Sheffield

[lurker]

Just a mad thought:

I've been meaning to go up to sheffield and have a look around the tool museums
Anyone interested in making it a forum outing?
I guess it would have to b a Saturday for me as I think I'd go on the train, even though sheffield is less than an hour up the M1.

 

[Racers]

Count me in as I haven't persuaded the wife to go.

Pete

 

[AndyT]

It's a lovely idea. I assume you mean the Hawley Collection in the Kelham Island Museum?
Very much well worth a visit, especially in the company of like minded enthusiasts.

The killer will be finding a day that people can make. Anything in mind?

 

[Tony Zaffuto]

Just a mad thought:

I've been meaning to go up to sheffield and have a look around the tool museums
Anyone interested in making it a forum outing?
I guess it would have to b a Saturday for me as I think I'd go on the train, even though sheffield is less than an hour up the M1.

For us Yanks, that have the utmost respect for English toolmakers and your former steel industry, any chance of posting pics of the sights?

 

[Racers]

As long as the River Don steam engine is running I don't mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lW0PJu8wUg

Pete

 

[lurker]

As long as the River Don steam engine is running I don't mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lW0PJu8wUg

Pete

The website says that's out of action until the end of May.
There is the water wheel not far away though

 

[lurker]

Just to wet appetites


http://www.simt.co.uk


And specifically
http://www.simt.co.uk/kelham-island-mus ... ey-gallery

 

[lurker]

How about a Saturday this side of the May Day bank holiday weekend?

 

[lurker]

and your former steel industry,

Tony,
you are unlikely to know but only about 5 hours ago there has been an announcement that a major uk steel plant is going to be shut down.

If it was a paper shuffling bank the government would be bailing them out.
Chinese dumping is killing the final remains of any industry over here.

 

[undergroundhunter]

I went at the back end of last year and loved it. Don't just go to the museum though take a walk around the area as some of the street names should be familiar to those who know the sheffield makers of old even though most of it is now posh flats. When you go take the guided tour as the gent that took me round was very well informed and a saw maker (could have chatted to him all day but the wife wanted to go to the cafe). Outside of the Hawley collection room is the old street (tucked away in the corner of the building) this is where the saw shop is that Ken was in when the youtube video was shot. Well worth a visit.

Matt

 

[Sheffield Tony]

Thomas Flinn are not very far away either.

 

[Jelly]

I live round the corner and will take any excuse to visit again.

As a thought, If we speak to the SIMT, we may be able to arrange to look at their storage area with one of the curators, in the same vein, anyone with an interest in a specific company could arrange to look at the archives.

Also, it's next to an excellent pub and associated brewery, if anyone is partial to real ale and/or home cooked pies.

 

[lurker]

Jelly that would be good.
Not many other takers though

 

[Jelly]

Lurker, I can see about speaking to SIMT at some point, though an idea of time/date and group size would help.

Is it worth reposting to General Woodworking to see if there's further interest?

 

[AndyT]

Just giving this one a bump, as I expect it may get discussed at Richard's do, and to add a few pertinent facts:

1) The Kelham Island Museum does not open on Saturdays. It seems odd, but the reason is that they earn more money hiring it out as a wedding venue than they get in admissions!

2) Once a month, on Sundays, they do run special escorted tours of the Hawley collection - which is a good way to get to see the stuff you want to see. Dates for the rest of this year are:

Sunday, 5th June
Sunday, 3rd July
Sunday, 7th August
Sunday, 4th September
Sunday, 2nd October
Sunday, 6th November
Sunday, 11th December

3) Coming up on Sunday 9 October is a very special "technical day" as a joint venture by the Ken Hawley Collection Trust, the Furniture History Society and the Tools and Trades History Society. See here for more details - you may recognise one of the presenters!

http://www.taths.org.uk/events/future-e ... -sheffield

 

[skipdiver]

I visit Kelham Island regularly but usually for the excellent pubs in the area.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I'd love to... but a 690 mile round trip's a bit too far.

 

[thomasflinn]

Hi, I saw this and thought you may be interested to hear about a project I am starting working on and will confirm more details as soon as I have final confirmations of plans....
As you may know, we are situated close to the Kelham Island Museum and are being asked more and more frequently about tool sales in Sheffield as there is no physical shop here for such items.....
I thought it's about time we ran an event for tool lovers in the city (and for those who are willing to travel) and where better than at the Kelham Island!

I am planning this event on Sunday 11th September 2016 and will tie in with a heritage open day and special behind the scenes tours of the Hawley Collection which you can sign up for. If we have enough interested people, the museum may be able to put more special tours on of the standard Hawley collection. They will also have the engine running too I believe for us on this day.

So tool lovers, come along and see the museum but even better, you can see/buy Sheffield made tools too! I will confirm which makers will be there and hopefully this is an event we can grow year on year.

The Kelham Island is an amazing place and celebrates our true industrial heritage here in Sheffield and I want to tie this in with the current production we have running here with other similar tool manufacturers.
It's a nice day out and situated on the CAMRA pub trail too

This also ties in nicely with the Year of Making exhibition due to start soon in the Millenium Gallery here in Sheffield, where many of our fine tools and other Sheffield made products will also be on display.

Thanks,
Katie

 

[AndyT]

That sounds wonderful - well worth supporting. I hope I can be there.

 

[lurker]

Brilliant!

Except I am in Iceland (not the supermarket) that day