WTB British Standard Whitworth tools

[Swan]

I am looking for sets of British Standard Whitworth tools, any brand (Snap-On, King ****, Craftsman, Elora, Sidchrome et al). Please let me know what you have and what you would like for them. I am not looking for museum quality tools and cannot pay E-bay collectors' prices, but am looking for sets for daily use. Socket, wrench and tap and die sets (BSW, BSF and CEI/BSC BSCY Cycle).

I restore Triumph, Norton and BSA motorcycles and appreciate old tools.

Thanks!

 

[HeyPresto]

Hi,
Nice bike. I've got a selection of Snap on, Blue Point and Britool spanners (sorry wrenches !) and sockets that are doubles. I know I have a full set of Britool .488" Hex drive sockets which will be useful
I'm in the UK so my guess is shipping will be expensive. If you are interested it might take a couple of weeks to sort, list and photograph what I have. Fair prices will be enough or we might be able to do some trading - I can see they will be used for a good cause.
Regards
TMP

 

[Swan]

HeyPresto,

Thank you for your response. International shipping has gone up so much it is almost prohibitive. I will keep you in mind for spanners (I went to University in the UK) if I cannot find anything closer to home. No need to start sorting them out yet.

What items are you looking for in trade?

Here is my 1962 BSA Gold Star restoration

 

[OldToolMan]

check my site

 

[HeyPresto]

What a great find - am I correct in saying that it is what was know as a 'Catalina' Goldie? I used to have a couple of Bonnevilles ('69 120, '82 140D) and always fancied a Goldie cafe racer - great things. Closest thing I have now is a '78 Ducati Mike hailwood Rep which is still a 'real' motorcycle.
I'm currently restoring a '72 Husqvarna MX bike and a rare VT90 Vespa race scooter from the early sixties. I admire the forum and info on your site - I don't seem to have enough time to work on the bikes let alone keep the world up to date.
Keep up the good work and let me know if you need any tools.
As and when

 

[Swan]

OldToolMan, thanks for the offer but I am good on sockets now. Just picked up a complete 10 piece 1/2" drve Craftsman Whitworth set, in the original metal case in nearly perfect shape for less than $50.

HeyPresto, My Gold Star is not the Catalina Scrambler model but rather the US Specification (Export) of the Clubmans style in the UK (Home) market. Same girl, different dress. One of the finest motorcycle ever produced and I am the lucky owner.

 

[JohnMcD348]

Interesting. I didn't know they were still in business. the only Whitwort tools I ever knew anything about was this one that my Uncle has. It was made on the original factory tooling in England.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitworth_rifle

 

[Swan]

JohnMcD348,

British Standard Whitworth (BSW) is a standard of measurement like SAE or metric. BSW was the first thread and bolt standard invented in 1841 by Joseph Whitworth, who also manufactured the rifles you cited. Whitworth tools are not specifically for his rifles but rather a generic name for tools that fit for any nut, bolt or screw using his standard. Whitworth tools will fit BSW, British Association (BA), British Standard Fine (BSF), Cycle Engineers Institute (CEI) aka British Standard Cycle (BSC BSCycle) hardware used in many applications from small watch parts to huge locomotive hardware.

Most often Whitworth tools are stamped with a "W", "BS" or "BSW" before the fractional size, eg. "W9/16". To the confusion of many, BSW tools will not fit SAE or metric hardware and vice versa. I have restored many fine British motorcycles and have found numerous bolts and nuts rounded off by Dumb Previous Owners (DPO) using the wrong tools or worse yet, inserting SAE threaded bolts into Whitworth threads, destroying both.

I am on a budget and looking the right tools for the job.

 

[ibedayank]

Swan my work does have some whitworth tools that we do import and sell.
and some special tools for triump bsa and norton bikes. PM for more info.

 

[OldToolMan]

Triton i also have long s-o wrenches,no longer available ..

 

[johno]

Can't help with the wrenches, but..

Just wanted to say love your Triton.
Is that a Suzi brake on the front?
Widline, slimline?

I've been collecting parts for quite a while,15 years maybe to build one.
I'm going to build a pre unit tho.
Got a 66 Atlas slimline,59 bonnie motor, slickshift trans,roadholders wheels, and alloy tanks from Bakers in Wales, all sitting in boxes.
I have the big parts, but I need all the small stuff yet.
I hope this coming winter to start on it.

I'm going to check your Goldie thread.
If you know any good suppliers here in NA I'd appreciate the info.

Nice to see a Triton.

 

[Swan]

Thanks Johno!

66 Atlas slimline, 76 Bonneville 750 5 speed, Suzuki GT750 front drum, drilled Triumph conical rear, Buchannan spokes and flanged alloy rims, hotter cams, balanced crankshaft, Manx Alloy tank, Dunstall replica silencers etc. Version 2.0 is a Triumph 1959 T110 motor sitting on my bench with a Norton AMC 4 speed gearbox, modified head, monobloc carbs etc.

You have all the rare and expensive bits and the usual British bike suppliers will have the rest. Try Waldridge in Canada. Unity Equipe in the UK is an easy way to rid yourself of all that pesky money.

Sprained my ankle two days ago, on crutches, it is 60 degrees F and my Triton is raring to go. Pure torture.

 

[OldToolMan]

i also have some triumph pits hanging around my shop as well as some special tools I was a triumph dealer in the later 60's and started working on them in 1956 .i am in the process of restoring a 1967 TT special....

 

[Swan]

A 67 TT is a very nice bike. PM me about the SO wrenches please.