New Teaspoon Advice Please
Discussion
mcbook said:
Oh, my man in the village could talk of stem flanges and friction plates all day! As you say, when obscure parts are required it can be a real bother. However, in a nearby town there's a fully qualified Polish Flange Beater now working as a take away delivery driver. He noticed my Gorski as I collected the Jalfrezi cup-in-hand and struck up a conversation. He has contacts that I occasionally use to find the stuff my man in the village can't fabricate himself. Let me know the next time you're searching for authentic Janos Kadar era parts and I'll introduce you.
Appreciate it mcbook. How sad that he's working as a delivery driver and not full time keeping those glorious spoons operational! Hopefully if your business takes off then you could find something a bit more productive for him to do.I'm usually pretty firmly in the free market camp on these things but I can't help thinking that with a bit of intelligent management from government we could make a lot better use of some of these spooning skills that are going to waste. This would be good for the economy, preserve a central aspect of our national culture and a major boost to national security by eliminating our dependence on foreign spoons. Sadly free market dogma trumps all and many of these skills are going to waste as spoon makers leave the industry.
(Oh and... Flange Beater tee hee hee)
Oh I'm far from advocating spoon Stalinism. I was a firm supporter of Thatchers "big swirl" spoon privatisations and breaking the union domination of the spoon industry. I just find it sad that so many people with these specialist skills are stuck in dead end jobs, their skills going to waste and not being passed on to the next generation.
Apparently in Czech Republic they have a system through technical colleges where they let spoon makers use the facilities in exchange for passing on their skills to young hobby spooners. They make a bit of an income by selling their spoons, and it keeps the skills current and keeps the industry alive.
As an interesting aside I read that as a result of this Czech now has over 9 spoons per capita, as compared with the European average of 6.3 and double the rather dismal British 4.4.
Apparently in Czech Republic they have a system through technical colleges where they let spoon makers use the facilities in exchange for passing on their skills to young hobby spooners. They make a bit of an income by selling their spoons, and it keeps the skills current and keeps the industry alive.
As an interesting aside I read that as a result of this Czech now has over 9 spoons per capita, as compared with the European average of 6.3 and double the rather dismal British 4.4.
The Crack Fox said:
AJS- said:
As an interesting aside I read that as a result of this Czech now has over 9 spoons per capita, as compared with the European average of 6.3 and double the rather dismal British 4.4.
Their superior SPH (spoon per head) count is also a result of funding from the European Spoonion, remember.Blib said:
The Crack Fox said:
AJS- said:
As an interesting aside I read that as a result of this Czech now has over 9 spoons per capita, as compared with the European average of 6.3 and double the rather dismal British 4.4.
Their superior SPH (spoon per head) count is also a result of funding from the European Spoonion, remember. said:
When spoonsmith artisans associate with one another, theory, propaganda, etc., is their first end. But at the same time, as a result of this association, they acquire a new need — the need for society — and what appears as a means becomes an end. ... the brotherhood of man is no mere phrase with them, but a fact of life, and the nobility of man shines upon us from the grace of their uniform bowls and the slenderness of their fluted handles.
The SPEU and their metrification of bowl size is one of the worst thing to happen to spooning in decades, IMO. Little annoys me more, nor makes me feel as helpless. This may result in a ban, but it bothers me naught: I blame the Belgians. Always have, always will. Ambroose Benna should always be recognised for the criminal he is.
I still treasure my first set of Whitworth spoons and find myself reaching for a 9/16ths every once in a while, but come on spooners, metric spoons have been around since long before most of us were born (possible exception for Blib)
Has no-one ever enjoyed, as I have, Napoleon's spoon display in the Grand Musée du Cuillères on the Île de la Cité?
Has no-one ever enjoyed, as I have, Napoleon's spoon display in the Grand Musée du Cuillères on the Île de la Cité?
Yes but now we're FORCED to have metrics. At least we used to be able to choose which ones we wanted. Does this not frustrate you? I nearly gave spooning up at one point because it literally makes me feel a bit sick with frustration. Yeah, you can still get "tribute" imperial sizes, but to me they're like the Wing'd Horse of Chav Tat, and anyway I want a full set of PROPER artisan pieces, rather than guessed approximations.
The problem comes when you have a metric spoon in an imperial cup, or vice versa. You can just about get away with a 3/4" when a 19mm would be ideal, but it's a bit brutal.
Anyway my objection to metrication isn't a technical one as such, but one of heritage, liberty and a matter of principle. We often hear that metric measurements are more precise and easier to work with for complex measurements and calculations, but that's not the point. The measurement system here is not about precise quantification, rather it is a means of communication, and spoon enthusiasts have used imperial measurements for centuries.
This is an attempt to alter that history, the detach us from the familiar and dislocate the anchors of life, the better to impose their vision of their metric spooned future upon us.
Orwell knew it. There's a scene in 1984 where Winston has a cup of tea in a Donkel 993 and the only spoon available is is a rather forlorn looking early 70s vintage Magnum 9/16. The look of tortureed resignation on John Hurt's face is one of the most brilliant bits of cinema I have ever seen, and probably the highlight of the film for me.
Anyway my objection to metrication isn't a technical one as such, but one of heritage, liberty and a matter of principle. We often hear that metric measurements are more precise and easier to work with for complex measurements and calculations, but that's not the point. The measurement system here is not about precise quantification, rather it is a means of communication, and spoon enthusiasts have used imperial measurements for centuries.
This is an attempt to alter that history, the detach us from the familiar and dislocate the anchors of life, the better to impose their vision of their metric spooned future upon us.
Orwell knew it. There's a scene in 1984 where Winston has a cup of tea in a Donkel 993 and the only spoon available is is a rather forlorn looking early 70s vintage Magnum 9/16. The look of tortureed resignation on John Hurt's face is one of the most brilliant bits of cinema I have ever seen, and probably the highlight of the film for me.
I thought that was one of the biggest goofs of the film for me, a Eurasian metric cup in the great outpost of Oceania? It really spoiled it for me
Of course Orwell wrote the book long before the Magnums were every crudely stamped out
in the original novel's notes he mentions a 'rough industrial spoon, of the sort made in Silesia'
Of course Orwell wrote the book long before the Magnums were every crudely stamped out
in the original novel's notes he mentions a 'rough industrial spoon, of the sort made in Silesia'
OpulentBob said:
Yes but now we're FORCED to have metrics. At least we used to be able to choose which ones we wanted. Does this not frustrate you? I nearly gave spooning up at one point because it literally makes me feel a bit sick with frustration. Yeah, you can still get "tribute" imperial sizes, but to me they're like the Wing'd Horse of Chav Tat, and anyway I want a full set of PROPER artisan pieces, rather than guessed approximations.
Yes, but that's not strictly true is it? As long as it is expressed with both units, a spoon can be made in any measurement size one would wish. The problem is that the global market is essentially too small for large scale, affordable imperial units. That said, I've found a good spoonsman can rework a bowl to a more palatable size surprisingly cheaply. There's always a solution to every challenge in spooning, especially for us Brits. I think sometimes we forget the spooning reputation we have in the world.
Tallow said:
Yes, but that's not strictly true is it? As long as it is expressed with both units, a spoon can be made in any measurement size one would wish. The problem is that the global market is essentially too small for large scale, affordable imperial units. That said, I've found a good spoonsman can rework a bowl to a more palatable size surprisingly cheaply.
There's always a solution to every challenge in spooning, especially for us Brits. I think sometimes we forget the spooning reputation we have in the world.
What a god awful mess that is though. If I buy a Sturmy three quarts I want it to say Sturmy 3/4, not have 19mm stamped crudely on it like some mark of the beast.There's always a solution to every challenge in spooning, especially for us Brits. I think sometimes we forget the spooning reputation we have in the world.
There was a man fighting a court case for a cultural/historical exception for hobby spoons, I'm not sure what happened with that but even if he had won I think they would then be limited to production of 1,000 units per year. Plenty for a true hobby business but for the mid-sized spooners it's a headache and so unnecessary.
Of course it's no accident that the "big four" are all in favour of the EU when it churns out this sort of regulation.
AJS- said:
What a god awful mess that is though. If I buy a Sturmy three quarts I want it to say Sturmy 3/4, not have 19mm stamped crudely on it like some mark of the beast.
There was a man fighting a court case for a cultural/historical exception for hobby spoons, I'm not sure what happened with that but even if he had won I think they would then be limited to production of 1,000 units per year. Plenty for a true hobby business but for the mid-sized spooners it's a headache and so unnecessary.
Of course it's no accident that the "big four" are all in favour of the EU when it churns out this sort of regulation.
It's true that money and some insidious forces withing the spoonium have definitely not favoured the British approach. It's a real shame alright, but in all honesty I can't see how we can change that for what it is. The British way has always been to triumph one way or another though. I think Spoon War Two is good evidence of that!There was a man fighting a court case for a cultural/historical exception for hobby spoons, I'm not sure what happened with that but even if he had won I think they would then be limited to production of 1,000 units per year. Plenty for a true hobby business but for the mid-sized spooners it's a headache and so unnecessary.
Of course it's no accident that the "big four" are all in favour of the EU when it churns out this sort of regulation.
Tallow said:
It's true that money and some insidious forces withing the spoonium have definitely not favoured the British approach. It's a real shame alright, but in all honesty I can't see how we can change that for what it is. The British way has always been to triumph one way or another though. I think Spoon War Two is good evidence of that!
Well I'll bang the UKSIP (
) crazy drum and say we should just withdraw from the ESU altogether. The so called opt-outs and rebates are just so many plunge vortices, they (di)solve nothing in the long run. Time to leave the union altogether and have our own British spoon policy to serve British interests.And no it's not being a little Englander, there's a world of spoons out there from all over the place, and we're suffering from being locked in this small, inward looking and increasingly isolated club.
I've followed this thread for some time now and have continually held my tongue, however I finally think I need to air my thoughts.
I strongly believe that there are a number of people taking this far too seriously and many people are losing sight of what matters.
What happened to the days of spending time with family, partaking in a pastime that could be enjoyed by all. I remember my grandfather introducing me to the hobby, one dark autumn Sunday afternoon, after lunch, sat by the fire in the parlour, my eyes opened as he produced the carefully wrapped spoons, passed down from generation to generation of our family. As a young boy, I was immediately fascinated, enthralled by the aura of these spoons and I was looking forward to the time in life when I could share this special occasion with the next generations, my son and grandsons. One particular spoon, held my attention, not because of design flair or because of magnificent materials, but the fact it travelled through Europe with a great uncle in the second war, smuggled into prisoner of war camps in unmentionable ways, yet still returned home, after horrific scenes. This is the history what we should be protecting!
Alas, its not to be, because of some of the modern thinking, my son is not interested in the old ways, his head turned by the modern ways, strange new metals and, whisper it, carbon fibre, spoons. I hope in time he will come round and learn to appreciate the history and craftsmanship involved. Sadly, at this time, I doubt it very much.
We all need to get back to the grass roots of the hobby, encourage the next generation to appreciate this history of this noble past time.
I'm going now, to sit alone with my thoughts, in silence, with a cup of sweet tea and the family spoons and reminisce on times gone by. I will say no more.
I strongly believe that there are a number of people taking this far too seriously and many people are losing sight of what matters.
What happened to the days of spending time with family, partaking in a pastime that could be enjoyed by all. I remember my grandfather introducing me to the hobby, one dark autumn Sunday afternoon, after lunch, sat by the fire in the parlour, my eyes opened as he produced the carefully wrapped spoons, passed down from generation to generation of our family. As a young boy, I was immediately fascinated, enthralled by the aura of these spoons and I was looking forward to the time in life when I could share this special occasion with the next generations, my son and grandsons. One particular spoon, held my attention, not because of design flair or because of magnificent materials, but the fact it travelled through Europe with a great uncle in the second war, smuggled into prisoner of war camps in unmentionable ways, yet still returned home, after horrific scenes. This is the history what we should be protecting!
Alas, its not to be, because of some of the modern thinking, my son is not interested in the old ways, his head turned by the modern ways, strange new metals and, whisper it, carbon fibre, spoons. I hope in time he will come round and learn to appreciate the history and craftsmanship involved. Sadly, at this time, I doubt it very much.
We all need to get back to the grass roots of the hobby, encourage the next generation to appreciate this history of this noble past time.
I'm going now, to sit alone with my thoughts, in silence, with a cup of sweet tea and the family spoons and reminisce on times gone by. I will say no more.
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