Brace and lots of bits

The sizes of imperial bits, were written one of two ways, the first was to engrave with the actual size, so a 1/4“ bit, would be stamped with 1/4" on the shaft of the bit. A 1/2” bit would be stamped with 1/2" on it and so on.

The other way is, bits were made in 16ths of an inch all the way from 1/16th all the way to 16/16th which is an inch and the user would be expected to know what the markings means, so working back words a bit with 16 stamped on it would be one inch because there is 16 16th in and inch, So if the user needed to drill a 3/4 of an inch hole, the user would look for a bit stamped with 12, because 12 is 3/4 of 16 and if the next hole had to be 1/2" inch the user would look for the bit stamped with an 8 because 8 is half of 16. Below is a list of all the bits I bought of a second hand dealer in Norwich, who sharpened all the bits and they came wrapped individually in newspaper to stop them banging into each other. They remained individually wrapped in newspaper until today when I took them out to photograph them and after the photographs were taken the bits were all individually wrapped again. This is how they will be handed over to the new buyer.

Some of the bits have the fraction stamped on them others have the numbers stamped on them

1st photograph

Brace has a ratchet is a Stanley made in England and lots of bits

Short reach sizes 4 (1/4), 2 X 8 (1/2), 8 (1/2), 12 (3/4), 2 X16 (1”)

Normal length bits 4 (1/4), 5 (5/16), 6 (3/8), 2 X 7 (7X16) I think), 3 X 8 (1/2), 2 X 12 (3/4) 1” (16)

Irwin Expansive bit No. 2 Bores Holes 7/8” to 3”

2 X Countersink bit

1 X Double ended flat screwdriver bit

2nd Photograph

Short Bits 4 (1/4), 1X 7 (7/16) 2X 8 (1/2), 1X 12 (3/4), 2X 16 (1”), 1X 18 (1 1/4")

The four diamond shaped heads (which I have no idea what they are for and if you know please email me and tell me) from the best I can measure are 2 X 1/2 and 2 X 5/8 across the widest bit.

The four spade/flat bits are 14mm, 18mm, 3/4", 1 1/4"

The two long curly bits I believe are for drilling end grain, because the normal lead screw on the end of a normal bit often can’t grip in end grain. There are no sizes visible on them, but if I measure across the widest bit one is 7/8” and the other is 1” but as always my measuring is only approximate.

The two bits next to the ones I have described are 1 x 5 (5/16) and the other is 1 X 10 (5/8) I believe this tighter curl is for drilling into hard woods but I am not sure.

The next to bits which are normal twist bits which have the end to fit in the brace, one has 5/16 stamped on it and I think the other one is about 3/8 but I am not sure.

I need to add some information to all my listings, someone said to me you have a lot of listings for tools you must be dealing in them. I have been collecting tools since I was at primary school. Even if I didn't have a use for a tool or couldn't physically use it because of my cerebral palsy, if there was a different tool I could get I wanted it.

The thirst for tools continued all my life, in the 90s I had a couple of good jobs, which meant I could buy better tools and I bought quite a lot of Snap-On tools. After we moved up here from Plymouth my Dad helped me to put a small workshop together and we used to do projects together, I would decide what I wanted made and Dad would help me make it.

My Grandad on my Mum’s side, built his own house and he had just over a 1/3rd of an acre garden which he did all sorts with and continued to build his own tool collection which he handed over to me a couple of months before he died.

My Dad was a plumbing and heating engineer and when he had a clear out, I kept a lot of his old tools.

I continued to live at home with my parents, my Mum was my main carer, however this time last year Mum got very ill and on the 9th January this year we were hit with the news she was terminally ill and during the early hours of the 28th February we lost her.

Dad is 87, it became very obvious very quickly he couldn't look after both of us and at the end of May I moved into supported sheltered living, I have nowhere to use my tools and nobody to help me like my Dad used to and all these tools are getting in the way in my little two bedroom flat.

Also if something goes wrong, I am no longer a customer at the bank of Mum and Dad. For both of these reasons I am selling off almost all of my tools, I have never bought tools or anything else to try and make money, in fact it is obvious the tools I bought new, I am going to sell at a big loss,

Before Christmas I hope to list all the tools I have for sale, then once all or most of them are gone, I will be listing some snap-on draw units, which currently is the home to many of these tools, so to answer the question am I dealing in second hand tools NO definitely not.