Samuel Pepys was a tool collector!

[AndyT]

I just came across this, while looking for something else, as you do...

Here is Samuel Pepys, wealthy man about town, writing in his famous diary, on Wednesday, 24 October 1660: he fancies doing some woodwork and has bought a box of tools:

"...and so home, where I found a box of Carpenter’s tools sent by my cozen, Thomas Pepys, which I had bespoke of him for to employ myself with sometimes..."

On Tuesday 24 March 1662/3 he nearly buys a ruler but the price is too high:

"Thence Sir J. Minnes and I homewards calling at Browne’s, the mathematician in the Minnerys, with a design of buying White’s ruler to measure timber with, but could not agree on the price."

But by Tuesday 14 August 1666, the itch for more tools needs to be scratched, and there's another delivery at the Pepys household:

"Up, and comes Mr. Foley and his man, with a box of a great variety of carpenter’s and joyner’s tooles, which I had bespoke, to me, which please me mightily; but I will have more. "

So here is early evidence of what we all know - one box of tools is not enough - special rules can be expensive - and if you get a second box of tools, it's still not enough!



If you want to read more, there is an excellent site where entries were 'published' one per day, then annotated by keen and knowledgeable volunteers.

http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1660/10/24/
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1663/03/24/
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1666/08/14/

 

[bugbear]

If you want to read more, there is an excellent site where entries were 'published' one per day, then annotated by keen and knowledgeable volunteers.

That is a fine example of amateurism at its best.

BugBear

 

[Eric The Viking]

And so to bead (-ing)?

I'll get me tote...

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

apart from the more flowery language...its not that different from reading a post on here is it

 

[AndyT]

apart from the more flowery language...its not that different from reading a post on here is it

Well yes, but... have a look at the entry for 14 August 1666 for an example of how he was too busy to find any time to look at his new tools... there is nothing about sharpening and polishing but he's up ' smutting' til the early hours!

 

[markturner]

He was certainly a bit of an old goat, always having a bit of slap and tickle with various ladies, from the maid to his wifes friends........

 

[KevM]

Old goat indeed, and remarkably frank in his diary entries:

and feeling for a chamber-pott, there was none, I having called the mayde up out of her bed, she had forgot I suppose to put one there; so I was forced in this strange house to rise and ***** in the chimney twice; and so to bed and was very well again (*rhymes with Tom *** in the original)

So, exactly which bit of being a chimney sweep was supposed to be lucky?

http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1665/09/28/

 

[Cheshirechappie]

and feeling for a chamber-pott, there was none, I having called the mayde up out of her bed, she had forgot I suppose to put one there; so I was forced in this strange house to rise and dung* in the chimney twice; and so to bed and was very well again (*rhymes with Tom *** in the original)

The world has much to thank Thomas Crapper for.....

 

[Harbo]

If you were on QI you'd get the hooter for that comment!

And Chamber Pots still fairly common in the 1960's

Rod

 

[custard]

Great find Andy, thanks for posting!