I'm currently looking for an old Lister D stationary engine to restore and the thought occured to me that members of this forum are also likely to have other interests. Just wondereing what other things you collect or are interested in besides pressure lamps?
Stoves! Plus vintage 1970/80's backpacking gear from my youth (I either parted with or outgrew most of mine).
I'm currently fighting off the urge to buy one of those stationary engines... It helps if I think of those saddoes sitting all day at steam fairs, next to their engines in a roped-off area, pumping water out of a tank and back into it again - round and bloody round Still, s'pose I could always use the time to polish me lamps...
Hot beer and cold women! Sorry for that, couldn't resist... As might already be known by most members: stoves! Also, old cars (vans) and motorcycles, I was co-founder of the Belgian BSA Owners Club. Most of my little spare time however goes to Fort Liezele ( www.fortliezele.be ) where I help with the restoration, and spend many a sunday as guide. We also do some Living History, mostly as soldiers of the Belgian army 1914 ( www.everyoneweb.com/fortliezele9delinie ). I try to find out as much as possible what happened the months before WW1 started, and what happened during the first months of this war (both military and how it affected civilians). Best regards, Wim
Collect or/and are interested in blowlamps, stoves, carbide lamps (preferably table lamps) US-cars (old), hot bulb engines, old two-stroke mc´s, old tractors. Nothing shall be made after 1960 except for the US-cars for which I have an extended acceptance to around 1970... It would seem like I'm interested in most things that uses fuel of some sort.
Good question, I have only 1 other interest; to visit lighthouses from all over the world. From wood I can make small 'souvenirs' which I have a lot of in my bedroom.
Amongst all the lamps I have a modest collection of Sword bayonets. Maybe 20 or so scattered around the house. I also have most of the Leatherman knives but they don't take up much space. Neither easy things to collect in the UK since eBay banned them a while back. Nanny in Westminster won't let us have firearms and they got nervous about edged tools so these are hard to find. Odd thing is you can still legally own firarms older than WW2 and you can buy swords and bayonets but you can't carry them in the street. Ebay now won't even let me bid on weapons outside the UK so I can't get Leatherman tools or bayonets from the US any more. I expect it won't be long before Nanny decides cars are dangerous and makes owning one illegal. ::Neil::
Gee Neil, Does that mean that they will let you have a Browning M2 .50 cal? That is of "pre WWII" manufacture. Now I'm sure that if you had your eye on something that "FleaBay" wouldn't let you bid on, "arrangements" could be made. (wink wink, hint hint! ) "Nanny" could use a colonic! Bob
Yea we are not big on firearms here. They tightened up after Dunblaine and now you can't legally own a hand gun at all. 'Course that means that no responsible citizen has one but there are plenty of illegal arms out there. Yes I think the cut off date is 1947 but I might be a year or so out there. I believe the notion is that the ammunition is not available so they are safe for us to play with. I am sure there are plenty of people in the US who could bid on stuff for me. Not really all that bothered though. I gather this stuff in when it jumps out at me but I rarely go looking for it. There is an obsolete Leatherman I would like though. I will have to go check and see which one it was. Last time I saw one on the Bay was when I found I could not bid. Damn stupid laws here for some things. I understand why of course but pocket knives???? Any fool who wants a weapon only has to buy a screwdriver and file a point on it. They will be banning pencils next because they are sharp. ::Neil::
In the B&Q Warehouse in Sunderland, you have to be at least 18 to purchase even a wallpaper stripping knife. When I bought one a few months ago, I protested at the stupidity of that and was told, very haughtily, by some dozy female that they had the rule because it was a knife - it said so on the label - and could be used as a weapon. I told her that if she bothered to think for more than a couple of seconds, just about anything for sale in B&Q could be used as a weapon. Silence...
I saw a photo recently which summed up the modern world, it was a photo of planet Earth and the planet was covered in red tape!
I work in a B&Q warehouse. Well I go there and wear the damn silly apron for 4 hours a day. Orange does not suit me at all. Clashes with my complexion. Anyway the lady is right but more importantly what she did not say is it is the law not some fool notion dreamt up by B&Q management. Interesting thought here. I can't think of any recent headlines about people being assaulted by wardrobes or wallpaper. Mind you we do for sure sell a great deal of stuff that could do serious damage and can be bought by children. Nanny in Westminster take note. ::Neil::
I know, Neil, but unfortunately not the Sunderland one, otherwise I'd have at least one sensible member of staff to talk to. Of course not, silly - wardrobes and wallpaper are stealth weapons, obviously. Just ask your local ninja group. I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you... But I agree, I can't see the difference between a screwdriver and a wallpaper knife, other than one has the word 'knife' on the label - as you say, sharpen either and you've a handy weapon...
I Have alot of different interests, some ten years ago i used to fly sailplanes (soaring) and since i like aeroplanes i collect and build 1/48 scale WWII aircraft, preferably single engine fighters, i think i have some 30 or so built and maybe about 5-10 not yet built. Also i have a great interest in US cars and i do drive one 1955 Pontiac Starchief and one Chevrolet Beretta GTZ from 1990- I also have a rock 'n' roll / rock a Billy band ( im the lead singer and rythm guitarist ) se www.stickshifthenry.com
I am one of the engines saddos mentioned ! I have been an engine collector for over 20 years and it is through the engines I became interested in lamps as there are often lamps to be found at night in amongst the night time displays of lighting sets at steam fairs etc. I focus on Fowler engines and do like the two stroke Petter's in amongst many others. I have been running this site for a while:- http://www.stationaryenginesscotland.co.uk/index.htm but lack of time means it isn't updated often. Hopefully that will change in the future once I finish rebuilding the house ! If any of you budding engine collectors are looking for more info just drop me a PM and I will try to help. Cheers David
Don't worry David - there's still a 50/50 chance I'll be joining you in a field one day! It might have been a Lister I was vaguely thinking of buying - the one with the finned, sort of oval-shaped water reservoir on top. I daren't look at your website in case I get infected with the virus..! (Edit. Just taken a quick peek at your site - it was a Wolseley, not a Lister...)
Unfortunately David, once you get your first engine others will follow !! Lister D and Wolseley WD series are good starting points, but buy a complete one as spares can often cost more than the cost of a whole engine. Cheers David
Our Mustangs were called J26 (Or S26 when used for reconnaissance). Wonderful planes. Many, if not most, of them were sold to Israel when they were taken out of service in the early 50's
I'm new to PARAFFIN POWER (Thanks to Chris Smithson). My other main passion is Bonsai. I have a collection of about 30 trees. Also Enjoy playing guitar. Motrobikes, Power Kiting, Cooking (Trying to find things that will work well on Pressure stoves at the moment), Travelling (done the north south east and west hemispheres) and Whiskey(the proper stuff not the commercial rubish). . . . Not enough hours in the day !
Inevitably... It's a Lister D - the X246B of the stationary engine world - the 3504th one they built in 1959...
Ian, that is my new garage! - I rented it in the next street a month or two back. It's virtually full already...
