[Milsurplus] Fwd: Adel nibbler & old-fashioned values!

[Mike Hanz]

I thought this might be of interest to the reflector.  Ray is an old 
friend, K5FKT, formerly W6RIC.  I lost my nibbler somewhere over the 
years, but recall using them a *lot* over the years before I built the 
machine shop.

73,
Mike  KC4TOS

-------- Original Message --------
Date: 	Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:16:22 +0000 (UTC)
From: 	Ray Mote <rlmote at comcast.net>


Just got my new Adel nibbler & spare punches in, and everything was as 
claimed.  Yes, there's a story behind this....

I've owned & used my trusty Adel to build a /lot/ of projects for the 
shack over the years.  Only problem is that it's somewhere in one of 
over 600 boxes that I don't dare unpack because I've got no way to 
protect whatever I unpack against moisture, etc., as well as no room 
where I can put it -- it'd have to go back into those containers.  Could 
really have used it to make a hole for that IEC2 power connector on the 
Mom Alarm, but I just bit the bullet, bored a hole and lined it with a 
rubber grommet, cut that connector off the cord and fed it thru the 
grommet.  A little strain relief and I was done.  It was /afterward/ 
that I found the chassis-mount IEC connectors in a box in the living 
room.  :(

That got me thinking about my Adel, so I Googled Adel & found 'em.  
Called the number and talked to Donna Barone, who informed me that they 
don't take phone orders, just Internet, due to the low number of such 
orders and high costs of processing.  She told me about her dad, Alf 
Adel, who designed and manufactured the tool until his death.  Two 
things stood out:

     1.  He was a ham, and had a shack in the back of the shop.  
Apparently he was very active.  (She couldn't remember his callsign).

     2.  When anyone wanted to change the design or procedures to reduce 
costs, he always responded with:  "If you cheat the customer, he will 
know it".  As a result, she makes sure they use the same materials and 
are made the same way as the originals, right here in the U.S.   (That 
got my attention in a hurry!)

The nibblers are $34.95 and spare punches are $13.95, shipping included.

Adel Tool Company

4640 North Ronald

Harwood Heights, IL  60706

(708) 867-7773

www.adelnibbler.com <http://www.adelnibbler.com>

Appears to be exactly as I remember mine looking.  I'd like to more 
about old Alf, and I wonder how long she can keep on making 'em, as well 
as whether there's someone to take over when she goes (but then I won't 
be around to know it anyway).  ;-)

73....Ray