Britool (Made in England) thread

[bigredrig]

picked up this big heavy ratchet yesterday for $2

 

[winchman]

Nice you just need to find the square thing to hold the socket to it now.

 

[Dave455]

Having taken the draw liners out it look to have been painted in a Hammered finish? So any one know of a source of colour matched hammers type paint

I've only seen two types of paint finish on those boxes.

The older ones have the classic Britool 'crinkle' finish. This is a 'brick red' basecoat with a black topcoat that 'cracks' to give the overall effect. There is a post somewhere suggesting how this may be done, but I always suspected that this was a bought in paint, and I know Trimate used to make these, but not now.
The interior of the box would have been brick red without the topcoat.

Boxes from the James Neil era were a brighter red all over, with a textured 'crackle' finish.

 

[Farmer J.]

Nice you just need to find the square thing to hold the socket to it now.

If you put '1/2" Square Drive Coupler' in to the ebay UK search there's quite a few,
but the only Britool one I see has a ratchet with it!

 

[winchman]

I've only seen two types of paint finish on those boxes.

The older ones have the classic Britool 'crinkle' finish. This is a 'brick red' basecoat with a black topcoat that 'cracks' to give the overall effect. There is a post somewhere suggesting how this may be done, but I always suspected that this was a bought in paint, and I know Trimate used to make these, but not now.
The interior of the box would have been brick red without the topcoat.

Boxes from the James Neil era were a brighter red all over, with a textured 'crackle' finish.

Thats what we thought until we bought this, the draw liners look factory fitted and are white card with the same colour pained finish on them, sadly the top two are water damaged.

 

[winchman]

Now many thanks to Humber2 we have some catalogue scans and we now know what should be in my sons box
Just have to find all the missing bits now

 

[bigstew81]

I've the same toolbox, that originally belonged to my Granda, (couple of pics attached) its still in the original paint i think, if you want i can stick a colour chart on it.
The scans interesting, i'll need to have a hunt thro it and see how much of the original tools are still in it.

 

[winchman]

Thanks that would be great
We are slowly collecting the contents, cant find a tote tray for the top though or screwdrivers?
Does the alloy badge have anything on it?

 

[bigstew81]

Here's some more pics of the tote tray, it's 520mm long x 200mm wide by 65mm high. The handle is a bit usual in that rather then being fixed or hinged like most tote trays the handle has a hook on the end which slides thro' a loop on the tray, which allows the handle to lower when its in the chest.

The paint finish is a hammered finish and the closest RAL colour is 2013 Perl orange, i'll bring a BS colour chart from work tomorrow and see if theirs a closer match.

Whatever was on the alloy badge has long since worn off, there has been at some point another badge on the left hand side of it as well, there's a recess and the remains of the rivets. If you find a source for a replacement lock or alloy badges i'd be interested in purchasing replacements for it, i did at one point purchase a sticker from the website posted earlier but it didn't look quite right.

I've probably got the screwdrivers somewhere, but the chest was in the farm workshop for the best part of 50 years and naturally tools migrate a bit between toolboxes. I'll have a search and see if i can turn them up!

 

[humber2]

Image 1 Winchman posted for me shows the two alloy oval badges.

One is the Britool decal, the other plain for personalising.

I'd be interested to ascertain when the riveted badges were replaced by the stick-on foil design.

 

[winchman]

Here's some more pics of the tote tray, it's 520mm long x 200mm wide by 65mm high. The handle is a bit usual in that rather then being fixed or hinged like most tote trays the handle has a hook on the end which slides thro' a loop on the tray, which allows the handle to lower when its in the chest.

The paint finish is a hammered finish and the closest RAL colour is 2013 Perl orange, i'll bring a BS colour chart from work tomorrow and see if theirs a closer match.

Whatever was on the alloy badge has long since worn off, there has been at some point another badge on the left hand side of it as well, there's a recess and the remains of the rivets. If you find a source for a replacement lock or alloy badges i'd be interested in purchasing replacements for it, i did at one point purchase a sticker from the website posted earlier but it didn't look quite right.

I've probably got the screwdrivers somewhere, but the chest was in the farm workshop for the best part of 50 years and naturally tools migrate a bit between toolboxes. I'll have a search and see if i can turn them up!

Thanks

 

[davy_boy2004]

thought i would post up some more of my collection.

some 3/4 sockets one of them i believe is from the hallmark range as it has a xbm code rather than the older hbm.

Some odd spanners

Full set of metric spanners from 6mm to 32mm and some new britool expert ring spanners

 

[humber2]

thought i would post up some more of my collection.

some 3/4 sockets one of them i believe is from the hallmark range as it has a xbm code rather than the older hbm.

]

The biggest socket has an earlier style of the makers name.

 

[winchman]

From the left
First two are 90's wish, 3rd one is old Britool, 50's-80's, last one XBM is Britool Hallmark range initial sold by the Van sales Automotive division in 1989 then I believe the Hallmark section was split off and is now sold by Trade mark tools

 

[davy_boy2004]

From the left
First two are 90's wish, 3rd one is old Britool, 50's-80's, last one XBM is Britool Hallmark range initial sold by the Van sales Automotive division in 1989 then I believe the Hallmark section was split off and is now sold by Trade mark tools

That makes sense as some of the spanners have got different style of logos as well.

I also have some hallmark hex bits which im sure came from trademarque tools.

I might try and get a full set of the rjx wrenches as i only have an odd 13mm at the moment

 

[winchman]

I used to know the part numbers off by heart!

 

[davy_boy2004]

I used to know the part numbers off by heart!

Handy infromation to have as stuff becomes older and more rare

 

[winchman]

Thanks again to Humber2 for the screwdriver photos?
I wondered if Steadfast made them?

 

[winchman]

Handy infromation to have as stuff becomes older and more rare

I only knew the original Hallmark range

 

[rjasrq]

Was looking through my tools, found this 3/4-7/8 ring spanner. Model 4217 days British Made, not made in England. I’ll OST better photos later.


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[rjasrq]

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[rjasrq]

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[3baygarage]

Cool. Just picked up a nice 1-1/16 x 1-1/8.View media item 81041
View media item 81042
View media item 81038
View media item 81039
View media item 81040

 

[humber2]

Cool. Just picked up a nice 1-1/16 x 1-1/8.View media item 81041
View media item 81042
View media item 81038
View media item 81039
View media item 81040

Britool round handle ring wrenches were similar to Snap-on X-, XD-, XDH- ranges. Both companies phased out this style in favour of oval handled wrenches.

I think the round handles are a more comfortable grip but they are heavier.

Not a problem one on one but for a portable carry box weight is a problem.


The wrench above looks quite fresh and has me out with the few Catalogs I have.

The 42xx series was replaced buy the 2RByyzz series but not in one swoop.

Cat 107 from 1968 lists Whitworth and American sizes in the 4200 series with Metric in the 2RBM

Cat GC/B/38M/5/75 lists all ranges in the 2RB series starting with elliptical shanks but above 1inch or 25mm it's back to round shanks and the 4200 numbering system stays outside of the metrics.

Cat BR25/0389 has all traces of round shank handles gone.


Back to double end wrenches 42xx series numbered consecutively from 4201 up but the number didn't indicate a size.

With 2RByyzz one got the decimal size for each end, Whitworth was decimalised and the numbers looked like the American range, while 2RBM1012 for example was the identifier for the 10 and 12mm wrench.

 

[humber2]

The lettering style naming BRITOOL in same height capital letters surrounded with Made in England is how tools are depicted in the 1975 Catalog.


3baygarage's example is the smallest round shank listed in 1975, here's the list

4230 1 1/16 x 1 1/8
4233 1 1/8 x 1 1/4
4237 1 1/4 X 1 7/16
4241 1 5/16 X 1 1/2
4245 1 5/8 X 1 13/16 is top of the range.


Interesting the numbering 106 and 112 appears as that's what was to be used to number when the 2RB series was finalised.

 

[winchman]

Son bought this today from an on line ad..
Was told it was all Britool apart from a few sockets, disappointingly the ratchet is Teng but looks like a modern Britool in the ad photos and the breaker bar isn't stamped?
Its looking like his last big purchase for some time as he is skint, its the only near complete 3/4 set we have ever seen for sale so he bought it oh I paid the delivery as per usual!
So looking for a 3/4 ratchet breaker and Universal joint?

 

[3baygarage]

Humber- thanks for the info.
It does look well preserved for an older wrench. Really heavy built with the round beam. Maybe a tad on the short side, but a high quality looking wrench.

Winchman- nice find. That box is packed. You made me look up a new word, skint!

 

[winchman]

Sorry I did wonder when i wrote it but forgot to change it.
It wasn't cheap but on the other hand its 26 Britool sockets 16 assorted makes 1 reducer and a Teng Ratchet so it will get used, when will we see another?

 

[winchman]

He found it just we we thought had the biggest Britool socket set!
Heres his 1/2" set I believe its the biggest 1/2" set they made? one owner from new as is the 3/4" set he has has it since 1968!

 

[LostBoy(IRL)]

Tried to find a digital old catalogue on line, but no luck. Will try later on the pc, currently on the phone.
Would it be safe to say this is nos? It's perfect condition.
1/4 driver, made in England, D50. Have a couple more with the black handle, but not to hand. The adaptor is a D1 UBA.

 

[rjasrq]

Having grown up in England, I amassed bits and pieces of various long gone British made tools. Off the Britool theme, I have a Swimbourne metric and imperial 1/2” drive socket set. Which my father got at a car-boot sale for me. My Xmas/birthday presents were normally used. As a 18th birthday present I was given my first new tools. Britool metric ring spanner’s 6-17mm.


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[rjasrq]

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[winchman]

We sorted through my sons 3/4 drive over the weekend, so we now have some spare Britool, I will place it in the sales section if any one is interested?
We are looking for a scan showing the 3/4 drive sets if any one has one?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Heres his 1/2" set I believe its the biggest 1/2" set they made? one owner from new as is the 3/4" set he has has it since 1968!

That's the same exact set fanders posted a file photo of few months ago, (i.e., not his set). See that post here. Now we know who owned it - whoever sold it to your son, apparently. And also who owns it now!

 

[winchman]

That's the same exact set fanders posted a file photo of few months ago, (i.e., not his set). See that post here. Now we know who owned it - whoever sold it to your son, apparently. And also who owns it now!

My son found it on gumtree and luckily for us the man who owned it 50 years from new agreed to post it. The picture Fanders used is from the original advert.

On a side note, has anyone had any luck finding Britool screwdrivers, I believe they were Amber handled?

 

[winchman]

Thanks again to Humber2 we have the 3/4 drive scans, looks like my son's set is 57A

 

[Dave455]

My son found it on gumtree and luckily for us the man who owned it 50 years from new agreed to post it. The picture Fanders used is from the original advert.

On a side note, has anyone had any luck finding Britool screwdrivers, I believe they were Amber handled?

I've got one of those sets too that my Dad owned. Useful having everything in one box.

With regard to the Britool screwdrivers, yes, they were Amber handled (except Pozidriv, which were red)!

There don't seem to be many around. When they were made, folks were primarily buying their tools from dedicated tool shops, and going from memory, most of those shops had one or more big displays selling drivers by Steadfast, Gordon or British made Stanley. Britool were a bit of an 'also ran' in the screwdriver world!

I can vaguely remember one shop with a large Britool display made of black stained wood with red 'Britool' signs featuring the old oval logo. There were probably 5 sizes of slotted driver and four Pozidriv's in that rack. I think the shop was Bennetts in Derby and that would have been in about '69 or '70. (I was pretty young then too, but was already into tools)!

The only other Britool screwdrivers (proper Britool that is) I've seen were supplied in tool kits!

Don't know if they made them in house or bought them in. Pliers were certainly bought in, probably from Elliott Lucas.

 

[bixxjs]

I’m a BIG Britool fan,I’m originally from Wolverhampton and had a great Britool van sales agent Steve.Ill post some photos tomorrow.

 

[winchman]

Funny you should say about the Elliot Lucas pliers being bought in, I have two pairs of period Elliot Lucas pliers that are also stamped Cannock so think these are probably correct.
I was under the impression screwdrivers only came with sets in the 60's but you lean something everyday

 

[Dave455]

Britool made a huge variety of sets, from 'owner / driver' toolkits with a couple of drivers, pliers and a couple of spanners, through to their huge 'Universal Service Sets' that came complete with a sizeable tool chest! All of them came with Britool screwdrivers.

I think the last time I saw those screwdrivers illustrated would have been in a catalogue from probably the early 80's! They were shown individually, and also included with all the sets!

Both Britool and Elliott Lucas were part of James Neill tools from around the early to mid 70's onwards. Even if Elliott Lucas hadn't supplied their pliers before that, I'm sure they would have done from then on! The Britool marked pliers I've seen are clearly Elliot Lucas, but stuff I havn't seen before surfaces all the time!