No. 1 Odd Jobs

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Zeddedhed

Established Member
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13 Sep 2013
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Location
Tunbridge Wells
When I started my 'apprenticeship' many moons ago my grandfather gave me one of these, a Stanley version. It was an excellent little tool that I grew to love and it was a permanent fixture in my pocket at work, either on site or in the workshop.

Of course the inevitable happened - on site one day someone commented on it - "lets have a look mate" in the site tea hut and later that day it vanished (if I recall it was a scrote of a scaffolder - why a neanderthal retard would want a tool like that is beyond me - shiny things and all that I guess.)

Anyway, a year or so ago I saw that Rutlands were selling a version as were Axminster (the same tool I believe) so I bought one hoping to rekindle my lost love.

I want to love it, I really do, but it's just not the same. It's badly made, sloppy, sharp and angular where it shouldn't be etc etc.

I've searched high and low for an old one but can't find one anywhere.

Does anyone know either where I could get my hands on a genuine Stanley version or, is anyone making a decent version now?

Here's hoping.
 
Ah yes. I have an old one that was my dads, and I think must have belonged to his dad. It has a folding rule and is somewhat beaten up. Made of cast iron as I recall (it is in my workshop in Warwickshire at the moment) with a scriber and marker pin. Garrett Wade do a brass one with two sizes of rule, but not the folding rule as far as I know. Easy enough to import from the US: I have occasionally sourced things from them with no problems.

PS: There is a version on Amazon from Nauticalia for £29.95. Not quite the same as the old ones.
 
The Tilgear catalogue has an Oddjob that is stated to be a replica of the old Stanley tool.
 
The Garret Wade one looks a lot like the Rutlands one i already have. Couldn't find the Tilgear one. The one on Amazon is the same as the Rutlands one. Woodpecker Tools have a video on Youtube for their version (much more modern - looks quite precise) but can't find it on their website.
 
Glad you located one, not so glad some "chum" decided to lift a tool given to you by your grandfather.

#1's are not uncommon here in the States as a vintage tool, but finding a complete one is. I have one without the rule and one complete. If I remember correctly, Woodpecker (a maker of "one run tools") is doing "their" version of a #1. Functions look the same, though the red anodized, machined aluminum does not run true to the original!
 
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