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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Birmingham micro-adjuster
I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ranch, and needed a large hammer. As I was searching in the workshop, Jim asked what I was looking for, and I replied "a Birmingham micro-adjuster". He was quite tickled with my subsequent explanation.
I learned this term, in Britain, about 1955-60. Is it well known? Are there other similar slightly-scurrilous descriptive terms?
John W Hall (Email Removed)
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
"Helping People Prosper in the Information Age"
I learned this term, in Britain, about 1955-60. Is it well known? Are there other similar slightly-scurrilous descriptive terms?
John W Hall (Email Removed)
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
"Helping People Prosper in the Information Age"
Top answer
[nq:1]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ranch, and needed a large hammer. As I was searching ... explanation.
- [nq:1]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ranch, and needed a large hammer.
- As I was searching ...
- explanation.
- I learned this term, in Britain, about 1955-60.
- Is it well known?
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42 Answers
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[nq:1]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ranch, and needed a large hammer. As I was searching ... explanation. I learned this term, in Britain, about 1955-60. Is it well known? Are there other similar slightly-scurrilous descriptive terms?[/nq]
In the 1960s we referred to a hammer as a "fine-tuning wrench"; not sure where it came from.
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toro
In the 1960s we referred to a hammer as a "fine-tuning wrench"; not sure where it came from.
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toro
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[nq:1]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ranch, and needed a large hammer. As I was searching ... explanation. I learned this term, in Britain, about 1955-60. Is it well known? Are there other similar slightly-scurrilous descriptive terms?[/nq]
Known to me as a Birmingham screwdriver.
m.
Known to me as a Birmingham screwdriver.
m.
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[nq:1]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ranch, and needed a large hammer. As I was searching ... this term, in Britain, about 1955-60. Is it well known? Are there other similar slightly-scurrilous descriptive terms? [/nq]
A Coventry screwdriver.
David
==
Does exactly what it says on the tin.
A Coventry screwdriver.
David
==
Does exactly what it says on the tin.
00
[nq:2]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ... it well known? Are there other similar slightly-scurrilous descriptive terms?[/nq]
[nq:1]In the 1960s we referred to a hammer as a "fine-tuning wrench"; not sure where it came from.In Zambia in the mid-70s a bottle opener was known as a 'Rhodesian spanner'.[/nq]
Mike Page
[nq:1]In the 1960s we referred to a hammer as a "fine-tuning wrench"; not sure where it came from.In Zambia in the mid-70s a bottle opener was known as a 'Rhodesian spanner'.[/nq]
Mike Page
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[nq:2]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ... it well known? Are there other similar slightly-scurrilous descriptive terms?[/nq]
[nq:1]Known to me as a Birmingham screwdriver. m.[/nq]
The tool of choice for percussive maintenance.
[nq:1]Known to me as a Birmingham screwdriver. m.[/nq]
The tool of choice for percussive maintenance.
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[nq:1]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ranch, and needed a large hammer. As I was searching in the workshop, Jim asked what I was looking for, and I replied "a Birmingham micro-adjuster".[/nq]
Wouldn't a hammer be a macro-adjuster?
Wouldn't a hammer be a macro-adjuster?
00
[nq:2]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ... I was looking for, and I replied "a Birmingham micro-adjuster".[/nq]
[nq:1]Wouldn't a hammer be a macro-adjuster?[/nq]
I think "micro-adjuster" is apt, to mean fine-tuning in the sense of understatement.
[nq:1]Wouldn't a hammer be a macro-adjuster?[/nq]
I think "micro-adjuster" is apt, to mean fine-tuning in the sense of understatement.
00
[nq:1]Wouldn't a hammer be a macro-adjuster?[/nq]
Yes, if logic applied. But it does not, in such matters. In the 1960s, the term 'micro' was well-known to The Man on the Clapham Omnibus, from 'microscope', 'microphone' etc. 'Macro' was not.
John W Hall (Email Removed)
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
"Helping People Prosper in the Information Age"
Yes, if logic applied. But it does not, in such matters. In the 1960s, the term 'micro' was well-known to The Man on the Clapham Omnibus, from 'microscope', 'microphone' etc. 'Macro' was not.
John W Hall (Email Removed)
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
"Helping People Prosper in the Information Age"
00
[nq:2]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ... I was looking for, and I replied "a Birmingham micro-adjuster".[/nq]
[nq:1]Wouldn't a hammer be a macro-adjuster?[/nq]
The term also conveys the attitude of Birmingham mechanics trying to make fine adjustments with a very large hammer.
Mike
M.J.Powell
[nq:1]Wouldn't a hammer be a macro-adjuster?[/nq]
The term also conveys the attitude of Birmingham mechanics trying to make fine adjustments with a very large hammer.
Mike
M.J.Powell
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[nq:1]I was recently helping Jim with some tasks around his ranch, and needed a large hammer. As I was searching ... explanation. I learned this term, in Britain, about 1955-60. Is it well known? Are there other similar slightly-scurrilous descriptive terms?[/nq]
I have also heard a vernier caliper called a "precision Stilson" and a micrometer a "precision G-clamp".
There was a time when t
I have also heard a vernier caliper called a "precision Stilson" and a micrometer a "precision G-clamp".
There was a time when t
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