Remember buying my Britool socket set Imperial and metric 45years ago, the whole set is still sound and they have had some abuse.I’ve got Britool sockets and combination spanner’s that I bought fifty years ago and they’re as good as the day I bought them. In those days they were the brand to have - other than a bit of ex WD Blue Point when it became available.
Britool almost disappeared from the market at one time and then reappeared under different ownership - possibly James Neil? and of indifferent quality.
An underated brand these days is Teng - IMO
As someone has said Britool Hallmark is nothing to do with Britool expert running under Facom's control.
Britool expert is mainly made in Asia within the Stanley group - though obviously higher spec than Stanley stuff. It's Ok for mid range stuff, not really sure what people complain about - quality is about right for price. Yes original Britool was high end but in todays prices you would have to pay for it. Anyway it's how it's set up Facom top end (mainly made in Europe), Britool expert mid range (mainly made in Asia).
Britool Hallmark is no more than just a label as far as I know similar to Kennedy at Cromwell. Items bought in from wherever.
Seriously if you need spanners I can't see any reason not to buy King Dick (made in England) if funds allow - they actually tend to be cheaper than Facom for instance and I'm under the impression some of Facom's spanners are made in Asia. Pretty sure King Dick sockets are made in England but I believe the ratchets are bought in.
Most tool companies just buy it in, Draper have been doing it since day one, nothing wrong with it providing its bought in the right place.
The Current Hallmark sockets are made in the UK now as far as I am aware there are not many uk places still making them so they may well be made by King Dick.
We have a load of Britool Expert in work and never had any issues.
In 1989 Britool has a full production factory in Cannock making , Chrome ware, spanners, sockets etc all on one site, it was great to see it, two old dears assembling torque wrenches faster than any machine, Facom closed it when they took over.
I feel most of the imported stuff is fine I can't fault Kennedy, Halfords etc
Chrome trader are currently selling Britool Hallmark made in the UK, I wonder who is making them?
http://www.chrometrader.co.uk/brands/britool-hallmark.html
Ah I did wonder, I was surprised we still had some one left making stuffThe ones which say made in UK/England are old stock (very old now) - basically there was a large production stock run before factory closure. See my previous post.
Ah I did wonder, I was surprised we still had some one left making stuff
A little bit of britool history http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/metalware/britool/britool.htm
I often pick upold type britool spanners and sockets local to me, I am not far from the factory and i am sure a few of the workers had a discount "scheme" to get a few home, I got these in an old fold out tool box for £3 and gave the other stuff away, I wanted the cranked ones as they are good for old car tool kits.
I don't go past that sculpture often and i did wonder if the glass parts were illumintaed at night, It might look nice.There’s a nice commemorative sculpture on the old factory site
http://www.bewsgorvin.co.uk/sculpture-britool-bower.html
They're Britool mini rings I think, I've got some I bought when I was 16, I'm 68 now, do you think I've had my money's worth? It was really good kit then, the Snap On of its day.I love those cranked dumpy ring spanners, they are so tactile to use. Got a couple left by my late dad.
Miles better choice. You will never go back to another spanner again after owning snap on’s. I’ve got loads of them bought as single items over the years. Cost as much as a small mortgage but hey .... every cloud n all that.I never ended up buying these, Got some second hand snap on at a good price.
Thanks for everybody's input though.