Tool Talk

Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: Sunbeam500cc on August 01, 2020, 11:10:51 AM

Title: Never seen another; Wooler motorcycle wrench from the early 1950's.
Post by: Sunbeam500cc on August 01, 2020, 11:10:51 AM
A Wooler motorcycle spanner from the UK.

The motorcycles were never put into production and only about 5 were made. This spanner was "the toolkit" as the bike only used two fixing sizes (10mm & 14mm); this was when we Brits were firmly in the Whitworth/BSCY camps.

The Pathe news reel shows the spanner (briefly) and one on the headlight (winged) as a mascot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j_NjhYGZMc

Title: Re: Never seen another; Wooler motorcycle wrench from the early 1950's.
Post by: Papaw on August 01, 2020, 12:47:27 PM
Totally a new one for me!
Title: Re: Never seen another; Wooler motorcycle wrench from the early 1950's.
Post by: Bill Houghton on August 03, 2020, 10:20:37 AM
Pretty nifty.  I looked up the motorcycles, and they were pretty interesting.  The 1955 flat four design looks like it was designed someone who once saw a BMW R50 of similar age pass by on a dark night, in the rain, about 100 yards away, and decided to replicate it.  But, yeah...if I found one at a yard sale, I'd snap it up.
Title: Re: Never seen another; Wooler motorcycle wrench from the early 1950's.
Post by: lptools on August 03, 2020, 10:33:16 AM
Hey, Bill. Do you often find motorcycles at yard sales?  :cheesy:
Title: Re: Never seen another; Wooler motorcycle wrench from the early 1950's.
Post by: Papaw on August 03, 2020, 11:30:17 AM
Hey, Bill. Do you often find motorcycles at yard sales?  :cheesy:

I have seen a few at yard sales and bought a BMW R75 once that had been in the guy's backyard so  long that it has fallen and sunk into  the ground on the right side. I saw some parts I could use, so I bought it for $50 !
My son and some friends helped me load it in my truck and take it home. As soon as it was out of the truck, they disappeared ! I hd to move it with frozen wheels to the back and got a hernia doing that.
I never used it and a year or do later sold both my BMWs because I couldn't trust my balance enough to ride any longer.
I MIGHT get another some day !
Title: Re: Never seen another; Wooler motorcycle wrench from the early 1950's.
Post by: Yadda on August 03, 2020, 05:56:42 PM
Assemble in 12 minutes. Simplicity indeed.
Title: Re: Never seen another; Wooler motorcycle wrench from the early 1950's.
Post by: Bill Houghton on August 03, 2020, 06:24:45 PM
Hey, Bill. Do you often find motorcycles at yard sales?  :cheesy:
No.  And I long ago decided that part of my life was done, so, even if I found them, I'd probably walk past them.  Unless they were as cool as the Wooler, or Sunbeam, or some of the other neat designs; but, even then...

On the other hand, show me a Borgward Sport Coupe at a good price at a yard sale, and I'll be renting the car trailer within ten minutes.
Title: Re: Never seen another; Wooler motorcycle wrench from the early 1950's.
Post by: papadan on August 03, 2020, 09:08:47 PM
Closest thing I ever had to a Sunbeam, was a tiny little car in the mid 70s. 4door, Fugly little thing and it didn't have anywhere near 500cc engine.  :embarrassed:
Title: Re: Never seen another; Wooler motorcycle wrench from the early 1950's.
Post by: EVILDR235 on August 04, 2020, 02:07:46 AM
I picked up a mid 1960's Honda 160 Scrambler twin about 30 years ago for $50.00 at a garage sale. Motor was stuck, but the bike was real clean. A cycle dismantler had a used motor for $150.00 exchange with no refunds if bad. I should have pushed it to the back of the garage and tore into it at a later date. Gave it to a guy at work for his kid to play with. Wound up buying a Kawasaki KZ250. Something the wife could ride too, which she did.

EvilDr235