Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: lbgradwell on January 31, 2013, 07:00:57 PM

Title: LG's eBay score for 1/21/13: Bedford (Spear & Jackson) BA DBE Offset Wrench Set!
Post by: lbgradwell on January 31, 2013, 07:00:57 PM

My most recent eBay purchase showed up today. (I seldom bid on eBay any more since shipping costs to Canadaare prohibitive...)

Rickster from GG & GJ had listed this very nice set of small BA wrenches for working on the "electrics" of the vintage British bike I still threaten to buy.

They appeared safely wrapped in the bomb-proof packaging for which Rick is so well known:

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/lbgradwell/BedfordSpearampJacksonBAWrenchSet0_zpsccf365c4.jpg)


The set has seen little use over the years as BA is essentially a long-obsolete standard. Spear & Jackson only acquired Bedford in 1972, and BA & Whitworth was obsolete then, so the condition shouldn't be a huge surprise!

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/lbgradwell/BedfordSpearampJacksonBAWrenchSet1_zps005ee711.jpg)


BA sizes are in reverse order. That is, the higher the number, the smaller the size. Here is the smallest size in the set - a BA6 - which is 4.9mm:

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/lbgradwell/BedfordSpearampJacksonBAWrenchSet4_zps64d80103.jpg)


BA sizes were actually available down to BA12...

These small ignition wrenches were the last BA/Whitworth tools I was looking for & I think I can now safely say I am fully-equipped!

Title: Re: LG's eBay score for 1/21/13: Bedford (Spear & Jackson) BA DBE Offset Wrench Set!
Post by: Papaw on January 31, 2013, 08:23:55 PM

So now the question is--Which bike will you buy?

I say get one of these!
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Brough_Superior_of_T.E._Lawrence.jpg/800px-Brough_Superior_of_T.E._Lawrence.jpg) Source-  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brough_Superior_of_T.E._Lawrence.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brough_Superior_of_T.E._Lawrence.jpg)
This is the last Brough T E Lawrence owned, and is the one he was riding when he was killed.
It is in the Imperial War Museum.

Title: Re: LG's eBay score for 1/21/13: Bedford (Spear & Jackson) BA DBE Offset Wrench Set!
Post by: lbgradwell on January 31, 2013, 08:51:49 PM

AWESOME!

Title: Re: LG's eBay score for 1/21/13: Bedford (Spear & Jackson) BA DBE Offset Wrench Set!
Post by: Branson on February 01, 2013, 08:00:22 AM

Nice company, Spear and Jackson.  Excellent saws -- and wrenches too?

Lawrence's motorcycle!  Wow!  Just wow!

Title: Re: LG's eBay score for 1/21/13: Bedford (Spear & Jackson) BA DBE Offset Wrench Set!
Post by: lbgradwell on February 01, 2013, 09:16:31 AM

Quote from: Branson on February 01, 2013, 08:00:22 AM

Lawrence's motorcycle!  Wow!  Just wow!

Quite, quite, old boy...

The motorcycle pictured was apparently a SS100 model where "SS" stood for "Super Sports" and the "100" meant it was capable of at least 100mph.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brough_Superior_SS100 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brough_Superior_SS100)

Title: Re: LG's eBay score for 1/21/13: Bedford (Spear & Jackson) BA DBE Offset Wrench Set!
Post by: Papaw on February 01, 2013, 09:40:19 AM

And don't forget to say it right- "bruff", not "bro" superior.

Title: Re: LG's eBay score for 1/21/13: Bedford (Spear & Jackson) BA DBE Offset Wrench Set!
Post by: lbgradwell on February 01, 2013, 05:30:27 PM

Two very old catalogues. Unfortunately, I don't have dates for these:

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/lbgradwell/BedfordCatalogue1.jpg)

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/lbgradwell/BedfordCatalogue2.jpg)


And the old factory (now offices):

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/lbgradwell/BedfordLionWorks.jpg)


The company was founded in 1792!