Grandads Tools

[Marco84]

Hi there. I thought I would share with you all some tools I recently inherited from my late grandfather. Apologies in advance for the poor quality of the photographs but they were taken with my phone.

The wrenches are mostly TW Superslim, Britool, Garrington and Eagle Brand. There are also some Britool and King **** sockets. The vise is a Record Nr.21

There is still a lot of stuff in his shed and stashed in various drawers and cupboards around my grandparents home.

I have cleaned up the head of the Thor copper/rawhide hammer and re-sprayed it as well as soaking some of the files in vinegar and giving them a rub with a wire brush before fitting NOS handles which were stashed in the shed.

 

[lbgradwell]

The wrenches are mostly TW Superslim, Britool, Garrington and Eagle Brand. There are also some Britool and King **** sockets. The vise is a Record Nr.21

I have cleaned up the head of the Thor copper/rawhide hammer...

Woo-hoo!

Some excellent stuff there. I presume you're in the UK?

Great to find stuff of that quality that was your grandfather's...

 

[north]

Thanks for the pics man. It is always nice to see a stash of old tools and them being from your granddad makes it all the more special.
Is that a quick release handle I see on the Record?

 

[Marco84]

Hi. Yes I am in the UK (I have now updated my profile)

 

[davesnothere]

I'm digging that vise.

 

[Marco84]

Thanks for the pics man. It is always nice to see a stash of old tools and them being from your granddad makes it all the more special.
Is that a quick release handle I see on the Record?

Glad you like the pics and well spotted that is indeed a quick release on the vise. I understand the number 2 was used by Record to denote vises with quick release.

 

[Marco84]

I'm digging that vise.

Thanks. The vise has particular sentimental value as I had retrieved it for him from a steel cabinet at the top his garden were it had been for probably 20yrs or more. It was completely seized but my grandad soaked it in oil for days before cleaning it up and spraying it red. It's this effort he put into restoring it which makes it special.

 

[lbgradwell]

I wondered why the vice (see how I've used the British spelling?) was red instead of the well-known Record blue.

Once you get the wrenches & sockets sorted, should you find you have gaps you can post or PM me a list and maybe we can do some trading. I have some extra Britool sockets and a TW Superslim DOE Whitworth wrench and could probably use a few Britool sockets, a single missing Bedford socket (should you find any) and maybe some Gordon or Britool wrenches...

 

[Marco84]

I wondered why the vice (see how I've used the British spelling?) was red instead of the well-known Record blue.

Once you get the wrenches & sockets sorted, should you find you have gaps you can post or PM me a list and maybe we can do some trading. I have some extra Britool sockets and a TW Superslim DOE Whitworth wrench and could probably use a few Britool sockets, a single missing Bedford socket (should you find any) and maybe some Gordon or Britool wrenches...

There is definitely some duplicate Superslim DOE Whitworth wrenches. I will sort the sockets and get back to you.

 

[oldldh]

You are the arrow that your Grandfather fired into the future...

Keep them, use them, add to them, and pass them on to your grandson...

Doesn't get any better than that...

 

[Man of Many Vices]

You are the arrow that your Grandfather fired into the future...

Keep them, use them, add to them, and pass them on to your grandson...

Doesn't get any better than that...

I love what you just said.

 

[Dave455]

X2 on that!

Good for you cleaning them up!

You can't buy that quality without spending serious money today, and even then some stuff just isn't available!

I inherited my grandfathers tools some years back and it pretty much set me up! I've only had to buy metric stuff!

Suspect nothing would please your Grandfather more than knowing that the tools he probably saved for and valued are still being used and cared for!

 

[lbgradwell]

I inherited my grandfathers tools some years back and it pretty much set me up! I've only had to buy metric stuff!

I'd love to see some photos of your collection, Dave.

 

[Dave455]

I posted some pics of some of his Blackhawk on the thread titled 'Snap On Ferret Evolution'! It got a bit off topic!

Grandfather was a Brit, but LOVED American tools! God knows where he sourced it all!

 

[Dave455]

I can post plenty of pics of British tools if anybody is interested!

ibgradwell, what size of Bedford socket are you missing?

 

[lbgradwell]

Yep, saw those, but what don't you start a new thread and post (many) more photos?

I'd personally be interested in seeing some of the old British tools...

 

[Dave455]

Good Idea! I'll take some pics tomorrow!

Let me know what you need though! I've got a few odd Bedford sockets around, and they turn up fairly often in the U.K. (At least the 1/2 inch drive do, I think the 3/8 were mostly the preserve of the aerospace engineer and they get handed down to the oldest son or buried as 'grave goods')!

 

[lbgradwell]

lbgradwell, what size of Bedford socket are you missing?

I'm missing a 3/8"-drive Bedford (Chro-Van) 12-pt socket in 1BA; the model number should be SHB_1 and it should match these:

You will be a star if you can actually lay hands on one!

 

[uniballer]

I'm missing a 3/8"-drive Bedford (Chro-Van) 12-pt socket in 1BA; the model number should be SHB_1 and it should match these:

You will be a star if you can actually lay hands on one!

ebay!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEDFORD-7-1...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3a6802d0f0

 

[lbgradwell]

ebay!

Right style, wrong size!

 

[uniballer]

Right style, wrong size!

??? what size?

 

[lbgradwell]

1BA

It's a very small socket in "British Association" size that was once used on British electronics/radio, etc.

 

[Marco84]

I'll keep a look out for you. Will sort the sockets this afternoon.

 

[Marco84]

Good Idea! I'll take some pics tomorrow!

Let me know what you need though! I've got a few odd Bedford sockets around, and they turn up fairly often in the U.K. (At least the 1/2 inch drive do, I think the 3/8 were mostly the preserve of the aerospace engineer and they get handed down to the oldest son or buried as 'grave goods')!

I too would love to see some pics of your grandfathers tools.

 

[lbgradwell]

I'll keep a look out for you. Will sort the sockets this afternoon.

Many thanks!

What brands are the adjustable wrench and the Stillson-pattern pipe wrench in your second photo?

Also, what do you know about Eagle? I recently sold some large Eagle brand wrenches and I'm wondering if it's the same company...

 

[Marco84]

Many thanks!

What brands are the adjustable wrench and the Stillson-pattern pipe wrench in your second photo?

Also, what do you know about Eagle? I recently sold some large Eagle brand wrenches and I'm wondering if it's the same company...

The adjustable wrench is Bahco, Sweden and the pipe wrench is a Blackbird made by Garrington.

Eagle brand tools were produced in Willenhall an industrial town about half an hours drive from where I live. They were produced by Vaughan Bros you can read some history here: http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/Willenhall/Industry.htm

 

[jeffmoss26]

Very nice. Cherish them forever!

 

[Marco84]

Very nice. Cherish them forever!

Thanks Jeff

 

[lowbucktruck]

Some nice vintage tools there! Looks like them cleaned up well. I'm sure that your grandfather would be happy that you have them, and will put them to good use.

 

[Dave455]

Afraid I havn't got any 1BA. Few odd 3/8, but not that one! I'm guessing that's rare in 3/8 drive, for the following reason : -

Traditionally, if you acquired a 3/8 drive set in Whitworth /BS sizes the sockets would go down to 1/8 Whit. Each socket fitting one Whit size (e.g. 3/16) and one bolt size bigger in BS (e.g. 1/4). If you wanted BA you would buy a 1/4 inch set which would include maybe 0 to 8 BA, or even smaller.

During the war, as a metal saving measure, the practice of using a bigger hex on the Whitworth was dropped, however that resulted in a problem - which spanner do you now use on a 1/8 Whitworth, as there's no 1/8 BS? The answer was simple, 1/8 Whit now uses a 4BA hex, and while they were at it, they put a 2BA hex on 3/16 Whit/BS as it was more common!

So, a post war 3/8 set will probably include Whit / BS sockets down to 1/8 ( the 1/8 whit being reserved for pre war fasteners) AND 2BA and 4BA sockets! Occasionlly, some makers would arrange their sets with BS and AF sockets all together in order of size, and these usually include 0 and 1 BA for completeness! Rare though!

Even numbered BA sizes have always been preferred, and I struggle to think of places where you'd find odd numbers. Aerospace applications certainly, and I once found a 7 BA on a Rolls Royce Carb, but other than that I suspect only in Instruments, optical equipment or models, all of which will most likely be tackled by a 1/4 inch set, if not a nut runner!

Good luck hunting though, and I'll keep my eyes open!

Just about to upload some more pics of British tools for the interested!

 

[Dave455]

Yep, saw those, but what don't you start a new thread and post (many) more photos?

I'd personally be interested in seeing some of the old British tools...

That's done. See - British Tool Manufacturers!

 

[lbgradwell]

Eagle brand tools were produced in Willenhall an industrial town about half an hours drive from where I live. They were produced by Vaughan Bros you can read some history here: http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/Willenhall/Industry.htm

Thank you for the link, Marco; I'd not seen that one before...

I don't think it's the same company as the wrenches I (briefly) owned. They had come in a big box of assorted stuff & the story was that the seller had been given these items by the widow of the Polish fellow who had originally owned them. Now the lot included a set of South African Gedore combo wrenches too, so he had almost certainly brought them with him when he'd moved to Canada.

The collection also included Gray & Armstrong so this guy did not have rubbish, but there was no indication of COO on the Eagle wrenches and since I am more than well covered on large SAE sizes, they went back on kijiji...

Do you (or anyone else) recognize the pictured Eagle combos as later production of the same Vaughan Bros. firm?

 

[lbgradwell]

Afraid I havn't got any 1BA. Few odd 3/8, but not that one! I'm guessing that's rare in 3/8 drive, for the following reason...

...Good luck hunting though, and I'll keep my eyes open!

Very interesting & informative, Dave; thank you for posting!

Also thanks for keeping your eyes open for the missing Bedford, though, in truth, I never expect to find one.

I actually already have a 1BA in 3/8"-drive, but it is from this Canadian-made Gray set:

 

[Dave455]

Very interesting & informative, Dave; thank you for posting!

Also thanks for keeping your eyes open for the missing Bedford, though, in truth, I never expect to find one.

I actually already have a 1BA in 3/8"-drive, but it is from this Canadian-made Gray set:

Oh I don't know! I bet they made 'em, so I wouldn't be surprised if one turns up!

Finding 'em by other makers is no problem! Snap On still make'em for a start!

 

[lbgradwell]

I bet they made 'em, so I wouldn't be surprised if one turns up!

I hope you're right!

Bedford would certainly have made them. The set pictured on Page 1 of this thread includes:

2BA
1/8BSW
1BA MISSING FROM MY SET!
0BA
3/16BSW
1/4BSW
5/16BSW
3/8BSW
7/16BSW

They would not have skipped over the 1BA. There must be examples out there, but the chances of finding one on this side of the pond are almost zero. That leaves eBay and Brits willing to keep their eyes open!

 

[Marco84]

Thank you for the link, Marco; I'd not seen that one before...

I don't think it's the same company as the wrenches I (briefly) owned. They had come in a big box of assorted stuff & the story was that the seller had been given these items by the widow of the Polish fellow who had originally owned them. Now the lot included a set of South African Gedore combo wrenches too, so he had almost certainly brought them with him when he'd moved to Canada.

The collection also included Gray & Armstrong so this guy did not have rubbish, but there was no indication of COO on the Eagle wrenches and since I am more than well covered on large SAE sizes, they went back on kijiji...

Do you (or anyone else) recognize the pictured Eagle combos as later production of the same Vaughan Bros. firm?

Don't recognise those as being Vaughan Bros. productions. Here are a couple examples of the Eagle Brand wrenches I am familiar with.

 

[Marco84]

I hope you're right!

Bedford would certainly have made them. The set pictured on Page 1 of this thread includes:

2BA
1/8BSW
1BA MISSING FROM MY SET!
0BA
3/16BSW
1/4BSW
5/16BSW
3/8BSW
7/16BSW

They would not have skipped over the 1BA. There must be examples out there, but the chances of finding one on this side of the pond are almost zero. That leaves eBay and Brits willing to keep their eyes open!

I will definitely keep a lookout for the socket for you. Whilst not a socket I did find these whilst searching through the container of drill bits pictured in my original post.

 

[Dave455]

I hope you're right!

Bedford would certainly have made them. The set pictured on Page 1 of this thread includes:

2BA
1/8BSW
1BA MISSING FROM MY SET!
0BA
3/16BSW
1/4BSW
5/16BSW
3/8BSW
7/16BSW

They would not have skipped over the 1BA. There must be examples out there, but the chances of finding one on this side of the pond are almost zero. That leaves eBay and Brits willing to keep their eyes open!

Actually, they might have missed the 1 BA - 0 and 2 being even sizes and common, 1 less so!

I'll keep a look out for any sets and see what's included!

 

[lbgradwell]

Actually, they might have missed the 1 BA - 0 and 2 being even sizes and common, 1 less so!

I'll keep a look out for any sets and see what's included!

Well that would work too.

It's my OCD that cannot stand a missing socket; if the socket was never included in the set in the first place, I could again sleep at night!

 

[Stve M.]

Niiiiiiice!