For those that lament the weakening of Nitromors.

[enfieldspares]

306 Squadron Spitfire Vb AA919 UZ-J F/O. Jankowski, RAF Churchstanton, Somerset, English Channel

Personal history of Allied forces aircrew and support services serving 1935 - 1945 including original research.

aircrewremembered.com

303 Squadron Spitfire Vc BM407 RF-Z W/O. Zygarlicki

Personal history of Allied forces aircrew and support services serving 1935 - 1945 including original research.

aircrewremembered.com

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Hm H&S was not an issue back then. I bet he never collected a pension.
When I started my year in the fibreglass dept at Humber Ltds Experimental I was given a brush like that one for working the resin into the glass mat and was told that I had to clean it using acetone in an open bucket (who needs drugs?) followed by a soapy wash as that brush was the only one I would get during the year. I managed it but the bristles were very short at the end.

 

[enfieldspares]

Hm H&S was not an issue back then. I bet he never collected a pension.

Yes. I thought the same. "There's a war on" is maybe not a justification for helping the enemy killing your own ground crew by yourself.

 

[User00056]

Back in the day, we had a parts cleaner that used pure trichloroethylene. We even had aerosols of the bloody stuff

 

[finnbear270]

Back in the day, we had a parts cleaner that used pure trichloroethylene. We even had aerosols of the bloody stuff

My Old Man worked as an engineer at Witters in his latter years, they still had a trike bath with a conveyor running through it for dipping all the towbars & stuff, I remember him keeping a gallon can of it in the shed.
P.S., It was standard practice at Crosville's garage on Sealand rd, for apprentices heads to be held under the canvas sheet covering the trike de greasing bath.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

My Old Man worked as an engineer at Witters in his latter years, they still had a trike bath with a conveyor running through it for dipping all the towbars & stuff, I remember him keeping a gallon can of it in the shed.
P.S., It was standard practice at Crosville's garage on Sealand rd, for apprentices heads to be held under the canvas sheet covering the trike de greasing bath.

Same at Humber Cars Coventry the trike degreaser bath after machining the six cylinder blocks.

 

[wytonpjs]

Back in the day, we had a parts cleaner that used pure trichloroethylene. We even had aerosols of the bloody stuff

The aerosol was cracking stuff - ended up having to use Ardrox dye penetrant cleaner in later years Used up the last of a 5L container a few years back - modern degreasants are IMHO nowhere as good. However, I was always VERY careful in my use of it having been on the periphery of the fatality of the airman from the wheel cleaning bay at Lyneham who was overcome by it and found face down in the cleaning bath

 

[Klenchblaize]

Back in the day, we had a parts cleaner that used pure trichloroethylene. We even had aerosols of the bloody stuff

Reminds me of walking past the Paxman Musical Instrument workshop in Long Acre Street, London, back in the day.


K

 

[wytonpjs]

The aerosol was cracking stuff - ended up having to use Ardrox dye penetrant cleaner in later years Used up the last of a 5L container a few years back - modern degreasants are IMHO nowhere as good. However, I was always VERY careful in my use of it having been on the periphery of the fatality of the airman from the wheel cleaning bay at Lyneham who was overcome by it and found face down in the cleaning bath

Dammed sure I have one of my late father’s old brass-coloured fire extinguisher somewhere that’s filled with the stuff - he used it periodically for cleaning

 

[Smellydog]

That's nothing, when lead is banned the world will be so much better

 

[Chris Richardson]

Hm H&S was not an issue back then. I bet he never collected a pension.
When I started my year in the fibreglass dept at Humber Ltds Experimental I was given a brush like that one for working the resin into the glass mat and was told that I had to clean it using acetone in an open bucket (who needs drugs?) followed by a soapy wash as that brush was the only one I would get during the year. I managed it but the bristles were very short at the end.

as long as youve never eaten lead shot game youll be fine

 

[steve sxs]

as long as youve never eaten lead shot game youll be fine

Oh dear I'm a gonna!

 

[kenbro]

Dammed sure I have one of my late father’s old brass-coloured fire extinguisher somewhere that’s filled with the stuff - he used it periodically for cleaning

I remember those, little things with a T shaped handle to pump the juice out.
KB.

 

[opticron1]

Back in the day, we had a parts cleaner that used pure trichloroethylene. We even had aerosols of the bloody stuff

That reminds me......many years ago - when my lungs were in better condition - we used to clean surgical areas and equipment with Cidex (aka Glutaraldehyde). We used to throw the stuff about willy-nilly and there was never any mention of PPE (gloves occasionally, but hey who cares if you lose a layer of skin!).
Not so much now, the original mix is discontinued as a health hazard with strict orders about use and personal protection.......ah yes.....the good old days.......

 

[Klenchblaize]

Things move on:

K

 

[finnbear270]

Wonder if the Airman developed dermatitis on his hands.

 

[enfieldspares]

Re BAVARIAN BRIT a fellow pistol shooter, Mick Gidlow, who was, as I, a Midland Arquebusiers member and shot at the Spon Street Range in Coventry was the last Daimler apprentice before Daimler became part of Jaguar that morphed into BMH then BMC then BLMC. He recalled the first task he was allocated of having to time the screws on the dashboard of the Daimler SP 250 so that all the slots lined up.

 

[weblyish]

We used to use DMSO as a solvent

It has what's termed carrier capability which is the ability to transport other molecules across membranes - such as skin and taste buds
We had great fun testing
Dip your finger in lemon juice then DMSO and you can instantly taste lemon
Coffee worked. Tea did not
Chilli was an absolute disaster and your whole body got hot
Garlic worked well


We didn't stop to think that this was all a bit weird and must have been bad for us

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Re BAVARIAN BRIT a fellow pistol shooter, Mick Gidlow, who was, as I, a Midland Arquebusiers member and shot at the Spon Street Range in Coventry was the last Daimler apprentice before Daimler became part of Jaguar that morphed into BMH then BMC then BLMC. He recalled the first task he was allocated of having to time the screws on the dashboard of the Daimler SP 250 so that all the slots lined up.

Humber were just as fussy on Humber, Singer & Sunbeams trim parts but not so on the Hillman range.
As you went up Mile lane heading out of the centre past the school of music on the right Mile Lane school where I spent a few years there was a shooting range in a factory on the left side. One of the Humber experimental chaps shot there and took me along where I saw a Browning Hi power in its wooden stock that he had. Ah the memories that have been denied to todays young uns.

 

[enfieldspares]

As you went up Mile lane heading out of the centre past the school of music on the right Mile Lane school where I spent a few years there was a shooting range in a factory on the left side.

I did shoot, just the once, on the range at the Alvis but only the once. Leicester had two ranges, both built for .303, under the old Grandby Halls.