Stuff acquired from work
Discussion
Revisitph said:
Jonny_ said:
I know an old boy who kept a part of a control panel from an old power station as a sort of souvenir whilst he was decommissioning it. It was otherwise destined for the skip, so nobody objected to him hanging on to it. Years later, he happened to be working in the control room of a nuclear power station and overheard their engineer bemoaning a piece of kit that was beyond repair and no spare was available. The old boy in question wandered over, had a look, and declared that he had one in his garage! Problem solved.
Electrical engineers seem to be hoarders by nature; we have a habit of rescuing old gear that the management don't consider worth keeping in "official" stores, squirreling it away in cupboards/storerooms/garages and waiting until it's needed. Which it invariably is, usually several years later when the manufacturer no longer exists...
I heard a v interesting play on R4 based on the story behind the "Black Buck" bombing raids on Port Stanley airfield during the Falklands war - the aircraft engineers had to scour scrapyards and all possible hidey holes for old parts for the Vulcans, reinstall air-air refuelling systems etc. Expect that the same sort of thing happened as in the post above.Electrical engineers seem to be hoarders by nature; we have a habit of rescuing old gear that the management don't consider worth keeping in "official" stores, squirreling it away in cupboards/storerooms/garages and waiting until it's needed. Which it invariably is, usually several years later when the manufacturer no longer exists...
ETA - the play is well worth a listen if it is available again on iplayer (not at the moment).
Thinking of old boys with stuff in their sheds, I used to work with a guy was part of the Royal Engineers team helping clean up after the Falklands. Something do with the power station or distribution had been damage and needed some parts so he sent the info back to the UK and a while after the parts turned up. Wasn't until he got back he found they'd had trouble getting one of the parts. Apparently the company that made it had closed down years before, they'd tracked down someone from the company to find out about it who'd sent them on to the old boy who used to make the parts...who had the jig for it in his shed that he'd liberated when the company closed, so was able to make the parts for them in his shed.
Truckosaurus said:
Similarly, NASA had to keep buying 1980s era computing gear from eBay to keep the Space Shuttle fleet going.
And McLaren were buying up old laptops in a similar way, because the diagnostic software for the F1 wouldn't run on newer stuff.grumpy52 said:
I haven't been offered anything "off the back of a truck " for years .
Are we getting more honest or is it just too difficult to aquire stuff these days ?
I presume the latter, down to much better (or worse, depending on where you sit) stock control and management. Though in some cases it doesn't help, I'm sure - the stories on here where employees are able to use their workplace at weekend for their own projects is a good thing. I guess the larger the business, the less easy it is to manage such things and ensure they don't get out of hand as they have in some of the other stories. And such things as ISO 9001 (or whatever the current version is) make sure everything is logged within an inch of its life.Are we getting more honest or is it just too difficult to aquire stuff these days ?
Loads of high quality brand new nuts and bolts, left over after a project. 3 wheelbarrows full. I think I still have most of them. Due for the skip as stores couldn’t be arsed sorting them out and restocking them.
Loads of MCBs, 30+, again left over from a TV studio refit job, due for the skip as stores couldn’t be arsed sorting them out and restocking them.
Sheet upon sheet of left over aluminium from the press shop - due for the skip – I wouldn’t get that today…
50+ metres of 10 mm stainless steel tube, with loads of unused Swagelok connectors, all due for the skip. Must have about a £1k in those alone.
A massive cardboard box full of ratchet straps, not exactly new, but still work fine. Due for the skip. I have given most of them away, simply too many.
Some Dexion racking that was in the scrap bin.
Suspension parts, wheels, brake parts etc.… aplenty - blasted and painted- still getting them done now- all with full knowledge of senior management.
Lots of wood for the home log burner from left over internal packaging- as long as it hasn’t been treated. I am told to take it home; otherwise the company has to pay to have it taken away.
Loads of MCBs, 30+, again left over from a TV studio refit job, due for the skip as stores couldn’t be arsed sorting them out and restocking them.
Sheet upon sheet of left over aluminium from the press shop - due for the skip – I wouldn’t get that today…
50+ metres of 10 mm stainless steel tube, with loads of unused Swagelok connectors, all due for the skip. Must have about a £1k in those alone.
A massive cardboard box full of ratchet straps, not exactly new, but still work fine. Due for the skip. I have given most of them away, simply too many.
Some Dexion racking that was in the scrap bin.
Suspension parts, wheels, brake parts etc.… aplenty - blasted and painted- still getting them done now- all with full knowledge of senior management.
Lots of wood for the home log burner from left over internal packaging- as long as it hasn’t been treated. I am told to take it home; otherwise the company has to pay to have it taken away.
Above was very common years ago when stuff was sorted and recorded by hand.It cost more than it was worth to do, so it mostly it went to a good home. It can happen today when stock computer system have no input capability to input stuff that's surplus to requirements, especially if it's all done with scanners and bar codes.
robinessex said:
Above was very common years ago when stuff was sorted and recorded by hand.It cost more than it was worth to do, so it mostly it went to a good home. It can happen today when stock computer system have no input capability to input stuff that's surplus to requirements, especially if it's all done with scanners and bar codes.
I think that's the case. I think it still happens a lot more at workplaces that haven't been updated to computer systems (I can think of plenty of smaller companies around here).If the company is just about large enough to notice but small enough to be considered manageable without computers everywhere I bet it still happens.
My late friends late father who used to work for the worlds favourite airline as an engineer, had several thousand pounds worth of very expensive tools buried in his back garden.
Said tools were acquired over a number of years, and hurriedly buried when he received a tip off that peoples houses were going to be raided as part of an investigation into missing tools.
Said tools were acquired over a number of years, and hurriedly buried when he received a tip off that peoples houses were going to be raided as part of an investigation into missing tools.
It's safe to repeat now as alas the "offender" is no longer with us (even though the bounty still is)
I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
mel said:
It's safe to repeat now as alas the "offender" is no longer with us (even though the bounty still is)
I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
What's she called and is she still sailing? I'd be interested in seeing that.I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
CaptainSlow said:
I once bought a book of stamps which I used to steal envelopes from my office by posting them to myself. I can get ten envelopes for each book of stamps.
Our local asda couldn't work out how they were losing so many PS4/xbox games etc to theft last year, turns out there was a 'ring' posting them to themselves from the post office inside the store, circumventing security and the beepers on the door. Got away with it for weeks!robinessex said:
Many years ago, when our roads were maintained by the local council, whenever the roads got a makeover, lots of drives seemed to match as well after they had finished !!!
When the A9 was resurfaced the tarmac extended more than hundred metres up one driveway - presumably the surfacing crew got a bit carried away! I think the owner understood and had some refreshments or refreshment tokens ready to ease their thirst after that mistake.Edited by Revisitph on Wednesday 2nd December 20:47
I once had a nice little side line in laptop computers, and other computer components, all with the knowledge of the management of the company I was working for at the time.
We had a large number of field engineers who would regularly break their laptops. Rather than fix them, it was cheeper for the company to buy new ones to replace them. I then took the broken ones, rather than have to pay to get rid of them as scrap, and make one good one out of two or three broken ones.
We also got rid of some early bladed servers, which were again going into the skip. To most people, they were useless, as they needed a big rack mount enclosure to house them in. However, on closer inspection, they were running standard high end PC server motherboards and processors, just with a fancy interface card plugged in to allow them to connect to the enclosure. A few hours one evening after work, had these stripped out, and on ebay.
I have also been allowed to have kit from offices we have closed down.
We had a large number of field engineers who would regularly break their laptops. Rather than fix them, it was cheeper for the company to buy new ones to replace them. I then took the broken ones, rather than have to pay to get rid of them as scrap, and make one good one out of two or three broken ones.
We also got rid of some early bladed servers, which were again going into the skip. To most people, they were useless, as they needed a big rack mount enclosure to house them in. However, on closer inspection, they were running standard high end PC server motherboards and processors, just with a fancy interface card plugged in to allow them to connect to the enclosure. A few hours one evening after work, had these stripped out, and on ebay.
I have also been allowed to have kit from offices we have closed down.
mel said:
It's safe to repeat now as alas the "offender" is no longer with us (even though the bounty still is)
I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
being an ex RN Artificer myself I can easily see that happening. There can be times where you have little to do, and access to lots of machine shops etc.I had a close family friend who was the Commander (Engineering) for Chatham Dockyard for the 6 years prior to it's closure, under his remit came all engineering tasks throughout the dockyard including refits for both Submarines and Warships, his passion however was sailing and competitive off shore and ocean racing. He purchased legitimately from a boatbuilder a bare hull of a state of the art 46' racing yacht and had it delivered to the Dockyard and stored in an unused shed. MoD Police had absolutely no concern for anything coming in but would relish searching everyone leaving the gates and would love nothing better than to get an Officer with a "crowsfoot" spanner or something equally pathetic, the punishments were severe and draconian. Anyway "Yacht Club" was established and dozens of young Dockyard and Artificer Apprentices used to enjoy their rota'd afternoons when they would learn "traditional boatbuilding skills" that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Over a period of several years this Yacht was slowly fitted out to the most incredible and exacting standards, using only the very best materials and to skill levels way above anything seen commercially, it was basically floating perfecting. She was eventually finished in the most dazzling high gloss black with a genuine gold leaf "pencil line" (thanks to the refit of HMY Brittania) When the day arrived and this beauty was finished it was simply sailed out and then moored at Upnor directly opposite the Dockyard. I sailed it and raced on it throughout the 80's long after the Dockyard closed (ironically the old disused shed she was built in was one of the last buildings standing) and can honestly say that for years after she was made that yacht was the pride of the Medway she was without a doubt a thing of beauty, thanks very much Your Maj'
Lots of people have pet projects on the go to use up any spare time. Never seen anything as big as a boat though
Worked for a large company that closed down a site, on the last day someone I know actually went out and hired a van to load up with chairs, desks and computers. Got about 10 massive brabantia (sp?) bins from them too.
I took the contents of my desk and nothing more - missed a trick there
I took the contents of my desk and nothing more - missed a trick there
When our (former) building got demolished at a site I worked at some years back they were happy for people to take old furniture away. I took my comfy office chair, and had to fold the seats down in my 306 to be able to fit it in. A colleague managed 2 swivel chairs, a couple of other normal chairs, and a desk...on his Morgan 
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