Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 26 replies
  • Subscribers 32 subscribers
  • Views 2603 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Tool kit 1956

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
The NJIC rule requirements for an electrician's kit of tools in 1962 (unchanged from 1956) was:


Ratchet Brace and set of bits

Large screwdriver and one small

2 pairs of cutting pliers

2ft or 3ft rule

Adjustable hacksaw frame

Pair of 7-in Footprints and 1 pair 9-in ditto

Bradawl

Wood chisel

Pad saw

2 Hammers

Plumb bob and line

Knife

Spirit level

Tenon saw

Centre Punch

Wheel brace

Pair side cutters

Set of spanners 1/8" to 1/2" Whitworth

Set of box spanners 1/8" to 3/4" Whitworth

Adjustable tap wrench

Miniature 6-in hacksaw frame

2 cold chisels, small and large, or (where appropriate) 1 cold chisel and 1 tonguing chisel


I have the wage rates for 1962 of 6/4 1/2d (now 32p) an hour with an apprentice at 15 on 20% of this, at 16 on 25%, at 17 on 30%. at 18 on 45%, at 19 on 60%, at 20 72.5%......


Sometime, I'll price the tools up from contemporary catalogues and in the meantime, have a think about how many weeks it would take to buy the tools!


Regards


BOD

  • 0
    Has anyone mentioned a Sonic Screwdriver?
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    perspicacious:

    Well WB, some of the existing kit would be largely redundant now, but it is difficult to draw a line these days with the shorter life expectancy of the inevitable battery operated tools used by trades and their initial and replacement cost.


    As to what the employer would provide to enable more productivity and the tradesman (sorry Kerry and Zs!) uses is debatable. If your employer didn't supply you with an impact driver, would you persist and use a screwdriver or would you use your own "home and foreigner" kit? I doubt if I would have needed three carpal tunnel operations (and resisting having a fourth) had I an impact driver years ago.


    An obvious addition would be PPE and a means of proving live/dead as suggested above.


    Missing from the original list is some means of "Rawlplugging" but joist drilling and chasing is expected, along with horizontal spirit level and vertical plumb bob.


    This leads onto the use of an SDS drill and for the cost, a laser level.


    As to actually testing the installation and certifying it, this has been a requirement since before 1927 (I'll look up actual date but supper is calling) and 1939 respectively. I'd respectfully suggest that even if the test kit and forms were available from the employer, few employees would either know how to use it or be able to compile an EIC so possibly academic.



     




    Thanks persp, was wondering if there was any new tech that helps these days such as a thermal imager that can see joists, noggins, pipes etc for existing installations rather than the old probing methods, also, o.ooomA clamp meters seem popular these days?


    The only tools I had when I started my YTS with an niceic firm was a hammer and chisel set, and a a 6 pack of Stanley screwdrivers that my mum brought me off of the Kays catalogue. 

  • 0

    Missing from the original list is some means of "Rawlplugging" but joist drilling and chasing is expected, along with



    A star drill and cut to fit wooden dowels. Much quicker now with SDS drills and plastic Rawlplugs.


    I remember, making two flat bladed screwdrivers at school, tempered them to use without the blade snapping or bending, then for a short period of time, working for an Iron foundary learning about clocking on and off, HV switch gear and  Augmented and Diminished chords from a nice chap who had had a servere stroke so the most he could do was to punch out thousands of copper links each day which went on to a zinc plating workshop next door.

    After numourous different types of employment I started in electronic engineering as a lab technician, another interlude of domesticity, marraige and care then ended up as an electrician. That was 36 years ago. ........ Now I'm thinking about training as an astronaut or was it astronought?

    Legh

  • 0
    The Moon is your L.obster.


    Good luck Leigh


    Yes it`s ggod to think back how things have changed but learning the basics is still very important and sometimes forgoten in modern times in favour of quals.

    Back to basics might be a good rallying cry.


    It flumuxes me to find how many do not know how to wire a plug these days
  • 0

    ebee:

    It flumuxes me to find how many do not know how to wire a plug these days




    Well of course people were making such a mess of it that moulded plugs came in, which means that you don't have to anymore.


    My daughter asks why I never taught her "boy" things, but there was no interest. ?

  • 0
    That can be a problem Chris. My children have no interest in Engineering, they think it is difficult! However they are all doing OK, and I think the doctor and lawyer have had much more to learn, as measured by the thickness of text books to be learnt. Certainly the Radiologist Registrar still has little spare time, and far too many patients with Covid to care for to talk to Dad much!

Community Rules & Guidelines