Britool (Made in England) thread

[AustinChamp]

hi , they are in catalogue 106 , which i think is from 1964, on page 86
known as ' swivel wrenches' , Britool produced them in Whitworth , AF and metric sizes,
surprisingly in metric they made them from 8mm right through to 24mm -27mm that you have with no skips.
hope this helps

 

[Dave455]

And still shown in the 1974 catalogue, as shown!

I have seen relatively few of these, which is slightly odd as they’re a very useful tool!

The only ‘complete set’ of these that I’ve ever seen was in the toolbox of a fairly ‘old school’ aircraft engineer. The box, and all it’s fitted trays, were hand made to an incredibly high standard. One of the trays had two sets of these, labelled for ‘BS’ and ‘American’ if memory serves!

Wish I’d photographed the box!

 

[f121]

This is an old Britool hex drive set that came with a Triumph Spitfire I bought in around 2005. I think the guy I bought the Spitfire off had used it for the restoration, he also included a stick welder, a vice and a big box of rusty spanners....never buy a car that includes a welder!

I'd love to have a rough age for this set, and know if it's worth anything. I've hung onto it over the years because it's a curiosity, although I don't think I've ever used it in anger.

 

[humber2]

This is an old Britool hex drive set that came with a Triumph Spitfire I bought in around 2005. I think the guy I bought the Spitfire off had used it for the restoration, he also included a stick welder, a vice and a big box of rusty spanners....never buy a car that includes a welder!

I'd love to have a rough age for this set, and know if it's worth anything. I've hung onto it over the years because it's a curiosity, although I don't think I've ever used it in anger.

Hex drive was discontinued c 1968, that stubby style of sockets maybe post WW2 on.

 

[winchman]

This is an old Britool hex drive set that came with a Triumph Spitfire I bought in around 2005. I think the guy I bought the Spitfire off had used it for the restoration, he also included a stick welder, a vice and a big box of rusty spanners....never buy a car that includes a welder!

I'd love to have a rough age for this set, and know if it's worth anything. I've hung onto it over the years because it's a curiosity, although I don't think I've ever used it in anger.

Winchboy has a line kew one I thing it was £5? Only really collectors who want one, we had a spare large AF and Whit hex set only got £30 because it was hex if it was Square would have got 60-80

 

[f121]

Great, thanks both I'll put it back in the cupboard and maybe get around to using it one day.

This is a brilliant thread, I've decided I need one of those Britool four drawer boxes in my life.

 

[winchman]

Good luck finding a box! Winchboy has been collecting for the last 4 years and found one on Ebay and a local tool dealer found the other for him.

 

[madmanc]

Here's just a few of my britool made in england tools

 

[Shaunp174]

Just to let you guys know, there is a 2 draw britool tool box for sale on Facebook market place for £40 near Wolverhampton I think

 

[winchman]

Just to let you guys know, there is a 2 draw britool tool box for sale on Facebook market place for £40 near Wolverhampton I think

Thanks Winchboy told me about it, wish it was near home would have it

 

[Nigelhirst]

I’ve just been gifted a catalogue 101, 3rd edition. No year of publication, but it shows ‘British made’ tools, and has rendered drawings rather than photographs. Charmingly it was printed at ‘The Old Grammar School Works’ in Wolverhampton...
Nigel

 

[fanders]

Nice gift! That catalogue dates from around 1958, see post #189 for some of the catalogue covers I’ve managed to collate.

 

[Nigelhirst]

All I have to do now is to start my collection of ‘Dwarf’ sockets...

 

[calle336]

48 point 1/2" Drive Britool Z5447 - Anyone know what this socket is used for specifically, thanks.

I think this tool is made for SIMMS/MINIMEC fuel injectionpumps (older models) And I need one they are inpossible to find nowdays
Best regards Carl

 

[3baygarage]

Here is a nice Britool England piece to report. I see the occasional vintage sockets around the flea markets, and was hoping to run into some interesting ratchets.

This doesn’t look very old. It seems to follow the pattern above in post 448, and those in post #2, described as early 90’s models. Good to know.

I believe I counted 72 clicks. This is a nice little ratchet.


1/4 drive Model D20.

 

[winchman]

Modern but very nice

 

[Farmer J.]

Time to wake up the Britool thread.. Here's my collection so far of the hexagon drive socket set stuff. Whitworth, AF, Metric and also AF square. All this is marked 'British Made' not stamped 'Made in England' so I hope it's allowed in this thread! although I do have some pieces of that as well. This was the contents of 3 boxes all incomplete sets so I'm guessing what may have been in them originally. Does anyone have a catalogue or a listing of the range of hex drive?

 

[Farmer J.]

Thanks to Fenders, found the catalogue pages back on posts 76-80 on page 4. Odd how the metric range of sockets didn't include the 10mm or 13mm very commonly used sizes. It starts at 11mm and includes all the sizes except 13mm up to 23mm. Can't be redundancy with close dimensions on AF as it includes 19mm and 16mm.

 

[Larry Cohen]

The posting of pictures of the red handled pliers is interesting. The top right large needle nosed pliers say BRITOOL across the top but can't make out the letters/numbers across the bottom because they're blurred. Can anyone help me out on this.

 

[Larry Cohen]

The yellow handled screwdrivers talked about is pretty accurate especially regarding Britool screwdrivers yellow handled made mostly for tool rolls for cars. Google DB6 stolen toolkit which goes to website Piston Head which shows some of the contents of the toolkit. The two yellow handled screwdrivers the small and larger are apparently made by Britool as Britool is engraved on the handles of both.

 

[Farmer J.]

Got this little set of hex drive allen key wrench bits arrived today. At first I thought there was one missing as the sizes go in a logical progression then jump from 3/8" to 1/2". Of course, a 7/16" is not necessary as that's close to the drive size of the handles that they go on, .448".
They're 'Made in Britian' and black oxide finish so could be 1940's? The chap I got them from is selling a batch of early 1940's tools.

 

[3baygarage]

Couldn’t pass up this old speeder lug wrench the other day.

Part number Z4279

3/4” A/F, with a 1/2” flat blade screwdriver on the other end. Both handles spin.

 

[madmanc]

Hex drive set I paid £3 for at a flea market .
It's from the 50's and seems to be in good order

 

[humber2]

Hex drive set I paid £3 for at a flea market .
It's from the 50's and seems to be in good order

The 1968 Catalog announced the discontinuance of hex drive socketry but some components were still available.

 

[humber2]

And we suspect tools marked British Made were a decade earlier.

 

[Chrisuk]

Hello all, I have a vintage 3/4 drive Britool set, would anyone have any idea of age as it has a H73 ratchet and lift out tray, it is Whitworth and A/F. I will get some pictures up when I discover how to do that
Cheers Chris

 

[mariospeedwagon]

The other day I couldn't find my 1/2" drive 24mm socket for my Volvo ATF drain plug. This was the cheapest one I could find on ebay at the time. Even included a few others-- 13mm, 14mm and 17mm. All for less than $10 shipped. Pressed 'Buy it Now' and then 5 minutes later i found my 24mm socket. Still quite.....chuffed. Yeah.

MADE IN ENGLAND

 

[Farmer J.]

Some recent additions to my .448 hex drive collection.. Adaptors to and from 3/8" and 1/2" square drive. I was looking for these for ages then they all came along together within the last week!

 

[3baygarage]

Nice hex drive collection. Interesting how there are adapters to square drive.

Fine deals posted above as well.

 

[zzjabzz]

Newbie here, I've got a 145 set, nearly complete. I'll upload some pictures and info when I get to 5 posts. Thanks.

 

[zzjabzz]

I'm back. Thought you may be interested in my 145 set. It originally belonged to my mum's uncle, who was a fitter for McAlpines in the 50s/60s/70s and has now been given to me via my dad. I need a few bits to complete it. Three of the AF sockets aren't original, nor are the Sliding T Bar (E70) or Swivel Bar (E79). The Ratchet Unit (E66), Stud Extractor (E92) and 3/8" Bar Handle for the plug sockets (A56) are missing. I'm hoping to complete the set with the correct period parts...


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[Dave455]

I'm back. Thought you may be interested in my 145 set. It originally belonged to my mum's uncle, who was a fitter for McAlpines in the 50s/60s/70s and has now been given to me via my dad. I need a few bits to complete it. Three of the AF sockets aren't original, nor are the Sliding T Bar (E70) or Swivel Bar (E79). The Ratchet Unit (E66), Stud Extractor (E92) and 3/8" Bar Handle for the plug sockets (A56) are missing. I'm hoping to complete the set with the correct period parts

Nice set. Thanks for sharing.

I find those bi square sockets unbelieveably useful when doing machine assembly or setting.

The box has obviously had a dodgy repaint at some point.

The paint on the originals from the 1960’s, as you probably know, was a fairly unique cracked effect. The base was a bright ‘brick’ red, which was overpainted (on the outside) in black, which contracted as it dried to give the red ‘cracks’.

I was told the manufacturer of the original paint was Trimite, but when I enquired, they didn’t know.

I have a very similar set that belonged to my Dad. It is all original, but the exterior of my box is tatty too. Interestingly, they didn’t originally supply a standard ‘Sliding T’. The set came with the ‘cranked handle’ version shown, and also a T adaptor, for use with the supplied tommy bar, which of course also fitted the extensions (and the flex handle)!

 

[humber2]

I'm back. Thought you may be interested in my 145 set. It originally belonged to my mum's uncle, who was a fitter for McAlpines in the 50s/60s/70s and has now been given to me via my dad. I need a few bits to complete it. Three of the AF sockets aren't original, nor are the Sliding T Bar (E70) or Swivel Bar (E79). The Ratchet Unit (E66), Stud Extractor (E92) and 3/8" Bar Handle for the plug sockets (A56) are missing. I'm hoping to complete the set with the correct period parts...


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That's a great set.

Are the majority of pieces marked "British Made" or "Made in England" ?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've said this before on this thread about someone else's set, but I admire the socket tray arrangements in these boxes immensely. Tidy and sensible and it looks terrific.

 

[humber2]

I've said this before on this thread about someone else's set, but I admire the socket tray arrangements in these boxes immensely. Tidy and sensible and it looks terrific.

The arrangement is fine until you pick up the case without the hasp securely home.

 

[zzjabzz]

That's a great set.

Are the majority of pieces marked "British Made" or "Made in England" ?

Yes, both markings, British and English.

 

[humber2]

Yes, both markings, British and English.

That reads right for a set from mid 1950's onwards.

 

[Farmer J.]

I've said this before on this thread about someone else's set, but I admire the socket tray arrangements in these boxes immensely. Tidy and sensible and it looks terrific.

Nice sets Dave and zzjabzz.

Lugz, here's pics of the box that most of my hex drive came in, quite a bit was missing and I've never found out what the complete set would have contained so just added to it.

The box paint was originally dark red hammer finish and I assume a sticker on the lid as no sign of rivet holes for a badge.
Most of the tools are 'British BRITOOL made' including all the metric sockets and the square drives.
The AF and Whitworth/BS sockets are all stamped 'Made in BRITOOL England'
All of these have the font with the word BRITOOL tapering off to either end and tall in the middle.
I guess the age is around 1960. Has anyone got a catalogue showing this set? I would like to see a scan of the set and list of contents.

 

[Farmer J.]

Just added a few more parts to the hex drive collection..

-Stud extractor no.2092, never seen one of these before.
-A better example of the 2096 short extension.
-Oil filter strap wrench made from half of a 2018 valve grinder.
-A 15" knuckle bar, probably made using an end from a 2091 universal joint. It doesn't have any name on it. Came from Derby so likely made by someone working at Rolls Royce or any other high quality engineering shop.

The board is getting quite full now, and heavy. It's well fixed to the wall!

 

[Norboy]

I’m struggling to read pages 4,5,6 & 7 of the 1949 Britool catalogue on Page 4 of this thread. I’m looking to identify what sizes relate to the various part numbers. I have some of the 9/32 drive midget sockets so this would be particularly useful to know.

Grateful for any assistance. My first posting here. Norton motorcycles are my specific interest.

Alan