CB1100 Monthly Photo Challenge

[Tev62]

I'm treating this tool as my oldest Motorcycle Specific Tool because I still use it on all my bikes. I know every proper Engineer will scowl at and adjustable for serious work but in a lot of simple scenarios that is all that is needed, especially high quality ones whose mechanism is precisely made with quality materials.

I joined the Merchant Navy (AKA Merchant Marine) when I was 16 and did a four year apprenticeship where I learnt to weld, solder & braze, machine (lathe, shaping machine, Mill and so on), sheet metal work, cold metal work and technology stuff in the classroom. Zeus tables looked daunting at first but they became your invaluable friend.

After two years you went to sea for a year and you are presented with an Adjustable Spanner the first day you enter the Engine room. The shipping company gave you one, lose it and you pay for another out of your own wages. When you were only earning £28.75 per week the high quality BAHCO was an expensive proposition. As everybody had the same spanner, always the 8" too, you stamped it with your initials that day. You carried it everywhere and it was your go to device for nipping up leaky water or steam pipes, adjusting valve stem packing nuts and all manner of things.

I still have it today and use it regularly, 43 years later, no doubt due to the fact I stamped it on day one.