On Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:47:16 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:


BTW, I have a Black & Decker single speed mains drill (with a metal earthed
body) which is over 50 years old and is still in working condition after a
lot of hard use, both by my father and myself, without ever being repaired.
I wonder if B & D would be interested if they have a museum. Sadly, most
modern equipment seems to have built-in obsolescence.

Indeed - just like a lot of kitchen-type electric stuff. Once upon a
time you could buy replacement elements for kettles; nowadays you're
expected to simply throw a new kettle in the latest colour (pink?)
into your trolley at the horriblemarket.

A chap that was teaching me earlier this year had a 1960's B&D router
- lovely build quality and still a great tool.

My dad's first leccy drill was a Bridges (pre-Stanley Bridges) ¼"
single-speed (of course) thingy in a grey metal case. He had all sorts
of accessories such as a drill stand, a saw table, rubber and metal
sanding disks (ISTR that you stuck sandpaper on to the metal disk with
adhesive from a stick), lambswool polishing mops, et. al.
I burnt the machine out in about 1967, using a 2" or so holesaw in ¾"
chipboard. The machine just slowed down and emitted that awful smell
of overheating armature... He was away at sea, so I just 'lost' the
drill, and bought a B&D, which didn't fit any of the original
accessories, nor did it last five minutes.

--
Frank Erskine