A session last night saw the tool van finished. Strictly speaking I think that it should have screw couplings rather than three links but I didn’t have any in and I can always change them later.

In the instructions George makes mention of a chain and peg to hold the doors shut. I reasoned that a tool van might have something a bit more secure so I decided to make a couple of padlocks. This proved easier to say than to do – I had just nicely filed them to shape when one flew off into space so I put the other on one side in disgust. A couple of days later after turning the workbench and floor upside down I noticed the missing lock caught in the hem of my apron….. I then had a couple of unsuccessful attempts at soldering a loop on
the top.

But when I had finished adding the last bit’s and pieces last night I decided to have one last attempt before abandoning the idea and to my surprise and delight each one soldered without problem.

Just to offer a little more background on these vans, as I understand it four of these vans were converted from the standard 8ton Jubilee Van for use by Avery’s in order to service and maintain the many weighing scales in use at stations on the NBR. According to the information supplied with the kit they had workbenches, store cupboards and even a rivet stove installed – I am a little intrigued by the latter because there is no chimney. Back when I was a butcher we used Avery scales and they were maintained by Avery – sadly the guys came in an Escort van rather than an NBR Jubilee:) Here’s where I got to on Thursday night.