Anyone know what this is?

[Mary Hollinshed]

Hi - my father was a keen model engineer, but died 20 years ago. We’re just getting round to going through his workshop, and have found this:

.

Can anyone tell me what it is, and what it’s for? The wooden box is 8” x 5.5”.

 

[Piston_Broke]

It appears to be a boring head with a Morse Taper mount. They are used to bore holes to a specific diameter among other uses.

 

[goldstar31]

It's the George Thomas small boring head with plans in his Model Engineers Workshop Manual.

I have one.

The other use to precise boring tasks is to turn ball handles. Another 'trick' is to change the boring tool and substitute a centre of sorts putting it in the tailstock and turn tapers

As I keep on emphasising George Thomas was a real classy engieer-- and much copied

Norman

 

[Mary Hollinshed]

Thank you both!

 

[Hopper]

As it's a tool he would have made himself rather than purchased you might consider it a bit of a family heirloom. Your grandkids will be mystified by an object actually MADE by some ancient ancestor, no keyboards involved.

 

[Mary Hollinshed]

I wish that were true. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that he made it himself - that’s just how he was. He loved precision and the cleverness of things. But sadly, the yoof of today have little interest in such things - I have a beautiful little winding engine of his standing on my mantlepiece and my daughter says the only reason she won’t dump it when I pop my clogs is because she knows it’s my most treasured possession.

Anyway, now I know what the tool is for, my curiosity is satisfied. If anyone in the Manchester area would like to have it, please let me know and I’ll hand it over gratis. I would rather it was put to use, or at least enjoyed for its craft, by someone who understood it.

 

[a41capt]

I wish that were true. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that he made it himself - that’s just how he was. He loved precision and the cleverness of things. But sadly, the yoof of today have little interest in such things - I have a beautiful little winding engine of his standing on my mantlepiece and my daughter says the only reason she won’t dump it when I pop my clogs is because she knows it’s my most treasured possession.

Anyway, now I know what the tool is for, my curiosity is satisfied. If anyone in the Manchester area would like to have it, please let me know and I’ll hand it over gratis. I would rather it was put to use, or at least enjoyed for its craft, by someone who understood it.

That’s a most generous offer Mary! Unfortunately, I’m half a world away in Arizona, USA or I’d take you up on it. It looks like a beautiful piece of work from the pictures, and it’s a shame that your kid(s) don’t appreciate the work of their grandfather... oh well, we all must come to the realization that our world isn’t theirs, and the least of our worries at the end will be what they thought of our accomplishments!

Thanks for sharing the picture!

John W
Camp Verde, AZ USA

 

[davidyat]

I know what you mean about the youth of today. I have a brilliant nephew who is working on his PHD at Stanford University. He's involved with writing computer programming for Artificial Intelligence and teaching robots to communicate with humans. When I would tell him about my manual machining projects, he would look at me funny and tell me how a computer can make the same thing. I made Rudy Kouhoupts' 5 cylinder radial engine. To keep him on the ground, I gave it to him with this cover page, "Young Man, no CNC machine will ever give you the same satisfaction as getting dirt, grease and oil under your fingernails and making something with your own two hands". I told him when he gets an office of his own, to put the radial on his desk to remind him, computers aren't everything.

 

[Longman_]

Hi Mary,
Would like to take you up on your generous offer, if the boring head is still available.
I live outside Bolton and am a member of the Bolton Steam Museum www.nmes.org
Many thanks
Dennis

 

[Wizard69]

I wish that were true. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that he made it himself - that’s just how he was. He loved precision and the cleverness of things. But sadly, the yoof of today have little interest in such things - I have a beautiful little winding engine of his standing on my mantlepiece and my daughter says the only reason she won’t dump it when I pop my clogs is because she knows it’s my most treasured possession.

Anyway, now I know what the tool is for, my curiosity is satisfied. If anyone in the Manchester area would like to have it, please let me know and I’ll hand it over gratis. I would rather it was put to use, or at least enjoyed for its craft, by someone who understood it.

Which Manchester?

Manchester in upstate NY (wishful thinking on my part)

 

[Mac McCaskie]

It's the George Thomas small boring head with plans in his Model Engineers Workshop Manual.

I have one.
/QUOTE]

I just looked that book up on Amazon, used paperback goes for $150.00!

dang

 

[Charles Lamont]

£30 - https://www.teepublishing.co.uk/books/in-your-workshop/model-engineers-workshop-manual/

 

[Mary Hollinshed]

Hi Mary,
Would like to take you up on your generous offer, if the boring head is still available.
I live outside Bolton and am a member of the Bolton Steam Museum www.nmes.org
Many thanks
Dennis

Deal! I couldn’t be happier.

 

[Mary Hollinshed]

Which Manchester?

Manchester in upstate NY (wishful thinking on my part)

Sadly not! Manchester UK.

 

[Wizard69]

Sadly not! Manchester UK.

Looks like you have the boring head going to a good cause anyways. I've never been to England (UK), interesting place but I'm beyuond long flights for travel anymore.

 

[goldstar31]

I'm quite horrified at $180- be it $ US, Canada, HonkKong or Oz or wherever. I bought my 32nd copy for a tad under £30 but apart from 'very few' chapters in the Geo Thomas books, Dr Bill Bennett assembled the books from either Model Engineer articles or from Georges -two books 'The Universal Pillar Tool and Dividing and Graduating.

So if readers have access to GOOD libraries or model clubs, they can access from the original series in Model Engineer.

Thirty quid for my late wife's classmate at Newcastle -the proper one as part of the original Durham University is really cheap for the effort put in - by Thomas, Neil Hemingway and then Bill with a lot of help from - a lot of people.

How much does one expect for ALL that that gold mine of information?

Gratuitously

Norm

 

[Mary Hollinshed]

My dad bequeathed his (extensive) library of back issues of ME to his local club in Fife. Thirty years’ worth, I reckon - I hope they have enjoyed them...

Anyway, yes, the tool now has a happy home, so I’ll be buzzing off. Happy engineering, peeps!