Sometimes old tools are useful

Yes the case of an old steel rule was just the right size to stop a cabinet wobbling in my old garage. Brian

I regularly use some tools that retirees gave my dad, having used them for donkeys' years, when he started his apprenticeship in 1936.

Bill

I still use whitworth stuff. Here's why

NT

I think the only thing I've needed a 1/4W spanner for is to remove the jaws from my ancient vice, luckily my neighbour has a set.

I needed a 7/64 allen key the other day but all mine are metric (2.5mm too small, 3mm too large) turns out a T15 torx bit is a pretty good fit.

That's one benefit of being old. I started out with the then current tools which included Imperial and AF, etc, so still have them. And added Metric when it came along. Having the larger size BSW/BSF spanners, and AF, and Metric means I've always got one which is a perfect fit to those plumbing fittings. ;-)

I believe above above 6 mm the metric and Whitworth threads are identical in pitch. So the 5/16 whitorth would have been ok as it is.

There are some sizes of metric, whitworth and AC or UNC where the wrong nut may well fit a bolt, etc. So ok for a non critical application.

Same with some spanner sizes.

Unfortunately not in this case, Almost fitted but I had to retap to get the castors in.