Original Tools

On these pages I share with you sets of original MGTD/TF tools. These tools were provided in a tool roll and were stored in a special tool box on the firewall. As noted in the Operation Manual, not all tools were provided at the time of sale due to supply constraints. At the bottom of this page I provide instructions and dimensions so you can create your own tool roll, just like the originals.

Note: If you need original tools look at the various original and reproduction MG tool suppliers in the Parts/Suppliers New and Used links.

Tools listed on page 16 of the Operation Manual.

^Note on my car the open spanners were marked with both the Whitworth and BSF sizes. The box spanners were not marked at all.

Move your mouse over the picture for an explanation of each tool.

Later style tool roll as described below

Tool pictures above by The In-Point.

Image above a complete MGTF toolkit supplied by Matthew Magilton

A good compliment of original tools and early tool roll.

A 1953 MGTD tool roll.

A MGTF tool roll.

Original Enots grease gun that was supplied with MGTDs. The rear brass cap is stamped "ENOTS No.1.H. Made in England" and was plated in nickel silver . The body was blackened or "blued" like a firearm.


Tecalemit grease gun also part of some toolkits. Interchanged with Enots above.


Shelly Screwdriver. Stamped 'Shelly' on the shaft of the screwdriver about midpoint.

Not part of the original toolkit but certainly a needed period component of an MGTD toolkit.

King Dick jack and lug nut wrench.

Closeup of King Dick Jack

Lug Wrenchs

There are two types of lug wrenches (wheelbraces) for the TD depending on what lug nut size your car has. The early cars had British Standard Fine (BSF) lug nuts and the later cars had Unified (UNF/SAE) lug nuts. The changeover occured somewhere around car TD 12285 (Dec. 10, 1951). A significant problem is that the 'early' BSF nuts require a 7/16W wrench, or a 13/16" wrench. However, the newer UNF/SAE nuts require a 3/4" wrench.

Photos courtesy of Bud Krueger

The Tool Roll

I have seen a number of tool rolls for T-Series MG's. Some are canvas, some others trimmed burlap and some trimmed burlap with a hessian covering on one side. The factory seemed to source the tool rolls with great variety and was probably solely motivated on cost and availability at the time.

A tool roll that I discovered restoring a 1952 Mark II was made of a black tar like covered burlap (hessian). The burlap was brown in color and the covering (outside) resembled a soft pliable fender undercoating. In fact I was so inspired by the similarity of this material I made a reproduction of the roll for my own car. The trouble was that after a few years the undercoating dried and became brittle (as did the original).

Here is how I made my tool roll to the exact specifications of an original MGTD tool roll. You will need the following items:

1. ½ yard of brown (natural) burlap
2. 3M Undercoating (at auto paint stores in spray cans)
3. 2 square inches of soft pliable black leather
4. 1 yard of black cotton seam tape (½ inch)
5. 1 12 inch x ½ inch belt with buckle
6. 2 metal grommets
7. 1 spool of heavy black thread

Directions

Finished dimensions of an original late MGTD tool roll.

1. Coat the burlap (one side only) with your black undercoating and let dry a day or two.
2. Cut the coated burlap to the dimensions provide above. Be sure to round out the corners at the top only. Note also that you will have an angle at the bottom because it will be folded over there. Leave about an eight of an inch extra at the bottom for the next step.
3. Fold the material over at the bottom about an eight of an inch and stitch with black thread
4. Fold the material again 6 inches from the bottom paying attention to the angle of the flap. The left side should be 6 inches high and now the bottom should be square with the sides
5. Tack the folded portion and then encase the outside (non folded) edges with the tape. The tape should be about ¼ inch wide on each side. No cut edges should show after the tape has been applied.
6. Stitch the pockets of the folded portion per the dimensions above. Leave the top open naturally for the tools to slide into. Note that the stitching extends above the pockets about 3/8 inch and follows the angle of the fold. See picture above.
7. Cut the black leather to the pattern above. Its about 1.5 by 1.75 inches with a tapered bottom.
8. Stitch the leather patch on the right hand side per the diagram. Leave the top open
9. Attach the belt to the outside in the middle of the tool area with grommets

Note: For those that don't want to create their own original material for the tool roll, or would like something more durable, the The In-Point has offered to make their reproduction material available to the readers of the Original MGTD Midget for a very reasonable fee.

Order of Tools in Roll

I am not sure about the original order of the tools in the tool roll but this is the order that my tools fit in the pockets the best. From left to right:

1. Set of box spanners and tommy bar
2. Set of open spanners
3. Two tire levers
4. Screwdriver
5. ¾ lb. hammer
6. Ring-type tappet spanner, Adjustable spanner (monkey wrench)
7. Ring spanner for cylinder head nuts, Pair of pliers
8. Pouch - Distributor feeler and screwdriver, tire spanner, and tappet feeler gauge (.019 or .012)

The wheel brace, jack, jack handles, tire pump, lug nut wrench and grease gun were loose in the tool box along with the tool roll. The crank was of course attached to the seat back with clips.

If you don't want to create your own tool roll, or if you need tools, you may want to check out these reproduction kits at The In-Point. You can also find tool rolls at Liverpool MotorWorks.

Grease Guns used in MG Toolkits

by Matthew Magilton

Over the years I have been collecting information on MG toolkits and scouring the swap meets for these tools, particularly the grease guns. Below is a list that may assist owners to find the right gun for their car. I would welcome advice from owners who have an original toolkit gun which is not on this list. I am also looking for old Tecalemit and Enots catalogues.

1. "Tecalemit 65 Made in England" Wooden handle. This appears in both the the P Type and N Type instruction manual toolkit illustrations (retouched photographs). This "large" grease gun is also accompanied by a "small" grease gun which I have yet to find.
2. "Enots pattern 1D" Made by Stone (Enots spelt backwards) Note the extra barrel seam at the nose end and the silver finish on the barrel. Patent numbers are stamped on the nose cone. Missing the nozzle cover. This appears in the TA & TB Service Parts List and the SA Spare Parts List as retouched different photographs. Later 1D's had the same appearance as the 1H and these may have found their way into some TD toolkits (see 1H below).
3. "Tecalemit Plastigun" (Type LJ, Cat No 2750) made from bakelite. This appears in the TC Service Parts List, the TC Instruction Manual and the Series Y (YA) Owners Handbook as retouched photographs. The nozzle was normally larger than on this one and the shaft shorter. Described as an "Oil Gun" in the TC Instruction Manual.
4. "Tecalemit Cat No GC 3000" This appears as a drawn illustration in the YB Owners Handbook and a rare version of the TD Owners Handbook, soon replaced with a filling description, presumably when this type of gun changed to another type. Also used in many other Nuffield Organisation vehicles.
5. "Tecalemit Cat No GC 3020" These were used in Jaguar and Austin Healey toolkits although I have not yet found any reference to use in MG toolkits. This one is very similar to its bigger brother GC 3021 which has a blue plastic disc inlaid into the handle.
6. "Enots pattern 1H" Believed to have been used in TD's, TF's and early MGA's. Made by Benton and Stone of Birmingham who are listed as the manufacturer in both the TF and TF 1500 Operation Manuals. Note the blued finish on the barrel and the often missing nozzle cover.
7. Tecalemit "Cat No GB 2787" Believed to have been used in some MGA's. Very similar to its bigger brother GB 2788.
8. "Tecalemit Cat No GB 2802" This has blue metallic paint with a hammerite finish. Believed to have been used in some MGA's, particularly the Twin Cams. Note the rubber nozzle cover, this has the Tecalemit logo on the end.

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