Hobbies Fretsaw Help

[Pensioner1947]

Hello all, I'm new to this forum, I'm hoping for some help.
I have a Hobbies Fretsaw, not the machine, the hand held frame. It's about 70 years old, was bought new by my father who was keen on fretwork and made a lot of fancy stuff (from butter boxes).
It has a flat steel frame, a wooden handle and a pear shaped knob which operates a screw to tension the blade.
I decided to give it a clean and found that one of the blade clamps had broken. I remember Pa replacing one of these about 60 years ago but I doubt that I could walk in a shop and buy one now, I could be wrong, Bloggs Ironmongers may have them in stock!
I can make the part (I'm more at home with metal than wood) but it's a fair amount of work and the cost of materials is enough to make my eyes water, I know I can buy a new fretsaw for a few pounds but this one has a certain sentimental value to me.
Any help/advice appreciated.
Dave

 

[rxh]

Hello Pensioner and welcome. Please can you show us a photo of the damaged part? I think you may have to make about three posts before you are allowed to upload photos.

 

[Pensioner1947]

Thanks rxh. I was hoping someone would come back and say, 'you can get these from xxx, £2 each', but it's not very likely.
I'll put a photo up as soon as I can.
Dave

 

[rxh]

Dave, I think we will be able to help you one way or another. The photo should make it clear what is needed.

 

[MIGNAL]

Presumably it's something like this:

https://img1.etsystatic.com/076/0/10261 ... 9_sbka.jpg

Which doesn't look too dissimilar to how the blade mounts on their treadle fretsaws.

 

[Pensioner1947]

Yes! That's the one.
Are there any details of the fretsaw machine parts?
Dave

 

[MIGNAL]

Not exactly the same but it is very similar, same principle.

 

[Pensioner1947]

Just had a look at some Hobbies machine on thebay, most appear to have been modified or repaired but one of these has a blade clamp that looks the same as the one I need. Can't tell if it's the same size but see no reason why it should be different.
Also looked at a Meddings fretsaw, very nice indeed!
Thanks to all for your help so far.
Dave

 

[MIGNAL]

The one on my machine appears to be longer. It's original and certainly does not look as though it has been modified.
Hard to say if it will fit or even be made to fit without having both types of fretsaws to hand.

 

[bugbear]

I'm fairly certain the blade clamps (and even the cam) are the same between the hand frames and treadle models.

Hobbies frames are quite common, at least round my way, so if the OP doesn't find another solution, I could look out for a donor-frame.

It might (well) take a while.

BugBear

 

[Pensioner1947]

It doesn't look as if spares for these are readily available so I will make a copy of the part.
It was worth asking though, not much point in spending hours making something if it can be bought for pennies!
Thank you all for your help, much appreciated.
Dave