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Durex Industrial metal and number steel punches- any ideas of the company?


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At the risk of getting myself a yellow card I'm trying to find out who manufactured some metal letter and number punches that I have been given.


I know that the London Rubber Company (LRC) made many more products than the well known condom brand (now in the hands of a separate company) inlcuding marigold washing up gloves. From memory they also made rubber 13 amp plugs (obviously electrical ones), the brand now owned by MK electrical.


But a steel prouct doesn't sound right, There is a Durex Industries in the US, but they are electrical control equipment in manufacturing.


Not got any further on Google beyond interesting reading on the LRC product they are most well known for (an exemplory employer onced manufaturing in Chingford).


Plenty of opportunities for meriment. Although not my intention.


They are 1/8 inch, I'm after 6mm or quarter of an inch for a classic car commission number plate, if there are any of you with a set in your shed. You are welcome to my collection!


Is there a prize for the most surreal or unusual thread?

I think they are cheap imported products that you would have bought in street markets forty years ago, the quality of the printing on the box is poor.


On closer reading, the font on the warranty is tiny, made in Taiwan and a PO Box in Montreal.


Well that was a nice distraction from the current situation.


Wonder why the importer selected the brand name though.

Rumour has it that china named a city "Sheffield" so they could state "made in Sheffield"


I have a load of old marples & footprint wood chisels that were made in Sheffield, vastly superior to the crap tools made now

The "Durex" name was also used by several European watchmakers from the 1920's to at least the 1950's because, I suspect, it combines the concept of durabiltiy/robustness with a name that sounds and looks to be a little like Rolex.

What an informative and interesting thread.


I wonder where the idea for the original UK brand came from. Obviously in modern times it became synonymous with the principal product.


I've got some nice old British tools and there is a stall at Hayes boot sale that sells refurbished ones. Always worth Tring Posh Junk too.


These punches seem OK but don't know how durable they would prove

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