Wednesday 18th a cold clear start with a dusting of snow on the ground so mostly inside working today.

Greg had been busy painting the drill press so it was time for reassembly and a coating of lanolin on the bare metal parts.

the winding handle is held on with a washer and the shaft peened over to hold it on, obviously the manufacturer was not bothered abut getting the handle to spin centrally so it is back on off set after cleaning and waxing.

partially reassembled

The chuck was heated with oxy acetylene then plunged into old engine oil to turn it black and preserve it.as can be seen in the final photo.

Reassembled and fully working.

Then it was onto a 1946 tree pruner  ex MoD with a crowfoot mark made by Wynn & Timmins of Birmingham..

Greg had already started the work and fitted a new stalk but we need to research the rope, anchor and guides to get it working..

The stalk was painted with linseed oil mixed with a dark stain and the metal parts were de-rusted and coated with lanolin.

the finished item awaiting the rope and guides.

Then it was onto another drill press this time a UNION made in England this is a newer machine than the grey one.

there is a keep roll spring fitted to tension the height winding gear and also a spring loaded pawl to lock it in place.

It was then out to look at a set of platform scales that need a clean and paint touching up but it is far to cold outside to use paint on it.

Then it was out searching for some lengths of 4 X 2 timber to put a floor in the Boxford building however nothing suitable was found.

Wednesday 11th Jan 23

 After the Christmas Break and cold/flu germs it is time to get stuck in again, A clear day with a cold wind then heavy storms meant a change of plans.

Plan A fit the scammel scarab windscreens with new rubbers to weather prof it however the rubber profile was slightly different and a 2 hour fight it was in place but not sitting in fully and the beading would not go in. 

Time for a web search and identical rubber was found 1/2 the price f the rubber supplied.

Plan B kicks in the Fossecross building display contents where Greg has been busy cleaning and preserving old hand tools and mounting them on the wall. Many are in a 1928 hardware catalogue so a information board will be added.

I started on the Victorian wheel barrow which just needed a clean and painting with raw linseed oil of which it used nearly a full bottle as it soaked into the dry timber..

#

the 1920's drill stand has been stood for year and it was rusted solid so nothing moved when trying to operate it. drastic action with the oxy acetylene got it free before stripping in the vice.

once the top was free of the pillar and in the vice so oil and rocking the controls got it moving. So a full strip was decided on.

to apply downwards pressure to the drill bit you have to turn the top wheel  rather than pull a lever.

Surprised we got it apart with no damage so ow the tidy up and rebuild can begin.

 Freshspring, an auxiliary navy water carrier now preserved at Bideford Devon.

Thought readers might be interested in this little known rescue, to

 find out more google ssfreshspring.co.uk

 Working on GWR Collett coach 4777 today.

This circular metal plate was an addition, when the vehicle was converted for departmental use, it is not original, and was some sort of ventilator, but the structure in the centre had rotted away.

The coach had a gaping hole where it had been on the corridor end, I soldered in a blanking plate and reinstalled it to its former position.

A swift restoration.

There are loads of artefacts that we have lying around, and it is always best if they are restored and in presentable condition

This pair of early 20th Century Compasses took a few minutes to put into good order and now reside on the desk in the Winchcombe coal office, looking the part.

Here the floor in the AA box is being sanded to remove paint splashes

It now has a Yale rim lock and can be opened with any AA members key, as well as any RAC key too, there was a reciprocal arrangement between the two organisations so as not to leave any motorist stranded.

A new display of old forgotten tools is taking shape in the Foss Cross building.

The tools have been restored, rustproofed and are hanging on the metal walls courtesy of some strong magnets.

  

 Some historical spots

A couple of panels of Narrow Gauge railway track uncovered by the tides on Bude Beach.

These rails have been hidden for decades under the sands

Sand was collected from the beach for use on the fields of Devon and Cornwall and a railway was used to remove the sand and thence taken inland via the Bude canal, these are relics in situ on the beach.

Can anyone shed any light on this old vessel at Bideford Quay?

Monday the 19th Dec after the snow

 Well the snow and sub zero temperature put paid to the previous weeks work so a warm windy Monday has sufficed.

The AA box got it’s final coats of paint inside and some holes in the tin panels blocked to stop water ingress.

The fittings are now going back in starting with a brass ashtray and the Andoversford area map which is on a pressed board a fire runner of plastics.

The next step is a door lock, refit the phone and add some motoring memorabilia then we need two signs for the outside 242 it’s original number when sited at the crossroads.

The Foxcross building needed cleaning out now all the leaves have dropped from the trees the wind did not make the job easy blowing them debris around.

The new rubber ethanol proof fuel hose for the Scammel has been fitted to replace the old discoloured plastic somebody had fitted years ago.

Greg has been busy cleaning up vintage tools and applying a preservative to protect them the idea being these will go on display in the Foxcross building as a display.

The other task was cutting and fitting diagonal braces into a leaning garden shed before it collapsed.

The planned job of fitting the scammel windscreens  was a no go as the new rubbers are in Gregs car which has been stuck at a garage awaiting parts

A poignant moment, Keith makes the first phone call in over 60 years from the AA box.

December the 7th a cold frosty start.

 Started in the workshop with the fire well stoked to warm it up.

First task was a old British Railways oil burner lamp the trust was gifted but it was heavily corroded and had various solder repairs done over time. However the door and lock hinges were rusted solid and had been soaking in oil to no avail so the blow torch was applied again to no avail but after removing the door the hinge moved so it was also soldered closed.

inside was a reservoir and burner plus a spare burner all well corroded, the glass panels eventually came out and Greg attempted a light shot blast of the remaining metal of which it turned out there was very little.

The light as gifted

The internals even the reservoirs were pin holed

Stripped prior to cleaning

And it was beyond repair.

when it was warmer outside the scammel had the oil filter refitted after a clean and paint of the bell housing area using a blow torch to warm and dry the metal before painting, this disturbed the old plastic fuel hose which just cracked and fell apart so the unions were removed and taken home to facilitate assembly using new 8mm R9 fuel hose.

The brake vacuum reservoir tank was refitted after cleaning and painting so the motor is now back together pending the new fuel hose fitment.

It was then time to move onto the Morris dropside truck where the lower door hinge was located in the shed so shot blasted and repainted prior to re fitting which proved a challenge as the screws were heavily corroded and mounting anchor plates adrift in the door posts but challenges we over came.

Greg welded up a hole in the inner wing area which was solid but a potential water trap.

Greg had cleaned up and got the scammel dash looking good so the speedo has been cleaned and refitted. The dash and switches will remain out until we can get the new windscreen rubbers so the cab can be made water proof.