When the mist had cleared - Today's Bootfair

[jimi43]

Well it's nearly 75 degress in old money now but it was like a set for "Hound of the Baskervilles" this morning at 6am.....but through the mist....

The benefit today was that I had £15 more in my budget pot to spend...and spend it I did...but only to invest you understand!

Ok...so since I was in the "demand" phase of the bootfair...I did some shopping for things I needed...and top of my list was a nice little press...not too big....not too small...to use as the compression device for my name stamp:

I'm really chuffed as it was only a tenner....bargain!

Next a really lucky find....

...an angle gauge of very high pedigree! Those of you who know precision instruments will recognise this Swiss made beauty:

Yes...a TESA...and for a tenner...a fraction of it's current price of £428!!!Now...the thing is...do I sell it on FleaBay and buy some more infills or shall I use it...decisions...decisions! :wink:

I then meandered around and chanced upon a guy selling a variety of machine tools for 50p a go...fill ya boots Jim!

Two metal stirrup things...lathe I think...brilliant machine knobs on them which can be used for something soon..of that I'm certain! Yet ANOTHER bleedin' caliper and adjustable square...a tin of cold rivets...just what I needed for my Fibonacci gauge (watch this space)...and a machine block precision set to 45 degrees (everyone should have one!)

In the next box he had some real gems...

A very beautiful and very old steel....a LV and boxwood lead beater...a boxwood dolly...a pocket magnifier to read darn tool marks in the sun....an ingenious Stanley knife and an absolutely stunning octagonal handle outside gouge of mysterious maker.....

....it still has the remanents of the label on the handle!

I don't think I have seen a more beautiful example of this type of handle.

So...the bootfair mystery mark of the day...any takers????? ALF!!! ALF!!! :mrgreen: (UPDATE...I know the maker now but will leave the question as I know you guys and gals like mysteries! :wink: )

In order to retract the knife blade....you pull on this handle....

Never seen one of those before and that will be in my pocket in the workshop from now on!

We now entered the "supply" phase of the day...wandering aimlessly picking up "interesting" items....and they don't come more interesting than this!

The first camera I had aged 12 was a Zenit E....and some fine photos it took too for a cheapo Russian jobbie....but I always lusted after one of the "James Bond" type PHOTOSNIPERS....

Of course...I don't have the darn camera anymore...and in any case...it has to be a Zenit ES which has the trigger under the body to take the amazing firing mechanism on the trigger...but what a fun item and pristine too! So that and this laser dot gun sight...

....blew the rest of my budget but at least I can spend the rest of the afternoon saying..."My name is Jimi...Jimi Bond" and "Shaken not Stirred" to Annie....and then put them on FleaBay to raise funds for my next outing!

Anyone else have fun in the sun today? :mrgreen:

Jim

 

[Scouse]

You're a lucky boy, not just for the (now usual!) haul of great stuff, but for the weather; rained off up here, and I spoke to the bloke who organises the Sunday one and the field's waterlogged, so next week it is!

Love the last two, but use them up here and you are liable to get Tazered!

 

[AndyT]

an absolutely stunning octagonal handle outside gouge of mysterious maker.....

....it still has the remanents of the label on the handle!

I don't think I have seen a more beautiful example of this type of handle.

So...the bootfair mystery mark of the day...any takers????? ALF!!! ALF!!! :mrgreen: (UPDATE...I know the maker now but will leave the question as I know you guys and gals like mysteries! :wink: )

If Alf's not around, may I offer a suggestion?

I think the Goat's Head mark belongs to Sheffield tool makers CT Skelton - as can be seen a bit more clearly here:

Do I get a prize? :wink:

 

[Digit]

Do you accept orders? :lol:

Roy.

 

[munkypuzel]

Those little black stanley knifes were standard issue when I woked at BT 20+ years ago..

... I still have a few in their packaging 8)

 

[Mark A]

You could hold up a corner shop with that thing!

Here in Sunny South Wales it's raining again so no car boot sales . It's been dry for the past few days but now it's started to rain it probably won't stop for a week. That's something to look forward to.

 

[Digit]

We're getting our share here in west Wales Mark, we are promised a fine day for tomorrow.
But yesterday's forcast was rain, it was very hot and sunny, so I'll wait and see.

Roy.

 

[Mark A]

we are promised a fine day for tomorrow

Don't believe them! I think they must rely on runecasting or animal entrails to predict the weather. Well whatever they do they're usually wrong.

 

[Digit]

Can't beat a bit of sea weed I reckon! :lol:

Roy.

 

[Mark A]

Can't beat a bit of sea weed I reckon! :lol:

Write to the Met Office - can't do any harm! Going by their current predictions it would probably be an improvement. And their skin will be nice and moisturised...

 

[Digit]

I've got a Met reporting station one mile from me Mark, can't help but wonder what they report.

Roy.

 

[jimi43]

If Alf's not around, may I offer a suggestion?

I think the Goat's Head mark belongs to Sheffield tool makers CT Skelton - as can be seen a bit more clearly here:

Do I get a prize? :wink:

BRAVO ANDY!!! It is indeed the Goat's Head trademark of Charles T Skelton of Sheafbank Works, Sheffield.....according to Grace's Guide.

They mainly made garden tools but earlier products were chisels and saws...amongst other things...1855 to.....not sure...they are around in 1961 but the trail stops there.

I think this is early 20th C....

And yes...you win the "Bootfair Mark Recognition Award"!!! ALF will be jealous! :mrgreen:

You could hold up a corner shop with that thing!

Indeed Mark...when I was researching it, on one camera forum they suggest that it is illegal to use in public...something about the anti-terrorism act.

I don't know about that but I ain't about to be waltzing about Tottenham with it! :mrgreen:

I assembled it for a mate at the bootfair today and had so many strange looks, discretion won over valour and I hastily put it away again! :mrgreen:

Anyone not rained off today?

Jim

Cheers

Jim

 

[jimi43]

Do you accept orders? :lol:

Roy.

What are you after Roy....? :mrgreen:

Those little black stanley knifes were standard issue when I woked at BT 20+ years ago..

... I still have a few in their packaging 8)

That's fantastic! Both to know their common use and that you have pristine ones. Can you do me a favour. The back screw is Philips and the blade screw is crosshead...which is correct?

I ordered some blades for it from FleaBay today as it is a fantastic size and I can see it being really handy to have in your pocket when doing certain jobs like wiring!

I need to do more research on the steel...it is so beautifully patinated and the word "WARRANTED STEEL" is in a really old font. I will get my macro lens out to show you all later.

The top looks like it comes off for some reason but I don't want to force it.

Jim

 

[9fingers]

Two metal stirrup things...lathe I think...brilliant machine knobs on them which can be used for something soon..of that I'm certain!

Jim

Those clamps belong to matching engineers V blocks. Not sure if they are standard sizes. I only have one pair (with clamps) and no makers name.

Bob

 

[jimi43]

Those clamps belong to matching engineers V blocks. Not sure if they are standard sizes. I only have one pair (with clamps) and no makers name.

Bob

Thanks for clearing that one up Bob....how do they work...do you know?

Also..I am kicking myself a bit because the guy that sold me the TESA angle gauge had a sine table in a box...for a fiver...and I resisted...but wish I had bought it now...

Next week maybe! :mrgreen:

Jim

 

[Digit]

The Tessa protractor's a nice piece.

Roy.

 

[johnf]

Here are my bootsale finds first up is a dewalt 650 belt sander and 14 new 80 grit belts for £15

second a record hold fast bench clamp never used for £5

 

[9fingers]

Those clamps belong to matching engineers V blocks. Not sure if they are standard sizes. I only have one pair (with clamps) and no makers name.

Bob

Thanks for clearing that one up Bob....how do they work...do you know?

Also..I am kicking myself a bit because the guy that sold me the TESA angle gauge had a sine table in a box...for a fiver...and I resisted...but wish I had bought it now...

Next week maybe! :mrgreen:

Jim

Here is one of my vee blocks with clamp in use

HTH

Bob

 

[jimi43]

Yes Roy...I've just been fiddling with it and it is super accurate! It is supposed to be accurate within 5' but I think you can calibrate it by adjusting three screws at the rear of the case. Not having any knowledge whatever of the procedure...I think I will just leave it as "near enough!"

This will come in really handy for toolmaking....can I afford to keep it though? I can keep it for a few weeks at least...can't I? :lol:

Those are real bargains John...a DW belt sander for £15!!! :roll:

I have a couple of older Record holdfasts with the adjustable screws and I like them a lot! There is no doubt that the simple shepherd's crook ones are quicker...and I may get some one day from Richard...but the ones I have do me ok for now...when I am working on the bench that is!

John...it is all totally clear now...and I do see V blocks occasionally...at least now I know what I need to look out for and can measure the width required for each of the stirrup clamps.

Jim

 

[Digit]

All we ever seem to get at our local CBs is SH clothes!

Roy.