Apprentices in the old days

[Pete999]

Ever knocked a box of small bits and bobs over, and wondered how long it would take to pick em all up?
I did yesterday, and it took me back to when I was a mere 17 year old.
The bloke I worked with always had 2 gas mask bags one for his tools and one for his bits and bobs, which consisted of ever conceivable, screw, nut, bolt and anything else you may need, and as I was the lad, it was my job to search through this bag to find what he needed, it was a bugger of a job, and I hated it, no Screwfix in those days, "Go and find 12 3/4" black japanned screws, imagine today's Apprentices doing that, more likely to be told to go and see Abdul the Taxidermist.
I don't have any Videos to show what I mean, that will please some members I'm sure.

 

[telectrix]

i have similar in tins. generally tip out on dust sheet, find what i want, then pick up sheet and tip rest back into the kennel, ready for next time.

 

[kingeri]

It's strange how my screw/nut/washer etc. tin seems to be inexhaustible. I can't remember ever not being able to find what I need in there!

 

[FatAlan]

My dad & grandad used to have loads of tobacco tins in the garage that they stored nuts, bolts, nails etc. None were labelled. Right pain when you had to look for something specific. Even now I have multiple tool boxes but can ever remember what’s in what!

 

[Squid]

My dad & grandad used to have loads of tobacco tins in the garage that they stored nuts, bolts, nails etc. None were labelled. Right pain when you had to look for something specific. Even now I have multiple tool boxes but can ever remember what’s in what!

Lol, I still have my Dad's, here are some of them still have about 10 others can't part with them as he died in 76 when I was 12.

 

[camerabloke]

Ever knocked a box of small bits and bobs over, and wondered how long it would take to pick em all up?
I did yesterday, and it took me back to when I was a mere 17 year old.
The bloke I worked with always had 2 gas mask bags one for his tools and one for his bits and bobs, which consisted of ever conceivable, screw, nut, bolt and anything else you may need, and as I was the lad, it was my job to search through this bag to find what he needed, it was a bugger of a job, and I hated it, no Screwfix in those days, "Go and find 12 3/4" black japanned screws, imagine today's Apprentices doing that, more likely to be told to go and see Abdul the Taxidermist.
I don't have any Videos to show what I mean, that will please some members I'm sure.

Clumsy git

 

[telectrix]

Clumsy git

it's his age coupled with cotes de rhone.

 

[camerabloke]

it's his age coupled with cotes de rhone.

lol

 

[Pete999]

Clumsy git

Shut it Nige OK or the Tote will cost you lots

 

[Squid]

it's his age coupled with cotes de rhone.

Thought he was more of a White Lightning type......

 

[Pete999]

Thought he was more of a White Lightning type......

I have to ask "White lightning????

 

[Squid]

Yeah right.....

 

[Pete999]

Yeah right.....

View attachment 39109

Nice picture tells me SFA

 

[camerabloke]

Cheap Jeremy Kyle cider

 

[Pete999]

Cheap Jeremy Kyle cider

Oh right Ta So it's cardboard city Cotes Du Rhone then? only cheaper, is that right? rots yer guts, kills God knows how many brain cell per bottle, all in all quite a bit like Cotes Du Rhone in that respect. Still wine from a glass is better than sucking apple juice from a shared bottle any day, mind you I suppose after the first flagon you don't give a Shi'ite anyway

 

[telectrix]

just done a couple of bottles of nice cider from lidl. 7.3%. it's called Woodgate Vintage Cider. not all gas like some.

 

[Rocboni]

Still happens Pete, my tradesman Jimmy now retired had a black pale for all the bits and bobs, used to dread when he asked you to look for a specific nut, bolt, screw or washer. If you came back and said you couldn't find it, he'd tell you get the dust sheet and tip it out!

It's still in the van and when all else fails try Jimmys Pale and it usually comes up with the goods! Trouble is nobody re stockes the pale!

 

[Pete999]

Still happens Pete, my tradesman Jimmy now retired had a black pale for all the bits and bobs, used to dread when he asked you to look for a specific nut, bolt, screw or washer. If you came back and said you couldn't find it, he'd tell you get the dust sheet and tip it out!

It's still in the van and when all else fails try Jimmys Pale and it usually comes up with the goods! Trouble is nobody re stockes the pale!

I worked with one bloke, he was real old school boiler suit, open the navel, smoke some foul smelling stuff in his pipe.
Every time we went on a new job he would tell me to collect all the old screws, chuck all the old gear in his bits bag, and salvage what you can, this was my job, and look out if you fooked up.

 

[Lip.82]

Didn't realise how popular these things are. I have a little bag clipped to my took bag and I've named it my lucky bag. It's been a God send on many occasions. No better feeling when you find the bit your looking for in there

 

[Toneyz]

Clumsy git

Too much red wine again Pete !!!!!!!!!!!.

 

[Pete999]

Too much red wine again Pete !!!!!!!!!!!.

No what makes you say that?

 

[Toneyz]

No what makes you say that?

Your own post replies. If not then as Camerabloke posted whoever he is ?, clumsy git.

 

[Squid]

Didn't realise how popular these things are. I have a little bag clipped to my took bag and I've named it my lucky bag. It's been a God send on many occasions. No better feeling when you find the bit your looking for in there

When I got divorced I went back to collect some stuff out of the loft, I had a box full of useful bits and pieces the fecking cardboard box split and the contents went all over the landing grrrrrrr.

 

[ruston]

Typical.

 

[Squid]

Typical.

The ex wasn't pleased with the 20 years worth of accumulated dust all over the landing carpet that I had paid for.

 

[ruston]

Could of been worse , could of been covered in copaslip or graphite lol.

 

[einstein]

all round band for days lol

 

[Mike Johnson]

Glass jars with tin lids screwed to the underside of shelves, you could see what you wanted without opening anything.

Mike

 

[Rpa07]

My ‘bag’o bits’ started small then got bigger and bigger, has never let me down and helped out many a-n-other. Hard to know when to stop though - no chance of going through it to sort it out, life’s too short!

 

[Pete999]

My ‘bag’o bits’ started small then got bigger and bigger, has never let me down and helped out many a-n-other. Hard to know when to stop though - no chance of going through it to sort it out, life’s too short!

Deleted

 

[Mike Johnson]

And then there is always that drawer in the kitchen that has everything in it.

Mike

 

[Pete999]

And then there is always that draw in the kitchen that has everything in it.

Mike

Draw WTFs a Draw

 

[Rpa07]

I read it and understood it straight away - ashamed now!
Ours had the very inventive name “first drawer”!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Thank you for pointing that out, its very kind of you.

 

[static zap]

My ‘bag’o bits’ ...... - no chance of going through it to sort it out, life’s too short!

Did run one of mine thru a sieve/corragated board , to split big & small .
But still don't know which tin will have mid sized !
( You see a bit of history - if start sorting )

 

[littlespark]

Admit it, everyone still does it. Picking up random fittings and finding a home for them in a spare toolbox.
A recent visit to my dads, and he says tidy up the old stuff you left in my shed!
Home made wooden screwbox circa 1990... Full of bits and pieces i'd gleaned from jobs.... kept 'just in case'.... imperial sized conduit locknuts, M6 roofing nuts and bolts in varying lengths (unsorted, all in one compartment)... individual swa cable cleats.
2 duff AAA batteries and a key for a padlock I no longer have.

I still do it. I'm a self confessed hoarder. Much to wife's dismay.
Last week I found a padlock in my van.... If I keep it, one day, I might find the key.....

 

[static zap]

..... I'm a self confessed hoarder. Much to wife's dismay.

Oh dear this thread has it all now , I best be carefull I'm not heading to my 1st Jeremy-Kyle - Cider fueled divorce , due to bad clutter habits !
(them AAAs get everywhere)

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

My dad does the same ... 3 quality street tins full of nails. Drove me insane. However without a doubt he can rumage and find the bits and bobs he needs.

As a young nipper it was my job to "have a clean up" whilst he's up on the roof. Got it all nice and organised back to a shut tup by the end of the week.

Method to the madness i suppose.