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-   -   Does anyone know what this is? (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=141744)

Station X 28th Nov 2017 10:10 pm

Does anyone know what this is?
 
3 Attachment(s)
This came from my late father's workshop and is in good clean condition which suggests he used it. The question is what for?

It would appear that the round base plate is designed to fix to a bench or wall and then a work piece of some kind is clamped to it using the wing nut.

Does anyone know what its function was?

Thanks.

ms660 28th Nov 2017 10:50 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
Pot shot...Old magnifier stand...bench...wall...machine?

Lawrence.

Radio_Dave 28th Nov 2017 11:02 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
I used to work in the shoe industry and It looks like the base of an industrial sewing machine lamp to me.

David

Station X 28th Nov 2017 11:05 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
That's certainly very likely, as Dad lived in Norwich all his life, although he didn't work in the Boot and Shoe Industry.

ms660 28th Nov 2017 11:06 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio_Dave (Post 995238)
I used to work in the shoe industry and It looks like the base of an industrial sewing machine lamp to me.

Spot on me thinks:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ing-1724157767

Lawrence.

Radio_Dave 28th Nov 2017 11:15 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
I've found a picture https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5f/0a...2a8fa00805.jpg :).

David

Station X 28th Nov 2017 11:18 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
The forums come up trumps again!

Thanks guys.

I'm pretty sure I don't have the rest of it, but I'll have a look.

broadgage 29th Nov 2017 1:58 am

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
Of course your late father may have used it for some other purpose.
I have seen a very similar stand used to hold a Bunsen burner for evenly heating an article being rotated on a turntable.

(for the purpose of soldering a brass container, the heat had to be even around the circumference)

M0FYA Andy 29th Nov 2017 9:44 am

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
I totally agree, my late father was the maintenance engineer in a hosiery factory with lots of knitting and sewing machines. As a result I had two of these lamps on my electronics bench as a schoolboy back in the 60's. They were fitted with 6 volt bulbs supplied by a transformer hanging on the wall. I might even still have them in 'deep storage' somewhere!
Andy

broadgage 29th Nov 2017 5:42 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
The bulbs most commonly used for these sewing machine lights were frosted reflector lamps, screw base, 12 volt, 17 watt.
6 volt versions were also used, again 17 watts.

The 6 volt or 12 volt supply was often obtained from a tapping* on the motor and therefore not as safe* as it sounds since there was no isolation from the mains.

The 12 volt 17 watt bulbs are still available, and before the LED age were used for other purposes when a directional but not highly focussed light was required from a 12 volt supply.

*I used to work for the maintenance contractor at a large department store that had a tailoring alterations and repairs department.
The factory inspector criticised the lighting on the sewing machines, and I was given the job of retrofitting proper isolating transformers to supply the 12 volt lights.

ColinTheAmpMan1 29th Nov 2017 7:57 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X (Post 995239)
That's certainly very likely, as Dad lived in Norwich all his life, although he didn't work in the Boot and Shoe Industry.

I was under the impression that Northamptonshire was where the "Boot and Shoe" industry was based. Isn't Norwich in Norfolk?
Colin.

M0FYA Andy 29th Nov 2017 8:12 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
The bulbs used in my two examples were certainly not frosted reflector lamps with a screw base. They were small bayonet types, with the reflector as a separate item, part of the lamp.
Andy

Station X 29th Nov 2017 8:26 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinTheAmpMan1 (Post 995464)
Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X (Post 995239)
That's certainly very likely, as Dad lived in Norwich all his life, although he didn't work in the Boot and Shoe Industry.

I was under the impression that Northamptonshire was where the "Boot and Shoe" industry was based. Isn't Norwich in Norfolk?
Colin.

Yes. Norwich is in Norfolk. It was well known for producing Ladies and children's shoes. I can think of at least a dozen shoe factories there.

Herald1360 29th Nov 2017 10:02 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
I want one!

It's steampunk without even trying!

Oldcodger 29th Nov 2017 10:24 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by ColinTheAmpMan1 (Post 995464)
I was under the impression that Northamptonshire was where the "Boot and Shoe" industry was based. Isn't Norwich in Norfolk?
Colin.

I seem to remember that the boot & shoe industry was nationwide ( certainly from I picked up from my late father, who was in the trade for years, as a master shoemaker).

Station X 29th Nov 2017 10:39 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
When asked what their job was people in Norwich would often say that they were "in the boot work". Many of them burned redundant shoe lasts on their open fires.

The National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives (NUBSO) had their headquarters, or possibly a sizeable branch office in Norwich.

The other big centre apart from Northampton and Norwich was Leicester.

Station X 29th Nov 2017 10:41 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Herald1360 (Post 995503)
I want one!

It's steampunk without even trying!

If it's just the stand you want you're welcome to it FOC.

Oldcodger 30th Nov 2017 12:15 am

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X (Post 995516)
When asked what their job was people in Norwich would often say that they were "in the boot work". Many of them burned redundant shoe lasts on their open fires.

I do remember the old lasts, which were made of wood, but when I cleared out late dad's shed with what was left of his collection of lasts ( all metal), I'd have needed at least a 7.5-ton truck to take them away.

frankmcvey 30th Nov 2017 12:50 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
It looks akin to a modern "third hand" - perhaps your father used it as such!

Cheers,

Frank

Herald1360 30th Nov 2017 6:41 pm

Re: Does anyone know what this is?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X (Post 995517)
Quote:

Originally Posted by Herald1360 (Post 995503)
I want one!

It's steampunk without even trying!

If it's just the stand you want you're welcome to it FOC.

No, it was the whole thing.

The stand offer is tempting, but I'd probably never get round to making the rest. Maybe one of our more mechanically proficient members would take up the challenge?


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