thanks.

BTW, my father bought these for me on the occasion of buying a used 1967 Triumph TR6R. He was a mechanic and always bought mid to upper quality tools so I knew these were decent tools at the least. That gift is still being used 56 years later.

 

[Dave455]

Dave,

Thanks for such a helpful and detailed reply to my post. I knew only a little bit about these wrenches and you have added a great deal. Thanks.

BTW, my father bought these for me on the occasion of buying a used 1967 Triumph TR6R. He was a mechanic and always bought mid to upper quality tools so I knew these were decent tools at the least. That gift is still being used 56 years later.

My pleasure!

What a superb gift!

I suspect little used on the TR6 though, as of course it had Unified (SAE) bolts! Always useful for bikes.