[TheForge] Re: 1/2" electric hand drill

[Michael]

Mike,
You are right both times. Back & Decker led the parade among American
companies who decided to tramp all over their brand names in an effort to
use the ill gotten gains to finance a restructure. What makes this to be
current events, rather than historical ranting, is that they took over
Dewalt; a chilling thought.
Mikey 

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Grant Marcoux
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 10:27 PM
To: mspencer at tallships.ca; Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Re: 1/2" electric hand drill

I remember when B&D made some of the most durable tools around....this was
in the 60s. Grant

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Mike Spencer
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 9:18 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Re: 1/2" electric hand drill



> The one that lasts you the rest of your life will become useless,
> not because it dies, but because it is hopelessly outdated.

I've probably mentioned this before but:

One of my most useful and often-used tools is a Black & Decker
straight grinder circa 1925.  Cast aluminum body, probably cost $50 or
$60 new. [1]

In the mid-70s, a (cast) bush holder broke.  I went to the B&D depot in
Halifax.  The Guy started with the microfiche (this was pre-computers,
of course), moved to the fat, shiny parts books, down the row to the
grungy parts books, to the grimy, thin, tattered books to the very
last parts book on the shelf, about 20 dog-eared, filthy pages.  My
grinder was listed.  The Guy had two (!) of the brush holders in
stock.  Of course I bought them both.  The grinder is still going and
I have one (1) spare brush holder.

I've heard that B&D has changed dramatically since then.  Sic transit
gloria something-or-other.

> I am hopelessly outdated, but i still work sometimes...Pete F

Yeah, but we need a little more maintainance than before. :-)


- Mike

[1] I also have a 1/2" drill of the same vintage.  It's pictured in a
    1925 Cray Brothers catalog, priced at $58.  That would have been
    what?  Two or three weeks pay for a skilled tradesman in 1925?
    And the equivalent of $950 in today's money.  So maybe if you buy
    a $1000 drill, it'll last you 80+ years. :-)

--
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~.
                                                           /V\
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^
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