Today I acquired...........

[Kram]

Coffee maker for my work bag/van.

Rocktrail Portable Coffee Maker - | Lidl UK

Rocktrail Portable Coffee Maker - Practical and compact – ideal for when you're camping and outdoors Suitable for whole beans Reusable filter No

www.lidl.co.uk

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

As I found out very recently, if I learn with my left hand I can write it down with my right hand!
Or I could utilise technology and get a translator to create a text file

The technology of that time looked like a mechanical typewriter, compact in size. Each key is programmed in Morse code. But to receive a radio transmission packet, I had to hear it. The recording was carried out exclusively in pencil (does not wash off with water, gently glides over the paper). "Handwriting of a radio operator" can be recognized if he works on the radio regularly.

 

[BarrieJ]

I read somewhere online that a competent operator could take 3 or 4 morse messages simultaeneously, and that they could identify the operator if they are a 'regular' to them.

My late father in law was in the RN 1939 to 46, then Reserve to 53, he said you'd recognise the 'fist' of a couple of regulars, although he didn't claim to be an expert. Post war, he'd liberated a key pad, wired it up to a couple of batteries and a buzzer and he'd try to teach the grandkids how to send. they were quite young and I think just couldn't get their heads around how people could communicate using it. I recall my son taking it in to the local Cub Scouts to show them a WW2 Morse key. You still seem them for sale on eBay.

 

[Gragson]

The technology of that time looked like a mechanical typewriter, compact in size. Each key is programmed

Bletchley park in the mid 70s was one of our playgrounds, just 200meters from my house, the woods inside cordend off by badly maintained palisade fencing, a lot of the 8ft high steel slats had rusted out bottom rivets, so very easy to slide them to the side and get in as a ten year old. I don't believe anyone really cared about the place back then.

In the wooded area there were lots of wood boxes with mechanical keyboard type machines that were not typewriters, just thrown all over in the woods.
Wish I had the knowledge then.

 

[Farside]

I got this morse key yesterday at the hamfest for £20
View attachment 398128

Nice Hi-Mound, been keeping an eye open for one recently.
Just scored another Russki key, from Ukraine, where it was made and kept brand new, inna box for years.

 

[Farside]

It's got filtering underneath to quench sparking from the contacts, as these keys (like many Russian ones) were designed to cope with some pretty crude valve circuitry.

Supposedly, and I don't know how true this is, it's a copy of one of the Junkers keys.

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

It's got filtering underneath to quench sparking from the contacts, as these keys (like many Russian ones) were designed to cope with some pretty crude valve circuitry.View attachment 398338View attachment 398339View attachment 398340View attachment 398341

Supposedly, and I don't know how true this is, it's a copy of one of the Junkers keys.

This is a vertical standard key. There were also horizontal ones, where the work was done not with the hand, but with the finger, for a higher speed of character transmission. Small swing arm. When the first PC computers appeared, it was easy for me to master touch typing. Didn't like mechanical keyboards for Morse. Large key travel, friction in the levers, the keys are too closely spaced, "military ergonomics", the hands were located at an unnatural angle and the hands got tired.

 

[My Old Landy]

It's got filtering underneath to quench sparking from the contacts, as these keys (like many Russian ones) were designed to cope with some pretty crude valve circuitry.View attachment 398338View attachment 398339View attachment 398340View attachment 398341

Supposedly, and I don't know how true this is, it's a copy of one of the Junkers keys.

That really is a thing of beauty! The HK-108 were plentiful at the hamfest, most going for £20 - £30 depending on condition.

 

[Smouser]

Took a little trip today to collect a shaper.
It is an Invicta 4M shaper. As I understand, Invicta was later merged/bought out by Elliott.

I once again grabbed my Chinese engine crane. How the thing have not collapsed yet I don't know.

It really was a tough job for the crane. It could JUST manage to lift the shaper. It was super dodgy and I tried to stay as far away as I can in case something failed.

Luckily I got it on wooden blocks on the floor without incident where I could move it with my pump truck.

It looks like this shaper has done some work in its life so I hope it is not too worn.

It will be some time before I can focus on properly working on it.

 

[zeppelin builder]

The plan is to build a shed with solar panels on the roof and I also have at least one working wind turbine, a Rutland Furlmatic. Not much outout, 300W IIRC, but that will likely be pretty constant because of the wind up here. I'd like it all to be connected through the house and use it as a power wall, draw on it when the price is high, charge it when cheap. I've a friend who knows about these things so won't struggle for technical advice and have also helped him service similar set ups but using lead acid cells.

 

[zeppelin builder]

today i aqquired for the DSG a good selection of grooving ,parting tools ,ceramic insert tools for ard stuff , and enough parting inserts to cause much metal butchery /crunching noises

 

[James1979]

Took a little trip today to collect a shaper.
It is an Invicta 4M shaper. As I understand, Invicta was later merged/bought out by Elliott.

View attachment 398442

I once again grabbed my Chinese engine crane. How the thing have not collapsed yet I don't know.

View attachment 398443

It really was a tough job for the crane. It could JUST manage to lift the shaper. It was super dodgy and I tried to stay as far away as I can in case something failed.

View attachment 398444

View attachment 398447

Luckily I got it on wooden blocks on the floor without incident where I could move it with my pump truck.

View attachment 398448

It looks like this shaper has done some work in its life so I hope it is not too worn.

It will be some time before I can focus on properly working on it.

Is your driveway rubber mats? Can’t work it out

 

[Smouser]

Is your driveway rubber mats? Can’t work it out

They are 'ground guards'. Perfect to construct temporary car parks/roads in fields etc. Almost like a road plate but they can obviously not span gaps as they are from some sort of composite/rubber/plastic material.

I don't have anywhere to store them, so I am 'storing' them on my drive.

 

[Rannsachair]

Big thanks to @Kerelise for sending me bound motorcycling mags from 1949 to 1951:

Bikes I am familiar with:

Germany producing quality again a relatively short time after the war:

Close to home:

Same problems today:

A proper racing bike and PPE:

 

[Shox Dr]

@Rannsachair. Loved the piece about Panniers. When I first started going to bike rallies 30yrs ago, Id take a tarp, and beer that was it. Now my bike looks like that kids game Buck-a-Roo

Iam constantly looking for lighter weight gear that takes up less space. Bought a Led Lenser camp light last week to replace a Gas mantle lamp, that takes up too much space.
Gives a lovely warm glow, unlike most LEDs

 

[Maker]

I was out with my OM10 trying to get some long exposures with my new ND filter and shutter cable, when I noticed some movement in the long grass, a heron!



(No, I still haven't sorted out a good scanning setup)

Unfortunately I only have a 50mm lens, I knew it was never going to be a good picture, so of course I walked home scrolling on eBay...



300mm f/4 should do the trick.

Since buying that, I spent some time with some friends who were all eager to play with the cameras, which has made me realise I really need a wider lens too, perhaps a 24mm, probably to fit the Olympus as I've got so much Canon FD stuff now.

 

[6ply]

Took a little trip today to collect a shaper.
It is an Invicta 4M shaper. As I understand, Invicta was later merged/bought out by Elliott.

View attachment 398442

I once again grabbed my Chinese engine crane. How the thing have not collapsed yet I don't know.

View attachment 398443

It really was a tough job for the crane. It could JUST manage to lift the shaper. It was super dodgy and I tried to stay as far away as I can in case something failed.

View attachment 398444

View attachment 398447

Luckily I got it on wooden blocks on the floor without incident where I could move it with my pump truck.

View attachment 398448

It looks like this shaper has done some work in its life so I hope it is not too worn.

It will be some time before I can focus on properly working on it.

Amazing that didn't kill that little crane.

 

[Smouser]

Amazing that didn't kill that little crane.

Or me

 

[Olderisbetter]

Another car... Austin A35

 

[GRW]

...... a "new" runabout

Ticket till May '24, lots of service history & receipts, all handbooks etc, all original. 85K miles, 1.6 petrol (old Audi lump I believe?).
If it does a year it'll be grand, but if more then terrific.
Some surface rust I could see on the rear suspension arms, and of course its not mint (it's clean, tidy & all there though), & the silencer box has seen better days, but new discs & pads up front, and drives straight & quiet.