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Whitworth - Not Just About Wrenches

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Had no idea about the hexagonal barrel rifles and artillery. The set of Starrett radius gauges in the opening scene made me giggle; I grew up learning to use that same set (now in my toolbox) and all sorts of micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, etc.

Thanks for that link, Rick!
 
Whitworth wrenches. Relics left over from the Dawn of the Industrial Revolution and foisted off on us gullible Yanks in the 1950's. Naturally I have a full set of Snap-On wrenches and 1/2" drive sockets I bought during my MG TD days. Today, they lie fallow in my rollaway cabinet, unused since the 1970s. One of these days, I'll have to part with them...
 
Great video. I knew about the rifles but had never seen a Whitworth artillery piece.
 
Gent from the Civil war shooting group I am a member of just completed his Whitworth cannon project. had it at our National shoot for the cannon competition.
 
Aren't the center release wheels on most of the British cars also a Whitworth design? I've heard them referred to as a Whitworth style wheel in the past but not sure if there is a connection.

I do have a few British Seagull outboard motors that still require my Whitworth sockets and wrenches. I have some broken off bolts that I need to extract, and access to a machine shop, but I do not have a set of Whitworth tap and die tools for the threads.
 
YakkoWarner said:
Aren't the center release wheels on most of the British cars also a Whitworth design? I've heard them referred to as a Whitworth style wheel in the past but not sure if there is a connection.

I do have a few British Seagull outboard motors that still require my Whitworth sockets and wrenches. I have some broken off bolts that I need to extract, and access to a machine shop, but I do not have a set of Whitworth tap and die tools for the threads.
Click to expand...
You're thinking of Rudge-Whitworth. According to a couple of sources, Rudge and Whitworth were two bicycle companies, but Whitworth was started by a fellow named Pugh.

As for the tap & dies, Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Whitworth-Br...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01MQ2M3C9
 
John Turney said:
You're thinking of Rudge-Whitworth. According to a couple of sources, Rudge and Whitworth were two bicycle companies, but Whitworth was started by a fellow named Pugh.

As for the tap & dies, Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Whitworth-Br...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01MQ2M3C9
Click to expand...

Those appear to be Whitworth only. Fine thread were BSF, coarse thread BSW.
British Standard Fine and Whitworth. Most cars, engines, motorbikes etc., had more BSF than Whitworth threads. Head sizes were suitable for Whitworth tools, many are marked with 2 sizes, like 1/4 W, 5/16 BSF.
 
The one I like is a big one marked OBA - whatever that is. I think I used it once. Don't try to cheat if you don't have Whitworth wrenches. Ever skin your knuckles when the wrench slips? I would never use an open-end wrench if I could avoid it.
 
I believe the two head markings came about as an attempt to reduce the number of tools that were needed in a mechanics tool box. At the same time I think there was some adjustment to the head sizes of the nuts and bolts. I could not find a BSW only spanner to compare with the combined one.

I have several sets of BA spanners from O BA to 10 BA. The 2 BA, 4 BA and 6 BA were the most common sizes we used
We also had to contend with the AF spanners. Possible American fine or Across flats was never sure of that one. Then we went Metric.

David

BSF BSW.jpg

Roger said:
Those appear to be Whitworth only. Fine thread were BSF, coarse thread BSW.
British Standard Fine and Whitworth. Most cars, engines, motorbikes etc., had more BSF than Whitworth threads. Head sizes were suitable for Whitworth tools, many are marked with 2 sizes, like 1/4 W, 5/16 BSF.
Click to expand...
 
pdplot said:
The one I like is a big one marked OBA - whatever that is. I think I used it once. Don't try to cheat if you don't have Whitworth wrenches. Ever skin your knuckles when the wrench slips? I would never use an open-end wrench if I could avoid it.
Click to expand...
BA is another thread form, found in electrics and occasionally carburetters.
It stands for British Association. 0BA is Zero BA, the largest size, roughly 1/4 inch. 2 and 4 BA are the most common.
 
Not sure just why I'm droolin' onna keyboard after perusing that site, but THESE have me in a state of anxiety over my "I WANT THOSE!" feeling. I don't need them, but...


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