the rag and bone man

JUNK.

2012-02-26T07:25:00.000-08:00

One mans rubbish is another mans treasure, thanks Mr Bovingdon and Linton Engineering.

H.R GIGER INSPIRED.

2012-02-23T01:57:00.000-08:00

This chair and lamp work really well together and will be available to purchase at Upcycled, Have just been asked if I could make a similar lamp which I am hunting components down for.

I am super pleased with this stool, I did think about polishing the entire base but I would like to be able to walk for the spring/summer and I am not a super hero. Still I recon this finish works well and it should age nicely.

FINISHED CHAIRS AND STOOLS.

2012-02-23T01:30:00.004-08:00

Adjustable height chairs and stools, the stools were a commission and the chairs are waiting to find a new home, a loving owner and someones backside to keep them warm.

LAMPS.

2012-02-23T01:17:00.000-08:00

You will be able to see these and a few more lamps at Upcycled, where they will be available to purchase. Images by Stuart York.

CUSTOM BIKE SHOOT.

2012-02-22T01:57:00.000-08:00

I was very lucky to have been asked if i could have a portrait taken of myself, my bike and the place I keep it, by the very talented Sam Christmas, looks awesome and will be used for one of his projects in summer featuring many custom bike builders and riders, cant wait to see the rest of the shots at the show, I will keep you posted.

SPRING CLEAN.

2012-02-22T01:41:00.000-08:00

I am the proud owner of these new wheels, built entirely from rubbish that was never getting used, constructed to weigh in rubbish that was never getting used and designed to bring home some of the larger nice things I see on my travels. On the maiden voyage to the scrap yard I rolled up a kerb and managed to put an old bike frame through four spokes, so I now have wheels that are more buckled than some I have recycled, I will have to get some better bungy cords and at some point build some guards to stop stuff doing this. Anyhow its been good to cull a big pile of offcuts and turn them into a use able tool, plus I do not want my young lady branding me a hoarder.

PIPE LAMPS READY TO GO.

2012-01-30T03:23:00.000-08:00

I decided to create these two table lamps. They both have great lines and I am super chuffed with them, The larger one is finished in a rusty patina and the smaller one has a brushed iron look.

For prices and more info email junk.ragandboneman@gmail.com.

UPCYCLED.

2012-01-30T02:38:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to this event, I will be showing the first of my new range of wire eroded lamps and more, looks to be a corker.

DESK CHAIR UPDATE.

2012-01-26T10:39:00.000-08:00

Getting there, just need to get all the patinas to match
and some finishing touches.

DESK CHAIRS.

2012-01-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

I am working on these at the mo, they feature a leaf spring inspired chair back which gives them a nice flex when you lean back, I may have to stiffen them up a bit but will only find out when they are on the adjustable height bases I have planned for them. More pics to come of these and others soon.

LAMP.

2012-01-17T06:49:00.000-08:00

One more lamp to feast your eyes on, an adjustable height lamp that is full of character, it has a slightly wonky tap and a crack on its cover but this won't stop it from illuminating a desk or table for years to come,[this chaps a little sweetie].

METAL DISINTEGRATION MACHINING.

2012-01-17T06:41:00.000-08:00

This must be the most delicious machine sculpted piece of scrap I have ever come across. It was made by a wire eroding machine or wire electrical discharge machine. The process involves a thin single strand of brass wire being fired constantly through a chunk of steel in a tank of dielectric fluid to very precisely remove shapes. Anyway my friend has one [nice one Philip] and thanks to Linton Engineering I may be getting most of their waste material from this process.

I decided to stitch the cable through this shape as opposed to adding cable guides to keep its stunning lines clean.

The uprights for this lamp are also created in this way and the pieces that were removed would have been machined into con rods for a vintage car engine, it features a hand ground base and the top cover or shade is from a vintage MG, although the casting is very pitted it polished up nicely.

NEW CHAIR.

2012-01-13T06:04:00.000-08:00

Have been working on this exquisite chair for just over a year on and off, I decided to finish it off and make space for the next project. Despite looks it quite comfy and would be perfect for playing Xbox or PlayStation if thats your cuppa, any more info or price please email.

LIFT PULLEYS.

2012-01-12T02:09:00.000-08:00

Am sure the front of my bike is getting lower but I could not resist these cast iron lift pulleys,

I managed to get them home from the scrap yard in two trips [not easy] and have two larger ones and three smaller ones, they will make great bases for stools or chairs.

WORK IN PROGRESS.

2012-01-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

AVAILABLE!

2011-12-19T01:53:00.000-08:00

2 More of the fire fighter lamps the copper one stands all most 4ft tall and is very regal, now sold,

and the brass one is around 2ft tall with an experimental finish to the lamp shade.

AVAILABLE!

2011-12-19T01:51:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this cluster of overly lacquered, hard cold steel. I have been calling this style a 'strong arm'. Featuring a giant con rod from a barge and hand ground taps which in the process of removing the chrome has left a strange cubist finish which I am loving.

3rd in the ss series has wacky internals featuring high temp red paint which gives a nice glow when illuminated.

AVAILABLE!

2011-12-19T01:48:00.000-08:00

More madness from the man lab, these happen to be my favourite style desk lamp, both are almost the same. one green cable, now sold, the other maroon.

For prices and any more info please contact us at junk.ragandboneman@gmail.com

NEW LAMPS READY TO GO!

2011-12-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

New lamps ready to go! grab this opportunity to grab a design icon, hand made in London, more photos, prices and descriptions to come in the next day or so, all images beautifully created by Mr Stuart York. Email Paul and Lizzie at junk.ragandboneman@gmail.com for more info.

FLEA MARKET.

2011-12-09T01:42:00.000-08:00

Always nice to check out the bric a brac at Spitalfeilds, have no idea what i am going to do with these puppies.

THE OLD CINEMA. PLUS LATE NIGHT SHOPPING

2011-12-08T03:30:00.000-08:00

This happens to be one hell of a cool shop and guess what - we are proud to announce that you can get rag and bone man stuff here! Get over and take a look - just heard that there is a late opening for Christmas shopping tonight! Check the blog

The Old Cinema is based in Chiswick and is London's only department store (Emporium) devoted to selling antique, vintage, retro, industrial and upcycled furniture - I could have easily lost hours in this place looking at some amazing pieces that have been found.

SUPER 7.

2011-12-08T02:23:00.000-08:00

Check out my new old toy, since having this gorgeous lump of steel about (a Myford Super 7 Lathe) my life has got easier. Need more tooling to make more jobs possible but its a joy to work on.

One-off Villiers work light, nice.

MORE PICS.

2011-12-08T01:54:00.000-08:00

15 STOOLS!

2011-11-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

Job lot of 15 tractor seat bar stools completed! they should now be on an airplane heading to Singapore.

More images to come, thank you to all who helped me to make this happen.

BARNSTORMING.

2011-10-28T03:14:00.000-07:00

Chocks away, look what I managed to get my grubby paws on. NO I didn't find this on the Kingsland Road, I sourced this for a top secret commission.

9 barrels, and 75 years of dirt, not the easiest thing I have ever taken apart but very interesting. Unfortunately she won't fit in my shot-blaster.

This VERY HEAVY lump of nuts and bolts is actually a 1936 Lycoming R-680 Radial Aircraft Engine and would have come out of plane like this.

The Lycoming Manufacturing Company, now known as Lycoming Engines, built the motor. A R-680 successful trial came just two years after Charles Lindbergh flew his "Spirit of St. Louis" nonstop from New York to Paris marking the "golden age of aviation" and introduced Lycoming as the world's foremost piston aircraft engine manufacturer. Over the next twenty years, Lycoming built over 25,000 R-680 radial engines and established a worldwide reputation for excellence that has thrived ever since.

Now all I have to do is clean it, polish it and upcycle it to its new purpose....

TVR LAMP.

2011-10-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Just finished this commission, loving the new maroon cable, managed to find these nice contemporary taps at the local scrapyard. Professional pictures on their way soon...along with our website.

SCRAP!

2011-10-06T03:40:00.000-07:00

Lizzie and I had a great day out in Margate, delivering some of her artwork on Saturday. Popped into a couple of junk shops and found these lovely mincers, one is even from London. Result.

And this box of old rifle shells, perfect for a chandelier commission - more on that to come.

Just got hold of this tasty old car jack, missed its 100th birthday by a few days, no worries have good plans for its next 100 years.

It was also my birthday on Saturday, got to see my legendary parents. Pops had to replace a tap in their bathroom and he donated this. Nice one.

Thanks Sophie and Steve for my birthday present, some lush vintage fire extinguishers that they found at Brick Lane.

And finally thanks Roland for the tip of about this lot on Stokie high street.

STUNNED.

2011-09-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

The Rag and Bone Man was finally launched at Tent London on Thursday and what a week it was! We had sold all are wares by Saturday lunchtime! I am now back in the workshop busy working on new designs and some of the comissions we took on at the show. My hands are filthy again, back in my comfort zone.

The website may take us a little longer than expected due to all of the after show follow up, but we will let you know when get there.

Images by Stuart York

Thank you for the advice, ideas, and support that many people gave us.

Thank you to all who bought anything and everything........mind blowing!

MORE PHOTOS.

2011-08-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Stuart York, Kevin Smith and Lizzie Gossling.

HAND STAMPED IDENTIFICATION.

2011-08-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Serial numberplaque, which includes the date of
completion and individual serial numbers.

NEW CONCEPTS.

2011-08-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

3PC BREAKFAST BAR/COCKTAIL BAR/WORK STATION.

2011-08-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

Before and after the vintage seats are restored,

Adjustable weighted base on the table desky thing,

Detail of the work surface, This was one of the spare bonnets off my vintage van, I didnt know this pannel had 7 layers of paint on it.

TOTTING.

2011-08-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

'Tot' is a noun that means 'a small one' - it is usually used to indicate a small amount of alcoholic spirit or a child.

'Totting' is east End (of London) slang for the trade of a Rag & Bone man - a man who pushed his cart around the streets buying up old rags, bones and anything else people would sell to him.

The Rag and Bone Man is a champion of recycling - like scrap metal merchants - occupations with a dirty/sleazy reputation, but providing a valuable service. When I was a kid, the rag and bone man with his cart and horse, would come round the streets calling out "ragn-bone" and householders would offer anything that they no longer wanted, whatever condition. Bigger houses had better cast-offs, but they were less inclined to haggle and would often let stuff go for nowt - so good pickings there.

"Pickings" - that reminds me of other recyclers - rag and rope pickers - years ago, kids used to sort through rags for reusable material and unpick rope, so that the fibres could be re-used.

FLOOR STANDING LAMP.part 3

2011-07-19T00:56:00.000-07:00

Counter weight,

Single pulley with the wire running down inside of the shaft,

Had to rethink the cable down inside of the shaft as it caused to much friction, now cable is in its own tube on the side of the shaft with twin pulleys,

Base now aged to fit the rest of the shaft or as close as i can make with out years of rust and pitting,

All most there need to polish the shade and lacquer all components for wiring and photos.

2 NEW PROJECTS.

2011-07-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

LOTS OF OLD IRON.

2011-07-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

A new idea came to me the other day as I found a new source to salvage scrap iron from, more to come on this one after Tent London.

Rough cleaning,

Chemical dip,

Part dipped,

A heavy bike.

NEW STUFF.

2011-07-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

TRIUMPH ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT LAMP.

2011-05-09T02:11:00.000-07:00

Nice early ratchet and piston handle.

NEW LAMPSHADES.

2011-05-09T02:05:00.000-07:00

WELDED AND BLASTED.

2011-05-09T01:58:00.000-07:00

PHOTOSHOOT.

2011-04-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Thank you Stuart York.

1950S AERO ENGINE LAMP.

2011-04-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

New project, more to come.

FLOOR STANDING LAMP. part 2

2011-04-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

Lampshade holder.

Changed my mind about the base.

FLOOR STANDING LAMP. part 1

2011-04-18T01:30:00.000-07:00

Covering strip added and clamp smoothed and cleaned up.

CABLE ARRIVED.

2011-04-18T00:53:00.000-07:00

Bulbs, Plugs, Plug Holders and Cable.

AVAILABLE SOON.

2011-04-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

These and many more lamps will be available soon on my website just waiting for the fabric cable they will be wired up with and the website which is under construction.

NEW CHAIR.

2011-04-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Got some strange looks riding back with this new old chair the other day.

TRUSTY TRADE BIKE.

2011-04-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

New sign for my scrap collector thanks again Ornamental Conifer.

HACKSAW SIGN.

2011-04-11T05:23:00.000-07:00

My new sign for Tent London nice one Ornamental Conifer
more photos to come when the small lights are wired up.

ANY OLD IRON.

2011-02-27T09:22:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my new blog
a visual diary for my new website
www.theragandboneman.co.uk
coming soon.