scrimper Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Just found and joined this community and felt I had better introduce myself, Hello! I hope you won't be too bored if I waffle on a bit to tell you a little about myself? I use the name scrimper because that is what I am, basically I like to make do and mend things using 'stuff' others throw away, such as old timber, I rarely buy any wood preferring to recycle from offcuts or old broken furniture. I have always been a keen woodworker mostly at home but did do a stint in a boat-building company (wooden boats) and a woodworking factory, though most of my working life was spent in the electrical/electronics repair business. My interest in Fretwork (that's what we have always called it) started when I was a young boy when I 'helped' my dad making toys and gifts on his Hobbies A1 treadle machine in those years after WW2 when toys were in short supply. I always had an interest in fretwork and especially the original Hobbies company in Dereham as my Grandfather had a shop selling Hobbies and Handicraft goods alongside wireless equipment back in the 1920's, my grandfather was brilliant at Fretwork and actually started his business by giving lessons in Fretwork to the local lads when it was all the rage post 1900. I still have many of his original Hobbies and handicraft patterns from those early days and for many years I have been a collector of Hobbies patterns, magazines and annuals. I also still have the Hobbies A1 treadle fretsaw and several Hobbies hand-frames from those early days, my one regret is that when he died he left a Hobbies imperial machine which I let go for scrap and I have always regretted it! I have a fairly decent workshop with all the usual woodworking machines installed and I own three Fretsaw/scrollsaw machines, being -: Hegner HM-2SV Diamond 18 Cheapo Taiwan made Wicks scrollsaw (which was given to me) The Hegner is my favourite, it's a lovely machine to use being both quiet running, powerful and accurate and is the machine that I most like using in my entire workshop. The Diamond is a well made saw, very powerful and will take any sort of blade, pinned or unpinned, hacksaw or even bit's of broken band-saw blades, however it is a bit aggressive and noisy, sadly the owner of the company that made the Diamond died and the company ceased trading. Sorry for rabbeting on about myself and I expect most will have stopped reading my scrawl by now but just in case Hello to everyone. John B, vendefwrife, Phantom Scroller and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firedkm Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Welcome to the Village John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 (edited) Interesting history John!Old used furiture is my favorite wood also,being poor.my love too is electronic;s.I hear a boat carpenter is the best carpenter(shipswright).Great collection of saws you have.Open up all the places you can find here at ssv,scrollsawvillage ,especially the forum ,then on top of the home page there's plenty too.you've found a home for you hobby interest's Welcome aboard! Edited August 28, 2013 by amazingkevin heppnerguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagledrum70 Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Great to have you in the village family John. Eagledrum70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oges Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Welcome to the Village Scrimper (John). I read your whole waffle with great interest, you have some great history there and im very jealous .. is it possible to get a picture of theHobbies A1 treadle fretsaw and several Hobbies hand-frames when you have time? The old patterns you have sound great, do you still use them? I know a website that has a lot of old Hobbies scrollsaw patterns on it, would be interesting if you had the same ones. The online ones being in digital form require a little adjusting to get them right though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLEPAPPY Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 GREAT History John...Welcome and enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grampa Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Hi John and welcome to the Village, Im from the UK also (preston/lancs) we have a few from the uk infact we have a few from everywhere one big happy family, We would like to see some of your work so please post some pics or better still set up a user gallery, there are plenty of patterns to choose from so pick a few, cut a few and brag a little.........Paul PS chat night 2100hrs thursday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimper Posted January 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Thanks for the kind welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauley555 Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 hi john and welcome,i am also from england(northants),you will find everyone here is very friendly and helpful,enjoy your stay.regards paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimper Posted January 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 is it possible to get a picture of theHobbies A1 treadle fretsaw and several Hobbies hand-frames when you have time? The old patterns you have sound great, do you still use them? I know a website that has a lot of old Hobbies scroll-saw patterns on it, would be interesting if you had the same ones. The online ones being in digital form require a little adjusting to get them right though. I will indeed be pleased to post some images of the A1 fretsaw and the hand-frames. I do use the patterns but I don't often get the time to make the more intricate ones, I have been collecting hobbies and Handicrafts plans for over 40 years and have several hundred dating from around 1910 to 1960's, of course I will never be able to make them all but I do get pleasure in looking at them and thinking that all that time ago someone sat in a drawing office and worked out these designs every single week and without any computers to help them! I would be interested to see what patterns are on the website you mention. I have a particular interest in Hobbies of Dereham (pre 1965) and the Handicrafts company (started around 1907 by 2 ex directors of Hobbies) and become quite excited in seeing anything with under the Hobbies brand, I have no idea why I should be so 'afflicted' in this way, I can only assume it is something I inherited from my Grandfather who was a Hobbies company advocate and trade customer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimper Posted January 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Hi John and welcome to the Village, Im from the UK also (preston/lancs) we have a few from the uk infact we have a few from everywhere one big happy family,We would like to see some of your work so please post some pics or better still set up a user gallery, there are plenty of patterns to choose from so pick a few, cut a few and brag a little.........Paul PS chat night 2100hrs thursday As soon as I get time I will indeed try to post some pictures of items I have made with my fretsaws but don't get too excited, after seeing the stuff some people make my 'stuff' is very modest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oges Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 ...I would be interested to see what patterns are on the website you mention... oops would have helped if I put in the link to the site: http://www.finescrollsaw.com/freepatterns.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimper Posted January 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 ...I would be interested to see what patterns are on the website you mention... oops would have helped if I put in the link to the site: http://www.finescrollsaw.com/freepatterns.htm I did actually know about that one TBH, but thanks anyway. I do have those patterns some also as the original printed paper ones but I also have many other older original Hobbies plans, some are really old and very fragile though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolbeltman Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Hi John...and welcome to the village...your a man after my own heart...I find that most of my spare time is spent bringing things back from the dead and recycling wood from pallets.. I like the photo af your Alsation...what's his name?...hope you don't mind me asking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton717 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 hello and welcome to the village Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Welcome to the Village John. Your waffle was VERY interesting so don't apologize for it, we all love a bit of history. You will find a lot of friends here in the village. Marg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimper Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Hi John...and welcome to the village...your a man after my own heart...I find that most of my spare time is spent bringing things back from the dead and recycling wood from pallets.. I like the photo af your Alsation...what's his name?...hope you don't mind me asking... Lol we don't call them the A word anymore he is a German Sheperd Dog and proud of it! his name is Max and unfortunately he is on his way out, he is now 13 and his back legs have succumbed so he now has difficultly getting about much, sadly it's only a matter of time before we have to make that awful decision and say goodbye to him. Lot's of my friend know I am a scrimper and pass on their 'rubbish' to me to use, it amazes me the useful stuff that people throw out, I just hate to see waste, often I am out on my bike and see stuff put out for rubbish and think I wish I could take that back with me, Most people think I am a little eccentric and TBH I agree with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forester Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Just purchased a Hobbies A1 would like to know more about it like year and original colours ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Well John you have some good kit and guess what your only 5 miles from me. hee hee I'm in Hartpury by the way, enjoy yourself on here there's a few from the UK on here and we have chats on Wednesday 8pm my problem is I have a crap memory and keep forgetting. Stay safe. Roly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted August 28, 2013 Report Share Posted August 28, 2013 Hi John, I really enjoyed your introduction. Your woodworking history is very interesting. I am glad you found us and I hope you chime in often. I too would enjoy seeing your saw and your shop and most of my wood is what people give to me too. I am looking forward to seeing any posts you make. I hope you are willing to share some of you older fret work patterns. I love them but I am not able to find many on line. Roly is right about the Village having many UK people here. I love that there are people from all over he world here. Our Village family is world wide and growing. Get to know everyone here and get the feeling of belonging. Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEVON BOY Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 Welcome John to the forum very good read i to like to use old wood that i can get my hands on when i am at sea trawling i find some nice big bulks of hard wood timber have picked 6/8 inch up to 12feet long and lots of pine to. Chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luperez548 Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 Jhon, I strongly agree with you about recycling woods, it is what I usually do. Welcome to the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Phillips Posted September 3, 2013 Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 Hi John welcome I too am from the UK just south of Hull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobscroll Posted September 3, 2013 Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 Hello John, Welcome to the village, From Bob in England Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint Hay Posted September 21, 2018 Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 On 1/21/2011 at 12:36 AM, scrimper said: Just found and joined this community and felt I had better introduce myself, Hello! I hope you won't be too bored if I waffle on a bit to tell you a little about myself? I use the name scrimper because that is what I am, basically I like to make do and mend things using 'stuff' others throw away, such as old timber, I rarely buy any wood preferring to recycle from offcuts or old broken furniture. I have always been a keen woodworker mostly at home but did do a stint in a boat-building company (wooden boats) and a woodworking factory, though most of my working life was spent in the electrical/electronics repair business. My interest in Fretwork (that's what we have always called it) started when I was a young boy when I 'helped' my dad making toys and gifts on his Hobbies A1 treadle machine in those years after WW2 when toys were in short supply. I always had an interest in fretwork and especially the original Hobbies company in Dereham as my Grandfather had a shop selling Hobbies and Handicraft goods alongside wireless equipment back in the 1920's, my grandfather was brilliant at Fretwork and actually started his business by giving lessons in Fretwork to the local lads when it was all the rage post 1900. I still have many of his original Hobbies and handicraft patterns from those early days and for many years I have been a collector of Hobbies patterns, magazines and annuals. I also still have the Hobbies A1 treadle fretsaw and several Hobbies hand-frames from those early days, my one regret is that when he died he left a Hobbies imperial machine which I let go for scrap and I have always regretted it! I have a fairly decent workshop with all the usual woodworking machines installed and I own three Fretsaw/scrollsaw machines, being -: Hegner HM-2SV Diamond 18 Cheapo Taiwan made Wicks scrollsaw (which was given to me) The Hegner is my favourite, it's a lovely machine to use being both quiet running, powerful and accurate and is the machine that I most like using in my entire workshop. The Diamond is a well made saw, very powerful and will take any sort of blade, pinned or unpinned, hacksaw or even bit's of broken band-saw blades, however it is a bit aggressive and noisy, sadly the owner of the company that made the Diamond died and the company ceased trading. Sorry for rabbeting on about myself and I expect most will have stopped reading my scrawl by now but just in case Hello to everyone. I was given a hobbies imperial fret saw yesterday . Can u tell me when they were manufactured? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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