Repro Tool Kit Question

[Bill Michigan]

The repro tool kit recently described in a "New Reproduction Parts" post seems to be an outstanding deal:
http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php? ... 8&start=60
(post #67)

I readily paid significantly more than that for a like-new kit that was described to me as "original tools in a repro pouch."

I'm curious about one thing: How can one tell the difference between a repro tool and an original?

Thanks,

Bill

[mgcjag]

Hi Bill...lots of info on tools on the forum...just try a search....viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6394 or this tool roll for almost 1/2 the price https://www.classic-motor-cars.co.uk/cl ... l-kit_3990

[abowie]

Depends on what you want. Purists and concourse entrants will want original tools only. Ditto the correct jack.

Repros are for when originality doesn't bother you but you want a tool roll.

The tools are not really suitable for actual use and as such are purely decorative. I have a couple of original tool rolls and Metallifacture jacks for all my cars. They are all in a cupboard in my shed.

[Bill Michigan]

Thank you Steve and Andrew for your replies and additional info.

At this point, though, I've already bought a tool kit. I'm just curious if the tools in it are originals or repros. Any ideas on how to tell?

Thanks,

Bill

[Red Kite]

I had a look at one yesterday at the NEC classic show.
It is a repro tool roll with modern tools in it, althought the spanners do say Jaguar on them !

[Bill Michigan]

I apologize--When writing my #4 post I had not fully looked through one of Steve's recommended threads (viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6394), which is a trove of information on tool correctness and originality, and also includes links to other relevant threads.

I now understand the difficulty and complexity of determining whether a given tool is original. I had assumed (or hoped) that it was a simple matter of looking for a specific feature or mark on the tool. Instead, I'll need to consider each tool individually and compare it to the photos and descriptions in those helpful threads.

Thank you all for your help.

Regards,

Bill

[budmarston@aol.com]

Good morning, Bill -

Original Series 1, -2 and -3 toolkits varied from year to year. Jaguar used multiple brands for many tools, and typically sets of specific tools, such as open spanners, featured more than one brand in a given toolkit. At least six brands of tire pressure gauges were used, depending on the timeframe. Some tools, such as Tommy bars, were not branded. The surface finish also varied for some tools: many were black oxide but a few were blued. The earliest adjustable wrench (Garrington) was completely black oxide (including its jaws), whereas the jaws of later wrenches were polished with no black oxide. Three different bleeder tins (two Dunlop, one Girling) were used depending on the year. Original Thor hammers featured an ampersand between "Copper" and "Rawhide". All pliers, made by Sheffield Steel Products, featured multiple varieties of SSP stamp. Box spanners would have been center-marked or end-stamped depending on the year. The tool rolls for Series 2 and Series 3 E-types were identical but of different material; the Series 2 roll is not reproduced whereas good reproductions of the Series 1 and -3 rolls are available. Verifying authenticity of individual tools can be done by comparing them with known original examples.

I have spent a year acquiring an example of every single tool issued by Jaguar for its toolkits between 1961 and 1974 as well as original tool rolls and am working with Jaguar Clubs of North America (JCNA) to publish detailed information with beautiful professional photos. The two 6-page articles - one covering Series 1 tools and the other covering Series 2 and -3 tools - will be publised in JCNA's Jaguar Journal magazine in 2020. Using these two articles as reference, E-type owners should be able to authenticate individual tools and assemble toolkits that were precisely original for a specific year of E-type manufacture. All information was painstakingly coordinated with Jaguar researcher Roger Payne of Australia.

Regards,
Bud Marston
Alexandria, VA

[vikla]

The UK E-Type Club published in its magazine a couple of years ago a huge set of monthly articles going into massive detail of all E-Type tools. They started in June 2017 written by Roger Payne. Members have access to them. This list is here:
https://160dd44f-1330-457b-9f03-1b300fa ... 4d6083.pdf

[budmarston@aol.com]

Yes, indeed, noted Jaguar researcher Roger Payne, Australia, authored 22 articles for tools in "The E-Type" magazine during 2017–2019 in which he provides exceptionally detailed commentary and photos. The challenge: acquire copies of or links to all 22 articles and pour through the exceptionally detailed text to isolate specific tools that might be of interest to specific readers. I am guessing that few of JCNA's 6,000 members are even aware of Mr. Payne's exceptional research and do not have access to the superb "The E-Type" magazine, which is not available hardcopy in the United States.

I have attempted to distill more than 150 pages of detailed text and photos by Roger Payne into 12 pages of text and photos for two articles to be published in 2020.

Regards, Bud Marston

[PeterCrespin]

As & when Bud’s work is published (Jan-Feb is already full), it may be handy to note that on the JCNA.com website, under the ‘Merchandise’ tab and then ‘JCNA Publications’ there is an option to buy the then-current issue. You’ll see the link if you scroll down about halfway. Previews look good.

Pete Crespin
Editor
Jaguar Journal

[mgcjag]

We now have over 5000 members registered here on the forum......anyone that wants to reach the widest possible E type audience feel free to post here.....It will add to our already huge compliation of E type knowledge that is free to all.......and be greatfully recieved ....Steve

[Bill Michigan]

Just FYI--There's an interesting thread on the Ferrari Chat forum about fake tool kits. (Original tool kits for some of those cars apparently go for as much as $20,000.)
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threa ... -146903280

Bill

[budmarston@aol.com]

I am not aware of individual reproduction E-type tools being passed off as original. But I have seen complete tool kits described as "original" that include incorrect (albeit original) tools. For example, an "all-original outside bonnet latch tool kit" with end-stamped nesting box spanners would not be correctly described, as all nesting box spanners until December 1961 were center-stamped. I attribute such oversights to limited available information on E-type tools and kits.