Older Tools: Do You Use Them?

Thought of another one.

Sometimes the new digital readout VOM's just won't catch a quick change like the old analog versions. I have used a Westinghouse voltmeter, on my job, that was owned by my great uncle, who, if still alive, would be over 100 years old. That makes the meter most likely around 70 years old.

I had a Jacobs Ladder made from an ignition transformer. I don't remember how tall it was, but every time I touched it, I saw stars.

Can't spend all day reading all responses - anyone mention the carburetor?

Many small time drag racers still use these antiques because that is the best situation for the carburetor - you don't care much about fuel efficiency/power while staged, and once the tree drops, your throttle is glued to the floor - the carburetor is very good when tuned for just one throttle position and load. Fuel injection is overkill here.

No not a carb but the air flow (ball in glass tube) gauge for a Stromberg side draft carb that were in a '71 Triumph TR-6. 2 carbs for 6 cyl and air flow had to be balanced.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Volvo used SU's. I know if you run flat out from Chicago to Carbondale IL. ice will build up on the intake manifold.

The was also an option called a "Top Oiler" that consisted of a jar mounted on the firewall that fed oil through a metering valve to the intake manifold.

Hey! I still use a carb. on my 72 Chevy truck.

Dual line Holley780CFM on a 350CID.

Not the best on gas, but a real performer.Can't have both in one engine.

Old habits die hard,and if the truck dies beside the road, I can fix it without a computer or diagnostic code reader. Just simple hand tools and common sense.

I have newer vehicles,but the old ones still have a personal appeal for me.

They hearken back to an analog world,before digital took over.

When a disc was pulled behind a tractor,a hard drive was a long bad road, a floppy was after bad night of too much booze,a bit was in a horse's mouth,a byte was what a dog did to fleas,a nibble was a fish sampling the worm on your hook,and a worm was on the hook,not in your computer.A virus was like a cold or sore throat,and a laptop was where the grand kids sat.

The world has been chopped up into bits and put back together again,and somehow,something has been lost in the process.

Perhaps it is in the interval between bits that the missing pieces lie.

I miss the continuity of the analog world.

Water level. I made my first one in about 1984. No calibration, you can see if it is accurate. (Thoroughly confused the youg woman whose house trailer I was leveling with it. She asked how it worked and I thought I explained it, then she asked 'what is that blue stuff?' I said 'magic leveling fluid'") -- JHF

If you know how to read the meniscus, it can be as accurate as any laser level over a long distance, and the error does not increase over any distance.

A truly timeless tool.

Planes: hand held electric planes and Power Jam Saw: Cross cut saw held flat and parallel to the floor

The two items above refer...

I own and sometimes use a hand-held plane. It gives me great satisfaction when I shave that timber down exactly as it should be! I guess I could do as well with a power tool, but perhaps without as much pride in the finished product.

Power Jam saw is a new one to me...is this not some localised name for the item? To me, a cross-cut saw is a cross-cut saw, used for cutting across the grain. Held parallel to the ground? How awkward...no idea why I would want (or need) to do that.

Fact is that the more modern tools require less physical effort, and give more certainty when executing work....laser measurements immediately come to mind, and those wonderful ring spanners with a ratchet built in...no more lifting the spanner for 1/8 and 1/4 turns!

'no idea why I would want (or need)'

In the English language spelling is important to context...Jam saw...similar to 'jelly saw', must be for cutting dried fruit mix for spreading on bread.

'jamb' saw, jamb as in door jamb, used for trimming trimming lower ends of set doorjamb when setting threshold or flooring.

Thank you for the spelling correction. I can assure you that my tool knowledge and use of them is much butter than my speling skil's. Both gramar an compostin was berry trooblesum fer me. After my education I still felt unskilled in spelling until I ser the proficiency lebel of most others I comuniscated with. Mooch hogher tan dem.

Once as a young manager, I had a secretary that has been with the company for eleven years more than I had been alive. I thought her typing skills were horrendous. I soon found out that it was not only her typing but also her spelling was at a far lower level than the job required. After numerous corrections to many correspondence she decided to retire, with my assistance.

Good Luck, Old Salt