Harpenden 9th March and Yorkie

[Framer Dave]

Speaking of Aldi, this Thursday's 'Special Buys' are a 2.5HP compressor for £89.00, plus a range of air tools, all with the usual 3-yr warranty of 'Workzone' tools.

I went down to my local Aldi first thing today, only to find no compressors. They have been withdrawn due to a "supplier problem". They won't say what the problem is and they don't know when they will have them in stock.

A quick search on the 'net will find the same model from a number of suppliers at a better price (look out for delivery charges though).

Regards,

[Joe]

Good to hear from you, Dave.

Aldi's prices are competitive but not necessarily the cheapest. As ever it pays to do your research. I tend to get things from them to save postage costs and I can also seem what I'm getting before parting with the money.

- Joe

[Yorkie]

The Award arrived from Mike Barker yesterday, and as Gary says, it's a rather splendid glass engraved jobbie! It is in fact the Geoffrey Dixon-Nuttall Award - not the Pat Leggatt Award. Not sure how the two awards differ, but it's nice to be on the receiving end - It wouldn't surprise me if at least four other members of this forum have won one or the other award for their excellent Bulletin articles, and of course, as recognition of the work that went into the actual restorations themselves.

[camallison]

Building a trophy cabinet next, David?

Colin

[Yorkie]

Strictly a one-off I think Colin. Beginners' luck!

[Robert Darwent]

The Award arrived from Mike Barker yesterday, and as Gary says, it's a rather splendid glass engraved jobbie! It is in fact the Geoffrey Dixon-Nuttall Award - not the Pat Leggatt Award. Not sure how the two awards differ, but it's nice to be on the receiving end - It wouldn't surprise me if at least four other members of this forum have won one or the other award for their excellent Bulletin articles, and of course, as recognition of the work that went into the actual restorations themselves.

The Geoffrey Dixon-Nuttall Award is selected and given by the BVWS Committee for what they consider to be the best restoration article to have appeared in The Bulletin in any given year.

The Pat Leggatt Award is again given for the best restoration article to have appeared in The Bulletin in any given year, but selected by the BVWS membership via the voting slip that is included with the Winter issue.

I believe there is a third award too, not having gone to any AGM's I'm not sure, having only glimpsed slight references to it in The Bulletin before. Unfortunately the magazine doesn't print a complete list of winners only the occasional photograph of awards being collected. If you're not in attendance at the AGM you don't seem to get a mention in the magazine - which seems rather odd to me that the society doesn't make the yearly recipients better known to the wider membership. After all, only a fraction are able to attend Harpenden for the AGM.

I was lucky enough to win one of the awards (Geoffrey Dixon-Nuttall Award for 2011) and can vouch for the "buzz" they give when they are unexpectedly given seemingly "out-of-the-blue".

Hope you enjoy yours David as much I do mine - Congratulations again, it is well deserved!

Kind regards

[Radio Fixer]

That isn't always true Robert. I was at the AGM a couple of years ago and Peter Lankshear down in NZ won one of the awards and I'm sure it did appear in the Bulletin.

The other award, and I forget the title, is awarded only occasionally for an outstanding contribution to radio and TV history or collections (open to members) that are something really special . This year the award was given to Steve Harris (On the Air) who used to have a great museum in Chester. It was mainly TV orientated with working early cameras and was Steve's background. It was bought up by the BBC in the end as they hadn't bothered to save anything !! I think myself lucky to have seen it before it went who knows where?

Anyway, back to the present the award was for saving two outside broadcast vans, one mono and one colour (if my hearing hasn't let me down !) from the scrapyard. One was saved almost at the day it was off to the crusher. I expect one day they will be working again and hopefully be an exhibit at the NVCF or somewhere. The main thing the crusher didn't get them so well done Steve.

Gary

[Yorkie]

The other award, and I forget the title, is awarded only occasionally for an outstanding contribution to radio and TV history or collections (open to members) that are something really special . This year the award was given to Steve Harris (On the Air) who used to have a great museum in Chester. Gary

Thanks for the info Robert & Gary.

Steve Harris is a very nice chap - he invariably has a stand at Golborne. A year or so ago on the Saturday before Golborne Jennifer & I were staying over there and visited Steve at his 'On Air' premises and had a good look round and a chat with Steve. (He had a little Portadyne Princess which I had my eye on and he brought it to Golborne on the Sunday so I bought it from him).

Rambling right off topic (again), I recall putting Steve's post code into my Garmin Sat-nav and it said 'no record' - change country'. It's just over the border in Wales, so guess the Americans think that England, Wales and Scotland are all countries. They aren't - they're constituent parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (unless and until Scotland votes to float off into oblivion). I consider myself English - not British, and certainly not 'European', but there's no such nationality as English - my driving licence and passport state that I'm British.

How bizarre.

[Robert Darwent]

That isn't always true Robert. I was at the AGM a couple of years ago and Peter Lankshear down in NZ won one of the awards and I'm sure it did appear in the Bulletin.

Yes I remember something about Peter Lankshear in The Bulletin a couple of years ago too Gary, so you are probably correct and I stand corrected on that.

However, my point was that the full list of winners isn't reported - or at least in my experience I have yet to see it. I for one, as a non-attendee at the AGM, would like to know who has won the awards each year along with the number of votes cast for each eligible article - it would give an insight into what the wider membership finds interesting.

I know that Carl Glover and other committee members are always requesting copy for The Bulletin - perhaps promoting the awards more by reporting the winners better would serve to encourage others to have a go at submitting an article?

Regards

[Retired]

Hi,

I can't believe I missed this; late last night just before logging off I noticed "and Yorkie" so had a quick look.

I've just completely read the thread and am delighted to congratulate you David from both Bron and me on being recipient of this fine award which is very well deserved; boy you kept this quiet?

I have been privileged to follow the router jig story from its inception through prototype stages into the excellent finished item which is so well thought out and useful. David kindly kept me fully updated with his thought pattern whilst sending pictures of work in progress. A great deal of thought has gone into the design and making of the jig plus many hours spent at the bench; the award could not have gone to a better or more deserving person and it gives me great personal pleasure to say "I told you so" David. As the jig evolved and was nearing completion I informed David that I was sure this jig would be put up for an award so yes I feel smug but also so pleased it's turned out as forecast. Good on you David a wonderful invention which will be so useful to so many for years to come.

I do agree with Big Al in that this jig is so out of the ordinary but so useful as to be worthy of this award; when it comes down to it there is actually very little regarding vintage radio/TV which has not been previously fully covered in great depth so such articles as David's unique jig really do come under the spotlight; it was very interesting for me just following the evolution of the jig.

Yes I like compressors David and the Aldi compressor I've seen in-store together with other decent low priced kit and had I not already owned compressors I think I would have been tempted to buy one. As Joe says though these compressors may not be the cheapest? I've seen brand new compressors for sale at Rufforth Auto Jumble and believe this 2.5hp size was being sold at £65 whereas a slightly smaller model was on sale at £55? I recently bought a brand new 3hp compressor through eBay for an astonishingly low price of £160 including delivery this being one of 300 on sale due to bankruptcy?

I didn't renew my BVWS subscriptions because of change of hobby a couple of years ago; I know Carl is always wanting articles and I wish "The Bulletin" would include a workshop section because many BVWS members have workshops then I would be more than happy to submit articles to Carl for consideration?

You've started something now David; how about submitting your current AC77 radio restoration as an article to Carl? It's highly likely BVWS members who do submit articles for inclusion in The Bulletin do so for interest alone giving no thought whatsoever to winning any award?

Kind regards, Col.