Bassettblowke Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 (edited) Three of my recent purchases, as I have mentioned before I tend to scrub around with the bottom feeders when it comes to collecting however on occasion, well actually quite frequently I come across a mint and boxed item that is to good to ignore. First up is the good,I don’t know whether this item was unpopular, overproduced or seldom used because there seems to a load of them knocking about. That said over on eBay some chancer is asking a £100 for one and will rip you off on the postage to boot. You really shouldn’t pay more than £10 for a mint and boxed example and £4 is not uncommon, this particular example was £6. It also came with the Connecting plate in its envelope, my inability to walk past these means I’ve now got at least a dozen a good excuse to add some sidings. second up is the bad, well in my book it isn’t that bad, purportedly a Bassett Lowke signal now I don’t know zilch about signalling but I do like signals so I snapped this one up as a job for another day. Finally the plug ugly a length of Hornby platform fencing with a Picasso paint job, a quick plunge into the caustic and a coat of appliance white should put this one to rights Edited February 27, 2020 by Bassettblowke Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 A man after my own heart!.. I too can't resist bargain job lots etc...youre quite correct tho, it's surprising what some of 'em on evilbay reckon they can get for stuff, I've seen equally 'cosmetic' lengths of that picket fencing you have, starting at 10 to 15 quid, plus p+p !! Another popular trick seems to be rip the wheels off old wagons and then try to flog said bunch of wheels for some absurd price...this of course results in a large number of wheel-less wagons, which via 'spares / repairs' job lots the likes of myself ( and possibly you) then end up with! I think I've 'only' got about 6 sets of buffers as yet, these often seem to get thrown in with a bulk scrap lot, but as you say, there are the chancers who reckon they can get big money for them too. I got these in such a lot the other day.. No idea of the maker but a change from the grey Hornby ones.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassettblowke Posted February 27, 2020 Author Share Posted February 27, 2020 I’ve never seen anything like that before maybe I need to get out more, my only oddball one is a French JEP with an illuminated H on a post, another of my impulse buys. I wonder just how many varieties of O gauge buffer stops are out there to be had. At this rate I can see myself being carted off to the home for wayward train addicts in a furniture van full of scrap train stuff. You are dead right about the platform fencing especially when you factor in the repro stuff that’s available also Merkur sell a dead ringer for the old Hornby fence. Paying more than a tenner is nonsensical and even £10 is probably to much for a piece of tat that needs work. while I am on the subject of tat here’s my own example fresh from the caustic, rinsed and awaiting a scrub with a scotchbrite pad. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 (edited) The thing missing from that BL signal looks to be the post cap, otherwise not too bad. My layout is signalled with these, no central control though, and mostly the upper quadrant ones, but I have LQ starters at Paltry Circus, so this might show you what the missing bit looks like - it’s different from on the UQ ones. Should be easy to make from a chunk of brass. PS: just visible in the background is my ‘signal farm’, where all the damaged ones that I’ve been given live until repaired or cannibalised to make signals for particular applications. Edited February 28, 2020 by Nearholmer 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 Looks like I might have some BL signals without realising then?.. These from more scrapyard job lots, all but one need a bit of attention tho.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Carne Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 14 hours ago, Porkscratching said: A man after my own heart!.. I too can't resist bargain job lots etc...youre quite correct tho, it's surprising what some of 'em on evilbay reckon they can get for stuff, I've seen equally 'cosmetic' lengths of that picket fencing you have, starting at 10 to 15 quid, plus p+p !! Another popular trick seems to be rip the wheels off old wagons and then try to flog said bunch of wheels for some absurd price...this of course results in a large number of wheel-less wagons, which via 'spares / repairs' job lots the likes of myself ( and possibly you) then end up with! I think I've 'only' got about 6 sets of buffers as yet, these often seem to get thrown in with a bulk scrap lot, but as you say, there are the chancers who reckon they can get big money for them too. I got these in such a lot the other day.. No idea of the maker but a change from the grey Hornby ones.. That one's Bing, they made it forever in Bing terms, 1902 ish to 1932. Any trademarks embossed or stamped on ot anywhere? If it's an early one, it will have a trademark embossed in the sleepers. Got half a dozen of these myself, lovely things. Cheers, Mark 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 Thanks for that Mark, having looked under strong light there's just visible under the sleeper, a printed on remains of the stylised Bing logo, I'd not have noticed without prompting! Nice to have and effectively cost pennies, one of the joys of 'job lots'..! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRASinBothell Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 I have a couple of upper quadrant Bassett-Lowke signals, one of which is missing the spring on the balance weight.Is there a good source for those? Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 I'd think you could buy lengths of small spring like that, that you could to cut to size req. might be worth looking on ebay , modelmakers parts or even clockmakers ?... as some clocks use small springs like that in the chiming mech... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 The BLS Spares Directory lists Mr D Orchard, 8 Haynes Close, Bromsgrove, B61 OLX as able to supply signal springs at 50p each plus £1 p&p on orders up to £10. BUT, the spares directory is as much an historical record as a current guide, so ....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRASinBothell Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 Thanks. Well, it's at least a post-£sd price, so not THAT historical! No e-mail address, I take it? Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 Nope, I’m afraid not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassettblowke Posted February 29, 2020 Author Share Posted February 29, 2020 Back from the brink is the platform fencing, instead of appliance white I treated it to a coat of Lidl’s Baufix metal paint which like Hammerite purports to deal with rust, requires no primer and the minimum of prep, unlike Hammerite it dries to a perfectly smooth high gloss finish. , 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 11 hours ago, Bassettblowke said: Back from the brink is the platform fencing, instead of appliance white I treated it to a coat of Lidl’s Baufix metal paint which like Hammerite purports to deal with rust, requires no primer and the minimum of prep, unlike Hammerite it dries to a perfectly smooth high gloss finish. , Looks good. TBH I'm deeply sceptical of Hammerite's no-primer claim. I always found the adhesion rather poor on unprimed surfaces. Poor enough that I never got it to stay on long enough to find out if it really dealt with rust. After the first few disappointments I always used a rust killing primer under it. With proper priming I found it to be an excellent and very durable finish, as long as you were prepared to wait the (seemingly) several months it took to reach full cure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 I believe they changed the formula of the hammerite ranges, a bit like the useless paint strippers they do nowadays, due to the ingredients that actually work being banned or such nonsense! I used the smooth version of hammerite on machinery, straight on metal, back in the 80s and it was excellent back then.. I haven't bothered with the "enviromentally fat free" modern hammerite version so can't comment from actual experience! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Properly de-grease and it works perfectly well; tiniest bit of grease/oil, and it doesn’t. my guess is that the old, super-noxious, solvent used as a base for the paint “cut” the grease, but the new base doesn’t. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassettblowke Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 One of the joys of using hot caustic is the spotless finish obtained, a quick wash down with a spray of water and a scotch brite pad followed by a blast from the other half’s industrial strength hair dryer ( it’s that powerful I am surprised she’s got any hair left) and your good to go with the paint. I am impressed with the Baufix product good coverage, quick drying and a deep lustrous finish akin to a coat of lacquer and best of all reasonably priced. The down side is it’s not a stock item in Lidl so only pops up when the DIY promotions are on, well worth keeping an eye out for. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassettblowke Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 (edited) The fencing being done and dusted the signal began to draw me in, initially I wasn’t to impressed but I gave it a quick wash and brush up and it began to look like it may have potential. Now I have no knowledge of B/Lowke signals this being the only one I possess in anything like scale proportions. One of the first things that caught my eye was a hole in the base this may be original but to me at least has the appearance of a diy job and if that’s the case the originality has gone out the window and it’s fair game for some bodgery. Any thoughtshole is bottom right corner Also the spring which doesn’t seem to serve any purpose at the moment hanging like a wet sock as it does, I am tempted to remove it, opinions also welcome on this. Edited March 1, 2020 by Bassettblowke Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Ok my 2d worth...on mine the hole of which there's 2 diagonally opposed, seem to hold the end of spring which holds the signal arm in place via the lever, here's pics... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 There's provision for another spring to act the opposite way on the lever and the other base hole, so either you could elect to have it sprung on or off, or maybe both were balanced so it'd stay where you put it ?? The other BL signals I showed earlier have a single spring each tho.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 (edited) The spring is meant to give an ‘over centre’ action, but I find that some of them are too tired to actually do that. The holes in the corners of the base are for fixing the signal to the baseboard, and the spring should anchor to a split-pin through the post or base depending upon the date/design. Here are some other potentially helpful pictures of patients waiting in my queue. And, to show that one is a less-common somersault signal. If you need any more pictures, shout. Edited March 1, 2020 by Nearholmer 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Interesting, your springs go in the centre holes, my one seems to have been as per pic a very long time and have a loop just for the job as is, but does however hold the arm in one position unless you lean on it! I'll try it as you have it there.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 (edited) Yep, the spring on yours is fixed in the wrong place at both ends. On the positive side, it does look springy! Catalogue picture for good measure. Edited March 1, 2020 by Nearholmer 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Yes its pretty springy and is holding the signal down quite strongly! ..Just as a casual aside, I'm currently, finally getting round to ebaying some of the last of my 00 gauge stuff...then I can buy yet more tinplate scrap...good here innit !!!! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkscratching Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Ps what's the hole at the end of the lever for ? ( ie where spring is wrongly attached at the mo) Remote linkage to point rodding or something? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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