EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Out of Hours Free Advertising

Those who know me may be able to confirm (if, indeed, any such confirmation is needed) that I still like to get out jogging as often as I can (actually, staggering about is nearer the mark ... but we won't go into that just now).

Those same good people can probably also confirm that I operate on, shall we say, a limited budget.

OK. Whilst I was out and about this afternoon I realised that my old T-shirt is getting a bit past it, and allowed my mind to wander back (you know, as one does) to ... well, it was 1992 when I was at Edgware. Back then I had hit upon the idea of getting some jogging T-shirts printed up with a phone number on the back. And "Technician for Hire" (or some such thing) emblazoned underneath.

Well, I never did get those tops printed (but I've always been a bit of a late developer. Ha, ha). And then I went off on my travels elsewhere in the world. Anyhow, now I need some more jogging tops. My size is Large (I don't mean "fat", but it's just that Large seems to fit ... and we are talking about jogging and such, not formal attire, after all)!

So there it is. If anyone (and I'm thinking here of the various small servicing companies with whom I'm acquainted) wants a bit of free advertising, I'll be happy to provide my address! Or (if you prefer) ... call in!

... then (as winter seems to be almost upon us yet again) we can start talking about fleeces. The one I have been known to wear sporting the logo of a well-known ultrasound servicing company* (whom I had better not name - but it's a green one) has lasted well, but one can never have too many of these things.

* I wonder how many sales that fleece has initiated ... er, none most likely. But, who knows!

Geoff, there are companies out there who do this sort of thing, you can even have 'costa coffee'(example) down the side of your car and they pay you! i think moneysavingexpert did something on them! there is also a website where you can loan out your tools, i have my tile cutter on there and i have not had to store it for months now and its earnt more than paid for the tool! good luck.Scott

Thanks for the response, Scott. But it seems you misunderstand what I'm about. I'm not (I'm pleased to say) a "one of the common herd" sort of guy. All I need is a couple of sweat-shirts, and a T-shirt or two. So I thought I would give some of my friends a chance!

And, in essence, I "only do biomed"!

I'm in the market for some more T-shirts.

The one I've been jogging around in for the last couple of years has now become a bit more "holier than thou" (if you know what I mean).

In case anyone is (was) wondering, it carried the logo of a certain company from the South West of England on the left breast, with their web address and telephone number on the back (albeit with more than a few of the details missing* now). One other clue:- it is (or rather was) green!

* Just to demonstrate that I do wash my gear occasionally.

Hello Geoff

I can recommend Primark, T shirts, £2 each; I bought 6. Trousers, £8 each, I bought 2 pairs. I am now fully kitted out for the future.

It's good to hear from you again, Mate. I thought perhaps you had gone to ground - up on the Quantocks, of course - or some such thing.

About the only stuff I buy new these days is footwear (walking boots, and the like); otherwise, there are plenty of charity shops around. In many High Streets that's all you'll see (apart from the off-licence, the bookies, and the nail-bar).

Meanwhile ... how's the Fergie?

Hello Geoff

I do confess to going to ground a little especially up on the Quantocks, but I often view the forum and always enjoy reading your clearly written posts. I did enjoy the work of an EBME technician and found the 11 years I spent a worthwhile career that I would recommend to anyone interested in all forms of engineering.

Funny you should ask about the Fergie, my oldest son has an agricultural contracting business and had to power harrow and reseed a local council's playing field. He turned up this morning asking if he could borrow the Fergie to spread the grass seed over an acre as his tractors were too large for the seed spreader, so the Fergie does get the odd airing now and again.

I did start occasionally working for him but we had differences on how things should be done and my knowledge of operating all singing and dancing modern tractors was rather inadequate. (That doesn't stop him from lining up a collection of broken implements for welding/repairing though.) I spent a few summers tedding with a MF135 and a 35X, both had those wonderful sounding 3 cylinder Perkins engines, and using an old square baler with a sledge with a later MF but he has got rid of all the good old stuff and now has fancy New Holland tractors with all this new fangled electoronicals or some such stuff.

All the best Geoff.

Ah - "tedding"; now there's a word I don't think we've seen on here before (and yes, I do know what it is)!

My dear old Dad (RIP) was an agricultural contractor for twenty years or so (circa. mid-fifties to mid-seventies); I could re-tell many stories (but shall desist) - but suffice to say that you can guess how I spent my school summer holidays when I was a "youth" (hint:- harvesting time being Dad's busiest period). I spent the two summers before joining the army baling straw and driving the "corn lorry" (an old Bedford OY tipper).

Dad preferred International tractors (especially the Super BWD-6 [which my brother still has] - made in Doncaster, you know) - but my Grandad had a nice little Nuffield Three. That also had a three-cylinder diesel engine (and very sweet it was too); but a BMC diesel, of course. Not for nothing was the Nuffield known as the "Rolls-Royce of Tractors"* (but with a price tag to match)!

Unlike today's "contractors" (who always seem to be in such a tearing rush - witness a Claas I saw ripping through barley yesterday), Dad used to just plod steadily on. It was hard work, too (no cabs on the combines in those days). But after two decades he had had enough, and then set up his sawmill (which is still in my brother's hands).

It sounds like your lad needs a "good talking to", Mate ... but, has he got any T-shirts?

I recall that Dad's new MF 788 combine (Perkins engine) cost ... wait for it - £ 2,000 (on the H.P., too). That would have been somewhere around 1963.

* Some folk award this accolade to Fendt; but how can that be? They're German!

Yes. Good Man.