LAW CHANGES IN THE SCRAP YARD.

New laws came to scrap metal yards on Monday the 3rd of December.

Metal dealers will no longer be able to trade in cash and will face tougher sanctions for rogue trading.

The measures are designed to stamp out the illegal metal industry, which costs the UK at least £220 million a year. From 3 December, legislative changes will take effect to:

• remove the 'no questions asked' cash payments which have allowed unscrupulous traders to evade checks
• increase financial penalties – illegal traders will now face fines of up to £5,000
• give police new powers of entry to tackle illegal trading in metal yard

Is this the end for local totters? many of which don't have bank accounts?.

My local yard has to issue you with a cheque and have photo id cards coming soon that can apparently be used at cash points.

This can only be a good thing, more on this to come.

Here is a link to the original article 

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/news/scrap-metal-law

MANFRED VON RICHTHOFEN AND HIS RADIAL CHANDELIER.

Finally I found a picture of the Red Barron's chandelier, I love the fact that it has a bulb where the propeller would have been, just like mine. I have just got my hands on another radial engine and it seems a lot larger than the last one, more on this to come.

RECYCLE TRICYCLE.

Just got back from a trip to China, I loved these trikes that were all over the place being used for lots of different jobs. In Beijing the bikes are called Flying Pigeons and in Shanghai the bikes are called Flying Rainbows the bike above is the latter, my favourite because of the stylish curvy front triangle, nice.

Not quite sure how the recycling thing worked out there but on every other corner tucked behind things were sorting yards with platform scales for weighing and paying the rag and bone men.

These guys are removing the sellotape from card board to recycle it.

Below a picture of Halfords China style, we saw lots of interesting metal workshops all making different things and repairing stuff, it made me miss my own cave of shiny trinkets.

FERGUSON McCLOUD CHAIR.

The donor vehicle was well past it and my initial ideas for making a chair were halted by the severe rust to pretty much all of the components I had planned to use.

 These are some of Kevin's original sketches that were doodled up as we discussed what could be used from the tractor.

After some time brutalising the te20, we were able to assemble this together so we could get an idea about sizes and if the design would actually work.

Back in the workshop welding it altogether and figuring out some of the problems.

The front of the chair design changed to widen it as the deer hides were slightly larger than anticipated, making the finished product loads more comfy, this was done using an old leaf spring.

I was able to test the chair thanks to a large pile of inner tubes I had lying about.

The finished frame at Bill Amberg's and the leather being sized up before cutting.

Beautiful stitching and cutouts around the joints, and the finished chair in full reclined position.

The shed door knocker was made from the mooring pin and toy wheel that was salvaged from the canal.

The weather vain was made from bits of the shed that was blown up at the end of the program using the door bolt for the cock's face. It was great to be involved in this project, roll on the next series.

TENT LONDON.

An overall shot of our stand at Tent London,

  

 a pic of our centre piece,

and two matching wall lights.

Lizzie was a massive support as always and brought her own touch to the industrial look with some exotic looking flowers displayed in her own design of vase made from a fire extinguisher.

As The Rag And Bone Man made it to its first anniversary we decided to get some t-shirts printed which have been handy presenting to people that have helped out with the odd favour. Shortly available on the website!

It was a great show for us and it was great to meet some interesting characters, exhibitors and some old friends that had returned to the show from last year. Hell we even meet a guy Kell Ransome who's family used to make Ransomes agricultural machinery and Ransomes tractor seats and he now makes a super nice wooden version you can see his work here. Thanks for all who came to visit and I hoped you enjoyed the show.

GOLF CLUB COAT HANGERS.

Remember this idiot?

 

Available in stainless soon...

LEAF SPRING CHAIRS.

I had an idea to make these a long time ago, something that's super comfy and a pleasure to sleep/chill on.

I collaborated with Bill Amberg to finish the larger chair with horse saddle leather which brings some warmth to the metal, it is an outdoor or indoor chair and the leather should age just like a Brooks saddle with a bit of wax.

The smaller chair was a collaboration with my legend of a sister Jen, its an indoor TV rocking chair and features a super comfy cushion that matches the ribs of the metal frame. [the bottom pad is missing in these pics]. Jen went to town with the detailing and put piping on all the ribs, proper job!

These things are dangerous to take apart not for the faint hearted...

and not easy to clamp together...

 but the finished result works well.

 In the lead up to Tent things got a little busy so Lizzie the best partner in the world jumped on the grinder to lend a hand. She always surprises me with her many talents.

A picture of the larger chair lacquered ready for the leather. These chairs will soon be up on the web shop and the first of many that can be tailored to suit many needs.