Britool (Made in England) thread

[Dave455]

Did you get the pliers New ?when did the name change to Eclipse happen ? I have not seen a pair of 8 inch side cutters with the black grips before. I do have a number of NOS Elliott Lucas items . And I fully agree a good apprentice conserves and looks after his tools

Elliott Lucas never changed their name to Eclipse.

Both Eclipse and Elliott Lucas were part of James Neil Tools, along with Moore and Wright, Britool, and Stubs. Initially, pliers were not an Eclipse line, but they started selling what were obviously Elliott Lucas patterns with Eclipse branding.

As Shergar says above, Eclipse tools were always a bit more available, hence the addition of as many tools as they could.

 

[oldpliers1]

Elliot lucas were not something you’d spot in a run of the mill hardwear/DIY chain, but sister brand Eclipse above seemed to be everywhere, and still is fairly prominent, if not to the sane quality of old - the other Neill brands tended to be specialist retailers or in the tool boxes of nationalised industry employees. Hope you got them for a fair price!

$11 a pair , but the jewel in the haul is the 7 inch black insulated long nose eclipse branded rather than Lucas Elliott, I do have a mint packeted pair of the 6 and 8 inch black combination pliers and a used pair that’s good , all the English electricians over here loved them , they were used in the technical college extensively. Where the American pliers were the favourite onsite ,and latter the Japanese marvel were liked because they were cheap.

 

[oldpliers1]

Elliott Lucas never changed their name to Eclipse.

Both Eclipse and Elliott Lucas were part of James Neil Tools, along with Moore and Wright, Britool, and Stubs. Initially, pliers were not an Eclipse line, but they started selling what were obviously Elliott Lucas patterns with Eclipse branding.

As Shergar says above, Eclipse tools were always a bit more available, hence the addition of as many tools as they could.

We’re these ever sold under Lucas Elliott as they use the same insulated grips and check the rear panel with the number details . I personally have seen the 8 inch black handle combination pliers marked eclipse made in UK ,not Lucas Elliott,I gather it was very late in UK Production ,or a export item . Here are the eclipse long nose

 

[Dave455]

We’re these ever sold under Lucas Elliott as they use the same insulated grips and check the rear panel with the number details . I personally have seen the 8 inch black handle combination pliers marked eclipse made in UK ,not Lucas Elliott,I gather it was very late in UK Production ,or a export item . Here are the eclipse long nose

Those exact pliers, no, at least not so far as I’ve seen.

The pliers are basically Eclipse versions of Elliott Lucas 3000 series, much like the cutters you show above. The cutters have a simpler finish, and plain grey vinyl grips, but are otherwise similar to the Elliott Lucas tools. These Eclipse versions were relatively common, although I was never convinced they were as good as the Elliott Lucas versions. (Same pattern, same tooling, but unconvinced they were the same steel, and certainly not the same quality of finish).

I have never seen the Elliott Lucas 3000 series, or their Eclipse equivalents, sold with insulated grips. Your suggestion that it’s an export item (or at least made to contract) seems reasonable. I recognise the grips from other Elliott Lucas pliers.

Here are a new pair (from my fairly extensive stash) of Elliott Lucas 3000 series snipe nose pliers. The 3000 range was much more comprehensive than the few models that were Eclipse branded, but I have never seen insulated versions.

 

[oldpliers1]

Those exact pliers, no, at least not so far as I’ve seen.

The pliers are basically Eclipse versions of Elliott Lucas 3000 series, much like the cutters you show above. The cutters have a simpler finish, and plain grey vinyl grips, but are otherwise similar to the Elliott Lucas tools. These Eclipse versions were relatively common, although I was never convinced they were as good as the Elliott Lucas versions. (Same pattern, same tooling, but unconvinced they were the same steel, and certainly not the same quality of finish).

I have never seen the Elliott Lucas 3000 series, or their Eclipse equivalents, sold with insulated grips. Your suggestion that it’s an export item (or at least made to contract) seems reasonable. I recognise the grips from other Elliott Lucas pliers.

Here are a new pair (from my fairly extensive stash) of Elliott Lucas 3000 series snipe nose pliers. The 3000 range was much more comprehensive than the few models that were Eclipse branded, but I have never seen insulated versions.

I thought they were different that’s why I bought them , the 8 inch combination marked eclipse , had a $200 dollar price tag on eBay so I did not entertain the thought . But lately some really high plier prices I have seen . 412$ for mint carded Sidchrome 200mm combination pliers , $470 aud for 7 inch boxed crescents 3800-7T pre 1968 .Mental ! I will go through the Elliott/Eclipse and put a few photos up cheers. I took this photo of the internet Eclipse #248-666 7 inch pliers ,another example

 

[oldpliers1]

The Elliott Lucas / eclipse story takes a new story
Have a look at these in particular where they are made
South Africa! For James Neal Australia

 

[fanders]

I haven't been active on this forum for a bit, but am still enjoying using my Britool tools most weekends. Haven't bought any new items recently, I am happy with my general toolset. I do keep an eye out for old Britool catalogues, I own five of them, and screengrab the photos of catalogues that come up for sale on eBay from time to time. Here is an updated version of my catalogue list, showing those for which I have images for. Keep the Britool goodness coming, I enjoy reading this thread:

 

[Jonathan britool]

Ive a few of these britool ferguson system badges left. Price is £40 including uk post

 

[oldpliers1]

A nice box find from the outback

 

[oldpliers1]

I have posted these before but a a interesting detail on the grips ( Elliott Lucas ) I Gather they moved the plant and any relevant stock or parts were sent as well , from the UK.

 

[Bob H]

On here I have spoken about Ferguson tractor service sets, and that the connection ended before the Massey Ferguson days.
Ooops - wrong, and here is the proof.
Every day is a school day !

 

[Ton ton]

That's really cool info about Massey -ferguson. It's just John Deere stuff this side of the pond. Even John Deere pitchforks and beer. I love Massey Ferguson stuff.

 

[Bob H]

That's really cool info about Massey -ferguson. It's just John Deere stuff this side of the pond. Even John Deere pitchforks and beer. I love Massey Ferguson stuff.

I find it interesting that the “wrench for the cylinder head nut for TE and TEA 20” is included, as those are the 2 models of the Grey Fergie, the forerunner of the Massey Ferguson 35 etc.

 

[Bob H]

I find it interesting that the “wrench for the cylinder head nut for TE and TEA 20” is included, as those are the 2 models of the Grey Fergie, the forerunner of the Massey Ferguson 35 etc.

We have some John Deere over here too. My dad drove one for a few years. He loved it.

 

[Bob H]

A bit of History…..

British Tool and Engineering Co. Ltd. (Britool Limited) first started production in 1908 and was incorporated in Wolverhampton in 1915 and, by 1920, had a large factory in Owen Road. Prior to 1937, it was a subsidiary of Jenks Bros. but, in 1937, Jenks Bros and British Tool Co Ltd were taken over by John Shaw and Sons (Wolverhampton) Ltd. and moved to a factory in Bushbury.

After pioneering the first full range of bi-hexagon ring and socket wrenches to be produced and marketed in England, the company rapidly gained a reputation for the manufacture of high quality engineers’ hand tools. Although they specialised in wrenches, they made all types of small hand tools.

Demand for Britool’s products grew between the 2 World Wars; indeed, Britool was the principal supplier of tools to the British armed forces, during the Second World War, supplying over 200 million wrenches, sockets and accessories. Following the war, Britool became the number one tightening tool brand in the UK and it has remained the number one choice of professional engineers ever since.

In 1967, Britool was referred to as the “manufacturing subsidiary of John Shaw and Sons (Wolverhampton) Ltd.” In 1969, it was taken over by James Neill and became a member of the James Neill Group of Companies. James Neill was a tool making conglomerate, based in Sheffield, which included not only Britool but Eclipse, M & W, P S Stubbs and Elliott Lucas. Neill’s claimed to be one of the major tool manufacturing organisations in the world.

 

[Bob H]

I run the “Britool made in England” group on FaceAche. I have mentioned it on here before, and I recommend our members join this thread, recognising the wealth of knowledge from the members here. Time for a brief update - we are fast approaching 900 members, and it’s an active group with multiple on point posts daily. There is an open invitation to members here to join us, though I recognise that FaceAche is not everyone’s cup of tea.

 

[Dave455]

I run the “Britool made in England” group on FaceAche. I have mentioned it on here before, and I recommend our members join this thread, recognising the wealth of knowledge from the members here. Time for a brief update - we are fast approaching 900 members, and it’s an active group with multiple on point posts daily. There is an open invitation to members here to join us, though I recognise that FaceAche is not everyone’s cup of tea.

It’s a great group, and I commend it to all the U.K. Britool enthusiasts!

My only observation is that most of us appear on Garage Journal under a name that isn’t easily traceable, and on that basis are happy to share pictures of quite valuable tool collections.

That’s not generally the case on FaceAche, where full names and locations are generally displayed. Yes, you can change the visibility settings, but I would probably prefer not to declare my love of valuable tools, and their probable storage location, in a form that might be accessible to a burglar, rogue or vagabond!

 

[four.cycle]

FaceAche?

 

[Farmer J.]

FaceAche?

It's a 'British Humour' thing...

 

[four.cycle]

You lost me there, sorry.
If it's "FaceBOOK", you might want to consider there's a whole world of people out there who are NOT on Facebook.

 

[oldpliers1]

A box of 5 eclipse hacksaws made in New Zealand , South African eclipse products have been shown before. We’re their other eclipse manufacturing plants ( not China ) making quality product? ( found in outback Australia, along with a quantity of other eclipse products )

 

[oldpliers1]

Another very nice item made in the UK the Marples drill,
it’s a very useful item.

 

[Ton ton]

Another very nice item made in the UK the Marples drill,
it’s a very useful item. Nice looking cordless drill!

 

[Bob H]

FaceAche?

Facebook

 

[Bob H]

It’s a great group, and I commend it to all the U.K. Britool enthusiasts!

My only observation is that most of us appear on Garage Journal under a name that isn’t easily traceable, and on that basis are happy to share pictures of quite valuable tool collections.

That’s not generally the case on FaceAche, where full names and locations are generally displayed. Yes, you can change the visibility settings, but I would probably prefer not to declare my love of valuable tools, and their probable storage location, in a form that might be accessible to a burglar, rogue or vagabond!

Bit of an update, we are now over 1,300 members On the FaceAche (Facebook) group. Outstanding.

 

[Graeme]

Britool set I picked up today

 

[Farmer J.]

There's another of those large, complete, and hardly used Britool sets for sale on ebay, from the guy in Wolverhampton. £3,000 for a 1970's metric set.

Britool Metric Complete Universal Service Set 1970s Collectors Item Rare Vintage | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Britool Metric Complete Universal Service Set 1970s Collectors Item Rare Vintage at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Ricky Joe]

There's another of those large, complete, and hardly used Britool sets for sale on ebay, from the guy in Wolverhampton. £3,000 for a 1970's metric set.

Britool Metric Complete Universal Service Set 1970s Collectors Item Rare Vintage | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Britool Metric Complete Universal Service Set 1970s Collectors Item Rare Vintage at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Looks expensive for what it is.

 

[Farmer J.]

Looks expensive for what it is.

Yea, that's my opinion too. I'm not buying it.
But, I suppose if someone is a Britool enthusiast, and they price up the cost of getting 3/4", 1/2" and 1/4" drive sets, all those wrenches including duplicate sizes in DOE and DBE , the screwdrivers and other tools, and a massive Langenau metal box.. The budget would easily be well over £3,000 for 'Made in England' even if it is 1970's . Heck, even just a good quality tool chest of that size costs a lot these days!

 

[f121]

Very tidy set! Would need to be a keen collector at that price

 

[DAustin]

$3737 USD. + shipping.
My wife is shaking her head no. Wait that was a Hell No head shake. Too bad that would be a cool thing to have.

 

[Dave455]

There's another of those large, complete, and hardly used Britool sets for sale on ebay, from the guy in Wolverhampton. £3,000 for a 1970's metric set.

Britool Metric Complete Universal Service Set 1970s Collectors Item Rare Vintage | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Britool Metric Complete Universal Service Set 1970s Collectors Item Rare Vintage at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

I saw that, and it was a big “No” from Dave.

The 1/2” drive was mid 70’s, and the 3/4” drive probably was too, but many of the tools (a lot of the spanners) looked like 1990’s vintage, and some looked even newer. Might have been complete (though I doubt it) but not with original / period tools.

Might have been worth 3k to someone, but not me!

Worth the value of the original parts, and what was probably one of the last of the Langenau boxes, less a deduction for the scrap you need to dump!

 

[esben57]

I recently acquired this Tipco ratchet. Wasn't in working order, put a new spring ( all 3 coils of it ) under the steel ball shown.
Screw on the switch over thingy seems to tension spring and limit ball travel. Have asked a couple of Tipco collectors but they have not seen this one anywhere. I know the twin lever is nothing out of the ordinary but the switch over seems awkward, don't like it much.

 

[ecotec]

I was on a treasure hunt at a local industrial tool store, and I found a Britool socket in the bins.

I don’t think that I had ever seen this brand before last week. I only knew the company existed because of GJ.

 

[esben57]

My Britool 3/8" set A/F and Metric. Had this almost 40 years and replaced some bits with new old stock pieces when I could find them, including ratchet. Dumped the original when I could no longer source a repair kit. Got this one and then a repair kit surfaced.
Stashed away now as part of my funeral plan. I use my 3/8" drive Bitsa set when needed.

 

[humber2]

^^^ I’ve not seen cases with that groove around the lid. What date would it be from?

 

[esben57]

^^^ I’ve not seen cases with that groove around the lid. What date would it be from?

Mid 70's I'm sure, the blue grip started around then. Bought it mid 80's though. A nuts/ bolts salesman came to our workshop with it, just been made redundant and that was all the pay off he got.

 

[humber2]

I’ll go with late 70’s as the case layout shown in the 1975 Catalog is the traditional style of case.

 

[esben57]

The 1/4" set I bought at a car boot sale, almost fell over when I asked how much. 5 English pounds.
Second picture is a refrigeration socket set. No use to me, it moved itself on within minutes of advertising online.


Don't know what this once contained. 12inches by 3inches approx. Socket set of some kind maybe hex drive.

 

[humber2]

^^^Looks like .448 Hex or 3/8 sq drive a/f and WW combo are suitable options.