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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Unusual Spanner

Had a great day today picking up a rare T Type cylinder head spanner & three other nice items. The oddball was an open ended spanner marked 1/4" BSF at one end & 2BA at the other. This mixing of types on the one spanner I've never seen before. Sure It's not uncommon to see both Whitworth & BSF on the one spanner as they are clearly related but BA & BSF? As far as I'm aware the only thing they have in common is that they were both made in England. The spanner is slightly less than 4" in length with Made in England embossed on one side & Spearpoint on the other. Both sides carry the embossed 1/4" BSF at one end & 2BA at the other. Anybody ever seen this before or know where this spanner came from or how/why this came about? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Hi Peter,

Don't think your spanner is anything to do with T Types - others may know better! Mind you despite a widely held myth, tool kits varied a lot, not always with the named 'original' makers. In early 1950s UK there was a shortage of specific steel and tool types, and MG like all factories got them from where they could - you wouldn't hold up production! Who would care at the time - the customer had waited for months or over a year to get their new car.

I would keep the spanner Peter - it is possibly from the 1950s, the brand name was well known, linked I understand at one time with Norton motorcycle tool kits, and no doubt many others.

Cheers,

John
J C Mitchell

Thanks John. BA threads along with BSF threads were also used on T Types. One particularly strange example of the juxtaposition of these threads is on the TD handbrake pawl rod. The bottom end of the rod carries a 3/16" BSF thread but the thread at the top of the rod, which secures the chrome button, is 2 BA! Both threads are very similar to look at & must have caused some confusion during assembly. You're correct about this oddball as it is not mentioned in TC, TD or TF tool kits. Although the suppliers did indeed vary I believe the list of tools remained unchanged. I intend to hang onto it as there are a few places on the car where I can put it to good use. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter, can you add a picture? Thanks. Jud
J K Chapin

Jud. Pics showing both sides. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Pic 2

P Hehir

I think I have one of those as well! Those sizes anyway on the same wrench (spanner). It also has RCAF stamped into it.

.. CR
C.R. Tyrell

Thanks Peter. Jud
J K Chapin

That is a useful wrench for a T. The carb in particular has 2BA as do some of the electrical components (eg:Field Coil on generator) The Tool kit does not have any BA tools

I would love to find one.
Don Harmer

Agree Don. What I don't get is the hybrid! I Googled Spearpoint & could find nothing like it. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter

If you are interested in unusual tools, check some of these;

http://www.ozwrenches.com/forsale.htm

The combination spanner/feeler gauge items are particularly intriguing.

Graeme
G Evans

Good link Graeme!
Anyone get the "Contact us" link to work? I would like to know where they are.

Matthew.
M Magilton

Matthew

Contact link should create a link to your Email program displaying this address "george@ozwrenches.com".

Graeme
G Evans

Hi Graeme & Matthew. I've been in contact with George for the past few months & have bought some tools from him. He's in Victoria not all that far from you Matthew. Nice guy. We're both about to restore a Shelley 10 DL & have been looking into replacing the bearing. My interest in vintage tools starts & ends with the TD tool roll & I now have almost one & a half sets. The BSF/BA combo however was a tool I just couldn't resist. Not for $2:50 anyway! Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter would you mind emailing his address and phone number please? He has some tempting items.

Cheers,
Matthew.
M Magilton

Sure Matthew. I'll dig it out in the morning. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter and Graeme: I think you just unleashed a monster. Don't get in Matthews way for tools :-)
Christopher Couper

Matthew you have mail.
P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 11/12/2014 and 13/12/2014

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