A pair of pairs of Shelley pliers (is that right)

The short pair is just over 6 1/4 inch the longer pair just over 7 inch, I'm hoping the short one is correct for my big4 tool kit, the longer pair is W/l D stamped so is presumably a general issue military tool although all the tool set lists I can find say 8 inchs is normal.





And a Shelley open ended 3/8, 5/16 spanner (6 inch long), is this correct as part of the Norton tool kit? also could the identifying stamp "935" be the last 3 figures of a frame or census number so it doesn't get nicked?





Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

Rob, the pliers for Norton kits are a bit of a puzzle. They weren't included in the spare parts lists but are in the LV7s as far back as 1938 where they are described as - Pliers 7" - In the later manuals they are simply 'Pliers' but do look in the line drawings to be about 1" longer than the 6" 'Perfect' pattern screwdrivers.

It may be that if they were LV7 items, they weren't supplied by Norton / Shelley but were random WD issue.

This is a photo of mine (just under 7") with a toy-like 6" Abingdon pair for comparison.



Your 5/16" x 3/8" spanner looks good to me, based on an examination of parts lists and period photos. Here's mine :-

I don't know about the three-digit stamping. It's something that I've seen on quite a lot of spanners that I haven't immediately thought of as WD. I've had a rummage though and can only find one in my toolboxes that is similar.



Having attempted to mark tools in the past, I'd be surprised if they were stamped post-hardening. It would take a hell of a whack with a hand-held punch.

Thanks for the reply Rik, what does it say on the other arm of your pliers opposite the "SHELLEY" I can't quite make it out?

Quite a few Shelley pliers on Ebay are being described as for "MG" or other car tool kits so presumably this style carried on for a while after the war so that's not helping.

I suppose for the purpose of stamping a spanner could be softened and then re-hardened but looking at the damage to the ends of my spanner perhaps it wasn't that hard in the first place.

Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

Rob, the stamp on my pliers says 'British Made' which probably indicates post-war manufacture. Certainly not wartime but possibly pre-war.

Shelley were certainly in business into the 1970s, making Land-Rover jacks at least but I don't know when the brand stopped being used for hand tools.

I once looked at two hammers on the 'Vintage Tools' stand at Beaulieu. They had clearly been produced with the same tooling....one was £5, the other £60 and when I asked why, the answer was the 'Shelley' stamp which made MG owners happy to pay the extra.

If I find a better pair of pliers, I'd buy them, but only at a bargain price. I have no intention of getting into an eBay bidding war.

I like the idea of an MG tool kit being made up of a pair of pliers and a hammer. Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk