Britool (Made in England) thread

[Rangie]

Hi Folks, long term lurker, first time poster here!
I've dipped in and out of this forum (and this thread) for years but thought I should finally sign-up!

Britool collector/user here, have various sets (some complete, others incomplete) from 1/4" up to 1". No 9/32" sets however! First set was bought at a farm auction in the early 90s, a 448 hex set, most of my peers laughed when I bought it for £1, but at least it stopped them borrowing my sockets!
I've spent some of the recent lockdown going through my sets, cleaning items, de-rusting (where necessary), rust-protecting the boxes, sorting out whats missing/what isn't Britool etc, etc. I'm now in a far happier place! Ha ha.

I'll get round to posting some photos of my various sets at some point soon, built up over the last 25 years or so. They are clean so now's the time to photograph them!!

I have catalogue 109 as a useful reference, also 1930 and 1960-ish Buck & Hickman catalogues, but my oldest set (a 448 from around WW2) isn't in any catalogues I have seen. I'll post some photos to see if anyone can identify it. I'll post photos from the B&H Catalogues.

I'm currently sorting out the 448 hexagon sets, they are the last sets to tidy up/identify missing parts etc. I find myself buying random assortments of hex items to get the missing items I need....

The £3k set on ebay recently was an eye-opener! I'd almost be scared to use it!

Cheers,
Alec.

 

[dutchgray]

Not to defend the price or shill for the seller, but just to add and expand to the wonder from across the pond, a near-complete master set like this, in its original box, of any vintage brand is a rare thing of utterly spectacular magnitude. I literally cannot point to an example of the same thing from Snap-on, Plomb, Blackhawk or Bonney or any comparable US brand. We find the boxes. And sometimes we find the boxes with a few original tools in them, usually mixed in with miscellaneous other brands. All or seemingly all the tools in the box? As I said. I can't think of one example. Not from this era. 1980's or 90's maybe. Not vintage. This is not just UK amazing, it's universally amazing.

Rare as can be for a serious Britool collector, I could see it taking a life time to find the correct tools from a matching production era to build one up from individual tools that would becas good as that.
I bet it was more than £3,000 in real terms when it was new as well, my 1958 Buck and Hickman lists similar sets from King ****, the largest was over £100 at a time when an annual working wage for a blue collar type worker might have been £500.

 

[fanders]

Welcome Rangie, looking forward to your photos!

Are you a connoisseur of Range Rovers btw? Always a need to have spanners on hand for a Rangie, so why not have a fine collection of Britool for such occasions?

Cheers, fanders

 

[Rangie]

Welcome Rangie, looking forward to your photos!

Are you a connoisseur of Range Rovers btw? Always a need to have spanners on hand for a Rangie, so why not have a fine collection of Britool for such occasions?

Cheers, fanders

Indeed, a fleet of Series LRs from 1948 to the late 70s and a couple of RRC, an '83 and a '91.

I've always liked the quality of older Britool, King ****, Snail, Superslim, Garrington, etc.

Most of my tools came from farm sales and auctions. Back then you would buy a bucket or fish-box full of random tools for a couple of pounds, sort through them, retrieve the quality stuff and leave the "Tang, Yugoslavia". Then either give off the stuff you don't want or put it back into the next sale!

I need a few posts to be able to send messages or edit my signature so I'll take photos and post them to up my posts .

I'd be interested in a scan of earlier catalogues if you would like to do swaps for a scan of 109?
I am sorting out my old 448 sets and haven't found images/lists for those yet.

Cheers,
Alec

 

[Farmer J.]

Hi Alec, and welcome!
Looking forward to seeing your collection and the .448 stuff..
Just make a few more random posts, then you can share some pictures to brighten up the weekend.
I have a small stash of surplus hex drive let me know if you need any odd parts to complete sets.

 

[AustinChamp]

Seeing the 466 universal set for sale , has made me route out some catalogues and price lists from a few years , so here goes...

October 1957; 127pounds no shillings no pence

May 1961 ; 127pounds no shillings no pence

October 1968 now set 466c; 163pounds 12shillings 6 pence

i wonder what the 6 pence was for !
the only p/s/p converter i could find was for 1965 so put in the 1968 price and the result was ;
£2882.78p in today's money !! and thats new !
did note that there is no pliers or screwdrivers in the set for sale
thought this might help
found a 1952 catalogue and the set is not in there

 

[dutchgray]

Using the bank of England's inflation calculator
£127 in 57 is £3,141.40 today
In 61 is £2,891
and £163 12 Shillings and six pence in 68 is £163.62 1/2 in decimal which is £2,907.17 today

Worth noting the wheeled dolly was an extra in most of the price lists.
Not many mechanics would have been able to buy one of these sets back in the 50's.

 

[Rangie]

Very much a trial this....



Buck and Hickman Catalogue 1964, hopefully you will see a photo of the Britool Socket Set sheet.

I'm working on it, bear with me...
I think I've cracked it..
The litmus test is whether they disappear after a few days depending on Google. I may have to resurrect Photobucket if that happens....

Alec.

 

[Rangie]

Interchangeable Handles 1964



Alec.

 

[Rangie]

Socket Wrenches 1964



Alec.

 

[Rangie]

Crowfoot Wrenches 1964



Alec.

 

[Rangie]

Ring Spanners 1964



Alec.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I hope you guys don't mind me bumping this thread to post these Elliott-Lucas High-Tensile "ELECT" pliers. I was thrilled to find them at the flea market yesterday. There's really no more appropriate thread, and since James Neill acquired Britool in 1969, two years before they acquired Elliott-Lucas in 1971, they're sort of "in the family." These are almost certainly from the 1940's. I've seen them referred to as electrical pliers, but I don't think that does them enough justice. They look like sapper's pliers to me. US sapper's pliers have the same features, including the wire cutters, the vertical wire holder slot in the nose of the jaws, the screwdriver blade (hand-forged!), and the powder punch (also hand-forged!). And I have seen these with the MOD broad arrow marking on the flip side, which these don't seem to have. This is a serious, well-made tool.

 

[Bob H]

Hi all, first time post. I have (I hope) included a photo of my 1/2 drive set, AF and Metric, which I bought new in the 70’s and used as a mechanic for several years. Bob.

 

[Bob H]

Hi all, first time post. I have (I hope) included a photo of my 1/2 drive set, AF and Metric, which I bought new in the 70’s and used as a mechanic for several years. Bob.

I bought it with a full set of AF sockets. I think it’s set 102A. The stud extractor, turnscrew and valve grinder were all absent. The metric sockets were all bought the same day as individual sockets. The Purolator oil filter wrench is period, and a “gift“ from the Purolator rep. (Buy another 6 oil filters and …). Torque wrench was a gift from my parents when i came out of my time.

 

[Bob H]

Pages from the later catalogue would be great humber2! Thanks.

Here's another question - when Britool introduced the 1/4" square drive socketry, the part numbers are prefixed by 'D'. Does anyone know what this means? 'D' for Dinky maybe? lol. The 1949 catalogue describes the other letters as follows:

M = Midget (9/32" square drive)
A = Aero (3/8" square drive)
E = Engineer's (1/2" square drive)
H = Heavy (3/4" square drive)
G = Giant (1" square drive)

along with the 'Original' 0.448" hex drive. Anyone know?

Cheers, fanders

I think the D is for Dwarf. Please see piccy of a Britool advert attached.

 

[Bob H]

I think the D is for Dwarf. Please see piccy of a Britool advert attached.

As can be seen, a copy of the advert sits inside the lid of my much later 1/4 drive set. I bought it with AF and BA sockets, and added metric later - most Britool. 8 mm, flex, handle and ratchet sadly not original !

 

[Bob H]

And next up, an E92/2 1/2" drive stud extractor. I don't really know why I bought this, apart from the collecting aspect, but I think it will come in handy one day:

View media item 58506

Jealous ! It’s the one bit missing from mine which I really want. 1 day. I have a King **** one which is perfectly serviceable, but just not Britool !

 

[smirky]

British Made
Short heavy open ended, no part numbers. You need muscles like Popeye for these!

 

[smirky]

British Made
4000 series aircraft wrench. Supposed to prevent over-tightening, must have also prevented over-loosening.

 

[smirky]

British Made
4100 series double ended ring

 

[smirky]

British Made
4200 series, the smaller sizes are very crude indeed. A good heavy spanner with no flex of it's own.

 

[smirky]

British Made
2 x 4223s, the War Finish one is slighly shorter

 

[smirky]

Some novelty types including cylinder head socket and a military marked 2RB with a phosphated finish

 

[Dave455]

I hope you guys don't mind me bumping this thread to post these Elliott-Lucas High-Tensile "ELECT" pliers. I was thrilled to find them at the flea market yesterday. There's really no more appropriate thread, and since James Neill acquired Britool in 1969, two years before they acquired Elliott-Lucas in 1971, they're sort of "in the family." These are almost certainly from the 1940's. I've seen them referred to as electrical pliers, but I don't think that does them enough justice. They look like sapper's pliers to me. US sapper's pliers have the same features, including the wire cutters, the vertical wire holder slot in the nose of the jaws, the screwdriver blade (hand-forged!), and the powder punch (also hand-forged!). And I have seen these with the MOD broad arrow marking on the flip side, which these don't seem to have. This is a serious, well-made tool.

Hi Lugs - those are “Gas Pliers”.

They were originally intended for use on gas fittings, but happen to be very useful in general engineering, or automotive work.

The cutout behind the tips means they can grip things that British style combination pliers might not, and of course they are great for reluctant hoses or hose fittings.

I have these in a couple of sizes, and include a pair in my road box.

The “Elect” designation refers to a slightly higher quality of tool that Elliott Lucas used to offer. Some were highly polished or even chromed, but all seem to be high tensile, which seems to be the difference.

The design has remained unchanged for years, probably over a hundred, and I know of at least one local shop that has new examples for sale!

Edit - still listed in what passes for the Elliott Lucas catalogue today. Only one size and finish though.

 

[Dave455]

I think the D is for Dwarf. Please see piccy of a Britool advert attached.

D = Dwarf - 1/4” Drive
M = Midget - 9/32” Drive
A = Aero - 3/8” Drive
E = Engineers - 1/2” Drive
H = Heavy Duty - 3/4” Drive
G = Giant - 1” Drive

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hi Lugs - those are “Gas Pliers”.

They were originally intended for use on gas fittings, but happen to be very useful in general engineering, or automotive work.

Thanks, Dave. I can see why! The expansive functionality and MOD broad arrows on other examples is what had me fooled.

The hemispherical serrated openings looked like gas pliers for sure. I have some vintage US models. It was the vertical slot in the tip - more typically made, in my experience, for holding pins or wire, the wire cutter, and especially the screwdriver and punch that had me thinking sapper tool. After a tip from another UK colleague on a different forum, and a little more research, I was able to find an antique Osbourne with a driver and an antique Utica with a punch. I have yet to find any US made gas pliers with wire cutters or wire holding tips, though.

The “Elect” designation refers to a slightly higher quality of tool that Elliott Lucas used to offer. Some were highly polished or even chromed, but all seem to be high tensile, which seems to be the difference.

I saw that, with the other compositions called Elvicta and Electoloy. The "HIGH TENSILE" marking was also a bit of red herring for me, because Armstrong used that precise term to describe their wartime steel.

Thanks again.

 

[Dave455]

I saw that, with the other compositions called Elvicta and Electoloy. The "HIGH TENSILE" marking was also a bit of red herring for me, because Armstrong used that precise term to describe their wartime steel.

Thanks again.

Elliott Lucas used to make other tools as well as pliers. I’ve seen things like rules, squares and levels, primarily woodworking tools. These are the ”Elvicta” range.

I’ve seen a few “Electeloy” tools, and they all seem to be electricians tools - cutters, wire strippers etc. Don’t know if that’s coincidence or if they are all electrical tools?

 

[Bob H]

Last bit now - 1/4" fixed breaker bar, handy for getting sockets into tight spots when working on aircraft. I bought this in the late 1990s, and the slightly rounded BRITOOL font shows that it was probably made close to the date when I bought it.

View media item 76982

I had one of those, in the tool kit of a motorcycle that was stolen. I bought it with a 1/4 female to female socket which I still have. Will take a photo of that and post it.

 

[Bob H]

My AF spanner drawer. The C spanner’s and BA ring are King **** and Gordon, but the rest are Britool. The BA OJ set in the red packet are mint.

 

[Bob H]

Hi Lugs - those are “Gas Pliers”.

They were originally intended for use on gas fittings, but happen to be very useful in general engineering, or automotive work.

The cutout behind the tips means they can grip things that British style combination pliers might not, and of course they are great for reluctant hoses or hose fittings.

I have these in a couple of sizes, and include a pair in my road box.

The “Elect” designation refers to a slightly higher quality of tool that Elliott Lucas used to offer. Some were highly polished or even chromed, but all seem to be high tensile, which seems to be the difference.

The design has remained unchanged for years, probably over a hundred, and I know of at least one local shop that has new examples for sale!

Edit - still listed in what passes for the Elliott Lucas catalogue today. Only one size and finish though.

I have a set the same as the lower set. They were Inherited from my Uncle, who was a farmer, and used them as fencing pliers. Good for gripping wire to tension it, and the pointy bit is great for pulling staples. I used them with him when I was a youth, so a good thing to inherit !

 

[Bob H]

View media item 59501

I have one of the spring clips, as shown on this catalogue page. Will post a piccy of it tomorrow. Has anyone else got one ? I bought an OJ AF spanner set in the mid 70’s, and it was on them.

 

[Bob H]

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.

I bought my 1/2” set 102A(AF), and separate MM sockets 10 to 28, new for £28 in 1975. Wage was £35 a week at the time.

 

[Bob H]

As offered, picture of the 1/4 square female to female ” socket”. Also shown is my 1/2” square to hex drive socket, and the spare hex bar that came with it.

 

[Bob H]

BA spanner set. Small and perfect. Has anyone else a set like this one ?

 

[Dave455]

BA spanner set. Small and perfect. Has anyone else a set like this one ?

Yes, I’ve got a few around. A set in my workshop, one in my road box, another spare etc.

The top set is early ‘70’s vintage I think, maybe late ‘60’s. The bottom set is among the last ever made. Quality isn’t as good as the earlier tools, though perfectly acceptable.

I have a few loose BA spanners around too. It’s generally 2 and 4 BA that I usually need.

 

[Bob H]

Mine looks like your later set. The bigger ones look quality, the smaller ones look like pressings. I like your top set !

 

[Bob H]

I have one of the spring clips, as shown on this catalogue page. Will post a piccy of it tomorrow. Has anyone else got one ? I bought an OJ AF spanner set in the mid 70’s, and it was on them.

 

[humber2]

To appreciate how small the 9 and 11 BA wrench is a match stick should be alongside in the image.

My BA wrenches are over many makers with no clips or wallet pouch packs.

But next needing showing are the BA ring spanners.

 

[Bob H]

How about the links between Britool and Ferguson Tractors ?
Has anyone any info on that ?
Did Britool have anything to do with the iconic Ferguson Spanner (I have my Dads original, so can post piccies if asked) ?