Cobra Tool Kit - redux

[nkb]

Continuing progress on my tool kit during the long wait for my car to appear. I obtained a vintage set of Elora 100 wrenches. The set actually included 7 wrenches but I selected out the 5 that are appropriate for the Cobra.



I looked at obtaining the thumb screw or the accordion style spanner clip. The latter, as everyone knows, is virtually impossible to find. The repop thumb screw was still an option but I found a vintage, hinged clip from the UK that does the job nicely and looks appropriate, if not absolutely correct. It has no markings. Interestingly there is evidence of a similar shade of blue that seems to appear on some of the original Elora clips.


I would further add some information to the "controversy" about the Elora wrenches being either labelled "Made in W. Germany" vs "Made in Germany". Since a united Germany did not exist from 1949 to 1990 it was concluded by some that the Made in Germany versions must have either pre-dated 1949 or come after 1990 or were perhaps counterfeit.

However, a little research shows that the "Made in Germany" label was used widely even after 1949 when "Germany" per se did not exist.

From various sources:

Made in Germany is not a controlled designation of origin (AOC); however, the status of this label has been the subject of several court decisions in Germany. Thus in 1974, the Federal Court (Bundesgerichtshof) admitted that the designation Made in Germany effectively created confusion between the two Germanies, thereby encouraging the new designations Made in West Germany and, before German reunification, also Made in the GDR.


From this historical fact it could be construed that the “Made in W. Germany” Elora 100 Whitworth wrenches came about from 1974 and would therefore not be correct for an original tool kit. And that the “Made in Germany” spanners (wrenches) would pre-date 1974 and therefore be possibly more correct for a Cobra.

However, there are other sources that say that the “Made in W. Germany" label was used PRIOR to 1974, at the whim of the manufacturer. So, one can easily argue that either version could be right for the 1960's. That both versions could have co-existed in the Cobra timeframe seems to be borne out in the evidence collected by others (e.g. Dan Case).

[Jim Maxwell]

I recently had a German friend send this e-mail to the Elora Company:

"I own numerous Elora tools, including complete sets of Elora No. 100 BSF/BSW wrenches. These tools are from the 1960's. Some of the wrenches in each set are labeled "Made in Germany" and others in the same set are labeled "made in West-Germany". This is true for multiple sets.
Can you explain this to me, please? Were the "made in Germany" wrenches made from holdover molds from before the war? Or were some factories using "Made in Germany" and others using "Made in West Germany"?
Thank you for any enlightenment you can provide about this finding."

Here is the reply from Elora, which should clear things up:

"Guten Tag Herr Csapo,

vielen Dank für Ihre Mail, welche wir Ihnen wie folgt beantworten möchten.

Bis zur Teilung Deutschlands wurden unsere Gesenke mit "Made in Germany" beschriftet. Nach der Teilung in die Ihnen zwei bekannten Staaten, wurde man nicht nur Territorial abgegrenzt, sondern wollte sich daraus ergebend auch technologisch gegenüber dem "Osten" abgrenzen und beschriftete alle neuen Gesenke mit "Made in West Germany". Aufgrund der Übergangszeit aber auch der noch voll funktionsfähigen Gesenke, konnte es über längere Zeiträume zu Vermischungen der jeweiligen Kennzeichnung der Schraubenschlüssel in den Sets kommen.

Wir hoffen Ihre Frage ausreichend beantwortet zu haben und verbleiben.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

i.A. Tobias Klein"

English translation:

"Hello Mr. Csapo,

Thank you for your email, which we would like to answer as follows.

Until the division of Germany, our dies were labeled "Made in Germany". After the division into the two states you know, one was not only territorially demarcated, but also wanted to demarcate technologically from the "East" and labeled all new dies with "Made in West Germany". Due to the transitional period, but also because the dies were still fully functional, the respective markings on the wrenches in the sets could get mixed up over a longer period of time.

We hope to have answered your question sufficiently and remain.

Kind regards

on behalf of Tobias Klein"


I have examined three known to be original Cobra Elora wrench sets that have a mixture of both "Germany and West-Germany" wrenches. Two of the sets had never been opened, including one we unwrapped for the first time last Thursday night, from a one owner car purchased at auction 12 years ago. The current owner had never opened the box.

[Jim Maxwell]

Here are photos of the Elora wrench set unwrapped for the first time on 5/14/2022, from a previously one owner 289 purchased at auction 12 years ago. The new owner had never opened the set.

[nkb]

With a gracious assist, I have now completed my tool kit for my (to be) 289.




All I need now is the car. In process.

[LMH]

Originally Posted by nkb

With a gracious assist, I have now completed my tool kit for my (to be) 289.




All I need now is the car. In process.

Nice job! You need to get a bag to roll it up in too!

Larry

[Jim Maxwell]

I have been making replica Cobra toolkit bags for years with original and new British Everflex vinyl depending on the look you want. Correct ties and cotton thread as original.

[nkb]

Originally Posted by Jim Maxwell

I have been making replica Cobra toolkit bags for years with original and new British Everflex vinyl depending on the look you want. Correct ties and cotton thread as original.

PM sent

[EricKeller]

Originally Posted by Jim Maxwell

I recently had a German friend send this e-mail to the Elora Company:
...Were the "made in Germany" wrenches made from holdover molds from before the war? Or were some factories using "Made in Germany" and others using "Made in West Germany"?
Thank you for any enlightenment you can provide about this finding."

I was impressed by this fact of separation concerning the labels, and searched about it. It was indeed how your letter says, ""West German Pottery" is a term describing pottery made in former West Germany between 1949 & 1989."