Member postings for Martin King 2

Hi Roger Davies4,

"retired explosives engineer"!

That sounds like a fun job! Please elaborate!

Many years I was able to take the 3 underwater explosives courses at Fort Bovisand in Plymouth offered by the British Sub Aqua Club.

Had a great time learning the basics and it came in handy once or twice using shape charges on wreck propellers..

Apologies for the thread hijack!

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

Interesting hat the camera is sited near the bottom of a long straight hill, presumably to catch as many (income producing) drivers as possible. Single yellow camera on a post, not gantry.

Ian P, thanks for that, must be great being a saint!

Vic, pretty sure my speedometer (Peugeot digital readout type), reads a bit fast from some timed laps on a private circuit in France. Did it out of interest about 3 years ago at an FOC meeting, (sadly not an owner anymore though!).

Thanks for the info everyone.

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

Coming back from Cornwall yesterday, nice clear almost empty roads and good weather so was bowling along with cruise control set at 77mph.

Gabbing away to the missus so did not notice the speed increase as we went down a long hill but too late saw the grid lines on the road.

Looked in the mirror just in time to see a camera flash JUST ONCE. I had not missed another flash. (84mph!)

I thought they had to flash twice to get you using some sort of DOPPLER?

Or is this just wishful thinking?

Not looking forward to a late Xmas present from Devon Police!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Martin

Hi All,

Cobblers glazing irons are very common with George Barnsley among the best makes from UK

Some of the French made ones are very collectable and come in a variety of slightly differing numbered profiles.

Used hot as always evidenced by the charred handles; these used to sit on a circular cast iron stand with scalloped edge to hold the tools in or near a flame ready for use.

They do actually "glaze" the welt edges when used correctly.

The holders are seriously rare as nearly always smashed being of very thin section cast iron.

On the silly note: on film sets the new runners were often sent to get a "long weight" or " sky hooks" by the riggers!

Have a great Xmas everyone! Martin

Hi All,

I just got this funny little metal boxed Sewing Machine in with the junk haul I grabbed last week.

I was amazed when I started to research it and discovered the great story behind it, British Swindlers at their best in Victorian days.

Worth a read!

LINK

Thanks Guys, I would never had got that on my own!

Cheers, Martin

MIck B1,

Many thanks for that useful info, much appreciated.

The item is now on its way to its new owner, clearly much prized my military types!

The multi tool is doing well beyond my wildest expectations!

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

Here is an unusual clamping type tool by FOOTPRINT, uses leather washers at the pivot so cannot clamp very tightly, jaw seem able two grip in two directions. Cannot find it in their catalogues?

Or is it a part of something else perhaps?

Any thoughts please?

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

The definitive answer for the other multi tool shown above is this:

"Serjeants Pattern #4, adopted in 1858. These were for the Pattern 1853 Enfield range of muzzle loading longarms. It is missing the worm, which is a pity, however it does have nice & matching militia unit markings which are seldom encountered."

Apparently there were two versions with differing lengths to the screwdriver section, this is the more common shorter version.

Cheers, Martin

Hi Bill,

thanks for the link to the restoration, I quite like the green finish.

I have an artist friend who wants to have a go at the traditional freehand gold swirl finish often found on these.

Cheers, Martin

It may not be clear from my photo but the handle is a tapered hexagonal section, very irregular in shape.

Bill, I should say that we have also had many Dryad wooden presses and ploughs.

Martin

Bill Phinn,

Actually a nipping press, certainly by Dryad of Leicester as evidenced by the great big Lion and stylised letter D

cast into the underside!

we have had exactly 12 of these presses over the years from our stock book records, they come in 3 quality grades a-c.

Cheers, Martin

Nicholas,

I think that the set up on the mill will be more rigid for the squaring up?

Martin

Nicholas,

I like the look of that idea! Will try that after I have squared up the ends using Jason's suggestion, many thanks.

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

I will try Jason.s method for squaring up the handle ends. Have got a nice beefy angle plate.

I only have a very small pillar drill with no room for something this size.

Even if I can get the handle in the 4 jaw on my Myford I cannot hold the outboard end safely? Certainly no room in the spindle.

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

Just picked up this nice DRYAD book Press bought at a local auction, good price because of the damage to the handle.

Handles are sometimes REALLY hard to remove but this one will come off OK.

I would like some suggestions as to the best way to hold this awkward shaped piece in order to square the ends and drill centrally along the axis to allow the fixing of whatever new handle knobs I decide on.

These may be modified brass door knobs or bought in round or egg shaped hardwood items.

Cheers, Martin

Hi Bob,

Closer examination of the 'double clamp' thing reveals this so you are certainly correct.

Not sure if the other marks tell us more?

Cheers, Martin

Hi all,

Last item is this one, Only thing I can think of is some sort of adjuster for windage or elevation?

Brass plate is marked "inches per 25 yds".

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

The third item is I am sure a gunsight, possibly not complete; I have no idea what it would fit.

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

Here are the pics of the next item which I think is part of the lock assembly from perhaps a pistol. Sadly I cannot make out the scripted signature, sorry about the out of focus close up!