Britool (Made in England) thread

[winchman]

Thanks also.

I'm wondering why the A56 bar is included in a 1/2" sq.dr. set?

B.

The only thing I can think of is perhaps it fits in the hole on the extensions so you can use it as a tommy bar for undoing things?

 

[D350RDV]

Catalogue 107 (1968) lists Set No. 145B. As far as I can see the only difference between the two is the paint finish on the box - now "red hammer finish" as opposed to crackle finish.

 

[winchman]

Catalogue 107 (1968) lists Set No. 145B. As far as I can see the only difference between the two is the paint finish on the box - now "red hammer finish" as opposed to crackle finish.

Thanks I wonder when the red Crackle started and finished?

 

[humber2]

Thanks also.

I'm wondering why the A56 bar is included in a 1/2" sq.dr. set?

B.

A56 bar fits the spark plug and all 1/2" drive tube sockets.

E56 bar fits the drive tools.

 

[humber2]

I've got another question which needs referring to pre 1960's Catalogs please.

What years was the plastic rectangular socket dimension card fitted to slots on the inside of the lid. TIA.

 

[D350RDV]

I've got another question which needs referring to pre 1960's Catalogs please.

What years was the plastic rectangular socket dimension card fitted to slots on the inside of the lid. TIA.

The plastic insert disappeared with the crackle finish boxes, but predates them as I have a war finish midget (9/32" drive) set with one in.

In other words early 40's through to no later then 1968 as the hammered finish boxes were around by then if not a bit earlier.

Britool quite liked plastic long before it was commonplace - I have a 6" rule made out of (as best as I can tell) the same stuff.

 

[B.Boru]

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[winchman]

That's a large set.

Is it your set? From here, the T handle looks like this JH Williams.

http://alloy-artifacts.org/Photos/tools/williams_12dr_s20c_breaker_tee_f_cropped_inset2.jpg

The set arrived today I bought it for my Son for Christmas from a very helpful chap who has had it for over 50 years in the boot of his car!
The bar you mention is identical but stamped Britool E70
My so collects Britool so he will give it a clean up over the next few days.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's a file photo of a 145 set (not sure which version) for reference:
View media item 77961

I'm not a Britool collector or fancier, but I have to admit, that is an eye-poppingly superb master mechanic's socket set! Even the layout of the box is well-designed and distinctive. Not a smidge (measured in inches or millimeters, in any size system...) of wasted space. What are the two sets of sockets just above the handles and attachments starting in the middle with the smallest sizes and radiating outward to each side, looks like 8-point to the left, and 12-point to the right?

 

[winchman]

I'm not a Britool collector or fancier, but I have to admit, that is an eye-poppingly superb master mechanic's socket set! Even the layout of the box is well-designed and distinctive. Not a smidge (measured in inches or millimeters, in any size system...) of wasted space. What are the two sets of sockets just above the handles and attachments starting in the middle with the smallest sizes and radiating outward to each side, looks like 8-point to the left, and 12-point to the right?

Whitworth to the right BiSquare to the left for square nuts.
Sons over the moon with it, he likes vintage stuff and has a small collection of Britool, we have a Lad and Dad project a 1930 Trailer we are restoring and it needs a good few square nuts fitting and we now have the correct socket!
Oh its very heavy too!

 

[B.Boru]

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[winchman]

Has any one got a photo of the lock that Britool fitted to the socket boxes?
It would be nice to finish the set with the correct padlock?

 

[D350RDV]

I've got one - if I can find the safe place I've put it I'll take some pics.

 

[winchman]

I've got one - if I can find the safe place I've put it I'll take some pics.

Thanks
I am sure it was just a cheap common lock so lets hope we can find one.

On another note is it just us or do other people rarely see any old Britool 3/8 stuff?
Son has a part set but been looking at the boot sales and Auto jumbles and we only ever see 1/2 or the odd bit of 1/4 drive?

 

[B.Boru]

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[Private Lugnutz]

For many Mechanics in Ireland, the U.K. and elsewhere back in the 1950's? - approx. 1980's that was a top-of-the-range purchase of professional tools similar to Mechanics in the U.S. buying Snap-On...[ ]...The smaller Britool socket sets were supplied in smaller metal boxes (always tightly arranged - never seemed to leave any free space).

Thanks for this summary, B.

- if I can find the safe place I've put it

Haha. So ironic, and so common!

 

[D350RDV]

Over here, 3/8th sq. drive seemed to fall out of favour among young Mechanics back in the 1980's? At around the same time, many also stopped buying separate DOE and DBE (Open End and Ring spanners) wrenches in favour of Combination wrenches.

I remember recommended toolkit lists for mechanics changed around this time to reduce weight/cost for apprentice mechanics. Metric was becoming more widespread and mechanics now had to carry imperial and metric sizes. The assumption was they could buy 3/8 drive, and open end and ring spanners later on if they wished. Having gotten used to 1/4, 1/2 drive and combination spanners, many never bothered. That's what I suspect causes less 3/8 drive to be available.



(Ireland pretty much follows what happens in the U.K. as that's where we get most of our supplies/information. Our Mechanic's Training was very similar to the British (RTITB) system).

B.

That's an interesting observation - and goes well with one of my engineers who started out in that that era and whilst he has an extensive collection of good quality 3/8" drive stuff, always seems to use 1/4" up to a point and then goes straight for 1/2" drive.

The A in Britool 3/8" drive part numbers stood for aero - so perhaps Britool knew their customers habits well?!

 

[D350RDV]

Thanks
I am sure it was just a cheap common lock so lets hope we can find one.

On another note is it just us or do other people rarely see any old Britool 3/8 stuff?
Son has a part set but been looking at the boot sales and Auto jumbles and we only ever see 1/2 or the odd bit of 1/4 drive?

Yes, the lock's not anything special.

3/8" stuff turns up on Ebay fairly often, but along with the rest of the older Britool range it is starting to fetch strong money.

They didn't do a full WW/AF/MM socket set in 3/8", but Ebay Item 282769153427 is the comprehensive AF/MM version.

 

[winchman]

That looks to be a nice set but as you say very strong money

 

[D350RDV]

I've seen them fetch over £200 in the past, so that one's got a way go to yet.

 

[3baygarage]

The set arrived today I bought it for my Son for Christmas from a very helpful chap who has had it for over 50 years in the boot of his car!
The bar you mention is identical but stamped Britool E70
My so collects Britool so he will give it a clean up over the next few days.

Interesting.

Good for him, collecting. If you guys get a chance, I'd love to see it up close.

 

[humber2]

The 145 sets were the most comprehensive 1/2" socket sets sold by Britool, with all the accessory handles/extensions etc and the full range of sockets:

1/8"-3/4" Whitworth
7/16"- 1 1/4" AF
10-32mm
3/8" - 1" AF Bisquare

Catalogue 109 (1971) lists only Set 145C, so perhaps 145As were earlier versions? Anyway, a superb bit of old Britool. Here's a file photo of a 145 set (not sure which version) for reference:

View media item 77961
Hefty at 44lb per set!

It sure is an impressive set which contains all the 1/2 drive short sockets.

Two deep sockets were included to handle 14mm and 18mm sparkplugs.

Other 1/2 drive sockets available loose or in their own sets were all the deeps, impacts, the crowfoots and a few oddities like the cranked extensions to do cylinder head bolts without removing the rocker shaft on ohv engines.

Edit, Other 1/2 drive sockets are the Universal Joint sockets, 4 Philips Bit drivers and the 13 E33 series Hexagon Bit Adaptors in metric and inch sizing.

But if you had all those too a lorry would be needed to transport the assemblage.

Down under we have sets with SAE and Whitworth bihexagon shorts, not all had the spark plug deeps if they were considered Engineers sets and not Mechanics sets.

Any idea on pricing back in the day?

 

[D350RDV]

The October 1968 price list quotes the 145B set as being £42 14s 4d which would be about £710 today.

 

[winchman]

The October 1968 price list quotes the 145B set as being £42 14s 4d which would be about £710 today.

Wow thats expensive.
The Chap we bought it from thinks it was 1962 when he got it, its been in the boot of his car since then!

 

[winchman]

Interesting.

Good for him, collecting. If you guys get a chance, I'd love to see it up close.

Let me know what pictures and I can take some

 

[humber2]

The October 1968 price list quotes the 145B set as being £42 14s 4d which would be about £710 today.

How close would these prices be to a tradesman's pay for a week?

 

[D350RDV]

How close would these prices be to a tradesman's pay for a week?

The closest figure I can find for average weekly wage is 1966 when it was £17.

The most expensive socket set in 1968 was the 27 piece 1" square drive AF set at £127.15s.9d (£2120)

The AF & WW crowfoot set was £11.7s.3d. It's not surprising they are rare when you compare that to what you got in set 145 for £42 - you'd need a good reason to buy them.

The 446C universal service set (WW/AF 1/4" 1/2" and 3/4" drive along with spanners and other handtools in a big tool chest) was the dearest item Britool sold at that point which was £2721 in today's money.

 

[humber2]

Sobering prices aren't they?

I'm not surprised so many English toolboxes exist filled with budget carbon steel spanners which were also produced in the USA but not forced on the unsuspecting there.

 

[B.Boru]

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[humber2]

The October 1968 price list quotes the 145B set as being £42 14s 4d which would be about £710 today.

That list would work with Catalogue 107 which I'm using.


Perhaps my next challenge is finding a 3/8 drive Crowfoot set, either 2350 or 2352. I have a few sockets but not either A56 Bar Handle nor A58 Extension to work these.

I have 1/2 drive set 106B and use the lower level of the double decker case for Britool's range of Whitworth wrenches.

 

[D350RDV]

But they did do a WW/AF/BA socket set in 3/8". in the 1960's?

I've got most of this set in the original hammer red metal box.

It included a flexible drive that looks like it was made from a monster speedo inner cable.

B.

They did indeed (Set 80A) but flexible drive was an extra - it's not included in the content list for the set, which would have set you back £14.1s.3d back in the day.

 

[D350RDV]

That list would work with Catalogue 107 which I'm using.


Perhaps my next challenge is finding a 3/8 drive Crowfoot set, either 2350 or 2352. I have a few sockets but not either A56 Bar Handle nor A58 Extension to work these.

I have 1/2 drive set 106B and use the lower level of the double decker case for Britool's range of Whitworth wrenches.

Yes - that's the catalogue it is for, and I was lucky that it was still with my copy.

I have a complete set of WW crowfooots, but like you I don't have the proper A58 extension with the adjustable offset drive so I can use them with a torque wrench. I live in hope of an affordable set 2351 (the AF set) turning up!

I like the case the 106B set and its cousins came in - it looks a useful one to keep in a vehicle with a few hand tools in the bottom layer. I've not yet found one at the right price when I've cash to spare though.

 

[Nigelhirst]

I've been following this thread with interest, and it has inspired me to renovate my socket box (painted blue by the previous owner). It's a 1/2 drive WW/AF set.
Has anybody commissioned any replica oval stickers for the lids? They always seem to be the things which disappear first!

 

[B.Boru]

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[Nigelhirst]

Well, under the horrible blue appears to be a red hammer finish. But I always liked the crackle so I might have a go at that. Frost supply some, but it doesn't look quite the same as the Britool original. I've found someone making the stickers since my last post but I don't know how good they are....
https://www.isaydingdong.co.uk/ours...Tools-Black-Foil-Oval-Stickers-70mm-Pair.html
Nigel

 

[tin medic]

This came in a group of random wrenches I picked up recently.

 

[jask]

here is an A/F set with a couple of S/K replacements and an S/K ratchet, a clean up and some paint might be in order over the holidays.

 

[natejohn]

I managed to pick these out of a box of wrenches I bought from a retired fellow a few weeks back. Can't say as I'll be able to make use of Whitworth though..

 

[D350RDV]

Has any one got a photo of the lock that Britool fitted to the socket boxes?
It would be nice to finish the set with the correct padlock?

This is a padlock that came with one of my 1960s sets which I believe to be the original.

To give an idea of scale, the keys are about the same size as a suitcase lock, but the padlock is a bit bulkier than today's luggage locks.

 

[D350RDV]

Well, under the horrible blue appears to be a red hammer finish. But I always liked the crackle so I might have a go at that. Frost supply some, but it doesn't look quite the same as the Britool original. I've found someone making the stickers since my last post but I don't know how good they are....
https://www.isaydingdong.co.uk/ours...Tools-Black-Foil-Oval-Stickers-70mm-Pair.html
Nigel

Good find, and usefully available in a range of sizes as well. They're not quite right - the Britool lettering is a bit bold, and the bits round the outside are a bit skinny. There should also be a black border round the outside as below:

The crackle finish boxes had riveted on aluminium badges - the stickers were an economy measure introduced with the red hammer finishboxes. I have wondered about the legality (in respect of rights to the name) of having a some made by one of the chassis plate replica manufacturers, but I only need a couple so it didn't seem worthwhile.