G'day from Arizona

**SGBarnes** · 20th February 2011, 07:11 PM

.......... originally from Burnley, Lancashire, England.

I might as well get this off my chest up front: One of my great loves has always been Cricket -- and I have always been a "Baggy green" fan. I was accused of being a traitor by my school mates but I couldn't help it -- my all-time sports hero was Don Bradman and I followed his every accomplishment when I was a boy. My other Cricket heroes were also Aussies: W. J. (Bill) O'Reilly, Sid (Bagga) Barnes and Ray Lindwall -- and of course the 1948 Invincibles. There, I have said it!

I now live in blissful retirement in Arizona with my great wife and I still enjoy working with woodworking hand tools.

I apprenticed as a truck cab and body builder at the firm of Oswald Tillotson, Burnley, Lancashire, from 1947 to 1950. Cabs and flat bed bodies were hand built of wood at that time, the cabs being finished with sheet metal (van and panel truck bodies were just starting to be built using extruded aluminum sections and sheeting). I worked mostly in the cab shop doing framework joining and door making/installing, although I occasionally built flat bed truck bodies. I am not a collector of woodworking tools, but I maintain and use examples of the hand tools I used back then out of familiarity and nostalgia.

James

**munruben** · 20th February 2011, 11:15 PM

Welcome to the forum James; an interesting introduction. I'm sure you would have many stories to tell. Welcome aboard.

**Claw Hama** · 21st February 2011, 07:03 AM

James welcome to The Forum. Wow, what changes you have seen in tools and trucks etc. I lean toward older tools my self although to do woodwork for a living you have to add a little electricity here and there. Like John said above you must have some stories to tell.
Hmm you could post a thread with one every now and then. "The nostalgia thread"
What are you making these days?

**SGBarnes** · 21st February 2011, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by munruben

.......... Welcome aboard.

Thank you, John.

James

**SGBarnes** · 21st February 2011, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

James welcome to The Forum .......... you must have some stories to tell. Hmm you could post a thread with one every now and then. "The nostalgia thread" What are you making these days?

Thanks for the welcome, Claw Hama -- I will try and make a contribution from time to time -- I devote most of my time to writing about old hand tools, sharpening and maintaining my own and making boxes etc.

James

**Claw Hama** · 21st February 2011, 09:14 AM

So where do we find your writtings? are these published?

**SGBarnes** · 21st February 2011, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

So where do we find your writtings? are these published?

My latest endeavor is a work in progress -- the pages covering back saws, chisels, measuring devices, etc. are still being written. The pages covering Yankee spiral ratchet screwdrivers, Stanley planes, Disston hand saws, Millers Falls hand drills and bit braces are published online and are fairly well refined. The home page is here

Header image

James

**crowie** · 21st February 2011, 11:57 AM

G'Day & Welcome James or are we allowed to call you Jim.
I can understand an englishman loving the aussie cricket teams;
but how did you end up in Arizona, USA and not "down-under".
Anyways, looking forward to your wealth of knowledge & experience.
Enjoy the forum.
Cheers, Crowie

**Claw Hama** · 21st February 2011, 12:10 PM

Very nice work James, love those Millers Falls egg beaters.

**SGBarnes** · 21st February 2011, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by crowie

G'Day & Welcome James or are we allowed to call you Jim ..........

Thanks for the welcome, Crowie -- and please do call me Jim (actually only my Mother called me James -- when I was in trouble -- and that was often!).

.......... but how did you end up in Arizona, USA and not "down-under"

It is a long story, Crowie -- I will relate it sometime when things are very quiet on the Forum.

.......... Anyways, looking forward to your wealth of knowledge & experience.

Enjoy the forum.

Thanks again, Crowie and cheers to you.

Jim

**Christos** · 21st February 2011, 07:40 PM

I was reading the first post and thought to my self how old if the fellow. Then I noticed this on the right side.

One luck bugger to be able to see the Don live. I enjoy my cricket as well.

And welcome to the forum.

**SGBarnes** · 22nd February 2011, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Christos

.......... One luck bugger to be able to see the Don live. I enjoy my cricket as well.

I saw him bat three times:

1938 at Headingly (Leeds), 4th Test match (with my father, a great cricket fan), fourth day -- Bradman hit a sparkling century.

1948 at Old Trafford (Manchester), 3rd Test match, first inning (abandoned due to rain) -- Bradman lbw for 11.

1948 at Old Trafford (Manchester), vs Lancashire, second inning -- Bradman hit a magnificent 133 not out.

.......... And welcome to the forum.

Thanks, Christos.

Jim

**orraloon** · 23rd February 2011, 01:22 PM

Welcome Jim,
I am not much of a cricket fan as originally coming from Scotland where it is one of those hardly ever noticed sports. I did perk up at the mention of old tools so will be having a good read of your home page. Looking forward to future posts.
Regards
John

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