Vintage britool

[madmanc]

Just picked this up at a flea market for £3
Couldn't believe what he wanted for it I've seen them go for as much as £150
It's a early hex drive in A/F and seems to be complete just box needs a repaint .

 

[J.C.]

That's quite a find! I come across Britool fairly regularly here but only ever as a couple of spanners here and there in a mixed set, certainly nothing quite so nice as a complete set in a box!

 

[madmanc]

all the tools cleaned up as new just started to rub down the box for a quick blow over and some new decals

 

[ZRX61]

Jammy git

 

[madmanc]

will post finnished photo once finnished

 

[Farmer J.]

That looks like a set 40A. AF and whitworth sockets. You were lucky to get it so cheap, one recently sold on ebay for £70 and it was buyer collection only from Leeds. It's going to look good when cleaned up, please post pics or on the 'Britool Made in England' thread.

 

[madmanc]

The paint job ain't the best but I ain't no painter but the tools look near as new

 

[Farmer J.]

That looks nice. A complete set has 16 sockets, so one is missing.

 

[madmanc]

ah near enough though ill keep my eye out for what is missing.
there was a couple on the net for £150 each not seen anymore for sale they seem to be getting harder to find ,i wouldnt pay that for a set but for what the guy wanted i couldnt walk past.

 

[Dave455]

Nice find! You can often pick up the hex drive tools fairly cheap. Not usually that cheap though...! You should be able to pick up some accessories if you want them. Even the hex drive is hard to find in that condition though!

Enjoy...

 

[Dave455]

The original paint on the exterior of the boxes was brick red base, which then had a black crackle (or crinkle, can never remember which is which) finish applied over the top. The crackle paint contracted as it dried, revealing the red ‘veining’ underneath!

An expensive way to do it, (same goes for the way the rest of the box was built) but that was typical of Britool at the time.

I was told the paint used was a Trimite product, but havn't had this confirmed!

Looks like a great paint job you did!

 

[madmanc]

yes there was a small amount of that crackle finnish on the ends

 

[f121]

Nice set!

 

[Farmer J.]

i wouldnt pay that for a set but for what the guy wanted i couldnt walk past.

Too right! It was a great find, and looks good now cleaned up.
Apart from one socket it's all complete for a 40A set. It even has the drive handle to go through the holes in the extensions which is often missing.

 

[Farmer J.]

I now have a few spare sockets in .448 hex drive, if you let me know which one your missing maybe I could help you out with the one you need to complete your set..
If you don't know which is missing from your set then post up a list of what you have and I will work it out..