Revisiting an old hobby

[jdm]

2 hours ago, AndyHull said:

Could the shaft be bent rather than out of round I wonder?

That is what I had asked the machine shop to test as well. I was there but they were too quick in dismissing me and my stupid shaft. Will update... sorry to hijack your topic Andy.

[AndyHull]

8 hours ago, jdm said:

sorry to hijack your topic Andy.

Feel free to hijack it. Its a long and rambling thread anyway, and I'm intrigued by the problem.

[AndyHull]

This astronomical clock came up on Hackaday and I thought it worth sharing here.
Full details including the build process is here ->  http://my-time-machines.net/my_current_project3.htm

.. and for completeness the Hackaday link is here -> https://hackaday.com/blog/

[AndyHull]

  

In case anybody wonders where my recent post about screwdrivers went, no it didn't get removed for being naughty.

Its been moved here ->

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2022 by AndyHull

[AndyHull]

More low cost Indian tools. This time a tap and die set including a small pin vice (not shown  in this picture).
 

Like the Screwdriver set, its actually not terrible. Obviously time will tell whether it remains sharp, or cuts accurate threads, but for the small number of threads I cut, or clean/chase, its likely to be fine.

[jdm]

44 minutes ago, AndyHull said:

Like the Screwdriver set, its actually not terrible. Obviously time will tell whether it remains sharp, or cuts accurate threads, but for the small number of threads I cut, or clean/chase, its likely to be fine.

These actually have a poor reputation, but perhaps some is due to stressing them to hard material, not using good lubrication or technique. Mine came in a lovely wooden box, if I could find a source for these boxes I'd buy plenty.

[luiazazrambo]

1 minute ago, jdm said:

These actually have a poor reputation, but perhaps some is due to stressing them to hard material, not using good lubrication or technique. Mine came in a lovely wooden box, if I could find a source for these boxes I'd buy plenty.

Could you show us a picture please?

[jdm]

4 minutes ago, luiazazrambo said:

Could you show us a picture please?

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/0070mm-to-0200mm-indian

[AndyHull]

I know "The Range" shops in the UK do an assortment of small wooden boxes that they call "craft boxes".
The styles vary depending on presumably whatever their supplier sends, but there are often some quite good ones. If you have one of their stores nearby, you could take a look.
https://www.therange.co.uk/arts-and-crafts/craft-supplies/boxes-shapes-and-letters/craft-boxes#575351

Of course here in India you can pick up small wooden boxes like the one you show pretty much anywhere, and even order them from Amazon.in however Amazon Indian suppliers are unlikely to ship to the UK.

You could of course make your own. The hinges and clasps are available on ebay, and pine and thin plywood is easy to come by. If you have a craft knife, a mitre saw, or even a fret saw and a wood router or even a router attachment for a Dremel, and some wood glue, you have everything you need. Even the router is optional, you can just piece them together with clamps and wood glue. Sand to finish, add a little Danish oil or spray or paint on some varnish and you are done.

Obviously though, that all takes time, but it does let you customise the box to your own requirements.
 

Edited January 26, 2022 by AndyHull

[luiazazrambo]

I have another restoration project for a Zapfenbohrmaschinchen No 1959 from Herr Georg Jacob where the hinges are beyond repair, tried to find a similar one on eBay but failed. I thought that I buy a brass sheet and make a jig like Pask Makes: Pask Makes Hinges

I love his other videos as well.

[AndyHull]

Looking at the strange construction of that hinge, I would guess it was cut down from a longer hinge.

Would 16mm x 13mm do?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234353158934?hash=item3690896b16:g:0ToAAOSwbEdhyYed

There are lots of similar hinges on ebay, but none exactly the same.

Strangely I had already watched that youtube video, and also wondered if I could make my own for a small Victorian ink stand which also has broken non standard hinges. That project hasn't reached the front of the queue yet though.

Edited January 26, 2022 by AndyHull

[JohnD]

THIS looks like it might do as a replacement.....

[luiazazrambo]

Thank you, I found these, but I did not like the holes in them. I probably should not be so picky about it? I also bought piano hinges but I did not pay attention when I bought them, they only open up 90 degree, I could file away the piece which is stopping it to further open but then it would not look so good.

I am pretty sure a fly press would help here..  

Edited January 26, 2022 by luiazazrambo

[AndyHull]

I've picked up a couple of relatively early quartz watches over the last year or two, and was looking in to the history of quartz movements. Now the purists amongst us have  probably switched off at this point, and gone off to make them selves a nice cup of tea, and mutter darkly about quartz watches not being "real" watches but for those remaining, particularly those with an interest in history or electronics, this article might be worth a read.

https://ethw.org/First-Hand:The_First_Quartz_Wrist_Watch#Chronology_of_the_First_Quartz_Wrist_Watch

Edited February 12, 2022 by AndyHull

[AndyHull]

A Trafalgar 25 jewel (almost certainly ladies) automatic, a minor radiological hazard in the form of an Ingersoll "Simba" with a broken hand, and a 1972 Timex Marlin which I suspect is missing its second hand, for a pound sixty six each plus postage.

The Marlin is really the one I was bidding for, the other two may be interesting too though.

I think I have some hands that might work with the Ingersoll, I almost certainly have a second hand for the Marlin, and I'm intrigued to see what lurks within the Trafalgar.
 

Speaking of hands, I just watched this video from Vintage Watch Services, in which he turns a couple of hands for a Pavel Bure pocket watch (which he also services).
 

 

[AndyHull]

Once in a while I spot an interesting calculator (spares or repair naturally).

This is today's find. A 1982 FX-720P(F) with 2K ram module included.

This calculator is very similar to the Casio PB-100 and the Tandy (Radio Shack) PC-4, which have the same architecture, but without the RAM expansion module capability.

These were quite the cutting edge machine back in the day, as they run a version of the Basic programming language, and could be interfaced to a printer and cassette interface for "limitless storage", assuming you had limitless patience to mess about with cassette tapes of course. The Casio FX-xxxP series and the PB-xxxx series calculators have a bit of a cult following still, and in working condition this thing is worth considerably more than I picked it up for.

It doesn't quite make it in to the 404 club bracket, but assuming I can resurrect  it, it will make a nice addition to my small collection of Casios.

Edited February 23, 2022 by AndyHull

[AndyHull]

On the same theme, here is another fixer upper I picked up recently, this time a very scruffy looking HP-14C

Edited February 23, 2022 by AndyHull

[AndyHull]

 

A vintage Starrett outside micrometer (150mm to 175mm) no 436m described as not working, locked up. This was pickd up for a 404 club price on ebay, but working examples go for around five to  ten times what I paid, and of course I also get the fun of fixing it.

The fault is probably just years of dirt (or someone has perhaps engaged the lock on it).

150mm is a little large for watch work, however I'm sure I'll make good use of it elsewhere.
Mechanical micrometers have the obvious advantage that the batteries never go flat of course.

Edited March 28, 2022 by AndyHull

[AndyHull]

I took the plunge with the £2.90 microscope objective as I am really curious to know if it is any good at all. I decided not to go for the full set, but I did also grab a pair of x10 eyepieces. I can possibly use those on another microscope I am rebuilding.

[AndyHull]

I've just spent a relaxing hour or so reading through some very interesting pocket watch articles here.

https://german242.com/en/category/pocket-watch/

You can take a listen to one of them here.

https://german242.com/w/bueche/bueche.mp3

(Image (c) German242.com)

The whole site is worth a read.

Edited April 2, 2022 by AndyHull

[grsnovi]

I'm wondering if your intro is the longest running intro on the board?

Is that musical beauty above yours?

[AndyHull]

On 4/4/2022 at 8:38 PM, grsnovi said:

I'm wondering if your intro is the longest running intro on the board?

I think you could be right.

On 4/4/2022 at 8:38 PM, grsnovi said:

Is that musical beauty above yours?

Sadly, no. It is a very interesting piece, but they are pretty rare. I don't know how much it is worth, but I suspect it might be a little bit out of my price bracket.

[grsnovi]

7 hours ago, AndyHull said:

Sadly, no. It is a very interesting piece, but they are pretty rare...

@AndyHullWell, it's a beauty. As to price ranges, I think we all make adjustments there as we move along and our interests change. I had a beautiful JLC sun/moon with display back that I just wasn't wearing (because of the cost I think) so I sold it to a watch dealer so I could add camera lenses to the pile (they're gone now too, replaced by others for different bodies).

[AndyHull]

11 hours ago, grsnovi said:

@AndyHullWell, it's a beauty. As to price ranges, I think we all make adjustments there as we move along and our interests change. I had a beautiful JLC sun/moon with display back that I just wasn't wearing (because of the cost I think) so I sold it to a watch dealer so I could add camera lenses to the pile (they're gone now too, replaced by others for different bodies).

Sounds familiar.

[AndyHull]

70 Hands (or 23 feet four inches if you are a horse).

Quite a useful selection for a 404 club price.

Edited April 17, 2022 by AndyHull