Progress is fine, but it's gone on for too long.

Thursday, August 6, 2026

One of my vices is vises, Stanley #702 corner vise

Introduced in 1957, the Stanley 702 was a development of the #700 clamp-on vise (patent 1,765,321 of 1930) which utilized a screw mounted below the bench surface level and L shaped jaws allowing work to be clamped on the bench as well as vertically. Instead of iron, the #702 was aluminum, helping with portability and probably kinder if a chisel or blade slipped.

Steam engine

Someone thought I should have this and I'm grateful! It is purportedly a pre 1900 Locomobile steam car engine, but I haven't had time to confirm that. Can't wait to put a little air pressure to it.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Gray 212C Ball Pein hammer

These hammers made by Canada's quality tool maker should turn up more often than they do, but maybe everyone makes sure they keep theirs. This was another rescue, and has been rehandled.

1973 Catalog

Garrard Speke Sociable

Vintage Car Poster book by Colour Library Books Ltd. 1983

Charles Garrard started his bicycle company in 1900, They started adding small 143cc engines from the French company Clément in 1902 but because they didn't have the capacity they contracted James Lansdowne Norton to manufacture the frames. A V twin was introduced the next year and they added a forecar to the line which in 1911 became this front engine 2 seater three wheeler.

Coincidently 1911 was also the first year for the Morgan 3 wheeler. Garrard was out of business before the start of WW1, and very few of these sociables remain.

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

On the hunt...

Found! On a wall of an old bar, a poster worth posting (ha ha). A little photoshopping and we have a tolerable image. But with the miracle of modern AI, can we make it better?

At random, a possible candidate was discovered (Pixella.ai)) and with the instructions "clean up the red areas, clean up the white areas", the bottom image was produced. For 99¢ I can get it without the watermarks and for $49 per month I can get a subscription. Not going to happen.

I prefer the photoshopped version (with remaining patina)... or with a bit more care in taking the photograph maybe just a image of the original grungy framed bar ornament.

Artist; Hugo Koeke

Williams Superslim Spanners

Found this British-made black finish wrench in my overflowing wrench drawer, it stood out from the rest, it's a nice tool. They were made by T. Williams of Birmingham and were apparently supplied in various vehicle tool kits, but the "superslim" name isn't just a trademark, it is indeed quite thin, about 7mm- when a standard 7/8" (across flats) nut is about 1/2" tall. It's a keeper.

Previous post on the company here.

Below, a complete set still in box seen at a swapmeet some years ago. They're still available at http://www.smithfrancistools.co.uk/ though probably not at this price.