Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Asking again if anyone knows anything about a company or brand called Athol, located in Birmingham, England, in the 1950's, at least. Socket sets.
Tools from the old world
- Thread starter Monte
- Start date
jeepinerdeep
Well-known member
I want to buy some of the Felos JUST BECAUSE. It'd easily be the 5th set of screwdrivers I own, and I have no real need for them- but damn they are cool.
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
For $30, they are pretty solid.
Link: https://www.kctoolco.com/felo-22155-5-pc-slotted-phillips-wooden-handle-screwdriver-set/
Got some plans in the near future. Here is a teaser image:
Attachments
theamcguy
Well-known member
Anybody know of a new Wiha 24630 1/4" ratchet for sale or the part number of the ratchet that replaced it? Thank you
No replacement. I don’t even think Koken has a 1/4” QR right now. Pity because Koken mechanicals with a German screwdriver handle is pretty much the ideal ratchet.
Member here JBH was recently looking at those. He may have info. On the Japan thread here.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7570366
German seller on UK ebay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ratchet-...620548?hash=item3f927d3c04:g:KNUAAOSw9gRZ6Hqo
Edit....Oops too slow.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7570366
German seller on UK ebay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ratchet-...620548?hash=item3f927d3c04:g:KNUAAOSw9gRZ6Hqo
Edit....Oops too slow.
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Another trip to my local auto jumble. It's only about half the size in winter months as it is during summer but still an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday morning.
Outdoor and indoor areas.
New tools. Many stalls selling Bergen and US Pro.
Bahco and Teng tools.
Budget Wiha softfinish.
Stanley, Irwin, Black and Decker.
Consumables.
Pliers with built in LEDs.
Not sure I've seen Craftsman in the UK before.
Power tools.
Simonds USA files.
Thor Hammers. First time I've handled a Thor hammer. These may be factory seconds as the fit and finish was rather poor.
Made in England.
Bahco blades. Box marked 'Made in England.'
More made in England blades.
I purchased a box of the Bahco blades.
Outdoor and indoor areas.
New tools. Many stalls selling Bergen and US Pro.
Bahco and Teng tools.
Budget Wiha softfinish.
Stanley, Irwin, Black and Decker.
Consumables.
Pliers with built in LEDs.
Not sure I've seen Craftsman in the UK before.
Power tools.
Simonds USA files.
Thor Hammers. First time I've handled a Thor hammer. These may be factory seconds as the fit and finish was rather poor.
Made in England.
Bahco blades. Box marked 'Made in England.'
More made in England blades.
I purchased a box of the Bahco blades.
Second hand tools.
Worn Facom drivers. The only modern Euro tools I saw.
Beta tool box.
Ball Peen hammers. Mostly Stanley (England).
Snail brand (England).
Record (England) vises and Kamasa (Japan) socket sets.
Metabo (Germany).
Mercedes metric spanner.
Many boxes of rusty £1 tools to rummage through.
Some random finds in the boxes.
Garringtons spanner. Stamped 'Made in England' on the other side. Not seen Garringtons before.
Unbranded metric spanner marked 'Made in Czechoslovakia.'
ETC (Japan) metric spanners.
Vauxhall wrench.
and a jet engine.
Worn Facom drivers. The only modern Euro tools I saw.
Beta tool box.
Ball Peen hammers. Mostly Stanley (England).
Snail brand (England).
Record (England) vises and Kamasa (Japan) socket sets.
Metabo (Germany).
Mercedes metric spanner.
Many boxes of rusty £1 tools to rummage through.
Some random finds in the boxes.
Garringtons spanner. Stamped 'Made in England' on the other side. Not seen Garringtons before.
Unbranded metric spanner marked 'Made in Czechoslovakia.'
ETC (Japan) metric spanners.
Vauxhall wrench.
and a jet engine.
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upgrading
Well-known member
Good pics from the Auto Jumble.
The Beta box looks kind of cool.
The Beta box looks kind of cool.
davethorik
Well-known member
Funny, same here! I bought the branded head model for my dad as a gift. I found some Jag specialists here in the states stocking them.
Mine's mostly nice as far as finish goes, aside from top of head grinding having 3 sloppy flats, then it was quickly painted in a black that doesnt match the original paint on the head. At the factory lol. It's hard to see in the pics, it's hard to photograph this hammer without natural light which I haven't seen in about 3 weeks lol.
Still a nice hammer. Handle is hefty but too smooth. Beefy looking H-shaped wedge. I expect this will be a display tool.
The head has this text forged into it on sticker side:
SIZE 2 REF 212
THOR
COPPER RAWHIDE
On opposite side:
MADE IN ENGLAND
THOR HAMMER
COMPANY
SHIRLEY BIRMINGHAM
Attachments
pistolpete1313
Well-known member
Can anyone here explain the Orbis hardness scales? I have some that say piano, some say medium, some say induction.
Don't want to ruin the them by using the wrong pair to cut a nail but can't find anything online
Sent from my Pixel using The Garage Journal mobile app
Don't want to ruin the them by using the wrong pair to cut a nail but can't find anything online
Sent from my Pixel using The Garage Journal mobile app
Cynical huckster
Well-known member
Yes, thanks Mr.lemons!
jeepinerdeep
Well-known member
Yeah looks like a pretty nice little sale to me. I've never been to one that wasn't just terrible zip ties and wrenches from India.
Vessel wooden handle socket sets. May not be new but I have not seen them before. Not sure I've seen their Euro site before either.
https://shop.vessel-europe.com/en/
https://shop.vessel-europe.com/en/
Negen
Well-known member
Read up in the tools of Japan thread these came out a year or so ago. Think some pictures if them are in that thread.Vessel wooden handle socket sets. May not be new but I have not seen them before. Not sure I've seen their Euro site before either.
https://shop.vessel-europe.com/en/
Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app
What part of the country is that in?
tonyciambrone
Well-known member
That auto jumble looks just like heaven to me.
Thought I'd read through all of that thread. Must have missed bits.
Talking of bits
Wera 899/4/1 k bit holder + Yato YT-0489 long Phillips bits. 
Wera bit holder utilizes a magnet and retaining ring to hold the bits. The ring holds bits firmly but makes inserting and removing bits a bit awkward. Packaging states 'Made in Czech Rep.'
Yato power bits. No COO. Looks like the Yato brand is part of a Polish company called Toya. Yato tools look to be imported from China.
Bogdan M.
Well-known member
Yato is made in China.
Cheap tools.
Cheap tools.
upgrading
Well-known member
And Harbor Freight free items being sold for a couple bucks.
News from Gedore. 1/4 bit socket set in textile bag.
https://de.gedore.com/en/company/press-area/press-releases/gedore-bit-socket-set-14/
https://de.gedore.com/en/company/press-area/press-releases/gedore-bit-socket-set-14/
News from Gedore. 1/4 bit socket set in textile bag.
Currently $85 at KC Tool!
https://www.kctoolco.com/gedore-tc-666-mu-20-bit-box-with-1-4-drive-ratchet-35-pcs/
Nigelhirst
Well-known member
Has anyone actually had experience of those Vessel wood composite handles? I made an enquiry for the 1/4 drive set and the are £77 + £12 delivery in the UK. I don’t want to spend that if they are no good!
Nigel
Nigel
I would be interested to know who makes the Vessel ratchets and sockets. Here is a post from superautobacs. Looks like he thinks the ratchet is from Taiwan rather than Japan. Nothing wrong with Taiwan just something to be aware of. A few members on the Japan thread have the screwdrivers with the wood handles.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6836405&postcount=2484
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6836405&postcount=2484
Wurth (rebranded Bosch pro) 12v cordless driver. £80 on uk ebay compared to £180 for Bosch. No COO but pretty sure China. Seller taped up the box for posting which is a bit annoying but other than that all is good.
Edit... Bosch branded version is labeled 'Made in Malaysia.'
Hoping the batteries are interchangeable with Bosch so I can look into the rest of the range.
Edit... Bosch branded version is labeled 'Made in Malaysia.'
Hoping the batteries are interchangeable with Bosch so I can look into the rest of the range.
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I have one Vessel philips with the wood composite handle and I think you need to try it yourself as it is a personal preference. For me it is just ok but I prefer the normal ones or the real wood like Felo has.
In general I like the original Vessel compared to these with wooden and very soft handles. Also the original seem to have a better blade if I can say this. For example when I first used the one with woodedn and soft handle the tip of the driver peeled off like it has some kind of paint or rust protection. This does not happen to my other six blue handled vessels I own.
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Has anyone used the little USAG through socket set or Wera Zyklop 2 Mini?
https://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?cPath=35_100_232&products_id=8928
https://www.kctoolco.com/wera-135918-kraftform-kompakt-zyklop-mini-2-set/
I wouldn't be surprised if through ratchet uses the same mechanism and sockets are compatible. USAG has a locking flex ratchet and 14mm socket. Wera has 4mm and 5mm sockets as well as the separate bit ratchet, bitholding handle, and bits.
https://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?cPath=35_100_232&products_id=8928
https://www.kctoolco.com/wera-135918-kraftform-kompakt-zyklop-mini-2-set/
I wouldn't be surprised if through ratchet uses the same mechanism and sockets are compatible. USAG has a locking flex ratchet and 14mm socket. Wera has 4mm and 5mm sockets as well as the separate bit ratchet, bitholding handle, and bits.
Superbec
Well-known member
your first link doesn't work ,
I have the wera mini ratchet and it's fantastic !
I have the wera mini ratchet and it's fantastic !
ultimategarage website does not work in EU countries. There is a message if you try the homepage.
Here’s another for the USAG kit:
https://www.griotsgarage.com/produc...+set+1-4+drive.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=Search
Do you have the Wera 11mm (?) pass-through ratchet or the bit ratchet? The bit one is only ok - I have one but always pick up Felo or Koken ones instead.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I find it odd that the Gedore small socket set uses 1/4 drive impact sockets 
https://www.kctoolco.com/gedore-tc-666-mu-20-bit-box-with-1-4-drive-ratchet-35-pcs/
https://www.kctoolco.com/gedore-tc-666-mu-20-bit-box-with-1-4-drive-ratchet-35-pcs/
BajaScout
Well-known member
Can you buy these in the USA?
Nigelhirst
Well-known member
Thanks. That is very useful.
Bearing in mind the ratchet appears to be Taiwanese rather than Japanese, I think I will give them a miss.
Cheers
Nigel
Agreed but we had trouble sourcing long bits with round shanks from our supplier at work so have been using Yato bits for a few months and find them to be fine so I got some for home use. Fit and finish is good and we have not had durability issues yet.
I find it odd that the Gedore small socket set uses 1/4 drive impact sockets
https://www.kctoolco.com/gedore-tc-666-mu-20-bit-box-with-1-4-drive-ratchet-35-pcs/
I thought the same. I guess it makes sense for guys who primarily use a 1/4" impact and just use a ratchet when access is limited. Maybe they can do without chromes. Would have thought this would apply more to 1/2" than 1/4" though.
You might try https://www.jensputzier.com. Jens is / was a member here. You might look him up, I think he has a lot of US satisfied customers.
Bogdan M.
Well-known member
I have broken a few Torx bits made by Yato so I don't buy Yato stuff anymore.
KS Tools is better and in the same price range.