Austin Seven Toolkit
- by Ian Moorcraft
- Download this article here
Many of the cars you see here today have been meticulously researched to get those final details to return the car as far as is possible to the condition it left Longbridge all those years ago.
Often overlooked is the toolkit that was supplied with each new car. The kit was incredibly comprehensive for such a cheap car, each item being of high quality. Some of the items were Austin manufactured while others were procured from good toolmakers of the day.
The kit shown is from my own 1928 Chummy and complete except for a small greasing attachment for the hubs and a feeler gauge for the plugs and tappets.
The items varied in small ways from model to model, some may not require all of the items shown but may have addition items added. The complete list for your particular car will be in the ‘Drivers Handbook’ supplied with the car when new.
In addition to the toolkit each car was sent out with a spare head gasket, a Drivers Handbook, Illustrated Spare Parts book, a Spare Parts Price List, a Schedule of Repairs costs and an envelope containing a coloured Greasing Chart’.
Not all of the tools are marked, the ones that are, being the plug box spanner impressed ‘AUSTIN’, small box spanner has an impressed ‘A’ on the large end, tyre lever ‘DUNLOP’ in half inch stamped letters, valve lifter has a ‘A’ in a triangle on the thumbscrew, open ended spanners have a raised ‘Austin ‘script, pliers are ‘Shelly’ and jack by Midas (the last two may also be from different suppliers).
I am reliably informed that the majority of the small tools (contained in the tool roll) together with the handbooks and head gasket were placed under the drivers seat (passenger seat on later cars) of the new car, while the remainder were contained in a ‘waxed’ cardboard box with a coloured sticker (to denote Austin model 7,12,20.) For the Seven I think it was pink, and was placed in the rear compartment floor behind the front seats on delivery of the new car.
Many of these tools can still be found at autojumbles or boot sales, while Ebay is also a good source but expect to pay high prices.
Happy hunting!
Ian Moorcraft
