Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock? All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is sad,
because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big Ben that
lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would be
nice.

Thanks in advance!

Harry

Harold Davis wrote

Does someone know where I might get
hold of a decent mechanical alarm clock?

Mad to want one.

All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the
top by Acctim that lasts a few months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto
- which is sad, because the original Westclox clocks were
superb - I had a Big Ben that lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year
guarantee or better would be nice.

In your dreams.

On 19/10/2014 22:11, Rod Speed wrote:
Harold Davis wrote
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock?

Mad to want one.
All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is
sad, because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big
Ben that lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would
be nice.

In your dreams.

Tick ****ing tock ****ing tick

Harold Davis wrote:
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock? All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is sad,
because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big Ben that
lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would be
nice.

Thanks in advance!

Harry

What's the game? Some sort of old-fashioned IRA bomb, with the contact
where the bell should be?

Bill

Chuckle. I'm sure there are some still about though, second hand.I can only
assume one needs them on the one way Mars trip where batteries are not
easy to come by, and the sun is not as bright.


A few years ago some specialist jewellers reconditioned some of the classic
old wind up clocks, but they were not cheap.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Don" wrote in message
...
On 19/10/2014 22:11, Rod Speed wrote:
Harold Davis wrote
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock?

Mad to want one.
All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is
sad, because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big
Ben that lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would
be nice.

In your dreams.

Tick ****ing tock ****ing tick

I also note in the original post that if a clock lasted 40 years its not
really surprising that the company who made it went out of business.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
Harold Davis wrote:
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock? All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is sad,
because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big Ben that
lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would be
nice.

Thanks in advance!

Harry

What's the game? Some sort of old-fashioned IRA bomb, with the contact
where the bell should be?

Bill

Bill Wright wrote in
:

Harold Davis wrote:
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock? All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a
few months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is
sad, because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big
Ben that lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would
be nice.

Thanks in advance!

What's the game? Some sort of old-fashioned IRA bomb, with the contact
where the bell should be?

!! You think only a terrorist prefers a proper clock?

What do you think about people who prefer not to have mobile phones? The
same?

Harry

"Harold Davis" wrote in message
...
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock?

Unfortunately not. Not only have mechanical clocks and watches
been rendered obsolete by electronics - wiping out 500 year old
traditions of precision engineering skills at a stoke - but the
remaining mechanical alarm clocks, as you've seen for yourself,
seem to be sold solely on price.

What seems to have happened is the the sort of person who
nowadays would be willing to pay £100 or £150* for a decent
mechanical alarm clock constructed out of machined metal
parts rather than moulded plastic, is the sort of person
who's not in need of a mechanical alarm clock. And who
if they do buy mechnical clocks will willing pay a lot
more than £150 for them.

* In the days when mechnical alarm clocks held a monopoly
economies of scale and mass production meant that they could
sell for maybe a fifth or less of what would be the equivalent
price for a clock of similar quality today.


michael adams

....
All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is sad,
because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big Ben that
lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would be
nice.

Thanks in advance!

Harry

In article ,
Harold Davis wrote:
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock? All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is
sad, because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big Ben
that lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would be
nice.

Thanks in advance!

Think you'll be lucky to find a decently made new clockwork one. Perhaps
in Harrods or a West End jeweller?

If you said what the problem was with a quartz type, perhaps some might
have ideas on how to get round it?

--
*Beware - animal lover - brakes for pussy*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Monday, 20 October 2014 11:50:17 UTC+1, Harold Davis wrote:




!! You think only a terrorist prefers a proper clock?



What do you think about people who prefer not to have mobile phones? The
same?

I prefer not to have a mobile phone.

I can fully inderstand why somneone would want an older style clock if you didn't want battery hassles and it's for someone that's used to , a clear easy to read dial and a proper bell ring rather than an annoying bleep bleep.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zeon-Westclo.../dp/B001DCHD2W

I'm sure I used to know the reason why analogue clocks appear on show as 10:09 .

"whisky-dave" wrote in message
...
On Monday, 20 October 2014 11:50:17 UTC+1, Harold Davis wrote:




!! You think only a terrorist prefers a proper clock?



What do you think about people who prefer not to have mobile phones? The
same?

I prefer not to have a mobile phone.

I can fully inderstand why somneone would want an older style clock if
you didn't want battery hassles and it's for someone that's used to ,
a clear easy to read dial and a proper bell ring rather than an annoying bleep bleep.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zeon-Westclo.../dp/B001DCHD2W


I often find it best to start with the 1 star reviews (in this
case the 3 star reviews aren't that much better) for
some products. The 5 star reviews are often posted by people
who've only used the product for a week or two. Even if some
reviews may not be for exactly the same model - sometimes
an Amazon glitch - I find it unlikely that the quality would
differ that much from the same manufacturer

quote

A true Classic has been ruined, 24 Jan 2010
By
G. Pinch (Leics, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Zeon Westclox 1964 Big Ben Classic Alarm Clock
(Kitchen & Home)
I had a Westclox Baby Ben given to me when I went to college in the
late '70s and chose to buy a Big Ben when I started work in '81; that
one lasted me until last summer (2009).
The Westclox name and design has been taken over by a Chinese firm
and the result is a huge disappointment. The alarm silencing button
has been moved from on top (a good place for a fumbling hand) to
the back of the clock; most of the casing is now of plastic; the
alarm is tinny and weak; the face is unreadable in the dark and
the setting knobs small and fiddly.
O tempora o mores.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars clock, 24 April 2012
By
roman - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Zeon Westclox 1964 Big Ben Classic Alarm
Clock (Kitchen & Home)
sorry I didn't take more notice of the poor reviews of this
product. It is so tacky , the keys on the back are too close
together to work properly and the clock's tick is very noisy!!
a very poor product. don't buy!
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No
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Comment Comment


1.0 out of 5 stars Biggest item of rubbish, 19 Oct 2014
By
Carol Pike - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Zeon Westclox 1964 Big Ben Classic
Alarm Clock (Kitchen & Home)
I had one and the alarm wouldnt switch off, they replaced
and the knob to change the connection to cgange the time
has fallen out therefore the clock is useless to me know.

Its the biggest lot of rubbish I have ever had.

I mwill now have to look for another clock that I can wind
up which is my preference but it certainly wont be big ben.

The last Westclox I had lasted me years this one only weeks
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1.0 out of 5 stars not good for a clock, 12 Aug 2014
By
Grahame Pattison - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Zeon Westclox 1964 Big Ben Classic
Alarm Clock (Kitchen & Home)
Need to be desparate to buy another, worked for just over
12 months, now the only way it will work ,is laying face
down, not good for a clock . !!!!!
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1.0 out of 5 stars never had one like this., 12 Sep 2014
By
Mark Howlett - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Zeon Westclox 1964 Big Ben Classic
Alarm Clock (Kitchen & Home)
Very disappointing, does not keep time and often stops for
no apparent reason.
Had this type of clock for many years, never had one
like this. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars zeon westclox, 23 April 2014
By
ziggyzeta "budgi" (essex) - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Zeon Westclox 1964 Big Ben Classic
Alarm Clock (Kitchen & Home)
Looks simular but that's where it ends cheap reproduction
but not cheap in price, alarm is not repetitive a wrong buy
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars alarm clock, 25 Mar 2014
By
maureen - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Zeon Westclox 1964 Big Ben Classic Alarm Clock (Kitchen & Home)
this clock turned out to be a load of rubbish. it looked nice, but was not very
serviceable. thank you
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Dreadful., 20 Sep 2013
By
Belinda Brown - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Zeon Westclox 1964 Big Ben Classic Alarm Clock (Kitchen & Home)
Dreadful. Broke down after hardly any usage. It is a wind up a clock not a battery
clock - I don't have a problem with that but very shortly after purchase it stopped being
able to keep the time even shortly after being wound up.
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revi...DateDescending

quote


michael adams

....

On 20/10/14 15:45, whisky-dave wrote:
On Monday, 20 October 2014 11:50:17 UTC+1, Harold Davis wrote:




!! You think only a terrorist prefers a proper clock?



What do you think about people who prefer not to have mobile phones? The
same?

I prefer not to have a mobile phone.

I can fully inderstand why somneone would want an older style clock if you didn't want battery hassles and it's for someone that's used to , a clear easy to read dial and a proper bell ring rather than an annoying bleep bleep.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zeon-Westclo.../dp/B001DCHD2W

I'm sure I used to know the reason why analogue clocks appear on show as 10:09 .





My Android phone has several alarms loaded, with difference times and
repeat patterns (weekdays, weekends etc).

They all make a "Nuclear Alert Siren" sound with slow crescendo - that
never fails to wake me. and the alarms don't give up after 1 minute.

I could never go back to an "alarm clock" now....

OK, so the OP wants a mechanical Westclox-style alarm clock, but the
modern owner of the brand name just produces poor quality rubbish,
instead of the original high-quality clocks that go on forever, right?

Maybe there's a solution...

Buy an original one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=westclox
+alarm&=&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=4

(most of them aren't exactly my taste, but I don't see the problem in
having a clock powered by that new-fangled electrickery)

"Harold Davis" wrote in message
...
Bill Wright wrote in
:

Harold Davis wrote:
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock? All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a
few months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is
sad, because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big
Ben that lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would
be nice.

Thanks in advance!

What's the game? Some sort of old-fashioned IRA bomb, with the contact
where the bell should be?

!! You think only a terrorist prefers a proper clock?

What do you think about people who
prefer not to have mobile phones?

They are fools.

The same?

Harold Davis wrote:

What's the game? Some sort of old-fashioned IRA bomb, with the contact
where the bell should be?

!! You think only a terrorist prefers a proper clock?

What do you think about people who prefer not to have mobile phones? The
same?

Harry

Well yes. It's very suspicious, after all.

Bill

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

If you said what the problem was with a quartz type, perhaps some might
have ideas on how to get round it?


It's well known that quartz crystals radiate electromagnetic waves at
frequencies that interfere with the human metabolism. No-one but a fool
would have a quartz crystal device near where they sleep.

Bill

On Mon, 20 Oct 2014 15:41:41 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
Harold Davis wrote:
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock? All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is
sad, because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big Ben
that lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would be
nice.

Thanks in advance!

Think you'll be lucky to find a decently made new clockwork one. Perhaps
in Harrods or a West End jeweller?

If you said what the problem was with a quartz type, perhaps some might
have ideas on how to get round it?

I keep a small Casio TQ-120B quartz bell alarm clock on my bedside
table which has an analogue display which it relies upon for operating
the alarm bell (as well as the time setting wheel on the back there's
also an alarm setting one which drives the thin red hours alarm
pointer).

It measures 3 1/2 inches wide by 2 1/2 inches tall by 1 1/4 inch
deep. Aside from the time and alarm setting wheels on the back, the
right hand side houses the bell with a slide up switch above the bell
louvres.

With the alarm set, the top of the switch pokes up above the top of
the case so that a waving up and down motion with a flattened out hand
can effectively silence the alarm as per the good old fashioned wind
up types. It runs off a single AA cell and I think we bought it over a
decade ago (the clock, not the AA cell! :-).

It has the desirable feature of quartz timekeeping accuracy with all
the simplicity (and sound) of an old fashioned wind up clock. Since
the electric bell is the heaviest drain on the AA cell, we get ample
warning of impending cell exhaustion by the alarm bell starting to
fade in loudness. The AA cell always gets replaced before low voltage
starts to compromise its timekeeping ability.

The consequence of such timely cell replacement also means the risk
of leakage induced corrosion of the battery contacts, so often fatal
to similar AA powered quartz wallclock movements, is virtually
non-existent when 'leakproof' alkaline cells are fitted.

I've tried searching for images of this timepiece but to no avail.
Since it claims japanese manufacture, I suspect this might well be
more than a decade old (do Casio still have factories based in their
homeland?).

I did notice that Casio still do similarly styled quartz bell alarm
bedside table clocks (but be careful to make sure that you're buying a
model with a real bell - a lot of suppliers were rather lacking in
detail).
--
J B Good

On 21/10/2014 03:09, Bill Wright wrote:
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

If you said what the problem was with a quartz type, perhaps some might
have ideas on how to get round it?


It's well known that quartz crystals radiate electromagnetic waves at
frequencies that interfere with the human metabolism. No-one but a fool
would have a quartz crystal device near where they sleep.

Bill

Quite amazing that anyone survives in Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Saudi, UAE,
.... Or the beach.

--
Rod

On 19/10/2014 20:45, Harold Davis wrote:
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock? All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is sad,
because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big Ben that
lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would be
nice.

Thanks in advance!

Harry

Still have a BigBen ... it was my Grans .. so must be well past 30 yrs old.
Don't use it now as have a radio locked clock

On 21/10/2014 03:09, Bill Wright wrote:
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

If you said what the problem was with a quartz type, perhaps some might
have ideas on how to get round it?


It's well known that quartz crystals radiate electromagnetic waves at
frequencies that interfere with the human metabolism. No-one but a fool
would have a quartz crystal device near where they sleep.

Bill


or man-made fibres, or solvent paints, or electricity .... lets all move
into a filed.

Adrian wrote in news:m23avr$orb$1
@speranza.aioe.org:

OK, so the OP wants a mechanical Westclox-style alarm clock, but the
modern owner of the brand name just produces poor quality rubbish,
instead of the original high-quality clocks that go on forever, right?

Maybe there's a solution...

Buy an original one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=westclox
+alarm&=&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=4

Yes. Been considering that. Thing is, they don't quite go on forever, just
about 30-40 years.

As for a newly made one, there seem to be no manufacturers on the other
side of the Atlantic and only one in Europe, namely Sternreiter in Serbia:

http://www.sycamoreclockshoppe.com/AlarmClocks.htm

(That's a retailer's site; couldn't find one for Sterneiter themselves.)

The Sternreiter ones have mechanisms which are all brass and steel, but
even they get mixed reviews.

Harry

PS Some people buy quartz cuckoo clocks these days. Don't they have any
feel for how the weights work, for the engineering and craftsmanship? Each
to his own, I suppose. But I think I live on a different planet from people
who get annoyed when a clock goes "tick tock"!

"Rod Speed" wrote in
:

"Harold Davis" wrote in
message ...

What do you think about people who
prefer not to have mobile phones?

They are fools.

Microwave-emitting servants' bells, I call 'em.

Harry

Harold Davis wrote
Rod Speed wrote
Harold Davis wrote

What do you think about people who
prefer not to have mobile phones?

They are fools.

Microwave-emitting servants' bells, I call 'em.

More fool you. Mine is nothing even remotely like that.

And is a damned sight more convenient when you say
get the car bogged or it breaks down etc than in the old
days.

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
...
Chuckle. I'm sure there are some still about though, second hand.I can
only assume one needs them on the one way Mars trip where batteries are
not easy to come by, and the sun is not as bright.

My preference is for the "radio controlled" alarm clocks that pick up the
66kHz MSF time standard.

Some stores sell them, but I'm holding out for a "projection" type that
shines the time on the ceiling as well - but not from Lidl, their's develop
an intermittent laser diode after a few months!

"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
Harold Davis wrote:
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock? All I've found are

* a piece of junk with two bells on the top by Acctim that lasts a few
months

* crap plasticky Chinese copies of Westclox models, ditto - which is sad,
because the original Westclox clocks were superb - I had a Big Ben that
lasted 40 years

I don't care much how big it is. A 10-year guarantee or better would be
nice.

Thanks in advance!

Harry

What's the game? Some sort of old-fashioned IRA bomb, with the contact
where the bell should be?

The IRA were more with the times than that - it was reported that a VCR
timer was used for the potentially self defeating attempt on Von Thatchler.

It was about then they realised it was a bit silly trying to blow Tories
up - who were wrecking the UK economy for them.

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
...
I also note in the original post that if a clock lasted 40 years its not
really surprising that the company who made it went out of business.
Brian

They're probably still around - just not making 18th century timepieces
anymore.

"michael adams" wrote in message
...

"Harold Davis" wrote in message
...
Does someone know where I might get hold of a decent mechanical alarm
clock?

Unfortunately not. Not only have mechanical clocks and watches
been rendered obsolete by electronics - wiping out 500 year old
traditions of precision engineering skills at a stoke - but the
remaining mechanical alarm clocks, as you've seen for yourself,
seem to be sold solely on price.

What seems to have happened is the the sort of person who
nowadays would be willing to pay £100 or £150* for a decent
mechanical alarm clock constructed out of machined metal
parts rather than moulded plastic,

There just aren't enough of those people to cover the manufacturers wages
bill.

Ian Field wrote
Brian Gaff wrote

Chuckle. I'm sure there are some still about though, second hand.
I can only assume one needs them on the one way Mars trip where
batteries are not easy to come by, and the sun is not as bright.

My preference is for the "radio controlled" alarm
clocks that pick up the 66kHz MSF time standard.

I think net synched or GPS synched clocks make more sense today.

Some stores sell them, but I'm holding out for a "projection"
type that shines the time on the ceiling as well -

Since I don't sleep on my back much at all, that doesn't grab me.

but not from Lidl, their's develop an intermittent
laser diode after a few months!

Presumably they will fix that.

"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...
Ian Field wrote
Brian Gaff wrote

Chuckle. I'm sure there are some still about though, second hand.
I can only assume one needs them on the one way Mars trip where
batteries are not easy to come by, and the sun is not as bright.

My preference is for the "radio controlled" alarm clocks that pick up the
66kHz MSF time standard.

I think net synched or GPS synched clocks make more sense today.
Some stores sell them, but I'm holding out for a "projection" type that
shines the time on the ceiling as well -

Since I don't sleep on my back much at all, that doesn't grab me.
but not from Lidl, their's develop an intermittent laser diode after a
few months!

Presumably they will fix that.

I lost the till slip - ditto for the 5W LED spotlight whose Lithium battery
self discharges unless you leave it permanently on charge.

"Ian Field" wrote in message
...


"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...
Ian Field wrote
Brian Gaff wrote

Chuckle. I'm sure there are some still about though, second hand.
I can only assume one needs them on the one way Mars trip where
batteries are not easy to come by, and the sun is not as bright.

My preference is for the "radio controlled" alarm clocks that pick up
the 66kHz MSF time standard.

I think net synched or GPS synched clocks make more sense today.
Some stores sell them, but I'm holding out for a "projection" type that
shines the time on the ceiling as well -

Since I don't sleep on my back much at all, that doesn't grab me.
but not from Lidl, their's develop an intermittent laser diode after a
few months!

Presumably they will fix that.

I lost the till slip - ditto for the 5W LED spotlight whose Lithium
battery self discharges unless you leave it permanently on charge.

I didn't mean that they will fix yours, I meant that presumably
they will fix the design if it happens with many copys.

And you don't need the till slip with something no one else sells anyway.

"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...


"Ian Field" wrote in message
...


"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...
Ian Field wrote
Brian Gaff wrote

Chuckle. I'm sure there are some still about though, second hand.
I can only assume one needs them on the one way Mars trip where
batteries are not easy to come by, and the sun is not as bright.

My preference is for the "radio controlled" alarm clocks that pick up
the 66kHz MSF time standard.

I think net synched or GPS synched clocks make more sense today.
Some stores sell them, but I'm holding out for a "projection" type that
shines the time on the ceiling as well -

Since I don't sleep on my back much at all, that doesn't grab me.
but not from Lidl, their's develop an intermittent laser diode after a
few months!

Presumably they will fix that.

I lost the till slip - ditto for the 5W LED spotlight whose Lithium
battery self discharges unless you leave it permanently on charge.

I didn't mean that they will fix yours, I meant that presumably
they will fix the design if it happens with many copys.

Every now and then, I get from Lidl; some decent tools at a bargain price -
but more often than not the items turn out to be just plain defective, or
such poor quality they were no bargain at all.

In the bicycle tool set; the sprocket/freewheel tool was out of tolerance -
it slipped and damaged the splines in the freewheel - the conspicuously mild
steel handle on the chain wrench folded in half first time I used it!

The shaver I bought from them didn't last as long as expected, and had a
flaky on/off switch from day one.

There seems to be very little movement on changing substandard items - there
just as likely to discontinue stuff that was OK.

The bicycle tool set was originally Powerfix, then it became Crivit Sport -
identical tools, identical injection moulded plastic case and exactly as
crappy.

"Ian Field" wrote:
"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...


"Ian Field" wrote in message
...


"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...
Ian Field wrote
Brian Gaff wrote

Chuckle. I'm sure there are some still about though, second hand.
I can only assume one needs them on the one way Mars trip where
batteries are not easy to come by, and the sun is not as bright.

My preference is for the "radio controlled" alarm clocks that pick up
the 66kHz MSF time standard.

I think net synched or GPS synched clocks make more sense today.
Some stores sell them, but I'm holding out for a "projection" type
that shines the time on the ceiling as well -

Since I don't sleep on my back much at all, that doesn't grab me.
but not from Lidl, their's develop an intermittent laser diode after a few months!

Presumably they will fix that.

I lost the till slip - ditto for the 5W LED spotlight whose Lithium
battery self discharges unless you leave it permanently on charge.

I didn't mean that they will fix yours, I meant that presumably
they will fix the design if it happens with many copys.

Every now and then, I get from Lidl; some decent tools at a bargain price
- but more often than not the items turn out to be just plain defective,
or such poor quality they were no bargain at all.

In the bicycle tool set; the sprocket/freewheel tool was out of tolerance
- it slipped and damaged the splines in the freewheel - the conspicuously
mild steel handle on the chain wrench folded in half first time I used it!

The shaver I bought from them didn't last as long as expected, and had a
flaky on/off switch from day one.

There seems to be very little movement on changing substandard items -
there just as likely to discontinue stuff that was OK.

The bicycle tool set was originally Powerfix, then it became Crivit Sport
- identical tools, identical injection moulded plastic case and exactly as crappy.

Odd, I've used the same tool kit many times now. Admittedly the chain rivet
extractor broke but I've had no trouble with the chain wrench or splined
tools for cassette and bottom bracket removal. It's saved me a lot of
money compared to buying high quality tools or bike shop visits.

I know that I may well replace bits with better quality bits as and when
required over the years but it's a good "starter" kit.


Tim

"Tim+" wrote in message
...
"Ian Field" wrote:
"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...


"Ian Field" wrote in message
...


"Rod Speed" wrote in message
...
Ian Field wrote
Brian Gaff wrote

Chuckle. I'm sure there are some still about though, second hand.
I can only assume one needs them on the one way Mars trip where
batteries are not easy to come by, and the sun is not as
bright.

My preference is for the "radio controlled" alarm clocks that pick up
the 66kHz MSF time standard.

I think net synched or GPS synched clocks make more sense today.
Some stores sell them, but I'm holding out for a "projection" type
that shines the time on the ceiling as well -

Since I don't sleep on my back much at all, that doesn't grab me.
but not from Lidl, their's develop an intermittent laser diode after
a few months!

Presumably they will fix that.

I lost the till slip - ditto for the 5W LED spotlight whose Lithium
battery self discharges unless you leave it permanently on charge.

I didn't mean that they will fix yours, I meant that presumably
they will fix the design if it happens with many copys.

Every now and then, I get from Lidl; some decent tools at a bargain price
- but more often than not the items turn out to be just plain defective,
or such poor quality they were no bargain at all.

In the bicycle tool set; the sprocket/freewheel tool was out of tolerance
- it slipped and damaged the splines in the freewheel - the conspicuously
mild steel handle on the chain wrench folded in half first time I used
it!

The shaver I bought from them didn't last as long as expected, and had a
flaky on/off switch from day one.

There seems to be very little movement on changing substandard items -
there just as likely to discontinue stuff that was OK.

The bicycle tool set was originally Powerfix, then it became Crivit Sport
- identical tools, identical injection moulded plastic case and exactly
as crappy.

Odd, I've used the same tool kit many times now. Admittedly the chain
rivet
extractor broke but I've had no trouble with the chain wrench or splined
tools for cassette and bottom bracket removal. It's saved me a lot of
money compared to buying high quality tools or bike shop visits.

The freewheel/sprocket spline tool was the first item I had to replace with
a quality item that actually worked.

Now I come to think about it - I also had to replace the out of tolerance
pedal crank puller that was more likely to strip the thread than loosen the
crank.

The chain punch works better after you've broken it - the partitions aren't
strong enough to punch the chain against, once you've broken the bottom one
off; you can butt the chain against the more substantial bottom of the punch
body.