Whoooops! Grabbed the wrong wrench...

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Whitworth?
An antique, I don't think many even know what it is, I wouldn't if it hadn't been for one or two Brit bikes I've worked on.

How about this? It's a gland nut wrench for an XP-59A. Two thing about it I have never seen before. First it is a manufactured tool, for an Experimental aircraft, and secondly I can't figure out what kind of metal its made from, it's steel like in weight etc., rusts, but is completely non magnetic?

I had a set of Whitworths from having a 52 MG TD. Interesting to work on after rebuilding the body with SAE and putting in a Volvo engine and tranny. A crap shoot as to which of three wench sets to grab for.

[a64pilot]

I'm surprised so many have heard of Whitworth, 1981 or so I built and raced drag bikes, we worked on any bike of course as we were always broke. I had to work on a Triumph Bonneville I think, I think it had aluminum rods?
Anyway I thought Whitworth was a joke, like a left handed screwdriver.


Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[sartorst]

"I was thinking the same thing! And... I don't think there's ANYTHING AMF touched that didn't completely suck after they got their fingers on it..."
Happy MD you are right I had an AMF catfish that was one of the worst sailing boats I have ever owned !It could make about 10 degrees to windward and you would loose it all when it went into irons during a tack, unless it was blowing like stink! Almost gave up sailing because of it.

[Toys_with_time]

Originally Posted by Paul54

I had a few mid 60's Triumph motorcycles. I remember the whitworth type nuts and bolts. Between metric and lots of odd SAE wrenches and sockets I could get most things fixed. I even got one to not leak oil!

Not to leak oil? A Triumph? No way. Must have been a rebadged Jap bike.

[sartorst]

Do you know why the Brit's don't make computers ???
They can't make them leak oil

[Toys_with_time]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I'm surprised so many have heard of Whitworth, 1981 or so I built and raced drag bikes, we worked on any bike of course as we were always broke. I had to work on a Triumph Bonneville I think, I think it had aluminum rods?
Anyway I thought Whitworth was a joke, like a left handed screwdriver.


Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Used to work at a large tool and fastener wholesaler here in OZ during the period when Australia went metric. We stocked BSW (Whitworth), BSF, BA, AF, UNF, UNC, UNS, Metric fine and Metric coarse. Used to be a whole lot of fun identifying threads. Give me metric any day.

TwT

[avb3]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Impressive. For how many minutes?

They leaked less than the Harleys of that era. Had both. But, yes, a drip pan underneath saved concrete stains.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I thought I was the only one with Whitworth wrenches. SAE, metric an Whitworth keeps you guessing.

No way you could toss these aside with all of the memories attached to them!

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

I have a BSW ( British Standard Whitworth) open end spanner with a 30 degree offset opening which is perfect to access and bleed the # 1 injector on my W46. Tricky little bugger to get at, filter in the way. It stays wire-tied to the common fuel return line.

Brilliant!!!

Originally Posted by bletso

Ah yes, whitforth threads. I just discovered them on Vigah. I had to make an adapter for my Tank Tender and after some research found the thread for the dip tubes were 1/2-12. Fortunately, you can still find taps and dyes for them here in the US. I guess it comes with the territory of owning an old boat.

Oh dear! 1/2-12 !!!

Originally Posted by Kayoko Monk 33

I worked as a Millwright and many companies used 5/8 drive sockets, never stolen either.

HAHAAA!!! Awesome smarts!

Originally Posted by sartorst

"I was thinking the same thing! And... I don't think there's ANYTHING AMF touched that didn't completely suck after they got their fingers on it..."
Happy MD you are right I had an AMF catfish that was one of the worst sailing boats I have ever owned !It could make about 10 degrees to windward and you would loose it all when it went into irons during a tack, unless it was blowing like stink! Almost gave up sailing because of it.

God it was horrible! the worst thing that happened in the 70's-80's... Those AMF boats came out of the same mold as their bowling balls, and they just stuck a tube and some picnic tablecloth on it....

And Hatteras??? What were you thinking!?!?!?!?!??????

[Blue Stocking]

I once owned a Toyota Carina, a mix of Corona and Corola parts apparently. Built in France and Brazil, but sold in Bermuda as well. Lovely car to drive, BUT, if it was possible to have more than 2 parts to a bolt assembly ( nut and cap screw ) that bastard would have had a 3rd size, BSW, BSF, AF, UNF, ANSPT, it had them all. Looked like a Snap-On display to maintain the damn thing. Happily let it go with the divorce settlement. She married a farmer, and they can fix anything !

[Nicholson58]

I had a bin of FORD wrenches for a while including crank starter. Dad's old tool bin.

[hellosailor]

a64-
I'm ignorant of beryllium tools, other than Beryllium-copper which definitely is not a "white" metal and does not rust. Unless the "rust" is the color of the alloy showing where some white plating has worn off?


You could carefully weight it, than measure displacement, and figure out the density of the metal. That won't tell you exactly what it is, but it would give you another specific property to start checking into.
I'd bet someplace there's a "Bell Aviation" museum or alumni group, or the National Air and Space Museum has some volunteers who cold turn up contacts. Some phone calls or letters, some patience...Someone out there very likely knows where that tool came from. Or, how to find the USAF procurement contract (two aisles down from the Ark of the Covenant) in Warehouse 13, with the spec for the metal to be used.

[transmitterdan]

Beryllium oxide is really hard and white. Not a good material for everyday hand tools though. In certain forms BeO is very hazardous.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

No way you could toss these aside with all of the memories attached to them!


Brilliant!!!


Oh dear! 1/2-12 !!!


HAHAAA!!! Awesome smarts!



God it was horrible! the worst thing that happened in the 70's-80's... Those AMF boats came out of the same mold as their bowling balls, and they just stuck a tube and some picnic tablecloth on it....

And Hatteras??? What were you thinking!?!?!?!?!??????

Wasn't it AMF that ran Harley into the ground.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Wasn't it AMF that ran Harley into the ground.

It absolutely was indeed!

Thank god for revivals... it would be sad not to see all of those beautiful bikes on the road today...

I've got tons of goofy tools... I'll look for more and encourage others to post pictures of their oddball redheaded stepchildren...